eSports

Exclusive Q&A/Widget with Nicolas Marlier, CTO at PandaScore

Published

3 years ago

October 6, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

What motivated you to upgrade your Widget product?

Our revamped Widget 2.0 product builds on the huge success of the original solution we launched several years ago. The upgrade forms part of wider efforts to deliver the best products and player experiences to the esports ecosystem, driven by the power of data. Operators using Widget 2.0 can better attract and engage esports fans, particularly during live, with highly customisable esports widgets that provide game-specific, real-time data. This means that players can enjoy in-depth esports information on their favourite games, delivered via undelayed data so that they know they are getting a real-time viewing and betting experience.

With Widget 2.0 we can offer a more customised integration through a block system that allows each bookmaker to adjust what kind of information they want to make available on specific sections of their website or app. We have also improved the data visualisation so that players can more easily understand complex datasets at a glance while providing even greater data granularity for expert players that really want to deep dive into specific games.

What titles does Widget 2.0 cover in live? And to what depth?

So we offer a dedicated Widget for each of the 11 esports titles we cover including three live widgets for CS:GO, Dota 2 and League of Legends (LoL). Take LoL, for example. We have a radar chart designed by League of Legends experts so that bettors can quickly and easily see the strengths and weaknesses of each team. For CS:GO, that information is presented on a map-by-map basis and depending on team sides. This is to take into account the differences between each game and to make the player experience as intuitive and seamless as possible.

Why was customisation so important to your revamped Widget product?

Each bookmaker wants to deliver an experience that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of its players. It also wants to do this while standing out from its rivals. As a data provider, it is important for us to give operators the tools they need to do both of these things. Our block system adapts to the different experiences offered by each bookmaker, as well as the wide range of devices used by players. In addition, operators have complete freedom to customise the front end with their own branding colours to maintain a consistent user experience at all times.

What are the player engagement benefits of Widget and how can operators leverage the product in innovative ways?

Esports fans want a seamless stream but also access to stats and data points about their team and/or their opponents. Bringing that insight directly onto the operator’s platform via our Widget 2.0 product provides this and allows sportsbooks to drive greater engagement among existing players and esports bettors, but also attract new customers that are not necessarily bettors yet but are looking for access to this data via an easy-to-use interface. That makes our Widget product innovative in itself as it allows operators to connect with esports fans and bettors in an entirely new way.

What’s next for PandaScore?

Our product roadmap has been busy, that’s for sure. Recently, we’ve added Starcraft 1 and 2 to the long list of games we offer coverage on, extended our cutting-edge BetBuilder product to cover all three major games, will be offering micro betting markets for the first time, launch community engagement tools to let operators to better engage with their users on Discord and Twitch. More exotic betting markets, such as player specials for LoL and Dota 2 are also underway, and this is not the full list of innovative products to come. We are committed to designing and developing the tools and features operators need to unlock the true potential of esports and esports betting, and our product roadmap over the next 12 months will allow them to do just that.

It is still very early days for esports betting, but more and more sportsbook operators understand the opportunities on the table and are making moves in the space for the first time. PandaScore is here to guide them through the sector and deliver the best possible experience to both new and existing esports fans and bettors.

Brazilian Carnival

Esportes da Sorte transforms Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience

Published

1 day ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

esportes-da-sorte-transforms-carnival-2026-into-a-nationwide-immersive-experience

Leading Brazilian iGaming company Esportes da Sorte has transformed Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience, activating urban art installations, hydration stations and large‑scale attractions across nine cities in Brazil. As part of its expanded cultural engagement strategy, the brand is serving as an official sponsor in key Carnival locations and delivering experiential initiatives designed for revelers in the streets and major public spaces.

Esportes da Sorte’s nationwide platform builds on its history of investing in popular culture and public events, moving beyond traditional branding to create meaningful on‑site activations that enhance the urban environment and respond to the unique character of each city’s Carnival celebrations.

In Rio de Janeiro, the company’s efforts focus on the street Carnival experience with hydration points, cool zones and shaded areas in high‑traffic celebration routes. São Paulo’s megabloc circuits feature water trucks, hydration stations and on‑site urban support.

In Recife Antigo, one of Carnival’s cultural centers, Esportes da Sorte installed a standout Ferris wheel at Marco Zero, offering panoramic views of the festivities and historic landscape. Urban transformations like video mapping on iconic buildings and aerial installations along Rua Marquês de Olinda further blend public space with the Carnival experience.

Other cities such as Olinda and Salvador also feature tailored activations, including sensory design, refreshment tunnels and themed artistic displays that align with local traditions and festival dynamics.

In addition to physical structures, the initiative includes a robust communications strategy, sensory activations, public well‑being supports and content campaigns that amplify the carnival‑street experience across digital and traditional media.

According to Germana Casal, Production Coordinator at the Esportes Gaming Brasil Group, the goal is to “be present in a meaningful way at the country’s biggest popular celebration,” respecting each city’s identity and delivering initiatives that improve the Carnival experience for participants.

Esportes da Sorte’s Carnival 2026 project builds on the brand’s presence at more than 100 Carnival parties and street blocos in 2025, reinforcing its leadership role in Brazil’s largest cultural event and deepening its connection with urban celebration culture nationwide.

The post Esportes da Sorte transforms Carnival 2026 into a nationwide immersive experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

chess esports

Team Vitality announces E.Leclerc as new Main Partner

Published

1 day ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-announces-e.leclerc-as-new-main-partner

Team Vitality, one of France’s leading esports organizations, has announced a strategic new partnership with French retail giant E.Leclerc, naming the supermarket chain as the club’s Main Partner for 2026.

Under the agreement, E.Leclerc’s logo will feature prominently on Team Vitality’s international team jerseys, including rosters for League of Legends (LEC and LFL), Valorant (VCT EMEA), Rocket League, Rising Bees and Chess.

Shared Values and Fan Initiatives

The partnership aims to promote accessibility, wellness, and nutrition within the esports community, while bringing gaming culture into E.Leclerc retail spaces through immersive experiences, tournaments and activations designed to engage fans across France.

Team Vitality’s holistic wellbeing program, KARE, which supports performance, nutrition and mental health, aligns closely with E.Leclerc’s focus on responsible lifestyle initiatives. Together, they plan to champion inclusivity, provide unique gaming opportunities, and celebrate esports culture in both digital and physical environments.

With a global audience exceeding 10 million followers, Team Vitality’s influence in competitive gaming makes this partnership a landmark moment for both brands. E.Leclerc’s commitment to youth engagement and cultural connection positions the retailer as a significant non‑endemic supporter of the growing esports ecosystem.

Nicolas Maurer, CEO and Co‑Founder of Team Vitality, described the alliance as a historic milestone that will broaden esports’ reach across everyday life in France and reinforce its cultural legitimacy.

The post Team Vitality announces E.Leclerc as new Main Partner appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI chatbot esports

G2 Esports and Theta Labs Launch AI Agent Sami

Published

1 day ago

February 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

g2-esports-and-theta-labs-launch-ai-agent-sami

G2 Esports has partnered with Theta Labs to launch “Sami,” a next-generation AI agent designed to enhance fan engagement across multiple competitive esports titles.

The AI-powered assistant will provide G2’s global fanbase with instant access to match schedules, player stats, team rosters, tournament standings, and real-time competitive updates. Sami supports major titles including League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, and Call of Duty.

Accessible via the official G2 website and Discord starting February 17, Sami is built to deliver accurate, always-on responses to fan queries in natural language. From tournament updates to player performance metrics and G2-specific trivia, the AI agent reflects the organization’s unique brand voice and competitive culture.

AI-Powered Fan Engagement at Scale

Sami is trained and deployed using Theta EdgeCloud’s hybrid cloud-edge infrastructure, which integrates over 30,000 distributed edge nodes with cloud services from Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services. The system delivers approximately 80 PetaFLOPS of GPU compute power, enabling real-time processing and analysis at significantly reduced costs compared to traditional centralized cloud platforms.

The AI infrastructure dynamically assigns workloads to high-performance GPUs, including NVIDIA A100 and H100 cloud GPUs, as well as RTX 3090 and 4090 desktop GPUs, optimizing performance and cost efficiency. This decentralized architecture allows G2 to scale fan engagement globally while maintaining low latency and high reliability.

Strengthening Esports AI Innovation

Theta Labs has rapidly expanded its presence in the esports industry, powering AI-driven fan experiences for organizations such as Cloud9, FlyQuest, Evil Geniuses, NRG, Gen.G, Dignitas, 100 Thieves, Method, and Team Heretics.

According to Mitch Liu, CEO of Theta Labs, esports fans increasingly demand instant access to team data and competitive updates. AI agents like Sami enable organizations to provide 24/7 automated engagement while maintaining a unique community personality.

Sabrina Ratih, COO of G2 Esports, emphasized that Sami is more than a standard chatbot. Built to reflect G2’s playful and competitive tone, the AI assistant combines advanced machine learning with brand-driven communication to deliver both entertainment and functionality.

The Future of AI in Esports

The launch of Sami positions G2 Esports at the forefront of AI-driven fan engagement in competitive gaming. By leveraging decentralized GPU infrastructure and blockchain-powered cloud computing, the partnership with Theta Labs signals a broader industry shift toward scalable, cost-efficient AI solutions for esports organizations.

As AI integration becomes a competitive differentiator in esports, solutions like Sami are expected to redefine how teams interact with their global communities in real time.

The post G2 Esports and Theta Labs Launch AI Agent Sami appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.