Latest News
Flashscore survey: 47% of UK fans tip England for 2026 World Cup fina
Nearly half of UK sports fans believe England will reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, according to new survey data published by Flashscore. The study of 2,000 UK sports fans found 47% predict a final appearance, with 33% selecting England vs Spain as the most anticipated final pairing.
Flashscore said confidence is tied to perceptions of squad strength. More than 60% of respondents believe the current England lineup is higher quality than previous World Cup squads, including 23.3% who rated it as “much higher”. Fans cited experience in key positions as a leading strength, while injuries and player fatigue were highlighted as concerns.
The research also points to a generational divide over the 2026 tournament structure, which will be hosted across the USA, Canada and Mexico and expanded to 48 teams. Flashscore said over half of younger fans support multiple host nations, versus 22% of those aged 55 and older; among those who oppose the hosting model, 51% cited increased costs for supporters. On the 48-team expansion, 66% of 18–24-year-olds support the change, while 44% of over-55s view it negatively, with opponents attributing the decision primarily to commercial considerations rather than competition quality.
Late-night UK kick-off times may also shape viewing behaviour. More than 75% of 18–34-year-olds said they will “definitely” or “probably” watch England matches live even if they start after midnight, compared with 17% among those aged 55 and older.
On fandom, the survey found club football remains the dominant day-to-day driver, with the England national team ranked as the sixth most popular “team” in the UK behind several Premier League sides. Harry Kane was named the top favourite male player, followed by Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, and Jude Bellingham. Flashscore also reported 58% of respondents believe the World Cup delivers a higher overall quality of football than the European Championships (10%), with 60.1% of men and 53.2% of women planning to follow the tournament “extremely closely”.
The post Flashscore survey: 47% of UK fans tip England for 2026 World Cup fina appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Backseat Gaming
Hub88 integrates Backseat Gaming and Clutch Gaming in double supplier deal
Aggregator adds high-volatility slots including Hades Harvest, Deep Sea Mafia and Radiate to its operator network.
Hub88 has added Backseat Gaming and sister studio Clutch Gaming to its supplier network via a double integration deal, expanding the content available to operators on its aggregation platform.
The integration makes a number of titles available through Hub88, including Hades Harvest, Deep Sea Mafia and Radiate. Hub88 positioned the move as a way to broaden its catalogue with high-volatility content.
Ollie Castleman, Managing Director at Hub88, said: “Backseat Gaming and Clutch Gaming bring a level of craft and personality that stands out.
“By choosing both complementary studios run by the same team, our partners gain the flexibility to reach different player preferences. With both brands already making a splash in the industry, we’re sure this content will become an unmissable addition to lobbies.”
Debbie Cooper, Head of Commercial Operations at Backseat Gaming, said: “Partnering with Hub88 marks an exciting next step for Backseat Gaming and Clutch Gaming as we look to expand our reach across the iGaming industry.
“Hub88’s proven aggregation platform and extensive operator portfolio give us the ideal network to get our content in front of new audiences quickly and efficiently. We’re excited to work alongside their team and bring our game content to their partners.”
The studios said they plan to release one game per week from each provider, with both brands managed by the same team and positioned to target different player tastes.
The post Hub88 integrates Backseat Gaming and Clutch Gaming in double supplier deal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
Mancala Gaming signs QTech distribution deal for emerging markets
Mancala Gaming has struck a distribution deal with QTech to roll out its slots and crash games to operators across emerging markets, the companies said on 21 July 2026.
Under the agreement, QTech will add Mancala Gaming’s catalogue to its aggregator platform. Mancala said its current portfolio includes more than 80 games, spanning slots and crash titles such as Panther Legacy, Coin Craze: Supercharged, Diego’s Spicy Truck, Cheese Chase, Beer Halla and Muscle Tussle.
Mancala Gaming CCO Emiliano Sanchez said: “We’re thrilled to have partnered with QTech to boost our reach and relevance across emerging markets, seamlessly offering our premium slots and crash content to a range of previously undiscovered operators. We now look forward to elevating our ambitions through the sprawling reach of QTech’s platform, particularly in Africa and LatAm where the crash-gaming genre is in such high demand. Mobile-first consumption and speed are the consequential keys to success in these two continents where players want instant entertainment, short sessions, and quick results, even when mobile connectivity is not optimal.
QTech CEO Philip Doftvik added: “Mancala Gaming’s content brings a level of gameplay and interactive engagement that keeps players coming back for more, improving retention and dwell-time metrics. Their growing gaming suite of slots, instant-win, and crash games is built for rapid deployment across any market. So, we’re confident that our operator partners will soon see strong performance courtesy of some multi-layered gameplay experiences which appeal to both seasoned and casual players.
The companies did not disclose commercial terms or name operator launch partners.
The post Mancala Gaming signs QTech distribution deal for emerging markets appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Avanti
Avanti Studios names former Evolution executive Steven Tabone as Commercial Director
Tabone joins from Evolution, where he served as Head of Region, as Avanti targets new operator and aggregator partnerships.
Avanti Studios has appointed Steven Tabone as Commercial Director, hiring the former Evolution Head of Region to lead its commercial strategy and partnership growth.
Tabone spent two years at Evolution, where he worked on commercial strategy, sales and account management, and supported operator relationships, according to the company. Avanti said his remit will include building operator and aggregator partnerships and developing a scalable go-to-market strategy focused on international expansion.
The supplier also pointed to recent activity in Spain and Brazil, citing partnerships with Entain and Bet365 as it scales operations in those markets.
Steven Tabone, Commercial Director at Avanti, said: “I firmly believe Avanti is the most exciting thing to have happened to the iGaming industry for a very long time, so I’m obviously delighted to be joining as Commercial Director during what is undoubtedly a pivotal period for the company.
“What drew me to Avanti is having the chance to build something genuinely different. The team has a clear vision that will disrupt the industry with its innovation and quality, and as an operator, you can either jump on the train with us or be left standing at the station. Being able to shape that journey from the very beginning is a huge opportunity, and one that I’m really looking forward to.”
The post Avanti Studios names former Evolution executive Steven Tabone as Commercial Director appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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