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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.

content distribution

Pascal Gaming signs EGT Digital deal to distribute games via X-Nave

Published

32 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

pascal-gaming-signs-egt-digital-deal-to-distribute-games-via-x-nave

Integration puts Pascal’s slots, crash, instant and table titles in front of EGT Digital’s operator network across Europe, South America and Africa.

Pascal Gaming has signed a distribution agreement with EGT Digital, making its portfolio available through the X-Nave Gaming Aggregator. The deal was announced July 14, 2026.

Under the integration, operators across EGT Digital’s network will be able to access Pascal Gaming’s full range of slots, crash, instant and table games. EGT Digital said its Gaming Aggregator currently offers more than 20,000 games from over 200 studios.

Titles named in the agreement include Avinho R10 and Fortune Ronaldinho, developed in collaboration with football legend Ronaldinho, alongside Golden Tree Buy Bonus, Sugar Balloon and Juicy Storm.

Pascal Gaming said the partnership will expand distribution across Europe, South America and Africa, as it continues certifying titles for regulated markets. The supplier noted it has recently secured certifications for a number of its games in Brazil as part of its expansion in the market.

The post Pascal Gaming signs EGT Digital deal to distribute games via X-Nave appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

David Murray Head of Risk and Trading at AK Bets

AK Bets trading chief says VAR forces more in-play market suspensions

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

ak-bets-trading-chief-says-var-forces-more-in-play-market-suspensions

David Murray tells OLBG video reviews have cut live betting uptime and increased split-second risk decisions for traders.

VAR is reshaping how football is traded in-play, according to David Murray, Head of Risk & Trading at AK Bets, who says video reviews have increased uncertainty and reduced the time live betting markets can stay open.

Speaking to OLBG, Murray said traders now have to suspend markets more often because potential penalties, red cards and offsides can quickly swing outcomes. “Years ago you would only suspend betting for a handful of major incidents,” he said. “Now there are so many situations where something might happen that you’re constantly making judgement calls.”

Murray added that VAR has changed the experience of watching matches for both fans and trading teams. “It’s completely ruined the enjoyment of watching football,” he said. “We’re exactly the same as everybody else. Whether you’ve had a bet yourself or you’re trading the game, you’re afraid to celebrate a goal because you’re immediately wondering whether there’s going to be a VAR check.”

He said the operational impact is stark compared with a decade ago. “If you compare now with 10 years ago, it’s night and day,” Murray said. “The amount of time even the biggest football matches are actually available to bet on has changed because there are simply far more incidents that require markets to be suspended.”

Murray also pointed to scheduled stoppages at this summer’s World Cup, saying hydration breaks can create additional betting moments rather than interrupting activity. “It almost becomes like a mini half-time,” he said. “Customers have a few minutes to think about what they’ve watched, look at the updated prices and decide whether they want to get involved.”

The post AK Bets trading chief says VAR forces more in-play market suspensions appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

N1 Sport Promo: Earn More with Sports Traffic

Published

3 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

n1-sport-promo:-earn-more-with-sports-traffic

With less than two weeks remaining until N1 Sport Promo by N1 Partners comes to an end, the biggest sporting events of July are still ahead: the decisive matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Wimbledon Final, the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, and the closing stages of the Tour de France.

During this period, every additional FTD not only increases your overall payout but also boosts your CPA rate.

SEO & PPC — +€50 CPA for every 10 FTDs, with no cap on CPA increases.
Facebook, In-App, UAC, ASO, Email & SMS — +€10 CPA for every 30 FTDs, up to +€100 above your base CPA.

The full promotion terms are available via the link below.

The N1 Partners affiliate team has shared practical recommendations to help affiliates make the most of the final stage of the promotion.

Strengthen Campaigns That Already Deliver Results

The final weeks of N1 Sport Promo are the best time to increase the volume of successful campaigns and take full advantage of the promotion’s progressive CPA mechanics.

Focus on traffic sources and creatives that are already delivering consistent results. Their growth can be supported by expanding into additional GEOs, regularly refreshing creatives, keeping offers up to date, and reacting quickly to major sporting events.

Even a moderate increase in high-quality traffic can significantly improve your final payout: the more FTDs you generate before the promotion ends, the higher your CPA rate becomes.

Speed Is a Competitive Advantage

The strongest results typically come from campaigns launched ahead of key matches and kept relevant throughout the tournament. Preparing campaigns before kickoff and responding quickly to shifts in audience interest helps affiliates capitalize on peaks in sports traffic and generate more high-quality FTDs.

Mobile users deserve particular attention during this period, as a significant share of the audience engages with sports content while matches are taking place.

Player Activity Peaks in the Final Hours Before Kickoff

During major sporting events, many users register just a few hours before a match begins. That’s why timely creative updates and a strong focus on the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures are essential for maintaining campaign performance.

Key Sporting Events Before the Promo Ends

The sports calendar remains packed over the coming weeks:

July 9 — France vs Morocco (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
July 10 — Spain vs Belgium (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
July 11 — Norway vs England (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
July 14–15 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-finals;
July 19 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Final;
July 12 — Wimbledon Final;
July 19 — Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix;
Through July 26 — Closing stages of the Tour de France.

Each of these events traditionally drives spikes in search demand, social media engagement, and player interest. As a rule, the best-performing campaigns are those that are already delivering results. The final weeks of the promotion are the ideal time to strengthen them through continuous, data-driven optimization.

Looking for even more scaling opportunities? The N1 Partners team has also prepared a comprehensive July guide featuring the month’s biggest sporting events and practical recommendations to help affiliates plan campaigns more effectively and drive additional Tier-1 traffic.

If you haven’t joined N1 Sport Promo yet, contact your affiliate manager or reach out to LeadGen Chris and make the most of the final weeks of the promotion.

Why choose N1 Partners?