Gaming
VELOCE TEAMS WITH MDRxTECH TO DRIVE WEB3 INNOVATION ACROSS ITS VAST ECOSYSTEM
● Veloce is partnering with Mishcon de Reya’s technology consultancy, MDRxTech, to evolve its ecosystem to Web3
● Veloce is the world’s largest next-gen racing, gaming and media ecosystem with over half a billion monthly views
● Veloce has both real world and digital sports assets, including a team franchise in the environmentally focused Extreme E series, as well as joint ventures with global sports stars such as F1 driver Lando Norris
● Decentralisation and evolution to Web3 will enable greater fan engagement and rewards for the Veloce community as well offer vast utility throughout Veloce’s assets across Racing, Gaming and joint ventures
● Veloce targeting early 2023 for the full digital transformation to be completed
Rupert Svendsen-Cook, CEO of Veloce Group, said: “Since founding the company, our vision has been to create a future-facing sports and media entertainment platform that can not only fuel itself but reward the highly engaged and loyal community of which we have been built upon. In simple terms, we see the adoption of Web3 and specifically the integration of the vast utility that we have within our ecosystem to be an incredibly logical evolution to realise that ambition.
“Sports have traditionally locked fans in ‘push only’ relationships. Web3 changes that. We get half a billion views every month throughout the Veloce sporting, gaming and media ecosystem. We want those fans to have ownership, a realisation of value and tangible influence over our assets based upon their commitment and support of whichever area they engage with us. Ultimately, those who support our mission and values the most will no longer just be spectators, they will be able to join us on this venture together. If Veloce is winning, our community will be winning too. This is about the future of sport and what fans mean to sports.”
What does this mean for Veloce?
● Veloce will be decentralising control over its products and services provided to fans across its ecosystem, using blockchain technology.
● Veloce will release both a utility and governance token, based on a recognised protocol, to be used as the medium for users to participate in the Veloce ecosystem – from real life merch and early bird access to gaming products and events, content access, future in-game transactions, membership and influence on the virtual and physical sporting assets across the ecosystem.
● The transition at Veloce will be reflected internally and across its media network, for which Veloce will continue to educate its audience and community on Web3.
● Veloce will be able to reward its members who are aligned with the firm’s mission, values and ethos by using Web3 technologies such as blockchain.
● The intention is to link the Group’s sporting assets with a foundational layer—a utility token and treasury—to support fan engagement in a decentralised community. Veloce will continue to expand its sporting assets across real world sports and esports, including potential for more esports teams and acquisitions of further franchises in other innovative motorsport series.
Tom Grogan, CEO of MDRxTech, said: “Veloce has already established itself as a leading Web2 business, and has a reputation for disruption and innovation across its racing, gaming and media ecosystem. Veloce’s transition to Web3 is a logical next step in its mission to empower fans to engage in more immersive, rewarding, and innovative ways.
“The Veloce team’s focus on providing real utility and value to their users and fans has been impressive – they are uniquely placed to build on their existing communities and use Web3 technologies to establish themselves as true Web3 pioneers. Veloce’s Web3 ecosystem will allow them to create a “golden thread”, woven in and through their various groups, to ensure their global community is more valuable than the sum of its parts.
“In designing and building this venture with Veloce, we’re also helping navigate legal and compliance complexities to protect the business and its users. The whole project has an overwhelming sense of purpose. We can’t wait for the next stages, and to deliver a revolutionary ecosystem for Veloce’s fans.”
Jack Clarke, Chief Innovation Officer of Veloce Group, added: “There are so many Web3 projects that are fantastic ideas and tech solutions, but they’re starting from zero – they have no users, brand, community, fans, marketing or educational awareness. That’s where Veloce is so uniquely well positioned above anyone else. We have all that Web3 needs to thrive, with highly relevant and effective platforms to educate and onboard our users while at the same time genuinely integrating the technology to provide a much more engaging and rewarding solution to all stakeholders. It’s an incredibly exciting and credible proposition, which makes it even more important to be working with such respected technical advisors MDRxTech in realising what we know is possible.”
Powered by WPeMatico
eSports
Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases
EFG, Hero Esports and Niko Partners survey 8,000 fans across eight markets; 74% report ads and brand presence influence buying.
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports and Niko Partners have released a multi-country Gen Z esports study claiming around 400 million Gen Z consumers (20%) regularly engage with esports. The findings were published on 25th June 2026 in Cannes, France, in a white paper titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend.
The report is based on survey data from 8,000 Gen Z esports fans aged 13-30 across eight markets. It positions esports as a high-attention channel for brands: 85% of respondents said they notice branding in esports, while 74% self-reported that advertising and brand participation in gaming spaces influences their purchasing behaviour. The study also reports that 66% have bought a product following a collaboration or co-branding partnership with an esports team, game or player.
On consumption and fandom touchpoints, the study found 71% regularly watch gaming content, including 66% who watch gaming livestreams and 33% who watch or listen to gaming podcasts. It also points to offline reach: 21% said they regularly attend gaming conventions and esports events, with the average respondent attending at least one in-person event in the past nine months.
The white paper also breaks out claimed purchase categories linked to esports collaborations over the past year, led by food and beverage (33%), electronics (33%) and fashion (32%). Beyond core categories, it reports 28% bought esports-related collectibles, 17% purchased makeup, beauty, or skincare products, and 10% bought from partnered brands in other categories.
Niccolo Maisto, CEO at ESL FACEIT Group said: “Esports has evolved into one of the most effective channels for companies looking to connect with Gen Z audiences at scale. What makes it unique is not just its reach, but the depth of engagement and trust that exists between fans, players, teams, and events. This research shows that esports fans are highly invested participants, not passive viewers, creating an opportunity for brands that show up authentically and build meaningful and lasting connections with this key audience.”
Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports said: “This whitepaper confirms what we at Hero Esports have long believed: esports has evolved into a global cultural and economic force. The data shows an audience that is young, diverse, and deeply engaged. For brands, the message is clear—esports is no longer a niche market; it is the premier platform to connect with the next generation of consumers. We are proud to partner with Niko Partners and EFG to provide this blueprint for understanding and succeeding in this dynamic industry.”
Lisa Hanson, CEO at Niko Partners said: “Our data shows that, much like fans of other sports, Gen Z esports fans are incredibly passionate and have formed strong bonds within their communities. However, their media and consumer affinities extend well beyond gaming and esports, with our research revealing naturally connected interest areas that create valuable overlapping opportunities for brands and partners that show up authentically in this ecosystem.”
The post Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance
HIPTHER Launches HALLO: The Standard in Compliance Expertise
HIPTHER has launched HALLO (Highly Aligned Leaders in Legal Operations), a new platform designed to help organizations find and engage compliance professionals, legal operations experts and industry vendors. The company announced the launch in Europe.
HIPTHER said HALLO brings together a professional directory, industry intelligence hub, community platform and visibility tools aimed at sectors including gaming, fintech, payments, AI, cybersecurity, digital identity, AML and blockchain. The platform includes an Individual Professional Membership and an Enterprise Membership, with HIPTHER stating that all memberships include a 14-day free trial.
Alongside membership options, HIPTHER said compliance professionals can create free, publicly visible “Expert” profiles outlining experience and areas of specialization, with additional premium visibility opportunities available. The company positioned the platform as a way for organizations to discover and evaluate qualified compliance and legal operations expertise.
A core feature at launch is “HALLO Resources,” which HIPTHER described as an open-access compliance intelligence section that aggregates more than 17,000 regulatory and compliance-focused articles from the HIPTHER media network. HIPTHER said the section is updated daily, includes search by topic, jurisdiction and keyword, and covers areas such as gaming, fintech, AI, payments, AML, digital policy, cybersecurity and regulatory affairs.
Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, said: “Navigating the modern regulatory landscape requires more than just standard legal advice; it demands highly specialized, agile compliance expertise. With the launch of HALLO, we are bridging the critical gap between organizations facing complex global standards and the elite professionals who can guide them through. By combining an active directory with a massive intelligence hub, we are setting a new standard for compliance collaboration and empowering businesses to move forward with absolute confidence.”
HIPTHER also linked HALLO to its conference and media activities, including advertising and thought leadership opportunities through the Wayseers Booklet, an annual handbook it said is distributed at HIPTHER conferences in Europe and reaches more than 1,500 professionals across gaming, fintech, AI, compliance and regulatory sectors.
The post HIPTHER Launches HALLO: The Standard in Compliance Expertise appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
1xBet
HLTV Awards returns to Belgrade on January 9, 2027, adding Lifetime Achievement honor
HLTV will stage the HLTV Awards presented by 1xBet in Belgrade, Serbia on January 9, 2027, returning to the Sava Center. The company said more than 1,000 players, industry professionals, creators, and fans are expected to attend.
HLTV also confirmed Dust2 creator David Johnston will feature as an award announcer. HLTV linked the booking to the 25th anniversary of Dust2.
For 2026, HLTV is updating its Hall of Fame process and eligibility rules. Four players will be inducted again, with “at least two and up to three” slots reserved for players from the Counter-Strike 1.6 and early eras. HLTV also removed the former “neo rule,” allowing players to be inducted for their playing careers even if they remain active in other roles such as coaching.
HLTV is adding a Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be decided by the Hall of Fame Board. The ceremony will also move Community Awards onto the main stage show for the first time, rather than the pre-show segment.
Separately, HLTV will kick off the 2027 Awards season with an invite-only “HLTV Awards by 1xBet Launch Party x GRID” in Cologne during the Major. HLTV said industry members can apply for an invite to the ceremony via its awards page.
The post HLTV Awards returns to Belgrade on January 9, 2027, adding Lifetime Achievement honor appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Bragg Gaming Group4 days agoMassive Gaming launches Blitzcrown titles on Superbet Brazil via Bragg Hub
-
Compliance4 days agoHIPTHER Launches HALLO: The Standard in Compliance Expertise
-
Compliance Updates4 days agoHIPTHER Launches HALLO: The Standard in Compliance Expertise
-
7Games4 days ago7Games, Betão & R7 Launch FIRST.bet Sportsbook in Brazil
-
Alex Cuoci4 days agoWealthsimple and Kalshi Partner to Bring Prediction Markets to Canada
-
30-0 Kongeserien3 days agoKongebonus launches 30-0 Kongeserien Eliteserien fantasy draft game
-
Channelisation4 days agoSwedish Gambling Authority consults tighter duty of care rules as channelisation slips
-
Chris Suggett Senior Commercial Manager at Rank4 days agoPragmatic Play builds Mecca Big Bass Double Dab slot exclusive for Rank



