Latest News
Online esports tournaments deliver more shocks than LAN events
Online esports tournaments deliver more upsets than arena events, data has shown.
The Covid-19 outbreak forced esports to move online across all major games, including CS:GO, Dota 2 and League of Legends.
Tournament organisers were forced to rethink significant events that were due to be held offline, including ESL One Birmingham, DreamHack events and ESL One Cologne.
And the move online certainly seems to favour the underdogs, with data from leading esports betting site Luckbox showing a noticeable decrease in the number of matches ending with expected results.
Luckbox analysed data between March and July, comparing the expected outcome of matches based on pre-match the odds with the final results. The data was compared with the same period last year, when the events were held offline.
The biggest shift came in League of Legends, where 10% fewer matches went as expected, while in Dota 2 it was 5% and CS:GO saw a 3% decrease.
Luckbox’s Director of Sportsbook Metodi Zaburtov said: “Our data shows that we see an increased number of upsets when moving from LAN to Online.
“It’s especially for favorites in ranges 1.2-1.3 and 1.4-1.5, where the trends are clear – there are respectively 6.81% and 11.02% more upsets since the start of Covid-19 pandemic.”
“Apparently, the trend is continuing into August, as fans placing a bet on CS:GO during ESL One Cologne this month have already witnessed a big surprise with 125/1 shot Sprout progressing through their group to reach the playoffs with two stunning victories against the odds so far.”
Zaburtov said several factors could explain why upsets are more likely during online events.
He said: “Online matches are more susceptible to technical issues such as latency, which can sometimes prove a leveller – like a football match on a bad pitch.
“There is also the fact that players are often in their own homes, as opposed to being cheered on by thousands of fans. This often brings out the best in experienced players, while lower-level players might crumble under the pressure. Perhaps playing online suits smaller teams because there is less pressure.”
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affiliate marketing
Regulated iGaming markets push operators toward audit-ready affiliate tracking
As regulators scrutinise AML, RG and advertising, operators face rising pressure to validate attribution and partner payouts end to end.
Growing regulation in iGaming is changing how operators manage affiliates, track player acquisition, and control partner payouts, according to a new statement from affiliate platform provider Affnook.
The company argues that in regulated markets affiliates are increasingly treated as an extension of an operator’s marketing activity, raising the stakes for oversight in areas such as affiliate advertising practices, responsible gambling controls, anti-money laundering (AML) and data privacy. The release points to the Danish Gambling Authority as one example of a regulator highlighting potential AML risks linked to affiliate partnerships and urging operators to strengthen risk assessments across third-party acquisition channels.
Affnook says the industry is moving away from “Trust Me” affiliate reporting as stakeholders demand performance data and revenue attribution that can be independently verified. It lists audit-ready reporting, verifiable revenue attribution, transparency into tracking and commission calculations, and consistent reporting standards as key expectations in more heavily regulated environments.
The company also frames financial governance as a parallel priority to tracking, citing the need for net gaming revenue (NGR) verification, commission accuracy, invoice reconciliation and payment oversight. It adds that multi-touch player journeys and reduced effectiveness of cookie-based attribution are widening “attribution blind spots,” which can fuel partner disputes, weaken decision-making and complicate compliance reviews.
In the release, Affnook positions platform features such as audit logs, partner activity monitoring, consent-aware tracking, real-time commission calculations and server-to-server tracking as the types of capabilities operators should evaluate as regulatory expectations increase.
The post Regulated iGaming markets push operators toward audit-ready affiliate tracking appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Alberta
Play’n GO goes live in Alberta iGaming with 10+ operators
Supplier expands to its third regulated Canadian province after Ontario and Québec, launching on Alberta’s market opening week.
Play’n GO has entered the newly regulated Alberta iGaming market, launching its casino games with more than ten licensed operators on the market’s opening week, the supplier said on 16 July 2026.
The Alberta rollout marks Play’n GO’s third regulated Canadian province, following Ontario and Québec, and extends the company’s North American regulated-market footprint.
According to the company, its content was made available in Alberta for the first time on launch day via a network of licensed operators.
Esteban Perez, New Market Entry Lead at Play’n GO said: “Entering Alberta with more than 10 operators on day one of regulation is a significant milestone for Play’n GO and a testament to the strength of our regulated market strategy. Canada continues to be a key focus for us, and expanding into our third province reflects both the demand for our content and the strength of our partnerships with licensed operators.
“We are proud to support Alberta’s regulated market with a portfolio that prioritises entertainment, compliance and long-term sustainability.”
The post Play’n GO goes live in Alberta iGaming with 10+ operators appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Alberta
Play’n GO strengthens Canadian footprint with Alberta iGaming market entry
The Swedish gaming giant confirms its entry into its third regulated Canadian Province with its industry leading portfolio of games now available in Alberta for the first time
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, today announced its successful entry into the newly regulated Alberta iGaming market, with a wide range of its premium content going live with more than ten licensed operators on market launch day this week.
The milestone further reinforces Play’n GO’s commitment to regulated market expansion across North America and marks the company’s third Canadian province, following established operations in Ontario and Québec.
Play’n GO’s launch in Alberta ensures players have immediate access to a portfolio of world-class titles from day one of the market’s regulated opening. By partnering with a broad network of licensed operators at launch, the company has solidified its position as a trusted supplier in newly regulated jurisdictions.
The Alberta rollout builds on Play’n GO’s strong track record of working alongside regulators and operators to deliver safe, compliant, and high-quality entertainment to players, while supporting sustainable market growth.
Esteban Perez, New Market Entry Lead at Play’n GO said: “Entering Alberta with more than 10 operators on day one of regulation is a significant milestone for Play’n GO and a testament to the strength of our regulated market strategy. Canada continues to be a key focus for us, and expanding into our third province reflects both the demand for our content and the strength of our partnerships with licensed operators.
“We are proud to support Alberta’s regulated market with a portfolio that prioritises entertainment, compliance and long-term sustainability.”
To find out more about Play’n GO, please visit playngo.com
The post Play’n GO strengthens Canadian footprint with Alberta iGaming market entry appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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