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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.

Caesars Digital

RubyPlay partners with Caesars Entertainment in Ontario to advance North American expansion

Published

45 minutes ago

April 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

rubyplay-partners-with-caesars-entertainment-in-ontario-to-advance-north-american-expansion

RubyPlay, a studio-based content ecosystem, is further strengthening its presence in Ontario as part of its broader North American growth strategy with a new partnership with Caesars Entertainment.

The partnership will see a curated selection of RubyPlay’s fan-favourite titles, including JMania® Lucky Pyggs, Mad Hit® Mr Coin and Diamond Explosion® 7s SE, made available on Caesars Entertainment’s online casino platforms including Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino.

This partnership is also set to expand in the near future with the addition of content from Koala Games, one of RubyPlay’s most popular titles. The launch with Caesars represents a significant milestone for RubyPlay in Ontario, building on its momentum following its initial entry into the province early last year, where its portfolio of high-performance games has already gained traction with top-tier operators.

Partnering with Caesars Digital underscores RubyPlay’s growing influence and reputation within a key global territory, as well as the strength of its multi-studio platform, which is designed to bring tailored content to regulated markets worldwide. The partnership also forms part of a broader collaboration, with potential to expand into additional North American markets.

Dima Reiderman, CCO at RubyPlay, said: “By launching with one of the most trusted names in gaming, we’re not only expanding our footprint in Ontario but also demonstrating the value of our multi-studio model.”

“Launching with Caesars in Ontario allows us to further scale our content offering within a highly competitive regulated market. Our approach is to deliver high-performing titles that align with each operator’s needs, combining the flexibility required for local markets with the consistency needed to scale, while ensuring efficient rollout and strong market relevance.”

Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, added: “We’re committed to partnering with brands that bring high-quality, differentiated content to our players.

“RubyPlay provides exactly that with its steady pipeline of tailored, high‑performance titles and we’re looking forward to introducing their games to our online casino customers in Ontario and enhancing our content offering in the province.”

The post RubyPlay partners with Caesars Entertainment in Ontario to advance North American expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Evoplay

Evoplay spins back time with vibrant new release Jackmaster Fruits

Published

45 minutes ago

April 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

evoplay-spins-back-time-with-vibrant-new-release-jackmaster-fruits

Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, is reinventing a classic with the launch of Jackmaster Fruits, a high-energy title that blends vintage design with modern rewards.

Inspired by traditional fruit machines, Jackmaster Fruits delivers a nostalgic experience, featuring bright fruit symbols, iconic BARs, lucky horseshoes, ringing bells, Jokers and the legendary red 7.

While rooted in tradition, the title introduces a suite of new engaging features to elevate gameplay. Wild symbols substitute for all other icons, helping to complete winning combinations, while Scatter symbols can land anywhere on the reels to trigger further rewarding opportunities.

Landing three or more Scatters in the main game activates the Free Spins bonus, and any additional scatters that land during the feature can subsequently trigger the Extra Free Spins.

For those looking to jump straight into the round, a Bonus Buy option offers the chance to instantly trigger Free Spins, with players in selected markets able to choose between 10, 20 or 30 spins.

With a top Epic prize of up to 100x the bet, Jackmaster Fruits delivers strong retention and exciting win potential in every session.

Using bold visuals and mechanics throughout, Evoplay’s latest standout release delivers a fresh take on a beloved classic, appealing to both traditional slot enthusiasts and modern players.

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “When designing Jackmaster Fruits, we wanted to capture the timeless appeal of traditional slot machines while enhancing the experience with modern features and mechanics.

“The result is a game that feels instantly familiar but still just as exciting at every turn, combining simple gameplay with strong win potential. It’s a perfect example of how we continue to evolve classic concepts for today’s players.”

The post Evoplay spins back time with vibrant new release Jackmaster Fruits appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

David Reynolds

Games Global and PearFiction Studios serve up bold flavours in Noodle Riches™ Loot Collect™

Published

45 minutes ago

April 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

games-global-and-pearfiction-studios-serve-up-bold-flavours-in-noodle-riches-loot-collect

Games Global, together with exclusive studio partner PearFiction Studios, has launched Noodle Riches Loot Collect, a character-driven slot combining refined visuals with high-performing mechanics and maximum win potential of 25,000x.

Set in a lively noodle bar, the 5×4, 25-payline slot follows the world of ramen-loving pandas and a playful master-chef cat, with gameplay shaped around evolving features and varied rewards designed to sustain engagement.

At the core is the Loot Collect feature, where collect symbols landing on reels one and five gather values and modifiers from across the reels, including cash prizes, multipliers, boosters and additional Free Spins, bringing multiple elements together on each spin.

The NoodleTastic Zone adds further depth, activated when specific symbols are collected during Free Spins. Once activated, the zone applies multipliers to cash values that land within, increasing the value of collected rewards.

Additional engagement comes via the Catchinko Bonus, which can award instant cash and jackpot prizes, or combinations of Free Spins modes. Fixed jackpots include Mini, Minor, Major, Grand, and Epic.

Four distinct Free Spins modes expand the experience, activated by collecting pot symbols linked to each respective mode. No Low Free spins removes lower-value symbols, Cascade introduces consecutive win opportunities, Jumbo enhances symbol coverage across reels, and Expand increases the layout to 5×8 with 50 paylines. These modes can appear individually or in combination, delivering further variety to gameplay.

Combining a distinctive theme with a strong mix of proven mechanics, Noodle Riches Loot Collect delivers a feature-rich addition to Games Global’s growing portfolio.

Jeremy Coleman, Commercial Director at PearFiction Studios, said: “Noodle Riches Loot Collect focuses on combining multiple feature types into one cohesive experience. From collect mechanics to varied Free Spins modes, the goal was to build a game with a clear identity that carries through every part of the experience, from the characters to the pacing.”

David Reynolds, Director of Games Strategy and Partner Management at Games Global, said: “PearFiction Studios’ Noodle Riches Loot Collect combines a distinctive theme with a rich, well-executed feature set, creating a highly engaging and immersive player experience — and a strong addition to our portfolio.”

The post Games Global and PearFiction Studios serve up bold flavours in Noodle Riches™ Loot Collect™ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.