Latest News
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.
Powered by WPeMatico
Spin Genie has revealed the exclusive debut of Cash Eruption The Western, the newest slot game from worldwide gaming supplier IGT.
The western-themed slot is now accessible to Spin Genie players, offering expanding wild features and an exciting respin bonus.
Located in a setting of frontier towns, safes, and money bags, Cash Eruption The Western operates on a 5-reel, 20-payline structure and features expanding Wild symbols.
The main attraction of the release is the Triple Cash Eruption Bonus, a hold-and-respin element activated by colored Cash Bag Scatter symbols. The bonus gives players an opportunity to earn Coin prizes, jackpot rewards, and strong modifiers, such as multipliers, collection features, and a Double Reels mode that operates on two reel sets at the same time.
Spin Genie, a prominent slots casino in the UK, is part of Kinetic Digital and with this release enhances its online slots collection from IGT that already features popular games like Magic of the Nile, Enchanted Lamp, and Pharaoh’s Fortune.
Kinetic Digital Head of Brand Marketing Dom Aldworth said: “Cash Eruption The Western is a fantastic addition to the Spin Genie portfolio, combining a hugely popular mechanic with a strong, immersive theme. IGT has elevated the Cash Eruption series with exciting new modifiers and features, and we’re delighted to bring this latest release to our players as part of our continued commitment to delivering the very best slot experiences.”
The post Spin Genie unveils exclusive new western slot adventure from IGT appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.
Charles Mott, Founder and CEO of S Gaming, says finding success in the US is a tough task, but that studios who can replicate the magic of the casino floor have what it takes to make it stateside
There are plenty of European studios that have set their sights on finding success in the US, but very few have actually managed to achieve it. This is because they are making a common mistake, and that’s failing to translate the preferences of US slot players into their games.
For more than a decade now, the UK and European markets have been defined by “the chase” – high volatility slots with massive, infrequent max wins and jackpots that deliver anticipation and thrills, but that also exhaust the player’s balance in minutes.
But if you walk on to the floor of any Las Vegas casino, the atmosphere is different. It’s about “time at machine”. It’s the neon, the regular dopamine hits of smaller wins and the ability to make $100 provide an entire evening’s worth of entertainment.
As the US market increasingly moves to online, with more states embracing regulated iGaming, it’s no longer finding its feet with players now actively looking for a digital version of the land-based soul they have loved for many years.
Moving away from the “big win” to the “long session”
US players have been culturally conditioned by the physical casino experience. Unlike the high-stakes digital environment of Europe, the American player often views slots as a leisure activity rather than a jackpot hunt.
This is why S Gaming has focused on fun, entertainment and sustainability, with our games matching the “steady tortoise” cadence of land-based slot machines. They still deliver lots of big win potential, but across longer and more engaging sessions.
For operators like BetMGM and Fanatics, both of which we’ve recently partnered with, it’s not just about fun, it’s about retention.
A player who loses their balance in three minutes is a churn risk, but a player who wins small, frequent prizes stays in the ecosystem for longer and ultimately generates a much higher lifetime value.
Efficiency over ego
But it’s not just about having the right games, distribution is also key to cracking America. This is a notoriously difficult market because it’s not one jurisdiction, it’s five (and counting) regulatory islands and in each, you need to secure regulatory approvals.
This is actually a moat that keeps many smaller studios out. It’s an issue we had to overcome, and ultimately looked for a partner that could help us bridge the gap. Our agreement with Gaming Realms allows us to use its remote game server and licences to launch into US states.
This “Infrastructure-as-a-Service” model allows a studio to focus on “game grammar” (math and art) while the partner handles the “plumbing” (compliance and connectivity). It’s the leanest way to hit the ground running with a tier-one operator across multiple states simultaneously.
Why tier ones are buying in
You might be wondering why a tier one giant like BetMGM has joined forces with a boutique UK studio and facilitated its launch into the US.
But the reality is that operators are fighting soaring acquisition costs right now and this means they no longer want more games, they want differentiated games that reduce churn and keep players coming back for more.
Our focus on sustainable entertainment aligns with current US regulatory requirements and the focus on responsible gaming. Games designed for longer, lower stakes sessions are inherently “safer” and more palatable to regulators and risk-averse operators alike.
And they just hit the mark more with players. Sure, winning is a big part of playing online slots, but how you get to the win and the perceived entertainment value is now just as if not more so important – not just in the US but in the UK and Europe, too.
The data-driven evolution
Success does not come from a single launch – it comes from having a feedback loop. We now have a handful of games live in the US market, including our flagship Triple 7 Jackpot title, from which we are gathering real-time data on player behaviour.
This is allowing us to move from “what we think players want” to “what the data tells us they love” and this in turn is allowing us to refine our product roadmap and the games we are producing for the US market, ensuring each title is more culturally resonant than the last.
The new era of transatlantic growth
Cracking America in 2026 isn’t about having the loudest brand of the biggest marketing budget – it’s about understanding the psychology of the casino floor.
The studio’s that succeed will be those that realise the US player isn’t looking for a new way to gamble, they’re looking for a digital version of the “Vegas” feeling they’ve known and loved for decades.
The post Movers and Shakers: The blueprint for boutique studios looking to crack America appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
When Africa Gambles: Seasonality Patterns Across Five Markets Revealed by Blask , Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Egypt operate under diverse regulatory regimes and follow different domestic sports calendars — Egypt also observes a Friday–Saturday weekend. Yet, across these markets, gambling activity exhibits a shared rhythm: engagement climbs into Q4 and remains elevated through the year-end, with softer periods either mid-year (Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, DR Congo) or late winter (Egypt). Peaks broadly coincide with the European club season, while in some markets domestic leagues run in parallel.
Blask’s Seasonality feature, drawing on data from January 2016 to February 2026, allows mapping engagement by month, day, and hour, revealing nuanced patterns in each market:
Nigeria: The Long Saturday
-
Annual curve accelerates into Q4: October is the top month, followed closely by September, November, and December. June marks the low point, with a modest rebound in July before the late-summer climb.
-
Weekly cycle is weekend-led: Saturday dominates, Sunday and Friday show smaller peaks, weekdays are quieter.
-
Hourly pattern forms a broad plateau on Saturday, with elevated activity from early morning to late evening (5am–9pm Lagos time). Weekday engagement is lower, concentrating in the late afternoon and evening.
Tanzania: Saturday as a Corridor
-
Annual rhythm mirrors Nigeria: softening in June–July, rising from August into a Q4 plateau. Top months are November–December, with October close behind.
-
Weekly cycle hierarchy is clearer: Saturday is strongest, Sunday elevated but lower, Friday leads weekday peaks.
-
Saturday functions as a corridor rather than a sharp spike: activity stays high from 7am–11pm Dar es Salaam time, peaking mid-afternoon to early evening (3pm–7pm). Weekday activity tilts toward evening post-work.
Kenya: Two Clocks in One Market
-
Annual curve rises from August into Q4, with December at the peak, October and November following. Low points in June–July.
-
Weekly peaks favor the weekend: Saturday #1, Sunday #2.
-
Hourly pattern shows dual peaks: a primary late-afternoon to evening spike (3pm–9pm Nairobi time) and a secondary pre-dawn rise (3am–7am), particularly visible on weekends.
DR Congo: The Morning Market
-
January remains unusually strong alongside December, which is the top month.
-
Weekly cycle follows the familiar weekend pattern: Saturday leads, weekend days generally brighter.
-
Hourly peak occurs in the morning, roughly 5am–9am Kinshasa time, shifting an hour later in eastern regions. Weekdays maintain the morning lift, with Saturday adding extra intensity.
Egypt: Friday Leadership and After-Midnight Play
-
Annual curve climbs steadily to year-end: December tops, followed by November and October. Softest periods are February and March.
-
Weekly cycle differs: Friday peaks, Thursday and Saturday slightly behind, reflecting Egypt’s Friday–Saturday weekend.
-
Nighttime engagement is strongest in the group, concentrating after midnight (2am–5am Cairo time), consistently across all days of the week.
The Bigger Picture
-
Q4 is peak season across all five markets. Nigeria peaks earliest (October), while Tanzania, Kenya, DR Congo, and Egypt maintain high engagement through November–December. Four markets soften mid-year, Egypt peaks late winter.
-
Weekend structures explain weekly splits: Saturday for Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, DR Congo; Friday for Egypt.
-
Hourly patterns diverge: Nigeria and Tanzania show broad Saturday blocks, Kenya focuses on prime time with pre-dawn tails, DR Congo peaks in the morning, Egypt peaks after midnight. Cross-market scheduling without these insights risks missing most demand.
The post When Africa gambles: seasonality patterns across five countries revealed by Blask appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Blueprint Gaming6 days agoBlueprint Gaming unleashes Frankenstein’s Fortune blending dynamic modifiers with multi-path bonus offering
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
MGA Publishes Results of Thematic Review on Self-exclusion Practices in Online Gaming Sector
-
Latest News5 days ago
GGBET UA hosts Media Game – an open FC Dynamo Kyiv training session with journalists from sports publications
-
Amusnet6 days ago
Amusnet Unveils Casino Engineering and Technology Milestones Achieved in 2025
-
Bragg Gaming Group6 days ago
Bragg Gaming Group Partners with StarGames
-
Dan Brown6 days ago
Games Global and Foxium return to the Colosseum in Rome Fight for Gold the Tiger’s Rage™
-
Asia5 days ago
Books on Wheels: DigiPlus Foundation Brings Mobile Library to Boost Literacy Among Aurora’s Young Learners
-
3 Oaks Gaming6 days ago
3 Oaks Gaming unleashes the power of the wild with 4 Wolf Drums: Hold and Win
