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West Midlands Signs 10-year Strategic Framework Agreement with GEF

Published

3 years ago

June 17, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The West Midlands has agreed on a 10-year Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA) with the Global Esports Federation (GEF), accelerating the region’s commitment to driving international growth in the rapidly developing industry.

The partnership will see the West Midlands join a network of global hubs, including GEF’s headquarters Singapore and continued developments in Brazil, China, Turkey, Japan, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, among others.

The agreement, led by the West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC), will cement the region’s position as a hotbed for the esports and gaming industry, with the West Midlands already responsible for one quarter of the UK’s output in the sector.

The partnership builds on the West Midlands’ position as a gaming and esports hub within the UK, with the region playing host to a total of 130 games companies – predominantly clustered around Leamington Spa – including the likes of Codemasters, Ubisoft, Playground, Sega Hardlight and others.

The sector employs a workforce of more than 3000 games professionals in the region. The University of Warwick has also been recently named the UK Esports University of the Year for the fourth successive year, following significant investment in state-of-the-art facilities and talent.

Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers has also committed heavily to Esports, hosting its own esports organisation with teams in the UK, Europe and China, as well as announcing last year a partnership with North American Esports giant Evil Geniuses.

Paul J. Foster, CEO of Global Esports Federation, said: “The GEF President, Chris Chan and the entire Board of the Global Esports Federation have earmarked strategic global hubs as anchors for our development of esports, sports, immersive technologies, innovative entertainment, and adjacent sectors. The leadership in the West Midlands continues to demonstrate a strong collective ambition and the diverse capabilities of this dynamic region. Through our partnership with the Commonwealth Games Federation for the upcoming Commonwealth Esports Championships and this historic Strategic Framework Agreement, we are proud to bring our support, expertise, and strong, tangible commitment to this region, unlocking a decade of limitless opportunities and accelerating growth for the people and businesses who are lucky to call it home.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I was thrilled when we confirmed that the first ever Commonwealth Esports Championships would be staged this summer right here in the West Midlands and this exciting partnership with the Global Esports Federation showcases the scale of our region’s ambition – to be a global leader in what is the world’s fastest growing entertainment sector. We’re fortunate to already have huge gaming names like Sega Hardlight and Codemasters on our doorstep all contributing to the West Midlands’ growing status as an esports hub. Now we’re taking the next step by partnering with the Global Esports Federation to drive investment and create high-quality, state-of-the-art jobs in this incredibly dynamic sector. These are momentous times for the West Midlands, and I cannot wait to see this sector continue to thrive.”

Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “With Birmingham and the wider West Midlands synonymous with youth, vibrancy and pioneering new innovations, our region is well-placed as the new strategic centre of UK esports. Through our partnership with the Global Esports Federation, we’re turning this rapidly growing, global economic and cultural opportunity into a regional blueprint for growth. The 10-year commitment will help us to deliver more major events in the city – driving international footfall into the region – and includes the development of a new Esports Innovation and Research Centre, which has the potential to galvanise local tech capability. We look forward to bringing esports to new audiences of fans and talent, right here in Birmingham, starting with the inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championships this August.”

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TrueLayer to Acquire Zimpler, Creating a European Pay by Bank Powerhouse

Published

18 hours ago

October 21, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

TrueLayer, Europe’s leading Pay by Bank network, today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Zimpler, the fastest growing Pay by Bank network in the Nordics. The acquisition will bring together two of Europe’s most innovative Pay by Bank providers, further strengthening TrueLayer as a formidable force in the European payments industry.

This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Pay by Bank across Europe. By expanding TrueLayer’s pan-European network and deep expertise in payment technology with Zimpler’s strong position in the Nordic market, TrueLayer will be uniquely positioned to further accelerate the shift from legacy card payments to smarter, faster, and more secure payments via Pay by Bank.

The acquisition is another clear step forward for TrueLayer in its mission to build a powerful alternative to legacy payments in Europe, fostering greater competition, innovation and value for businesses and their consumers.

With some of the highest adoption rates of account-to-account (A2A) payments anywhere in the world, the Nordic region has been a proving ground for Pay by Bank. By acquiring Zimpler, TrueLayer will have more than 20 million users and will add coverage across key markets such as Sweden, Finland, and will add additional A2A capabilities through the Swish payment rail integration. This significantly strengthens TrueLayer’s pan-European network, accelerating the shift to smarter, safer, and more cost-effective payments.

Founded in 2012 by Johan Friis and Kristofer Ekman Sinclair, Zimpler has grown rapidly to become a Pay by Bank leader in the Nordics. TrueLayer is proud to welcome Zimpler’s founders and shareholders on this journey – joining the likes of Stripe, Northzone, and Tiger Global in backing its mission to transform the way the world pays.

“I am excited to welcome the Zimpler team to TrueLayer,” said Francesco Simoneschi, Co-founder and CEO of TrueLayer. “We’ve long admired their progress, and we’re excited to add such an incredible group of builders and payment experts to the TrueLayer team We’re not just expanding our footprint in the Nordics – we’re combining talent, technology, and scale to accelerate Pay by Bank adoption across the continent, and further strengthening Pay by Bank as a force of disruption that is changing how the world pays.”

“Joining forces with TrueLayer is a fantastic opportunity to build the leading Pay by Bank provider in Europe” said Johan Strand, CEO of Zimpler. “TrueLayer has a proven track record of innovation and a powerful network. Our combined strengths will allow us to offer an even more compelling proposition to the market. Joining TrueLayer will enable us to reach new heights and drive the next wave of growth in the industry. At the same time, we remain firmly anchored in Sweden, with our local licence and expertise ensuring continuity for our customers.”

The post TrueLayer to Acquire Zimpler, Creating a European Pay by Bank Powerhouse appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SPORTRADAR AWARDED UNITED ARAB EMIRATES LICENSE

Published

21 hours ago

October 21, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

Sportradar Group AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) has been granted a gaming-related vendor license from the United Arab Emirates’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), an independent entity of the UAE Federal Government with exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities.

The license, operational with immediate effect, affords Sportradar the opportunity to provide its products and services to licensed operators.

Sportradar looks forward to bringing its 20+ year expertise and proprietary sports technology to operators and clients in the region.

The post SPORTRADAR AWARDED UNITED ARAB EMIRATES LICENSE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Winlandia launches dedicated bingo offering in the UK

Published

22 hours ago

October 21, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Winlandia, the online casino with a Nordic twist powered by SkillOnNet, has expanded its offering by launching bingo vertical to players in the UK and Sweden.

Following the launch, players can now enjoy a range of bingo games from Pragmatic Play, including 90-ball, 80-ball, 75-ball, 50-ball, 30-ball and Speed Bingo, as well as themed rooms, including Big Bass Bingo, Drop Pots, Boom Box and a dedicated Jackpot Room.

They can also take part in the provider’s flagship Bingo Blast format, including spin-offs like Snowball Blast, as well as its hugely popular Diamond Dazzle and just-launched Reels Room.

To super-charge the launch, Winlandia has partnered with Gambling.com and its flagship Whichbingo.co.uk, which will exclusively promote Winlandia Bingo to its audience for several weeks.

To support the launch of Winlandia Bingo, the operator is offering an exclusive welcome bonus together with WhichBingo, consisting of: 100% up to £50 + 300 No Wagering Bingo Tickets + 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza. To support the launch of Winlandia Bingo, the operator is offering an exclusive welcome bonus together with WhichBingo, consisting of: 100% up to £50 + 300 No Wagering Bingo Tickets + 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Bonanza,18+, GambleAware and T&C applies.

Christoffer Grönlund, Head of Affiliates at Winlandia, said: “This launch highlights our commitment to long-term affiliate partnerships and strengthens our collaboration with Gambling.com Group.”

“Pragmatic Play’s bingo suite allows us to bring the Winlandia experience to a wider audience while maintaining our Nordic character and focus on entertainment.

We’re proud of how our affiliate relationships continue to drive quality traffic and sustainable growth in key markets like the UK.”

Malcolm Farrimond, Head of Bingo at SkillOnNet, added: “It’s great to see Pragmatic Play Bingo now live on Winlandia in both the UK and Sweden. The product offers a strong mix of bingo games, including Big Bass Bingo, Bingo Blast and Drop Pots, with something to suit different types of players.

“We’re also pleased to launch Big Bass Bingo exclusively for UK players – a new room inspired by the popular slot title. It’s a well-rounded bingo offering that supports Winlandia’s focus on entertainment and variety, and we’re looking forward to seeing how players in both markets respond.”

Corina Tanasa, Account Manager at WhichBingo.co.uk, said: “At WhichBingo.co.uk and Gambling.com are delighted to support the exclusive launch of Winlandia’s new bingo product. We look forward to showcasing this exciting addition to the market and delivering an engaging experience to players. This collaboration marks an important step in bringing innovative bingo content to a wider audience”

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