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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.

Arizona Department of Gaming

BETER Obtains Supplier License to Operate in Arizona

Published

15 minutes ago

March 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

beter-obtains-supplier-license-to-operate-in-arizona

BETER, the acclaimed provider of live streaming, data, and odds for esports and sports, has expanded into a new US state following the receipt of the Event Wagering Supplier License from the Arizona Department of Gaming.

The supplier license enables BETER to provide its quick-betting content, featuring live streams and live data, to licensed operators in the state for the first time, which includes its exclusive ESportsBattle tournaments and Setka Cup table tennis series.

Both are currently active with the tier-one operator bet365, which has been a long-term partner of BETER. Arizona marks the seventh state where BETER is licensed as the company expands its presence in both the state and the broader US market. BETER holds certifications in North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, and Colorado as well.

BETER provides round-the-clock live streaming, instantaneous data, and highly precise odds for over 700,000 rapid events each year, offering as many as 50 markets per event with an average operator margin exceeding 7.5%.

Its esports portfolio features ESportsBattle tournaments that showcase eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis, and its sports portfolio includes the Setka Cup series along with the BSKT Cup basketball league.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “Securing regulatory approval in Arizona is a pivotal moment in our ongoing US expansion strategy. This marks our seventh state, and we are incredibly proud to continue our trajectory of growth in one of the world’s most dynamic betting markets.

“Our mission has always been to provide operators with the most reliable, high-velocity content available, and receiving the green light from the regulator is a testament to the integrity and quality of our offering.

“We are thrilled to kick off this journey with bet365 and look forward to bringing our industry-leading esports and sports content to even more Arizona players in the near future.”

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “We are proud to announce that we have successfully completed the process of obtaining the Event Wagering Supplier License in the state of Arizona.

The process took us a total of eight months and was one of the most challenging journeys for our team. However, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our legal and integrity teams, we successfully navigated it.

This milestone strengthens our commitment to delivering reliable, compliant, and transparent products to our clients.

“We continue to actively work on securing regulatory approvals in key jurisdictions, including Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois, among others.”

The post BETER Obtains Supplier License to Operate in Arizona appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Fortune Wheel Drops

Just Slots and Hype.Bet Celebrate Year One of Multiplayer Gaming Together

Published

15 minutes ago

March 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

just-slots-and-hype.bet-celebrate-year-one-of-multiplayer-gaming-together

The slot developer Just Slots, based in Malta, participates in Hype.Bet’s anniversary festivities as a highlighted provider partner, offering exclusive contests, Fortune Wheel Drops, and community incentives to players during March.

Just Slots, an iGaming developer recognized for its striking and premium slot games, has revealed a collaboration with Hype.Bet to commemorate the platform’s inaugural anniversary. Taking place in March 2026, the partnership includes Just Slots as a highlighted provider for the significant event, offering unique contests, community-focused rewards, and prominent lobby positioning to users on one of iGaming’s most creative platforms.

Hype.Bet has transformed social casino gaming into the exclusive multiplayer community casino platform where players can join streamers and friends in real-time spins. Since its debut in March 2025, the platform has created a dedicated community centered on its hallmark Multiplayer Rooms feature, where hundreds of players can enter a communal room, observe a host oversee the gameplay, and track their balances fluctuating together, all in real-time.

In March, three Just Slots games—Rain and Ruin, Dynamo’s Show, and Vegan Nightmare—will be highlighted in Hype.Bet’s main lobby section, each adorned with unique halo icons to signify their participation in the anniversary promotion. Gamers can easily identify the highlighted games and dive right into the contest. The month-long competition, taking place from March 1 to 29, encourages participants to compete across the full Just Slots collection on Hype.Bet, offering rewards for individual players and streamers alike. The individual player champion receives a unique, limited-edition Hype.Bet anniversary merchandise pack, a Just Slots merchandise pack, and $500 in cash, whereas the leading streamer is awarded their own exclusive merchandise and a bonus incentive.

Enhancing the thrill, Hype.Bet’s exclusive Fortune Wheel Drops will take place every Monday and Wednesday during the campaign. Participants in Multiplayer Rooms during streamer events can seize $2,500 Fortune Wheel Drops, broadcast live to the community in a distinctly Hype.Bet style. The drops occur twice a day on those days, upholding the platform’s central belief that achieving success is more enjoyable when it is shared.

Nick Formosa, Head of Client Strategy at Just Slots, commented, “Hype.Bet has built something genuinely different in this space with a platform where the community is as much a part of the experience as the games themselves. That’s a philosophy that resonates with us at Just Slots, and this partnership felt like a natural fit from the start. Seeing our titles at the centre of their anniversary celebrations, with players competing and winning together throughout the month, really captures what ‘Play Together, Win Together’ is all about.”

Iana, Head of Marketing at Hype.Bet, added, “Celebrating our first anniversary with partners like Just Slots is a great way to highlight the community experience that defines Hype.Bet. Their games fit perfectly into our Multiplayer Rooms format, where players can watch, compete, and win together. This collaboration brings exciting competitions and rewards to our players while showcasing what social casino gaming can look like when the community comes first.”

After the launch of their inaugural game in 2024, Just Slots has introduced ten titles and established a variety of strategic alliances within the industry, emerging as a significant player in next-generation slot development. Participants can access complete information about the anniversary promotion, including contest rules and the Fortune Wheel Drop timetable, at hype.bet/promotions.

The post Just Slots and Hype.Bet Celebrate Year One of Multiplayer Gaming Together appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Arizona

BETER secures supplier licence in Arizona

Published

15 minutes ago

March 12, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

beter-secures-supplier-licence-in-arizona

BETER, the award-winning provider of live streaming, data and odds for esports and sports, has entered a new US state after being granted the Event Wagering Supplier License by the Arizona Department of Gaming.

The supplier licence allows BETER to deliver its fast-betting content, including live streams and live data, to licensed operators in the state for the first time, including its exclusive ESportsBattle tournaments and Setka Cup table tennis series.

Both are now live with tier-one operator bet365, a long-standing partner of BETER. Arizona is the seventh state in which BETER is now licensed as the company ramps up its presence in the state and the wider US market. BETER is also certified in North Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, Indiana, Iowa and Colorado.

BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced events annually, offering up to 50 markets per event with an average operator margin of 7.5%+.

Its esports portfolio includes ESportsBattle tournaments featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey and eTennis, while its sports portfolio features the Setka Cup series and BSKT Cup basketball league.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “Securing regulatory approval in Arizona is a pivotal moment in our ongoing US expansion strategy. This marks our seventh state, and we are incredibly proud to continue our trajectory of growth in one of the world’s most dynamic betting markets.

“We are thrilled to kick off this journey with bet365 and look forward to bringing our industry-leading esports and sports content to even more Arizona players in the near future.”

Valeriia Tarchynska, Chief Legal Officer at BETER, added: “We are proud to announce that we have successfully completed the process of obtaining the Event Wagering Supplier License in the state of Arizona.

This milestone strengthens our commitment to delivering reliable, compliant, and transparent products to our clients.

“We continue to actively work on securing regulatory approvals in key jurisdictions, including Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois, among others.”

The post BETER secures supplier licence in Arizona appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.