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Controllers over Concerts: Gaming Festivals Beat Likes of Glastonbury for Gen’s Z and Alpha first festival experience of choice
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Gaming festivals are officially overtaking music as the first big cultural milestone outing for Britain’s youth. According to a new study by ESL FACEIT Group, 90% of UK teens say they are more likely to attend a gaming festival, such as DreamHack, before ever setting foot at a traditional music festival like Glastonbury, with 92% of 13-19 year olds actively preferring the prospect of going to a gaming festival experience over a musical one with their friends.
With 94% of Gen Alpha regularly playing video games, up 4% from Gen Z, gaming has become a central social and cultural outlet for young people worldwide*. This new research reveals that it now even surpasses music, with 91% of respondents saying gaming plays a bigger part in their young lives. The survey of 2,000 UK teens aged 13-19 was commissioned to celebrate the announcement of DreamHack Birmingham 2026, taking place in March next year at the prestigious NEC Birmingham venue.
With 43% of young people not allowed to attend their first music festival until the age of 18, more teenagers are experiencing their first ‘festival moment’ at a gaming event than ever before. On average, the study highlighted that teens are allowed to go to a gaming festival at just 14, with nearly half (49%) permitted before their 16th birthday. It’s no surprise then that 94% see attending a gaming festival with friends as a modern rite of passage, and 96% say they want to take part.
The phenomenal rise in interest in these gaming events is linked to the perception of safety: 97% of teens say they feel safer at a gaming festival, and their parents agree – 92% say they’d be more comfortable, and even prefer taking their children to a gaming festival over a music one.
Gaming stars are the new pop icons: 88% of teenagers say that famous gaming creators and professional esports players are just as important – if not more so – than top music artists. Half (50%) believe they hold equal status among their peers, while 38% place them above pop stars entirely. Their devotion runs deep too, with teens willing to travel up to 152 miles – the distance from Cardiff Castle to Kensington Palace – just to meet or watch their favourite pro gamer or streamer.
Top 10 ‘festival’ experiences young people look forward to:
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Hands-on gaming and participating in community tournaments – 53%
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Seeing celebrities and creators up close and meet & greets – 43%
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Watching favourite esports pros compete on stage – 32%
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Meeting / making new friends with people from across the country / world – 32%
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Sense of community / Finding communities – 23%
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Playtesting new and upcoming indie games – 22%
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Spending quality time with friends / creating memories with friends – 18%
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Being away from home – 11%
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Meeting online friends for the first time – 9%
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Discovering new talent – 8%
For female UK teenagers, gaming is also now taking centre stage. 84% of girls said gaming plays a bigger role in their daily lives than music, and while 55% have yet to attend a gaming festival, the appetite is clear – 93% would go given the chance. Safety and accessibility are key drivers: 84% believe their parents are more likely to let them attend a gaming festival over a music one, and 93% think their parents would feel more comfortable with that choice. Reflecting this, 95% of female teens say they would personally feel safer at a gaming festival, with 87% even preferring it outright to a music festival.
The research also uncovered why teens are turning to gaming festivals as their go-to social experiences, with music festivals increasingly out of reach. A striking 96% of UK teens believe music festivals are unaffordable for the average teen, who typically has just £197 of their own money, or £200 from their parents, to spend on tickets. As a result, teenagers report attending fewer than two music festivals on average. Teenagers in Wales and Scotland face significant differences in festival affordability. Welsh teens can contribute £142 on average towards tickets, with parents adding £130 – both well below the national average – while Scottish teens can put in £206 and receive £212 from parents. Cost remains a major barrier, with 100% of Welsh and 95% of Scottish teenagers saying music festival tickets are too expensive.
DreamHack Birmingham tickets start at £39.00 for a 3-day ticket during the first two weeks (will be priced from £59.00 thereafter) compared to over £373 for a single Glastonbury ticket.
Shahin Zarrabi, VP Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group said: “Gaming isn’t part of the culture; it is the culture. DreamHack Birmingham 2026 will be where the UK gaming community comes alive: safe, authentic, unforgettable. No mud-fields, no chasing influencers, no £300 wristbands. Just pure gaming.”
DreamHack Birmingham (March 27 – 29, 2026) will mark the festival’s first time in Birmingham, uniting gaming communities for three days of hands-on gaming, creator meet-ups, esports, cosplay, live entertainment, and playable moments. DreamHack is the world’s leading gaming lifestyle festival, bringing together all gaming communities to celebrate games and internet pop culture.
The post Controllers over Concerts: Gaming Festivals Beat Likes of Glastonbury for Gen’s Z and Alpha first festival experience of choice appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Aristocrat Gaming Partners with Regency Casino Thessaloniki to Introduce the Aristocrat Pavilion
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Introducing a gaming experience unlike any other in the region, the all-new Aristocrat Pavilion celebrates its official opening as part of the groundbreaking Piazza at Regency Casino Thessaloniki. This dedicated space offers fans of Aristocrat games an exclusive experience surrounded by more than 55 chart-topping game titles, many being first to the market.
Featuring the latest hardware, mechanics and bonus features, popular Aristocrat games like Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Blast, Crazy Chickens, Ultimate Fast Cash, Phoenix Link and Lucky Looters can all be found within the Aristocrat Pavilion.
“We are incredibly proud to partner with the Regency Casino Thessaloniki team to bring to life this innovative gaming and entertainment experience that is the Aristocrat Pavilion at The Piazza. We are all about bringing next-level experiences to our players, and this project is exactly that. Congratulations to all the teams involved, as this was truly a collaborative partnership from ideation to reality,” said Kurt Gissane, Chief Revenue Officer at Aristocrat Gaming.
In addition to the latest gaming innovations, the Aristocrat Pavilion features luxurious amenities and an atmosphere that offers an elevated player experience.
The post Aristocrat Gaming Partners with Regency Casino Thessaloniki to Introduce the Aristocrat Pavilion appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The organisers of Regulating the Game have announced the launch of Industry Spotlight Sessions as part of the event’s 2026 programme. The conference will take place from March 9–11, 2026 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.
New for 2026, the Industry Spotlight Sessions are concise, 15-minute presentations embedded within the main conference programme, giving leading manufacturers, suppliers and technology providers across gaming, lotteries, wagering and sports betting a platform to share strategic insights, innovation and sector direction.
The sessions will provide a powerful platform for established players to:
• Highlight new products, enhancements or technical capabilities
• Share research, data insights or strategic outlooks
• Spotlight innovations that are shaping operational performance and player engagement
• Provide a forward view on emerging trends and technologies influencing the sector
Distinct from Pitch! at the Sydney Opera House (March 9) – which has evolved into a high-energy marketplace of ideas spotlighting emerging RegTech, compliance innovation, disruptive policy concepts and safer gambling solutions – the Industry Spotlight Sessions are tailored for established players to profile market-ready innovations, demonstrate commercial leadership and share product direction.
Paul Newson, principal at Vanguard Overwatch and founder of Regulating the Game, said: “The Industry Spotlight Sessions are being introduced at the request of industry attendees who wanted a dedicated platform to showcase pioneering products, strategies, and sector direction and insights. With only four Industry Spotlight slots available in 2026, this is a limited opportunity for organisations to put themselves front and centre before an international audience of regulators, policy leaders, and industry decision-makers.”
The addition of Industry Spotlights reflects RTG’s commitment to sparking innovation and shaping the future of the sector. By providing a platform for announcing new directions, showcasing developments and sharing strategic outlooks, these sessions are designed to broaden dialogue, foster cross-sector collaboration and keep the conference at the cutting edge of regulatory and industry evolution.
Regulating the Game 2026 will also feature:
• Pitch! at the Sydney Opera House (March 9)
• The inaugural RTG Global Awards & Gala Dinner (March 10)
• An expanded exhibition showcase and programme of expert masterclasses.
Early bird tickets are now open, with discounted rates for early registrants. Group packages are also available but strictly limited.
The post Industry Spotlight Sessions Announced for Regulating the Game 2026 Sydney appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The post Amusnet Presents 100 Extra Crown Buy Bonus – a New Regal Video Slot to Reign Supreme appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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