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Ygam and NUS Charity Launch New Student Campaign

Published

1 year ago

March 10, 2025

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Ygam has partnered with the NUS Charity to launch a new student campaign to help students recognise the signs of gambling harms and start crucial conversations.

As part of National Student Money Week, the Silence the Stigma campaign launched at Queen Mary University of London on March 6. The event will bring together leading academics to present the latest research on gambling harms, explore ways universities can better support students, and provide an opportunity for a panel discussion and live Q&A.

The charities aim to collaborate with universities and student unions across the UK to provide advice and guidance to students through a variety of resources. Additionally, Ygam offers free educational workshops for students and CPD training for university staff on the issue.

The latest Annual Student Gambling Survey which was published this week found that 49% of students are gambling and 32% of them state friends as the biggest influence on their gambling behaviour. Students who gamble are four times more likely to experience gambling harms compared to the general population. Student gamblers are spending on average £27.24 a week on gambling with almost 1 in 10 students spending between £51-£100 a week. For 36% their motivation to gamble was to have fun with friends, second only to making money (45%).

The survey demonstrates the strength of influence that friends and peers have within the context of student gambling behaviour. 29% of students who do not gamble said that they knew someone whose university experience had been adversely affected by gambling, with 24% struggling to pay for bills, 20% struggling to pay for accommodation, and 17% seeing their grades suffer. Yet less than half (48%) of non-gambling students were aware of the support available on campus for those experiencing gambling harms.

GambleAware data shows that 75% of people experiencing gambling harms feel unable to talk to loved ones, with stigma being the biggest barrier to opening up. Additionally, while 1 in 4 people believe they know someone affected by gambling harms, 61% hesitate to start a conversation due to concerns about stigma.

Claire Patel, Programme Lead for University and Student Engagement, said: “The survey findings once again emphasise that students remain a group that engages in gambling in significant numbers and are particularly vulnerable to gambling-related harms. Unique social factors, the transition to financial independence, and the disproportionate impact of rising living costs on UK university students all contribute to this vulnerability.

Conversations among students on campus play a vital role in both identifying and safeguarding against gambling harms. Our campaign recognises that friends and peers are key to shaping a positive university experience and have a strong influence on one another’s decision-making. Students are uniquely positioned to spot the signs of gambling harm in their peers, and we believe they, like university staff, should be equipped with the tools and information needed to offer support.”

Charlotte Britton-Stevens, Acting Head of Union Development, NUS Charity, said: “We are delighted to be working with Ygam on the Silence the Stigma campaign – designed to get young people talking about gambling harms. This year’s Annual Student Gambling Survey shows that 21% of surveyed student gamblers were in the ‘problem gambling’ category, versus just 4.2% in the general population. These concerning numbers highlight how this digital generation of students, impacted heavily by the cost-of-living crisis, are particularly susceptible to the empty promises of online gambling.

“The campaign offers much needed resources to ensure students notice gambling harms and understand how to get help for themselves and their peers. We believe these valuable conversations will lead to more students seeking support and are working closely with our member students’ unions to ensure advice services are aware of the campaign and ready to offer much needed guidance. We know how vital SU advice services are in improving the student experience during these challenging times.”

The post Ygam and NUS Charity Launch New Student Campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028

Published

9 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.

EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.

“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”

Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”

EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.

The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brand Partnerships

Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season

Published

16 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-signs-as-middlesbrough-fc-principal-partner-for-2026/27-season

Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.

The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.

Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.

“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.

“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”

Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.

“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”

The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGCO

ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch

Published

16 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

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ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.

The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”

The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.

ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.

The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.