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Revealed: worst areas in England for gamers during lockdown

Published

6 years ago

June 3, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

South West bottom of the pile for broadband speeds, with five of the ten areas where gamers are most likely to disrupt gameplay
Cities of London and Westminster the worst area for access to superfast broadband
Kingston Upon Hull ranks the highest for the best place to play video games online based on average speeds and availability of superfast broadband

New research from comparethemarket.com reveals the areas in England that are the worst for gamers, with gameplay in Central Devon the most likely to be disrupted due to poor broadband speeds.

The research analyses the average download speed (Mbps), superfast broadband availability and the percentage of households’ ability to receive decent broadband.

Gamers based in the South West score the least points when it comes to connection speed, with five out of the top ten worst hit areas in England. With Central Devon having the dubious distinction of being the worst in the country, Torridge and West Devon, Forest of Dean, Somerton and Frome, and Tiverton and Honiton all suffer disruption from poorer broadband speeds.

Some may be surprised to see the Cities of London and Westminster ranked the 10^th worst constituency for gamers overall. When it comes to access to superfast broadband, this area takes the last place out of all areas, with a quarter unable to access the very fastest connection. By comparison, in Luton North and Leicester West, superfast broadband availability is 100%.

Kingston Upon Hull is hailed as the best place for gamers, ranking top in the country for average speeds and the availability of superfast broadband. Less than 2% of the area’s households have access to decent broadband. Other cities areas that rank highly for gamers include Grimsby, Gillingham and Rainham in the South East, and Nottingham North in the East Midlands.

Top 10 – England’s worst areas for gamers

Rank	Area Name	Region	Average speed (MBPS)	Superfast availability	Unable to receive decent broadband
10	Cities of London and Westminster	London	34.41	75%	0%
9	Somerton and Frome	South West	42.75	82%	10%
8	Harwich and North Essex	East of England	37.06	83%	9%
7	Tiverton and Honiton	South West	31.89	81%	9%
6	North Herefordshire	West Midlands	35.09	80%	9%
5	Penrith and The Border	North West	36.01	81%	12%
4	Ludlow	West Midlands	33.09	81%	11%
3	Forest of Dean	South West	31.61	79%	10%
2	Torridge and West Devon	South West	34.01	81%	12%
1	Central Devon	South West	34.05	77%	12%

Top 10 – England’s best areas for gamers

Rank	Area Name	Region	Average speed (MBPS)	Superfast availability	Unable to receive decent broadband
1	Kingston upon Hull East	Yorkshire and The Humber	137.44	99%	1%
2	Kingston upon Hull North	Yorkshire and The Humber	132.15	100%	1%
3	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle	Yorkshire and The Humber	122.24	99%	2%
4	Crawley	South East	88.40	99%	0%
5	Filton and Bradley Stoke	South West	93.49	98%	1%
6	Luton North	East of England	84.10	100%	0%
7	Morecambe and Lunesdale	North West	87.70	99%	0%
8	Great Grimsby	Yorkshire and The Humber	89.56	98%	1%
9	Stevenage	East of England	86.93	99%	0%
10	Gillingham and Rainham	South East	86.61	99%	0%

Holly Niblett, head of digital at comparethemarket.com, commented:

“Lockdown has seen a surge in the number of people relying on the internet for work and leisure. There is a wide disparity in the connection speeds and access to superfast broadband across the country, with people facing a particularly hostile environment in parts of the south west. For many, a reliable internet connection is a lifeline during a difficult time.

“Our new speed-test tool allows people to see how fast their broadband speed is and what better deals and speed is available in their area, because for many households, a fast download speed is a deal-breaker when it comes to choosing a provider. Perhaps unsurprisingly, we have seen a steep rise in the number of customers switching online to the fastest packages during isolation.”

comparethemarket’s tips for improving your broadband speed:

1. Test the speed of your broadband connection

You can run a speed test on comparethemarket’s new speed-checker tool, which enables users to check how long it will take to download a film or game in their area: http://www.comparethemarket.com/broadband/speed-test You’ll be shown both your download and upload speeds.

2. Move your router away from other devices

Keep your router as far away as possible from other electrical equipment and devices that emit wireless signals, such as cordless phones, baby monitors and computer speakers. Try to place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor and keep it switched on.

3. Turn off WiFi on devices you’re not using

If you have multiple devices such as tablets and smartphones running in the background, it can slow down your broadband, so try switching WiFi off on these when you’re not using them. You should also avoid carrying out data-heavy tasks like HD streaming, gaming or video calls at the same time as others in your household.

4. Give your computer a spring clean

There are many applications on your PC that could affect your broadband speed, some without you even realising it. A few simple quick fixes include making sure your anti-virus software is up to date, making sure you’re using the latest version of your web browser, such as Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge and clearing your cache and browser history.

For more information on the research, please go to: https://www.comparethemarket.com/broadband/content/best-cities-in-england-for-gamers/

Methodology:
The following table reveals the areas of England where gamers are most likely to disrupt gameplay due to bad broadband speeds.

Data taken directly from the source are in the columns titled Area name, Region, Average speed (MBPS), Superfast availability and unable to receive decent broadband.

To calculate the index we first normalised the data categories individually from 0 to 1 and then summed the results.

On this scale, for

Average speed – The higher index would be weighted closer to 1 – detailed in the average speed weighting column
Superfast availability – The higher index is weighted closer to 1 – detailed in the superfast weighting column
Unable to receive decent broadband – The higher index is weighted closer to 0 – detailed in the Decent broadband weighting column

Total and rankings were determined by the above.

Casino Content

Habanero launches Nuwa Deluxe slot with variable paylines and two-tier free spins

Published

3 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

habanero-launches-nuwa-deluxe-slot-with-variable-paylines-and-two-tier-free-spins

Habanero has launched Nuwa Deluxe, a 5×3 slot themed around Chinese mythology. The game introduces a variable payline system and a progression-style Free Games feature that can unlock a second-tier bonus, according to the supplier.

In the base game, paylines can upgrade at random on any spin, moving from 28 to 38, 58 or 88 active lines. The title also includes expanding Wilds that cover the entire first and third reels.

During Free Games, players collect five element symbols. Completing the set during the round unlocks Super Free Games, where full-reel Wilds are guaranteed on two reels on every spin.

Habanero said Nuwa Deluxe supports its Jackpot Race and Buy Feature. The launch follows recent releases Steampunk Plinko and Raiden Shogun.

Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, commented: “Nuwa Deluxe is an exciting new release that boasts a variable payline system to keep engagement high at the base game, while the element collection mechanic in free spins gives players something to work towards beyond simply triggering the bonus.

“The Super Free Games tier is where the action really kicks in with guaranteed full-reel Wilds on every spin. It is another strong addition to our portfolio and one we expect to have a genuine impact with players.”

The post Habanero launches Nuwa Deluxe slot with variable paylines and two-tier free spins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BetVictor

BetVictor Launches 100/1 England World Cup Offer

Published

3 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

betvictor-launches-100/1-england-world-cup-offer

BVGroup’s flagship brand, BetVictor, has launched a new World Cup promotion offering new customers an enhanced 100/1 odds on England to win this summer’s tournament, as excitement continues to build ahead of football’s biggest stage.

The enhanced price forms part of BetVictor’s wider World Cup campaign, with the brand set to roll out a range of offers, odds boosts and engagement activations throughout the tournament.

With England widely viewed as one of the strongest teams heading into the competition, BetVictor’s latest campaign is designed to tap into growing excitement around the Three Lions and the return of international football’s biggest stage.

The campaign is being supported by a bespoke TV advert, alongside radio and OOH activity, as BetVictor continues to expand its football-focused marketing around major sporting events.

BetVictor spokesman Sam Boswell said: “We know everyone’s favourite thing when having a flutter is getting a bit of value, which is exactly why we’re offering new customers 100/1 on England to finally bring football home this summer. It’s a huge price for what we hope could be a massive moment for the Three Lions and their fans. All our existing players will also get to join in the fun with exciting Super Boosts and Odds Boost tokens throughout the tournament which promises to be bigger and better than any World Cup we have seen before.”

The enhanced 100/1 offer is available for a limited period via the BetVictor app and website.

The post BetVictor Launches 100/1 England World Cup Offer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

executive-moves

Yaspa hires Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales

Published

3 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

yaspa-hires-justin-fears-as-us-director,-enterprise-sales

Yaspa has appointed US fintech and gaming executive Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales, as the company pushes further into North America. The company said Fears will be based in its Atlanta office and will lead strategic commercial growth across the region.

Yaspa said Fears will focus on working with gaming operators to modernise payment experiences using real-time bank payments and transaction intelligence, and will work with its US and global commercial leadership teams to scale partnerships and adoption.

Fears brings more than 18 years of experience across payments, fintech, SaaS, and AML compliance in the gaming sector, according to Yaspa. His previous roles include senior positions at Kinectify, First Data Corporation, Glory Global Solutions, DiTronics Financial Services, NEXGEN Technology, and CASINOMONEY. Yaspa also noted he is a United States Air Force veteran.

James Neville, CEO of Yaspa, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Justin to the team as we accelerate our footprint in the US market. His deep operational understanding of gaming-focused financial infrastructure, compliance technologies, and enterprise sales leadership makes him an incredible asset. Justin’s appointment further strengthens our local team and underscores our commitment to helping North American operators lower costs, reduce fraud, and elevate the player experience through open banking.”

Fears said: “I’m excited to join Yaspa at such an important stage in the company’s growth journey. The combination of open banking, innovative payment solutions, and intelligent transaction data represents a significant opportunity within the US iGaming market, particularly as operators continue to prioritise player experience, fraud reduction, and payment efficiency. Yaspa has built an innovative platform uniquely positioned to support the evolving needs of regulated operators, and I look forward to helping expand the company’s presence and strategic partnerships across the US.”

Yaspa said it was named winner of the Real-Time Payments Innovation award at the 2025 Payments Awards and was included in the CB Insights Top 100 Fintechs list in the past 12 months. The company also referenced a $12m investment round in July led by Discerning Capital, and said it has opened a new Atlanta office and a tech hub in Leeds, UK, in August 2025.

The post Yaspa hires Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.