Latest News
Exclusive interview with McLaren on brand partnerships
PartyPoker has conducted an interview on their blog, where McLaren Racing’s Nick Martin (Executive Director, New Business) shares what the F1 racing team is looking for in their partners, success stories and examples of innovative campaigns.
McLaren and betting group Entain signed a partnership for PartyCasino and PartyPoker in 2021, which has already resulted in several successful initiatives and campaigns over the past two years.
An example of this is the poker tournament McLaren Turbo Series, which took place from 13-28 August 2023, hosted by PartyPoker.
The McLaren Turbo Series is just one of the initiatives to come out of the partnership, and when asked to give other examples, Martin says that “a great one recently, was our Returnship scheme with Entain, which helps to reignite the careers of women returning to roles in STEM. As part of the programme, an initial 10 places were offered to women, at Entain or within our F1 Team, for six months.”
When elaborating on what McLaren is looking for when selecting brand partnerships and recent collaborations, Martin continues: “Another example is what we’ve done together with Entain where we hosted a fireside chat with Zak Brown (CEO, McLaren Racing) and Jette Nygaard-Andersen (CEO, Entain PLC), putting two like-minded leaders together to talk about their role as CEOs and their approach to leadership. This was a piece of content that catered to not only a business audience but also a broader audience where again, we are always looking for ways to engage our sizeable fan base.”
The interview also goes into detail on how McLaren is working with a wide variety of partners and how being present in the digital sphere is just as important as being available for motorsport fans locally and internationally:
“Firstly, we work to maximise visibility for partners across our most valuable inventory, which is our cars and our drivers.
Secondly, we have a real focus on digital. McLaren has led the way in F1 on digital and social, being the first team to join Instagram, the first to join TikTok and the first to launch an app.
At Silverstone this year, we hosted a free Fan Zone in Manchester for our fans who couldn’t be at the race itself.[CF1] This ran across all three days of the Silverstone weekend and gave people the opportunity to cheer for McLaren and watch together while offering interactive experiences on-site. This was a great activation which was quite accessible and brought papaya to the people of Manchester!”
Contributors Program
Gamblers Connect adds Xessable CEO Vladimir Mihailovski as 2026 contributor
He becomes the sixth contributor announced this year and will cover software engineering, AI and product development in iGaming.
Gamblers Connect has added Vladimir Mihailovski, CEO and Founder of Xessable, to its Contributors Program as its sixth contributor of 2026.
The B2B iGaming media platform said it plans to appoint 12 contributors this year, announcing one each month. Mihailovski will contribute content focused on software engineering, AI and product development within iGaming.
Mihailovski is an engineer-turned-founder with more than 15 years’ experience in software architecture and has led Xessable since it launched in 2017. Xessable operates between Utrecht and Skopje and provides dedicated engineering teams that integrate with operators’ and suppliers’ product organisations.
According to Gamblers Connect, Mihailovski’s articles will cover software development, applying AI within product teams, scaling engineering organisations and the impact of technical decision-making on long-term product development.
Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “Software underpins every part of the iGaming industry, yet engineering perspectives are often underrepresented in industry discussion. Vladimir brings extensive experience in software architecture, AI and engineering leadership, and we’re pleased to welcome him to the Contributors Program. His articles will provide readers with practical insights into software development, AI implementation and organisational growth.”
The post Gamblers Connect adds Xessable CEO Vladimir Mihailovski as 2026 contributor appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance
Xpoint rolls out pattern-analysis engine to flag coordinated bonus abuse
Xpoint has launched a proprietary pattern-analysis engine aimed at helping betting and gaming operators detect coordinated fraud, including organized bonus abuse and location spoofing. The company announced the product on 6th July 2026 and said it is currently rolling out with partners in North America.
Xpoint said the engine is designed to catch groups that cycle the same devices, accounts, and locations to farm sign-up bonuses and exploit promotions. Unlike conventional geolocation checks that assess each login in isolation, the new engine analyzes historical location activity to identify patterns that emerge over time.
As an example, Xpoint said the engine can flag groups of users that repeatedly appear together across locations, particularly where some members have previously been linked to location spoofing—signals the company associates with coordinated bonus-abuse rings. Xpoint added that the analysis runs in the background against historical data and is intended to avoid adding friction to the player journey.
The launch follows a new investment round earlier this year, which Xpoint said was dedicated to accelerating growth and supporting further product enhancement.
Manu Gambhir, CEO of Xpoint, said: “Attempts to defraud operators are becoming ever more coordinated and advanced, so operators need the best possible tools to spot areas of concern early.
“Our pattern-analysis engine examines historical data to uncover unusual patterns an operator needs to be aware of, without in any way adding friction to the player journey. It further underlines our commitment to innovative, adaptable compliance solutions for operators.”
The post Xpoint rolls out pattern-analysis engine to flag coordinated bonus abuse appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Fan Engagement
Midnite extends Southampton FC sponsorship through 2026/27 and rolls out ‘2UP’ fan prize
Midnite has renewed its partnership with Southampton FC for the 2026/27 season, continuing as the club’s Official Training Kit partner and back-of-shirt sponsor.
The company said the extension builds on its first season with the club in 2025/26, when it ran supporter activations including “Midnite Express” away travel, a commemorative tifo marking the 50-year anniversary of Southampton’s FA Cup success, and hospitality giveaways via its “Ticket Treats” campaign.
For 2026/27, Midnite is introducing a season-long fan initiative called “2UP”. Under the format, if Southampton go two goals up in any home league match, one fan wins the 2UP prize pot. Midnite said the pot increases by £1,000 each week a jackpot is not won, and noted Southampton held a two-goal home lead on six occasions last season.
Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer of Southampton Football Club said:
“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Midnite after a successful first season together.
“They’ve consistently looked for new and engaging ways to reward our supporters, whether through unique matchday experiences, away travel or fan competitions, and we’re excited to see that continue this season.
“The launch of 2UP is another fantastic example of that commitment and we look forward to seeing Saints fans enjoying the campaign throughout the 2026/27 season.”
Andrew Mook, Midnite‘s Head of Brand Marketing, added:
“We’re excited to be Southampton’s Official Training Kit partner for a second year.
“During the 2025/26 campaign, Midnite worked closely with the club to create experiences that reward Saints supporters. From helping fans travel in style on the Midnite Express and commissioning the club’s commemorative FA Cup tifo, to providing hospitality experiences through Ticket Treats, our aim has always been to add something extra for Saints fans.
“With that said, we are pleased to introduce ‘2UP’ where one lucky fan will win prize money if Southampton take a two-goal lead in any home league fixture, with £1,000 being added to the pot after each game at St Mary’s.
“With Southampton taking a two-goal lead at home six times last season, we’re looking forward to seeing a number of Saints fans rewarded through ‘2UP’ during the campaign.”
The post Midnite extends Southampton FC sponsorship through 2026/27 and rolls out ‘2UP’ fan prize appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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