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The boom of virtual gaming tournaments

Published

5 years ago

October 28, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The global gaming industry is undergoing rapid change and is seeing significant growth year on year. It is currently worth around £116 billion, and it is expected to grow by a Compound Annual Growth Rate percentage of 12.9% between now and the year 2027.

There are a number of key factors that are driving this, including the availability and advancement of technology. Both the hardware and software of games consoles, computers and gaming accessories are improving greatly in terms of efficiency, innovation and usability.

Increased access to internet services with decent connection and speed has also influenced this, as well as the relatively new development of influencer marketing through streaming platforms. Of course, it is also undeniable that recent global events have meant that people have had to spend more time at home social distancing and have found themselves playing more games. Gaming has provided entertainment and social engagement to people who may have been too busy to play regularly before. There are game types to suit everybody, from action and adventure games to strategy and puzzle games. All gaming sectors have seen an increase of gameplay during this period and one in particular is the casino industry. In the last several months, many people have signed up to one of many casino sites to play their favourite games like blackjack and poker. The increase of players has been forced by the closure of land-based casinos meaning people had to move online to access casino games. And it was not just normal casino games that had to take place online, many large gambling events like the World Series of Poker tournament also had to move online due to the recent pandemic. Many events and competitions were already taking place virtually, however this year has seen more events than ever make the transition online, is this phenomenon going to stay?

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Virtual Competitions

There has also been a boom in virtual gaming tournaments, or esports tournaments, during this time. The number of tournaments has skyrocketed in comparison to previous years, so too has the audience numbers on streaming sites such as Twitch and YouTube. As conventional tournaments across the sports and entertainment industries have faced cancellations or postponements, virtual competitions have acted as their replacements.

There are three main types of esports that are run as virtual gaming competitions. One is first person shooters (FPSs), these can be player v player or team games, with popular examples including Call of Duty, Doom and Counter-Strike. There are also fighter gaming competitions, such as those held for Super Smash Bros or Street Fighter. However, some of the most anticipated tournaments are those in the Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) category, with League of Legends and DOTA 2 being the big names in this area.

Many players participate in these events due to their financial incentives. Large corporations sponsoring these events draw in professional players with the promise of huge cash prizes. Pros train for these events all year round, gaming to them is a career choice as they fund their passion through prize winning and sponsorship deals scored through their streaming channels. DOTA 2 is by far one of the biggest tournaments in terms of the amount of prize money it gives out. Since the game was released in 2013, there have been 54 tournaments and the average prize has been a hefty sum of $111,111 US dollars. This year’s prize money hase totalled $6 million.

Replacing Sporting Events

Virtual gaming tournaments this year have acted as a good replacement for some of the major sporting events.

After F1 was forced to postpone earlier this year, Torque Esports’ All-Star Esport Battle took over in March. Racers from a variety of motorsports joined in on the action, including the legendary Max Verstappen. Verstappen found victory at the Redline’s Real Racers Never Quit competition series when he won the first qualifier, however the final saw Rudy Van Buren take home the top prize after he dropped out. Van Buren actually holds the title of ‘World’s Fastest Gamer’ in 2017.

There was also the virtual Formula One Grand Prix which attracted both pro gamers and champion F1 stars. This was the second time the event ran and this year it was based on Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. Competitors included Ben Stokes, an England cricketer, and racing driver Alex Albon. The trophy was won by two time Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc.

Another high-profile esports tournament was the Fortnite World Cup. In the summer of 2019, the Fortnite finals were streamed across Twitch, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and within the game itself. Weekly online tournaments started in April, with players from each region competing to qualify for the finals and be in for a chance of winning a cut of the $1,000,000 prize pool. The overall winner was 16 year old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, who lifted the trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. This year however, Epic Games have had to put a stop to the World Cup this year due to the cross-region nature of the event. They instead moved all over competitions exclusively online this year, including the Fortnite Champion Series and the Fortnite Cash Cups.

Virtual Gaming Industry is Growing

At the rate that the virtual gaming industry is growing, in the future we may see the same kind of media coverage and attention for these tournaments as we do some of the major traditional sports competitions. Huge audiences already enjoy watching these events via live streams, and many also place bets too. As stadium events around the world continue to be cancelled and postponed, virtual gaming tournaments are continuing to become a more mainstream form of entertainment for fans of competitive sports.

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Thunderkick reimagines Greek mythology theme in MeJUICEa

Published

58 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

New release provides fresh twist on avalanche mechanic

Independent slots studio Thunderkick has unveiled MeJUICEa, the latest addition to its content portfolio that breathes new life into a proven popular theme, reintroducing Greek mythology’s iconic Gorgon with a modern makeover.

The 6×5 cluster pays title revolves around the Crush feature, a unique take on the fan-favourite avalanche mechanic. Every winning symbol in a cluster and each scatter on the grid becomes heavy, crushing all symbols beneath them on their reels, allowing new icons to drop into place.

All crushed symbols are collected by the Charge Meter, with a crushed wild immediately filling the progress bar. Every time the meter is filled on a single spin, a wild is accumulated, with the total number randomly distributed across the reels once no more wins remain.

A Global Multiplier boosts base game wins further, starting at 1x on every spin and increasing when multipliers up to 50x are crushed by heavy symbols.

The bonus round is triggered by landing three scatters, with 10 free spins awarded. Throughout the feature, the Global Multiplier and Charge Meter are persistent, and each extra scatter grants one additional spin, uncovering divine wins up to 5,000x.

Thunderkick has bolstered its offering with a diverse range of slots in 2025, adding titles such as Archie O’Loggins and the Enchanted Masks, The Wildos 2, Midas Golden Touch 3, and now MeJUICEa to its portfolio as it continues to champion inventive gameplay centred around its signature design style.

Mike Collins, Game Product Owner at Thunderkick, said: “Ancient mythology is a tried and tested theme that continues to garner the attention of players. While these games offer familiarity to consumers, we wanted to revitalise the classic genre to deliver a unique experience to casino lobbies.

“MeJUICEa takes an infamous mythological figure and combines it with retro fruits, cartoon-inspired artwork, and our new Crush feature that we hope will give a new lease of life to the genre.”

The post Thunderkick reimagines Greek mythology theme in MeJUICEa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Galaxsys Launches Updated Client Area for Superior Partner Experience

Published

58 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

George Miller

galaxsys-launches-updated-client-area-for-superior-partner-experience

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Galaxsys launches a more advanced and user-friendly Client Area, offering early access to key updates, multilingual demos, and an expanded asset library — all designed to deliver added value aligned with partner business growth.

Galaxsys, an award-winning provider of fast and slot games, is proud to announce the official launch of its newly enhanced Client Area — a powerful, all-in-one platform designed to guide partners while providing them with a seamless, intuitive, and content-rich experience.

The Client Area is a dedicated, secure portal designed for Galaxsys’ partners. It serves as the central hub where partners can access exclusive content, manage assets, stay informed about new releases, and gain instant access to a full suite of tools tailored to optimize their collaboration with Galaxsys.

With the latest update, the Client Area now features:

Intuitive, Interactive Interface: A sleek, intuitive design allows partners to navigate effortlessly and find what they need faster than ever before.
Personalized Partner Portal: The portal allows each partner to personalize their content feed by saving and liking the materials most relevant to their needs.
Early Access to the Game Roadmap: Partners gain early insights into Galaxsys’ upcoming releases and strategic milestones—keeping them one step ahead.
Customizable Demo Versions: Game previews are available in multiple languages, currencies, and devices to ensure seamless adaptation and localization for every market.
One-Click License & Certification Access: All relevant licensing and certification documents are accessible and verifiable with a single click.
Expanded Asset Library: A full range of branding assets—including logos, banners, game visuals, and Galaxsys’ brand guide—is available for instant download in various formats and sizes.

Teni Grigoryan, Chief Sales and Partner Management Officer at Galaxsys, commented on the new updates: “The new Client Area is more than a platform — it’s about giving our partners more control, more clarity, and more value. We’ve built a space that’s smart, efficient, and responsive to the real needs of the partners we work with. Whether it’s finding the right demo, downloading brand assets, or checking license documents, everything is now just a click away.”

The new Client Area is live now and accessible to all registered partners. Galaxsys encourages its partners to explore the upgraded platform and discover how it can improve their business engagement.

The post Galaxsys Launches Updated Client Area for Superior Partner Experience appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Allan Stone CEO at Intelitics

Movers and Shakers: Why flexibility and accountability are key to customer acquisition

Published

58 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

movers-and-shakers:-why-flexibility-and-accountability-are-key-to-customer-acquisition

“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.

Allan Stone, CEO at Intelitics, looks at recent changes to paid search ads and how a bigger budget is not the magic bullet for successful affiliate programs

Just as online sportsbook and casino operators embraced paid media and paid search as powerful and effective customer acquisition channels, the game has changed again, with new challenges to overcome.

What’s happened? At Google Marketing Live 2025, the search giant announced it will be rolling out ads inside AI-generated answers. This is going to have a seismic impact on paid search, but get it right and marketers can gain a significant advantage over their rivals.

Here’s what the change means for real money gambling brands.

1 – Placement isn’t placement anymore

Your ads won’t show up in traditional search blocks and instead will be embedded inside the AI answer itself. This changes how you write copy for sports-betting-related queries. For example, “Best odds” messaging hits differently when it’s inside an AI response.

2 – Fewer clicks but better players

AI answers will reduce total clicks, but the users who click through will be high-intent bettors. Expect click-through rates to drop, but player conversion rates to rise. In short, it will be a shift from quantity to quality.

3 – Context beats keywords

Forget exact-match keyword strategies, as now, you need to match the intent behind what the user is asking AI across a wide range of sport betting-related queries, from betting lines to game props and even deposit methods.

4 – SEO traffic is about to crater

The AI block dominates the entire screen, especially on mobile, and is likely to be the player’s first port of call. If you’ve been relying on organic search alone for player acquisition, expect fast traffic drops.

5 – Optimise for AI, not just search behaviour

Operators and their marketers will need to rethink how their sportsbook features, player reviews and betting content show up when AI crawls and indexes it. Getting into the AI result is now just as important as ranking in the top positions for competitive keywords.

For me, this is the biggest shift in paid acquisition since the iOS privacy changes hit Meta, and operators and their marketers need to respond immediately.

Those using Performance Max and Google’s AI Max program can get ads in AI Mode, and so long as they adapt their messaging and targeting to this new reality, they will capture higher intent players while their competitors scramble.

Another area where some sportsbooks continue to scramble is performance marketing, where underperforming partner programs are costing operators millions. But not for the reason they think…

It’s not about having partners; it’s about how you manage them. In our experience, the gap between top-performing programs and the rest isn’t budget, it’s the freedom given to affiliate partners.

We’ve evolved from the days when operators controlled every pixel of partner content, and this is welcome progress. But there’s still a disconnect between what we say and what we do – allow me to elaborate.

Operators talk about empowering partners but then micromanage their messaging. They say they want authentic voices but reject content that doesn’t match their corporate tone. They seek performance but restrict the very tactics that drive it.

The reality is that the best partners already understand their audience much better than the operator ever will. They’ve built trust and they know what resonates, but they need to be able to speak authentically.

This is why smart operators focus on frameworks rather than restrictions. And this should include clear brand guidelines that protect compliance, as well as consistent values that maintain brand integrity. It’s also important to provide flexible creative assets that partners can adapt.

But creative freedom is only half the equation.

Without proper measurement, the partnership program is flying blind, and, in most cases, operators can’t answer even the most basic questions like “Which partners drive actual player value beyond initial sign up?” and “What’s the true LTV of players from different channels?”.

When budgets get tight, the first things to be cut are partnerships that the operator can’t prove are working. The market leaders have figured this out and have built both flexibility and accountability into their programs.

And at Intelitics, we are proud to be working with a growing number of operators who are using our marketing-tech suite and services to streamline tracking, automate reporting and push into new customer acquisition channels, including paid media and paid search.

In short, we help them bring flexibility and accountability to their acquisition efforts.

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