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DreamHack and ESL One: Two Giant Gaming Events. One City. Nothing Like It.
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DreamHack Birmingham debuts; ESL One Birmingham returns
DreamHack and ESL One, two of the world’s biggest events in gaming and esports, will be coming to Birmingham, UK, in March 2026. DreamHack Birmingham will be the first ever festival held on UK soil in its 20+ year history, bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games, esports and internet pop culture. Featuring one of the most prestigious esports tournaments, ESL One, returns to the UK for its fourth iteration, with a $1M prize pool, showcasing 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams.
“Esports has exploded into one of the fastest-growing parts of our economy. Our arenas are buzzing with global fans and players for events like DreamHack and ESL One,” said Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands. “For us it’s much more than entertainment. Our colleges and universities are full of young talent learning the skills to succeed in this multi-billion-pound industry. And with world-class studios already here, and backing from gaming’s biggest names, we’re making the West Midlands the UK’s number one place to create, watch and play esports.”
“The UK has one of the world’s most passionate gaming communities, yet it’s still underserved when it comes to festivals that unite every part of gaming culture.” said Shahin Zarrabi, VP Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group. “That’s why we’re bringing DreamHack to Birmingham — a city with a proven track record and the perfect stage for our UK debut. We’re here for the long term: to invest, grow, and build something even bigger together with the community.”
“Returning to Birmingham with ESL One is a huge moment for us and the Dota 2 community,” said Álvaro Sánchez Velasco, Product Manager Dota 2 at ESL FACEIT Group. “This year is even more special as we join forces with DreamHack to create a truly unique festival atmosphere. We can’t wait to bring the best of Dota 2 esports to a city that has shown us so much passion over the years we’ve been here.”
The UK has rapidly established itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing esports markets, with revenues set to hit $250.7 million in 2025 (Statista, 2025) and user numbers projected to reach nearly 24 million by 2029 (Statisa, 2025). Home to nearly 40 million gamers nationwide (Statista, 2024), esports is now both a cultural and economic force in the UK — and DreamHack festivals, which reach over 200,000 visitors globally and tens of millions online, are perfectly positioned to bring this vibrant community together on one stage.
NEC Group hosts DreamHack and ESL One Birmingham 2026
The NEC Birmingham and bp pulse LIVE offer two of the UK’s largest and most versatile event venues, operated by the NEC Group. Conveniently located just minutes from Birmingham Airport, the venues welcome seven million visitors each year to hundreds of live events and trade shows.
“We’re thrilled to welcome ESL One Birmingham back to the NEC and we’re equally excited to host DreamHack for the very first time,” said Ian Taylor, Managing Director of the NEC. “We’re perfectly located for bringing gaming communities together from across the globe, and we can’t wait to host one of the biggest gaming events in the calendar!”
Securing Birmingham as the host city for both DreamHack and ESL One is a huge milestone,” said Bobby Hare, Director Host City Partnerships at ESL FACEIT Group. “Over the past 12 months, the West Midlands Growth Company and the NEC Group have been incredibly supportive partners, and we’re excited to be back in Birmingham. The city’s vibrant gaming community and our shared vision for long-term growth make it the perfect home to deliver unforgettable experiences for UK fans.
DreamHack Birmingham
- Dates: March 27 – 29, 2026
- Location: National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK
- DreamHack is the world’s leading gaming lifestyle festival bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games and internet pop culture.
- Across three days, DreamHack Birmingham will invite fans to explore esports tournaments, cosplay, live music, creators, tabletop games, and so much more, all in one vibrant, community-driven space.
- The iconic festival comes to the UK following celebrated stints across the globe, including in Europe, North America and Asia.
ESL One Birmingham
- Dates: March 22 – 29, 2026.
- Location: bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, UK.
- ESL One is one of the biggest and renowned Dota 2 tournament series that brings together the best teams and players from around the world.
- 16 teams will compete in a round robin format, with 8-team double-elimination Playoffs.
- The final three days of the competition will take place in front of a live audience.
- Last year’s ESL One Birmingham saw a peak viewership of over 327,000. Over 18,000 fans from across the world attended the bp pulse LIVE on the final three days of the tournament, witnessing Team Falcons taking home the trophy.
For additional information, please check out the DreamHack and ESL One Birmingham Press Kit.
Tickets can be purchased starting September 23 at 15:00 BST on dreamhack.com/birmingham and esl-one.com/birmingham.
DreamHack 3-day tickets start at £39.00 during the first two weeks and will be priced from £59.00 thereafter. ESL One guaranteed seating starts at £89.00 for all three days, with add-ons also available.
All DreamHack ticket holders receive full access to all parts of the DreamHack festival experience, including ESL One, though entry to bp pulse LIVE is limited by capacity. Purchasing an ESL One ticket guarantees your seat in the bp pulse LIVE and also grants you full access to DreamHack.
The post DreamHack and ESL One: Two Giant Gaming Events. One City. Nothing Like It. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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KSA Issues New Duty of Care Guidance for Gaming Arcades and Casinos
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The Netherlands Gambling Authority (KSA) has issued new guidance for gaming arcades and casinos to improve the implementation of their duty of care. The KSA previously visited gaming arcades across the country. These visits revealed that while most arcades are paying attention to their duty of care, implementation could be improved in some areas. The guidance the KSA is now sharing with license holders contains practical tools and explanations, but no new rules.
Duty of care of arcades
With the implementation of the Gambling Act (Wet Koa), the duty of care for gaming arcades has been further expanded. This means they are obligated to prevent and mitigate gambling addiction as much as possible. Since then, gaming arcades have taken steps to comply with this requirement. However, in practice, the stated good intentions and the relevant policy are not always sufficiently aligned. The KSA has discussed this with various parties within the sector. Based on the input from these discussions, the new guidance has been developed.
Guidance
The guidance for arcades includes resources that providers can use to properly fulfill their duty of care and better inform their employees. The guide provides explanations and examples of what arcades must do and what the KSA expects of them. It also includes an overview of frequently asked questions. In addition to the guidance, a poster and an animation have been developed to raise awareness among arcade employees about the duty of care.
Along with the duty of care guidance, arcades also received a Guideline for Identity and Cruks Verification. The KSA regularly receives questions from the sector about the Cruks exclusion register. This guideline addresses the operation of Cruks and the most common questions and problems.
KSA chairman Michel Groothuizen said: “Certain key factors of the duty of care are easier to monitor for online providers than in brick-and-mortar casinos. In our conversations with arcade owners, we’ve noticed that they want to do more with the duty of care, but sometimes still struggle with its proper implementation. With this new guidance, supplemented with informational materials for employees, we’re giving them new tools to do so. In this way, we’re working together to ensure that players are optimally protected even at brick-and-mortar providers.”
The post KSA Issues New Duty of Care Guidance for Gaming Arcades and Casinos appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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QuinnBet Expand Ospreys Partnership
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The Ospreys announced that official betting partner, QuinnBet, had expanded their partnership with the Ospreys. The partnership will see QuinnBet take a place on the Ospreys shorts of all three of the team’s kits this season.
The new, multi-year partnership will see the QuinnBet logo take a prominent placement on the back of all three playing shorts.
With the Ospreys competing in front of multi-continental audiences in both the BKT URC and EPCR Challenge Cup this season, QuinnBet’s brand is set to reap the benefits.
Launched in 2017, QuinnBet, regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, and in Ireland by The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, has firmly established themselves in the iGaming industry by providing a socially responsible service. With an emphasis on giving more back through unique promotions and excellent customer care, QuinnBet has become a trusted name in the industry.
Head of Commercial for the Ospreys, Richard Lancaster, said: “We’re delighted that QuinnBet have decided to expand their partnership with the Ospreys. We have already built a successful relationship, and we’re looking forward to building on that even further in the coming seasons.
“Working with QuinnBet has already been hugely beneficial for us in education around Safer Gambling awareness, and we’re already planning on how to improve on this even further as we look ahead to the future.”
Niall McPartland, Head of Commercial and Sponsorship at QuinnBet, added: “We are delighted to enter this significant three-year partnership with Ospreys Rugby.
“The partnership builds on our inaugural 24/25 season sponsorship of The Ospreys, and the extension until 2028 demonstrates the success of the partnership to date and the huge regard we have for the club.
“Ospreys are one of the dominant forces in Welsh rugby, producing numerous players who have gone on to represent Wales and The Lions internationally. We are therefore privileged that our association with the club, will showcase QuinnBet at the highest level to Rugby supporters across the UK, Ireland and internationally.
“We commit to utilising the partnership to promote our brand in conjunction with Safer Gambling, which is integral to our business and which Ospreys Rugby is fully supportive of. We would like to wish everyone at the club the very best for the season ahead.”
The post QuinnBet Expand Ospreys Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Amusnet Announces Strategic Partnership with Inbet
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Amusnet, a leading provider of next-generation gaming solutions, has announced a strategic partnership with inbet, a prominent operator of gaming halls in Bulgaria. This collaboration marks a significant step in Amusnet’s strategy to expand its well-established online casino content into the land-based sector.
“Our expansion into the land-based sector is a testament to our enduring and successful relationship with inbet. We have built a foundation of mutual trust and respect and are confident about the next big step. This partnership allows us to continue to provide exceptional gaming experiences, seamlessly bridging our online success with their land-based operations,” said Rosen Videnov, Land-based Sales Manager at Amusnet.
The partnership includes the initial installations of 46 Amusnet slot cabinets, model Type S 27, now available in all 11 inbet gaming halls across 10 locations such as Sofia, Velingrad, Plovdiv, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo and others. Manufactured in Bulgaria to the highest standards of the global land-based casino industry, Amusnet’s slot machines combine cutting-edge technology, premium design, and exceptional player engagement. The machines feature a rich portfolio of over 40 popular titles, including fan favourites such as Stoichkov #8, Extra Crown, 20 Golden Coins and Bulky Fruits.
“It is a genuine pleasure to strengthen our collaboration with Amusnet, a partner we admire for its innovation and professionalism. Our joint ‘Premium Lemons’ campaign has been a standout success, loved by players and reflecting the great synergy between our teams. We look forward to carrying this momentum into our land-based venues with Amusnet’s top-quality slot cabinets, enhancing the player experience and setting new standards in Bulgarian gaming,” said Slavcho Papalezov, Chief Marketing Officer at inbet.
The partnership with inbet highlights Amusnet’s strategic vision to integrate its well-established online casino content into the land-based sector, strengthening its position as a leading provider of comprehensive solutions for the gaming industry.
The post Amusnet Announces Strategic Partnership with Inbet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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