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Revealed: worst areas in England for gamers during lockdown

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  • 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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Groove confirms iGB L!VE 2026 attendance in London

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Aggregator and platform provider says it will bring a full commercial delegation to ExCeL on 1-2 July.

Groove has confirmed it will attend iGB L!VE 2026, running 1-2 July at ExCeL London. The company said it will bring a full commercial delegation to meet operators and affiliates.

The supplier positions the event as a key mid-year deal-making moment. Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “iGB L!VE is the industry’s mid-year performance review. It is where conversations become commercial realities. We are bringing our most advanced platform yet, designed to help operators launch fast, adapt locally, and scale across complex regulatory environments.”

Meltzer also pointed to seasonality and content breadth, adding: “The timing is critical. With the European football season revenue peak approaching, operators need a partner who delivers structural resilience and content that performs. Groove delivers exactly that. Our 20,000+ games from 150+ providers, unified through a single API, give partners the agility they need to capture momentum and convert it into measurable growth.”

Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, said: “iGB L!VE is where the industry’s most ambitious decision-makers converge. We are not here to hand out brochures. We are here to have conversations that turn into performance.” She added: “Every meaningful partnership starts with a conversation, and this event is where those conversations happen at scale. Whether it is emerging affiliates seeking new opportunities, established operators evaluating MarTech solutions, or startups seeking investor visibility through the iGB Startup Accelerator, Groove is positioned to deliver exactly what they need: speed, stability, and commercial precision.”

Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, who will lead the company’s presence on the show floor, said: “We are arriving with a clear objective: to forge strategic partnerships that unlock new markets and drive sustainable growth. Our platform’s modular architecture, combined with advanced player engagement tools and real-time analytics, gives operators a genuine competitive edge.”

The post Groove confirms iGB L!VE 2026 attendance in London appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Golden Boomerang Awards First Half by Boomerang Partners wrapped: next prize – the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience

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The third season of the Golden Boomerang Awards by Boomerang Partners is not losing momentum. Following the conclusion of the First Half, the tournament has confirmed one of the main ideas behind this season: long-term mechanics can increase partner engagement, while a sports-focused strategy can help turn that activity into measurable results.

First Half leaderboard and highlights

The Kickoff stage concluded on June 9, with impressive participant engagement. Mystery Boxes were raffled off among all participants, featuring exclusive prizes such as limited-edition FIFA World Cup 2026 jerseys – three per box, each representing a different participating country. The winner of this opening stage – team AskBonus – will attend the Wimbledon Championships from June 29 to July 12, 2026. For Boomerang Partners, sport remains one of the key areas of expertise, which is why it runs through the tournament mechanics, partner activities, and even the prize pool.

The rules are the same across all stages: the top 10 teams qualify for a random draw for the main stage prize, while Mystery Boxes are available to all active participants – not only the leaders. This keeps the competition open for everyone.

Tracking the leaders: The GBA 2026 standings update

Currently, a clear leader has emerged in the tournament. Team Lily has already scored 6,029 points (of which nearly 5,200 points come from sports FTDs). Team O follows in second place with 2,677 points. The rest of the top five – third, fourth, and fifth – currently hold 750, 504, and 341 points respectively. At the same time, the leaderboard is changing dynamically, driven by high participant activity.

The sports vertical accounts for nearly half of all FTD activity

According to Boomerang Partners, about half of the FTDs brought by Golden Boomerang Awards participants to the partner brands in the company’s portfolio come from the sports segment. This confirms a strong audience interest in sports events, especially given the active stage of the FIFA World Cup in North America.

The organizers have noted on multiple occasions that the third season of GBA prioritizes long-term strategy over participants’ short-term successes. This point is backed up by data on activities in the online casino segment. So, about a third of participating teams actively use the LUCKY FIVE mechanic. It allows affiliate teams to earn 5 bonus points per week if they generate 10 or more Casino FTDs during the reporting week.

The second half has introduced upgraded mechanics

The Second Half kicked off on June 10 – the winner of this stage will visit the Formula 1 Grand Prix on September 6. The stage runs through July 19. Thus, even for those joining the race now, there is every chance of catching up with the leaders and seriously competing for the prize.

To help teams with this, Boomerang Partners introduced a key feature for the Second Half aimed at new participants – WELCOME BOOST. Every new affiliate team will receive double points for every FTD throughout the first 14 days from the moment of joining. The LUCKY FIVE and LAST MINUTES WINNER mechanics also continue to be active, with the latter allowing participants to earn three times the points for every FTD during the last 7 days of the stage. In addition, the value of sports FTDs has increased – compared to the first stage, teams can now earn 3 points instead of 2 for each such FTD. This will be particularly beneficial for sports-focused affiliates, especially given that the stage runs alongside the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon, both of which are driving high demand from audiences.

Race remains open at any stage of the season

As soon as the Second Half concludes, the Overtime stage will begin, featuring its own prizes, bonus mechanics, and enhanced point scoring. This keeps the tournament challenges completely open, giving every active participant a real opportunity to reach the top ranks. The awards ceremony in 11 categories will take place in September in Lisbon as part of the SBC Summit, allowing winners to gain not just physical prizes, but a sense of belonging among the best in the affiliate marketing industry – a feeling that fully aligns with the concept of the third season, Beyond the Moment. More details are available on the official Golden Boomerang Awards website.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The Agency’s clients’ portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across multiple markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide incentive programs and 24/7 multilingual support.

Disclaimer:

The FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Championships are made for descriptive purposes only. Boomerang Partners is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to these entities in any way.

The post Golden Boomerang Awards First Half by Boomerang Partners wrapped: next prize – the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Boomerang Partners

Golden Boomerang Awards First Half by Boomerang Partners wrapped: next prize – the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience

Published

on

golden-boomerang-awards-first-half-by-boomerang-partners-wrapped:-next-prize-–-the-formula-1-grand-prix-experience

The third season of the Golden Boomerang Awards by Boomerang Partners is not losing momentum. Following the conclusion of the First Half, the tournament has confirmed one of the main ideas behind this season: long-term mechanics can increase partner engagement, while a sports-focused strategy can help turn that activity into measurable results.

First Half leaderboard and highlights

The Kickoff stage concluded on June 9, with impressive participant engagement. Mystery Boxes were raffled off among all participants, featuring exclusive prizes such as limited-edition FIFA World Cup 2026 jerseys – three per box, each representing a different participating country. The winner of this opening stage – team AskBonus – will attend the Wimbledon Championships from June 29 to July 12, 2026. For Boomerang Partners, sport remains one of the key areas of expertise, which is why it runs through the tournament mechanics, partner activities, and even the prize pool.

The rules are the same across all stages: the top 10 teams qualify for a random draw for the main stage prize, while Mystery Boxes are available to all active participants – not only the leaders. This keeps the competition open for everyone.

Tracking the leaders: The GBA 2026 standings update

Currently, a clear leader has emerged in the tournament. Team Lily has already scored 6,029 points (of which nearly 5,200 points come from sports FTDs). Team O follows in second place with 2,677 points. The rest of the top five – third, fourth, and fifth – currently hold 750, 504, and 341 points respectively. At the same time, the leaderboard is changing dynamically, driven by high participant activity.

The sports vertical accounts for nearly half of all FTD activity

According to Boomerang Partners, about half of the FTDs brought by Golden Boomerang Awards participants to the partner brands in the company’s portfolio come from the sports segment. This confirms a strong audience interest in sports events, especially given the active stage of the FIFA World Cup in North America.

The organizers have noted on multiple occasions that the third season of GBA prioritizes long-term strategy over participants’ short-term successes. This point is backed up by data on activities in the online casino segment. So, about a third of participating teams actively use the LUCKY FIVE mechanic. It allows affiliate teams to earn 5 bonus points per week if they generate 10 or more Casino FTDs during the reporting week.

The second half has introduced upgraded mechanics

The Second Half kicked off on June 10 – the winner of this stage will visit the Formula 1 Grand Prix on September 6. The stage runs through July 19. Thus, even for those joining the race now, there is every chance of catching up with the leaders and seriously competing for the prize.

To help teams with this, Boomerang Partners introduced a key feature for the Second Half aimed at new participants – WELCOME BOOST. Every new affiliate team will receive double points for every FTD throughout the first 14 days from the moment of joining. The LUCKY FIVE and LAST MINUTES WINNER mechanics also continue to be active, with the latter allowing participants to earn three times the points for every FTD during the last 7 days of the stage. In addition, the value of sports FTDs has increased – compared to the first stage, teams can now earn 3 points instead of 2 for each such FTD. This will be particularly beneficial for sports-focused affiliates, especially given that the stage runs alongside the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon, both of which are driving high demand from audiences.

Race remains open at any stage of the season

As soon as the Second Half concludes, the Overtime stage will begin, featuring its own prizes, bonus mechanics, and enhanced point scoring. This keeps the tournament challenges completely open, giving every active participant a real opportunity to reach the top ranks. The awards ceremony in 11 categories will take place in September in Lisbon as part of the SBC Summit, allowing winners to gain not just physical prizes, but a sense of belonging among the best in the affiliate marketing industry – a feeling that fully aligns with the concept of the third season, Beyond the Moment. More details are available on the official Golden Boomerang Awards website.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The Agency’s clients’ portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across multiple markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide incentive programs and 24/7 multilingual support.

Disclaimer:

The FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Championships are made for descriptive purposes only. Boomerang Partners is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to these entities in any way.

The post Golden Boomerang Awards First Half by Boomerang Partners wrapped: next prize – the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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