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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.

Africa

Booming Games teams up with Agreegain to power continued African growth

Published

9 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-teams-up-with-agreegain-to-power-continued-african-growth

Booming Games has teamed up with Agreegain to drive growth in various markets throughout Africa.
Booming Games will utilize Agreegain’s aggregation platform to link with casino operators throughout the continent.

Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has today revealed a strategic alliance with Agreegain, a rapidly expanding iGaming solutions provider. This action will stimulate a fresh surge of growth for Booming Games throughout Africa, as the company aims to quickly broaden its international footprint in regulated markets.

The collaboration will link Booming Games with numerous casino operators in Africa via Agreegain’s game aggregation platform, employing advanced technology to provide compliant, quick integrations effortlessly. Booming Games’ titles will be accessible on Agreegain’s API platform, utilized by top operators throughout Africa. The platform features more than 10,000 games, which encompass slots, live casino options, and table games.

Booming Games is launching more titles than ever and aims to enhance both the quantity and quality of its lineup in 2026. Teaming up with Agreegain further exemplifies its commitment to delivering top-notch games to players worldwide, as Booming Games will extend the availability of these titles throughout Africa.

The collaboration reinforces Booming Games’ dedication to providing an exceptional experience for players through the use of advanced technology. With each new game, Booming Games also creates customized content for specific markets. The gaming sector in Africa has recently exceeded $600 million in revenue, presenting a distinct opportunity for Booming Games to grow its offerings.

Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, said: “We are thrilled to announce our new strategic partnership with Agreegain, marking an exciting milestone forward in enhancing our gaming offering. This collaboration strengthens our commitment in delivering innovative gaming experience and engaging gameplay to players globally.”

Maria Afzaal, Senior Partner Manager at Agreegain, said: “Partnering with Booming Games marks an exciting step forward in expanding our portfolio with a leading provider known for its dynamic and engaging slot content. Licensed in all major jurisdictions, most notably Malta and the United Kingdom, Booming Games demonstrates a strong commitment to quality, compliance, and innovation — making them a valuable addition to our growing network of trusted global partners.”

The post Booming Games teams up with Agreegain to power continued African growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

EveryMatrix

EveryMatrix expands global lottery footprint with NASPL membership

Published

9 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

everymatrix-expands-global-lottery-footprint-with-naspl-membership

Leading iGaming technology provider EveryMatrix has expanded its global national lottery footprint by becoming a member of the North American Association of State & Provincial Lotteries (NASPL), reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to the North American market.

NASPL membership highlights EveryMatrix’s strategy of supporting public-sector lotteries as it continues to grow its presence across the continent while strengthening its visibility and credibility within the US lottery ecosystem.

Across the United States, multiple lotteries are currently investing in or exploring digital transformation and omnichannel player engagement initiatives, with a strong focus on responsible gaming. These are areas where EveryMatrix has extensive experience, having delivered large-scale technology solutions to major European lottery operators.

The tier-one turnkey platform supplier already works with several of Europe’s largest national lotteries and holds Associate membership with both the World Lottery Association (WLA) and European Lotteries (EL). In August 2025, the company also joined CIBELAE as an Associate member, the WLA’s regional organisation covering more than 80 Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions across Latin America, Central America, Spain and Portugal.

EveryMatrix has built a reputation as one of the most trusted B2B platform providers to regulated lottery markets worldwide, partnering with leading national operators such as Veikkaus (Finland), Norsk Tipping (Norway), OPAP (Greece), National Lottery Malta, Danske Spil (Denmark) and Szerencsejáték Zrt. (Hungary).

Nikolina Gabelica, Head of Lottery at EveryMatrix, said:
“For EveryMatrix, joining NASPL represents a long-term commitment. We work closely with several leading European national lotteries and understand the balance between innovation, regulation and public responsibility.

“Combined with our broader experience across regulated iGaming markets globally, we bring practical insights and advanced technology to the US lottery community, and we look forward to building and strengthening meaningful relationships there.”

The post EveryMatrix expands global lottery footprint with NASPL membership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Canada

Wazdan taps Green Brick Labs partnership via Maverick Games to strengthen Ontario market

Published

9 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

wazdan-taps-green-brick-labs-partnership-via-maverick-games-to-strengthen-ontario-market

Wazdan, the top developer focused on gaming, has initiated its collaboration with Green Brick Labs (GBL) following the launch of several of its titles with Maverick Games, the well-known operator based in Ontario.

The agreement entails an initial selection of Wazdan’s best-performing titles being launched with Maverick Games through an integration from GBL’s seamless aggregation platform, featuring Mighty Fish: Blue Marlin, 36 Coins, Mighty Wild: Panther Grand Diamond Edition, and Mighty Wild: Gorilla.

After Wazdan’s recently disclosed alliance with GBL, the quickly developing North American platform provider, the partnership has now made significant progress by launching with Maverick Games, featuring its extensive slot collection and sportsbook services.

Wazdan’s captivating games and interaction-enhancing features, such as Cash to Infinity, Sticky to Infinity, and the Hold the Jackpot bonus game, are poised to enhance Maverick Games’ collection as it aims for greater growth across North America.

Wazdan’s newest collaboration highlights the studio’s goal to further establish itself in regulated iGaming markets globally, offering players cutting-edge slot experiences.

Magdalena Wojdyla, Head of Account Management at Wazdan, said: “Going live with Maverick Games through our partnership with GBL marks an exciting moment for Wazdan in Ontario.

“Our innovative titles and engagement-boosting features are designed to deliver memorable experiences for players, and we are confident this collaboration will help Maverick Games strengthen its position in one of North America’s most dynamic markets.”

James Gummerson, UX/UI and Product Manager at Green Brick Labs, said: “We are thrilled to launch our collaboration with Wazdan.

“Our mission is to connect operators with world-class content quickly and seamlessly, and this launch demonstrates how our technology helps accelerate growth for both suppliers and operators in North American markets.”

The post Wazdan taps Green Brick Labs partnership via Maverick Games to strengthen Ontario market appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.