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Sergio Aguero: The history of the FA Cup meant it was always a special competition to play in
Stake’s global representative, Sergio Aguero, reveals his memories of playing in the FA Cup, why it was a special competition for him to win, how Pep Guardiola will keep his players motivated against Peterborough in their fifth round tie, and what this side could achieve this season.
The FA Cup has an amazing history and I am proud to have won the competition
The FA Cup was always one of my favourite competitions to play in because of its history and because of the many famous players and teams to have won it.
When I was living in Spain and here in Argentina, everyone knew about the competition and its history.
We came so close to winning the FA Cup in 2013 but were beaten by Wigan in the final. It was hard for us because we had a very good team, Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta all started that game.
But we were all very new to the club and it was only the start of our journey. I think we did okay in the end!
We were back at Wembley for my second FA Cup final in 2019 and that day went much better for us when we beat Watford.
We were so happy to win it and to be a part of FA Cup history was a very proud moment for me.
The tradition of the FA Cup is one of my favourite things about the competition, it was fun to meet Prince William to get my medal after the game and the celebrations with the fans afterwards was so special.
Everyone says that the FA Cup is magical and it is true, it was always really fun to play in and you felt proud to represent your team in the competition.
The day we played in the FA Cup was
always special because there was so much excitement in the team and the fans were always extra happy to see us play well.
Playing teams in lower divisions in the FA Cup is harder than you think, so Pep will have the City players focused ahead of the Peterborough match
Not many people know how hard it is to play in the FA Cup. In England, you play a lot of matches and a lot of competitions, but as a player, it’s really exciting because you have the chance to try and win lots of different competitions, and winning finals is something that you are always proud of as a footballer, which means every game is important.
To get to the final you have to play against lots of different teams and some new ones that you might not have ever played against before. Playing against new teams and new players and at new stadiums is always hard because you don’t know 100% what you’re going to be playing against. We watch the teams in the Premier League and Champions League a lot and we all have friends and international teammates that play for them, but when you draw a team in the FA Cup that you don’t regularly get to play against or know too much about, it’s always a difficult experience.
When we played against a new team or a side in a different division, we were always expected to win, but it’s not as easy as that. Every manager always made sure the preparation for an FA Cup game was exactly the same. The training was the same, we worked hard on our jobs for the match and we went into the game knowing what we had to do, it made no difference if it was the final or first round.
This is exactly what Pep Guardiola will be doing with the team this week. Pep is a winner and he hates to lose, you don’t win the number of trophies he has without this attitude. He will be making sure the Manchester City players are ready for the game against Peterborough in the same way as if it was any other match.
There’s added pressure on Manchester City to win in the FA Cup and Peterborough will look to familiar tactics to beat them
When you are the team in a higher league and you have to travel to a team in a league below you it is difficult because the crowd are always so excited that their team might cause an upset and get to beat a Premier League team! When you get to the ground you are quickly aware that everyone really wants you to lose – the fans let you know when you arrive. It’s not just the
home crowd that are extra excited to see you lose, but it is everyone watching at home also, we know this and try not to think about it and focus on our job for the day.
We played against Wigan, again, in 2018 in the Cup at their stadium and it was one of the hardest matches. They defended so well and frustrated us, we had all of the possession and so many chances, but they scored late and knocked us out, that’s how it is in knockout football. If Peterborough think that they can win then they should watch that game and do the same as Wigan did.
Peterborough will be tough for Manchester City because the team has just travelled to Portugal in the Champions League, had a tough game against Tottenham, then they’ll play away in the Premier League threes days before the match and then they have to play Manchester United after the FA Cup game, but the team has so many good players in every position and everyone is used to this way of playing now.
Manchester City are hungry to win every competition
At Manchester City, we wanted to win everything, every match and every trophy, and that will always be the case at the club now. I think Manchester City are in a great place to win the Premier League again, they also have a good chance in the FA Cup and in the Champions League too, but this might be competitive, but I think it is possible that they win all three. Winning a treble like this would be a huge achievement and they have a team and manager that can do it this season.
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Platipus Ltd., a leading developer of high-quality HTML5 slot games, has unveiled its 2026 Network Tournament Series, offering a total prize pool of €125,000. Designed to enhance player engagement and operator performance, the series will run across five thrilling stages, each with €25,000 in prizes and 150 winning positions per event.
The Network Tournament Series aims to provide players with an immersive and competitive gaming experience while delivering measurable benefits for operators. By encouraging extended play sessions, increasing retention, and boosting Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), the campaign offers a strategic promotional solution for operators seeking to maximize performance and player loyalty.
Platipus confirmed that the tournament series will feature its most popular slot titles, including Wild Spin, Wild Spin Deluxe, Wild Crowns, 7 & Hot Fruits, alongside rotating feature games tailored to each stage. Each tournament stage promises unique excitement, rewarding players for skill and participation while fostering community engagement and competitive play.
The five tournament stages are scheduled as follows:
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Stage 1 (January 29–31): Santa’s Bag
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Stage 2 (February 5–7): Pirate’s Legacy
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Stage 3 (April 30 – May 2): Catch the Leprechaun
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Stage 4 (June 4–6): Jackpot Lab
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Stage 5 (September 17–19): Pirate’s Map
All events will be powered by Platipus’s proprietary tournament tool, ensuring seamless integration for operators, real-time leaderboard functionality, and a smooth player experience across all participating games.
According to the Platipus team, the tournament series is “not just about prizes — it’s about creating excitement, community engagement, and memorable experiences.” Operators can join the campaign effortlessly, leveraging a ready-to-deploy promotional framework that drives player engagement, retention, and long-term revenue growth.
With the launch of the €125,000 Network Tournament, Platipus continues to reinforce its position as a top-tier provider of HTML5 slot content and innovative iGaming solutions, offering operators and players a dynamic, rewarding, and highly engaging gaming experience throughout 2026.
The post Platipus Launches €125,000 Network Tournament Series to Boost Player Engagement in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI in iGaming
BetConstruct AI Named Global Gaming Company of the Year at International Gaming Awards 2026
BetConstruct AI has been officially recognised as Global Gaming Company of the Year at the International Gaming Awards (IGA) 2026, marking a major achievement for one of the iGaming industry’s most influential technology providers.
The prestigious award highlights more than two decades of innovation, a rapidly expanding global footprint, and a bold, transformative approach to Artificial Intelligence in gaming.
The IGA 2026 accolade underscores BetConstruct AI’s position as a truly global iGaming technology leader. The company delivers fully localised, multi-currency, and multi-lingual solutions designed to meet the specific regulatory, cultural, and operational requirements of markets across every continent. This global adaptability has become a defining strength, enabling operators to scale efficiently while maintaining compliance and player relevance.
The recognition follows a year of significant growth and strategic expansion for BetConstruct AI. The continued evolution of its AI-powered ecosystem has introduced new benchmarks for operational intelligence, automation, and player engagement, reinforcing the company’s reputation for forward-thinking innovation in a highly competitive sector.
At the heart of BetConstruct AI’s success is a strong partner-first philosophy combined with a deep commitment to in-house product development. By building the majority of its technology internally, the company ensures a robust, open ecosystem that supports seamless integrations and provides operators with full control over their platforms. This approach allows BetConstruct AI to maintain consistently high quality across its extensive product portfolio while remaining flexible to partner needs.
Winning the Global Gaming Company of the Year award reflects BetConstruct AI’s long-term vision of shaping the future of iGaming through advanced localisation and continuous technological innovation. By pairing global infrastructure with locally adapted solutions, the company enables its partners to overcome regulatory and administrative complexities, allowing them to focus on acquisition, retention, and sustainable long-term growth.
As the iGaming industry increasingly prioritises transparency, intelligence, and efficiency, BetConstruct AI continues to lead the way. By combining human expertise with AI-driven precision, the company empowers partners to build and manage their own unique “universe” within the global iGaming landscape, setting a new standard for scalable, intelligent gaming solutions.
The post BetConstruct AI Named Global Gaming Company of the Year at International Gaming Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
always-on betting
Highlight Games Partners with OpenBet Trading System to Expand Video Virtual Sports Offering
Highlight Games, the London-based specialist in video virtual sports and instant win games, has announced a landmark long-term partnership with OpenBet, one of the sports betting industry’s leading content, platform, and services providers.
The collaboration marks a significant step forward in expanding access to premium video virtual sports across regulated betting markets worldwide.
Under the agreement, Highlight Games’ extensive content portfolio will be fully integrated into OpenBet’s Trading System, widely regarded as one of the industry’s most powerful aggregation networks for elite trading and sports betting content. This digital integration will allow operators using OpenBet’s platform to seamlessly offer Highlight’s award-winning video virtual sports alongside live sporting events.
The partnership is designed to help operators deliver a continuous and engaging sports betting experience, even during periods when live events are unavailable. By blending virtual sports with live markets, operators can maintain player engagement, optimise betting uptime, and enhance overall product variety.
Highlight Games’ video virtual sports are powered by authentic archive footage from some of the world’s most recognisable sporting competitions. Available titles include virtual sports content featuring Serie A, LaLiga, England’s Premier League — with historic footage from iconic clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal — as well as the Turkish Süper Lig. Additional sports coverage includes ATP Tour Tennis, PDC Darts, and MotoGP, offering a broad and diverse range of betting opportunities.
Unlike traditional computer-generated virtual sports, Highlight Games’ products use real broadcast-quality footage, delivering a level of realism that closely mirrors live sport. This authenticity has become a key differentiator in the video virtuals market, appealing to bettors seeking immersive, lifelike betting experiences that reflect the pace and excitement of real-world competitions.
For OpenBet, the integration further strengthens the capabilities of its Trading System, reinforcing its position as a next-generation data and trading solution. By expanding its content ecosystem with premium video virtual sports, OpenBet continues to enhance product quality, improve content diversity, and support operator competitiveness across global markets.
Steven Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of Highlight Games, described the partnership as a major milestone for the company. He noted that Highlight’s video virtual sports are specifically designed to replicate the excitement and unpredictability of live sports betting. By integrating with OpenBet’s industry-leading Trading System, Highlight Games is enabling operators to deliver always-on sports entertainment that keeps customers engaged beyond traditional live event schedules.
Jason Ayton, Chief Business Development Officer at OpenBet, also welcomed the partnership, highlighting its strategic importance. He emphasised that adding Highlight Games’ premium video virtual sports further enhances OpenBet’s sophisticated content aggregation network. According to Ayton, the collaboration empowers operators to better bridge the gap between live events by offering high-quality, engaging betting content at all times, reinforcing Trading System’s status as a premier platform for world-class sports betting entertainment.
The post Highlight Games Partners with OpenBet Trading System to Expand Video Virtual Sports Offering appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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