Latest News

ESL Gaming and Maincast extend media rights agreement for four years

Published

4 years ago

December 23, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

ESL Gaming, the world’s leading esports company, has today announced that it will extend its exclusive collaboration with Maincast for a further four years. With the current agreement running until 2023, the addition of multiple years ensures fans in Russia and the rest of the CIS region can keep enjoying ESL Gaming’s full premium product portfolio in their local language until Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Katowice 2027.

As part of the extension, Maincast keeps the exclusive rights to broadcast ESL Gaming’s tournaments on its Twitch channels in Russian and other CIS languages. Moreover, the agreement covers the complete product portfolio consisting of ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), ESL Pro Tour StarCraft® II, and ESL Mobile, as well as ESL Gaming’s competitions for Dota 2.

ESL Gaming and Maincast joined forces in 2020, and their partnership has already seen ESL Gaming’s audience in the CIS region grow vastly, and the total amount of views doubled since then. Hitting a peak of 382,000 concurrent viewers during IEM Katowice 2020, Maincast delivered some of the best numbers for CS:GO globally. Additionally, ESL One Los Angeles 2020 became the most-watched online tournament in Dota 2 on Maincast’s Twitch channels with over 13 million views. These are but a couple of the success stories that show how Maincast excels in Russian-language broadcasts.

“Maincast is one of our biggest media partners and expertly localizes our competitions to fans all over the CIS region,” said Frank Uddo, Senior Vice President Global Media at ESL Gaming. “They are great to work with and we are particularly excited to see, through this seven-year partnership, how committed they are to significantly invest in esports long-term. It is a testament to how integral esports has become within the region and we look forward to building even more success in the future with them.”

“In 2020 Maincast signed a multi-year partnership agreement with ESL Gaming to broadcast their tournaments in Eastern Europe. In this period we’ve created an industry-defining product, finished numerous projects in close collaboration and provided on-site coverage of dozens of events,” said Andrii Grygoriev, CEO and co-founder of Maincast. “We are excited to announce that our partnership with ESL Gaming is extended up till Q2 2027. We’ve already begun working on long-term projects and looking for new ways of refining and improving our product. We will do our best to give our viewers even more high-quality broadcasts and on-site content, which you’ll always be able to find on our channels.”

Latest News

WinSpirit Redesigns VIP Experience to Drive Retention and Long-Term Player Value

Published

29 minutes ago

November 12, 2025

Master Editor

Player loyalty is evolving — and so is WinSpirit’s approach. They’ve unveiled a fully redesigned VIP program, merging loyalty mechanics and exclusive rewards into one clear, gamified journey. The goal? Drive deeper engagement, long-term satisfaction, and higher lifetime player value (LTV) through transparency and simplicity.

This combination of permanent progression and time-limited campaigns positions WinSpirit’s VIP Club as a modern retention tool — one designed to reduce churn while giving players a clearer sense of achievement.

Data-Driven Response

The updated VIP model is a direct response to user behavior and feedback. WinSpirit observed that, for some users, the previous program might have been a little complex — primarily due to separated loyalty levels and the pressure of maintaining temporary statuses. So the brand decided to simplify the progression path.

“We consistently listen to our players, and their desire to retain earned progress was clear,” said a WinSpirit representative. “This redesign is our commitment to them—we’re replacing complexity with simplicity, ensuring every player feels valued and their long-term journey is rewarding.”

How the New VIP Club Works

The redesigned VIP Club merges lifetime progress with seasonal engagement to create a system that rewards both consistency and activity. Players unlock a permanent VIP status that never resets — a key benefit that builds trust and long-term motivation.

On top of this, rotating seasonal levels introduce fresh challenges and time-limited bonuses that keep engagement high. Even when players take a break, their status stays — removing pressure and encouraging steady play.

All progression and rewards are tracked in a centralized VIP dashboard, giving players full visibility and control without the need to contact support. This clarity minimizes friction and churn.

Seasonality as a Strategic Engagement

WinSpirit’s new format introduces quarterly campaigns, each with a dedicated theme and bonus structure. The current activation, Flame of Thrill, designed to re-ignite player motivation during autumn campaigns, features:

Increased cashback tiers and deposit insurance
Personalized bonuses and access to exclusive promotions
Limited seasonal rewards and much more

Even for long-term players, these rotating seasons bring something new — keeping the program exciting well beyond the first few tiers.

Why It Matters for Business

From a business perspective, the redesigned VIP Club introduces several measurable advantages:

Increased retention (reduced status loss anxiety).
Higher LTV (steady progression over time).
More consistent activity (recurring seasonal goals).
Fewer negative touchpoints (clear rules).

The introduction of a permanent VIP threshold (VIP Iron) creates a strong psychological anchor for re-engagement — aligning well with known gamification strategies in product design.

Overall, WinSpirit’s transformation reflects a broader commitment to listening to players. The brand is shifting toward a more sustainable model that fosters long-term relationships through clarity, fairness, and flexible progression. It’s a big step toward a smarter, player-first future — where loyalty is truly rewarded, and progress never goes unnoticed.

Canada

Group from Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and Great Canadian Entertainment Announce Agreement for the Acquisition of Elements Casino Chilliwack

Published

2 hours ago

November 12, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

group-from-ts’elxweyeqw-tribe-and-great-canadian-entertainment-announce-agreement-for-the-acquisition-of-elements-casino-chilliwack

Great Canadian Entertainment and a consortium group of certain communities from the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe, through an entity affiliated with Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe Management Ltd. (the “Ts’elxwéyeqw Group”), announced that on November 7th, 2025, they entered into a definitive agreement for the purchase by the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group from Great Canadian Entertainment of Elements Casino Chilliwack, one of the premier gaming and entertainment destinations in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia.

The Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe constitute seven First Nation communities and are the First People of the Chilliwack River watershed. The transaction represents a transformational milestone for the communities within the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group.

Elements Casino Chilliwack serves guests across the Fraser Valley and is Chilliwack’s top destination for gaming and entertainment, featuring over 300 slots, live and electronic table games, bingo, dining, live entertainment and more.

The closing of the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of regulatory and other approvals. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Great Canadian Entertainment will continue to provide transitional services and support to the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group for a period following closing.

“This purchase marks an exciting milestone for our Nations and for the entire territory. By coming together in partnership, we are not only investing in a strong business opportunity, but also in the future of our people. The revenues generated through this acquisition will help strengthen our communities, create new opportunities, and ensure our Nations continue to play a leading role in the local economy. Additionally, we believe that local community-based ownership of Elements Casino Chilliwack will further strengthen the broader Fraser Valley community and economy. It’s a proud moment that reflects how Indigenous leadership and collaboration can build a stronger, more inclusive future for everyone,” said Chief David Jimmie, Chief of Squiala First Nation and President of Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe Management Ltd.

“We are very excited to have entered into this agreement with the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group. We have had the privilege of being part of the Chilliwack community since we opened Elements Casino Chilliwack in 2012, and we believe that under the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group’s stewardship, the business will begin an exciting new chapter. For the team members and guests of Elements Casino Chilliwack, and the local community, we can think of no better owner for the business. We look forward to the closing and then working with the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group team during the transition period,” said Matt Anfinson, CEO of Great Canadian Entertainment.

McCarthy Tétrault LLP is acting as legal advisor and KPMG Corporate Finance Inc. is acting as financial advisor to the Ts’elxwéyeqw Group. McMillan LLP is acting as legal advisor to Great Canadian Entertainment.

The post Group from Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and Great Canadian Entertainment Announce Agreement for the Acquisition of Elements Casino Chilliwack appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Australia

SkyCity Announces Renewal of Queenstown Casino Licence

Published

3 hours ago

November 12, 2025

Niji Narayan

skycity-announces-renewal-of-queenstown-casino-licence

Reading Time: < 1 minute

SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited confirmed that the New Zealand Gambling Commission has granted SkyCity Queenstown Limited with a renewal of its casino venue licence for a further 15 years from 7 December 2025, pursuant to section 134 of the Gambling Act 2003.

SkyCity Chief Executive Officer, Jason Walbridge, said: “We’re delighted with this outcome. We look forward to continuing to play our part in Queenstown’s fantastic range of entertainment for both locals and visitors.”

The post SkyCity Announces Renewal of Queenstown Casino Licence appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.