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Revealed: worst areas in England for gamers during lockdown
- 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 10th 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.
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community
Score Queens launches with free-to-play World Cup predictor game Palace Picks
Score Queens, a new female-first sports gaming community, has launched with Palace Picks, a free-to-play daily predictor game created for this summer’s World Cup.
Palace Picks runs throughout the tournament and asks players to answer five multiple-choice predictor questions plus one score prediction linked to that day’s matches. Players collect “Jewels” through participation, which the company says can be used to unlock raffle tickets for the headline prize.
The product has been developed in collaboration with Two-Up, a digital agency focused on sports, betting and gaming experiences. Score Queens said the partnership combines its brand positioning with Two-Up’s product, UX and digital delivery work.
The launch prize, sponsored by Vision4Sport, is a Monaco Grand Prix 2027 experience for one winner and a guest. The package includes Friday attendance with two grandstand passes, two superyacht party tickets in Port Hercule with food and drinks, and £1,500 towards flights and accommodation. Score Queens values the prize at over £5,000.
Kitty Miller, Founder of Score Queens, said: “Score Queens came from a very simple frustration. Women are already watching sport, talking about sport and being part of the big sporting moments, but so much of the betting and gaming world still feels like it wasn’t built with us in mind.
“Palace Picks is our first step in changing that. It is free to play, easy to join, and designed to bring more women into the sporting conversation through play, prediction, culture and community. We wanted to create something that feels fun, social and accessible, without dumbing anything down.”
The post Score Queens launches with free-to-play World Cup predictor game Palace Picks appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
content-aggregation
SkillOnNet launches Konami Online Interactive iGaming content in Mexico
SkillOnNet has launched Konami Online Interactive’s iGaming portfolio in Mexico, making Konami Gaming, Inc. casino titles available to players via its Spanish-language site, PlayUZU.
Mexico is the first market in what the companies described as a broader multi-country rollout planned over the coming months, targeting additional regulated jurisdictions.
PlayUZU players in Mexico will have access to Konami slot titles including China Shores
, All Aboard
, African Diamond
and BOMBERMAN BLAST
, a game inspired by Konami’s BOMBERMAN video games.
Jani Kontturi, Head of Games at SkillOnNet said: “Konami Online Interactive has developed some of the industry’s most recognisable casino titles, and we’re proud to partner with them to introduce this content to our players in Mexico. These are iconic games with proven appeal both on land and online.”
Eduardo Aching, Vice President of iGaming & International Gaming Operations at Konami Gaming, Inc. said: “SkillOnNet’s proven track record makes them an ideal partner as we continue to grow the reach of Konami content internationally. We are excited to expand our games with players in Mexico through this collaboration and further strengthen our presence in Latin America.”
The post SkillOnNet launches Konami Online Interactive iGaming content in Mexico appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Ben Bradtke Co-Founder of ThrillTech
ThrillTech rolls out ThrillPots jackpot side-bet with Lottomart in UK and Gibraltar
Lottomart launches Flash Pots, adding ThrillTech’s operator-branded jackpots to its regulated markets.
ThrillTech has launched its ThrillPots
side-bet jackpot product with Lottomart across the operator’s regulated UK and Gibraltar markets.
The rollout introduces Flash Pots, a ThrillPots
-powered jackpot game integrated within Lottomart’s gaming platform. ThrillTech said the deployment expands its UK footprint and adds another regulated-market operator to its integration network.
ThrillPots
is an operator-branded jackpot layer designed to sit alongside existing betting and gaming products. Players opt in by placing a small additional stake alongside eligible gameplay—such as slots, live casino games or sports bets—for a chance to enter pooled jackpot prizes.
Ben Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Lottomart is exactly the kind of operator ThrillPots is built for. Lottomart is renowned for offering the excitement of jackpots and we’re delighted that ThrillPots
can elevate the experience for players.”
Chris Ruddock, Commercial Director at Lottomart commented: “Jackpot-centric gaming is core to the Lottomart experience, making this partnership a natural evolution of our offering. While our players are already engaged with our Jackpot pooled prizes, this collaboration allows us to bring a uniquely branded proposition to our players. We are thrilled to introduce Flash Pots, our new ThrillPots
powered jackpot, to the site.”
ThrillTech said it is now live across 10 regulated jurisdictions and has recently announced partnerships with NordPlay, EstrelaBet in Brazil, the Tote Group and BVGroup’s UK brands such as Betano, talkSPORT Bet and Heart Bingo. The company also said it holds ISO 27001 certification.
The post ThrillTech rolls out ThrillPots jackpot side-bet with Lottomart in UK and Gibraltar appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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