Latest News

Push Gaming JJ2 Success – Exclusive Interview with Darren Stephenson, Marketing Director at Push Gaming

Published

5 years ago

December 14, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Jammin’ Jars 2 is continuing to smash records since its summer launch – can you tell us how special this is to Push Gaming and what it means for the team?

JJ2 was such a fun project for us from the very first moment when we realised that the feature we were working on was the perfect fit for the Jammin’ brand. We’d been asked many times about doing a sequel but to know it was actually happening and to see it coming together, made it a really exciting project for the whole business to be involved in. This is especially the case given how the first iteration had been such a resounding hit. Seeing the slots community getting charged up for it was just something else and the hype this game generated is something that we can be very proud of.

Talk us through the game – what do you believe has made this such a smash hit and which features are particularly unique?

Producing a sequel provides a unique opportunity in that you get the chance to revisit a game. At its core, the game remains true to Jammin’ Jars and we felt that was important, so the same multiplying wilds are in play, however, with the max win increased from 20,000x to 50,000x.

We also added little surprises along the journey such as with the fruit blast feature being able to trigger more than once in a single spin, so players might expect they know the feature from the original but then they find that extra little addition.

The most noticeable changes from the original are the addition of coins and the GigaJar feature. The coins act in the same way as the fruit symbols but with the coin values going up to 1000x – this really adds a new dimension to the potential fun factor when you count in the multiplying wilds. GigaJar brings a completely new feature into the mix – it takes some progression to reach it as we didn’t want to water down the ‘classic’ features that players loved in the original, however it does deliver that all-important unique dimension that made the game truly special.

On to global markets – where has JJ2 performed best? Do you think it’s suited to any particular playing habits?

Much like the original, JJ2 is popular across all markets it is available in. I imagine the game is a popular choice for players that like to enjoy games over multiple sessions and enjoy a familiarity and ‘feel good factor’ whilst always offering excitement and discovery. Of course, Scandinavia and the UK are two of our most popular markets, and with some of the world’s most passionate players there, it’s wonderful to see the slot prove to be one of the most popular launches this year.

JJ2 has also been hugely well received by the streaming community, did team Push design the game with the community in mind?

In my opinion, a good slot streamer is first and foremost a slot player – and players will always be our focus when we’re working on a game. Streamers want to be entertained themselves, so I think when they’re playing our games it’s a good sign that we’ve done something right.

Looking to the months ahead, what other exciting launches can we look forward to?

We’ve just released Fire Hopper which includes some elements that might get people thinking of the Jammin’ games, although with its own unique and exciting twists. Then we have Bison Battle following soon after, which has a land-based slots feel to it and including some really fun bonus rounds. This is definitely a slot with some really unique elements, and I’m sure it will prove to be hugely popular. Both these games include Bonus Buy, which is something new that we’ve introduced to some of our games and players really seem to be enjoying it. Following the hugely positive feedback we’ve received, we’ll continue to include this in some of our upcoming games as we’ve done with a selection of our existing games, such as Jammin’ Jars, Dinopolis and Mystery Museum.

eSports

Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028

Published

9 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-names-faker-game-ambassador-for-ewc-and-enc-through-2028

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.

EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.

“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”

Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”

EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.

The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brand Partnerships

Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season

Published

16 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-signs-as-middlesbrough-fc-principal-partner-for-2026/27-season

Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.

The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.

Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.

“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.

“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”

Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.

“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”

The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGCO

ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch

Published

16 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

thrilltech-secures-agco-supplier-licence-for-ontario-launch

ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.

The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”

The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.

ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.

The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.