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MECCA BINGO BRINGS CONTROVERSIAL V.A.R TECHNOLOGY TO BINGO WITH HELP FROM MIKE DEAN – DESPITE ONGOING V.A.R MEDIA STORM
Despite the ‘V.A.R technology’ debate dominating football headlines across the UK, Mecca Bingo will seek to adopt the controversial technology for bingo – enlisting the help of inarguably the most iconic former Premier League official, Mike Dean.
With exactly 2,000 yellow cards and a record breaking 214 red cards issued in his Premier League career, the card-happy ref is helping Mecca Bingo trial B.A.R (Bingo Assistant Referee) – a state-of-the-art, cutting edge technology system designed to keep bingo players on track and verify jackpot claims.
Starting in the home of Premier League newcomers, Sheffield United, the Wirral-based icon has swapped V.A.R for B.A.R to train staff at Mecca Bingo on the Premier League standards.
Mecca Bingo’s B.A.R. technology will capture every moment in high-definition, allowing Mike’s trained Mecca officials to track every call and every dab to precisely identify any errors. Yellow cards will be issued to customers who make false claims. Get a red and he’ll suggest customers move to their own table to focus.
Captured footage shows Mike Dean training Mecca staff on player management, and how to use B.A.R to ensure that all bingo claims are verified and prizes are fairly awarded. And of course, the whipped cream used for Mecca’s delicious desserts now doubles as vanishing spray – used by Mike to keep any over excited players at bay whilst results are being checked.
Mike Dean, former Premier League referee, said; “It’s been tremendous fun bringing a touch of top-quality refereeing to Mecca Bingo. Like football, bingo is a beautiful game full of passion and excitement. In truth, I had never expected to swap footballs for bingo balls, but the launch of B.A.R made it an easy decision – a little bit extra officiating never hurt anyone. We’ll be double checking the next jackpot claim!”
Mike Sime, Head of Bingo at Mecca Bingo, commented: “It’s perhaps not been the best of weeks for VAR – but we remain undeterred. We’re really excited to be trialling the introduction of this impeccable technology into bingo. And we’re absolutely delighted that one of the greatest Premier League referees, Mike Dean, has switched play to Mecca. Good process.”
av advertising
BetVictor rolls out new brand campaign with biggest AV spend to date
BVGroup’s flagship brand BetVictor has launched a new brand campaign, “For All Your Favourite Things”, backed by what the company said is its largest AV investment to date.
The campaign, created by Barn Door Studios, uses a rewrite of “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music over visuals of sporting events. BetVictor said the creative focuses on “the uncomplicated thrill of sport and betting”.
BetVictor is timing the launch around this weekend’s Premier League schedule, with spots running alongside Arsenal vs Newcastle on Saturday evening and Chelsea vs Leeds on Sunday afternoon.
Media planning is led by Bountiful Cow. The plan includes a new partnership with Sky, spanning live sport integrations, on-demand, YouTube channels and targeted digital placements via Sky Advance. BetVictor also outlined a data-led SVOD and BVOD strategy across ITVX, Channel 4, Prime Video and Netflix, plus digital and social.
Richard Walters, Director of Brand and Creative at BetVictor, said:
“‘For All Your Favourite Things’ captures what BetVictor stands for today – a premium, straightforward experience that enhances the thrill of sport.
When done right, we believe that gambling is a simple pleasure; one that we love connecting our customers to. We wanted to celebrate the moments that matter most to sports fans.”
The post BetVictor rolls out new brand campaign with biggest AV spend to date appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
QTech Games wins Leader in Online Casino at SBEA+ Eventus Awards 2026
QTech Games has won the Leader in Online Casino award at the Annual Sports Betting East Africa (SBEA+) 2026 Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
The company said it beat other shortlisted suppliers including SA Gaming, BetConstruct, and DST Gaming. The award is described by the event as recognising the “top all-round online casino platform for innovation, user engagement, and sustained growth” over the past year.
The SBEA+ Eventus Awards focus on the East African igaming and sports betting sector and were presented at a gala ceremony at the Argyle Grand Hotel. QTech Games said the judging period covered 2025/26 and that its aggregation platform performance was ranked highest by the panel.
QTech Games CEO Philip Doftvik said: “We’re thrilled to have walked off with another notable award for the best overall online-casino-platform provision in East Africa. Being shortlisted in such good company was already a result, but victory provides the real validation, particularly after running a great campaign at recent Eventus events in Africa. We’ve been promoting QTech Hybrid, our breakthrough retail solution, to great effect and it’s been fantastic to see that going live with a handful of top-tier clients on this continent has led to such overwhelmingly positive feedback and immediate success cases in the realm of genuine innovation.
“This win is testimony to our diligent team at QTech Games, and to the constantly growing group of innovative suppliers that our platform represents. It’s a truly collaborative effort. We remain committed to rolling out high-quality content that drives revenue for our worldwide partners across Africa and beyond. After all, in today’s marketplace, only premium games of the highest standard will separate you from the crowd, so we were delighted to see the panel acknowledge how our premier platform is delivering across Africa’s eclectic ecosystem. We’ve made our name as the pre-eminent aggregator in these evolving margin markets, delivering localised games that speak to a host of player proclivities. This award win will spur us on to new horizons.”
The post QTech Games wins Leader in Online Casino at SBEA+ Eventus Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brazil
Evoplay adds 24 slot titles to Oleybet in Brazil deal
Evoplay has signed a content partnership with Brazilian operator Oleybet to distribute 24 slot titles on the brand’s online casino in Brazil’s regulated market.
Oleybet is operated by Lindau Gaming S.A. in Brazil and offers sportsbook, online casino and live casino products. The rollout focuses on Evoplay’s slot portfolio, with the supplier saying the content is intended to support Oleybet’s casino expansion.
The integration is delivered through Sportingtech’s platform, which the companies said is intended to support a streamlined rollout and operational efficiency as Oleybet scales its games catalogue.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales at Evoplay, said: “Brazil remains a key focus for Evoplay, and partnering with Oleybet is another key strategic move in strengthening our presence in this dynamic market.
“Our portfolio is designed to deliver strong engagement across diverse player demographics, and we’re confident our games will resonate well with Oleybet’s audience as they continue to grow their offering.”
Robson Salvador, Ombudsman Director at Lindau, added: “We are very pleased to partner with Evoplay, a provider known for innovation and high-quality gaming experiences.
“This collaboration reinforces Oleybet’s commitment to offering a diverse and engaging portfolio to Brazilian players, always aligned with the highest standards of compliance and responsible gaming. We see this partnership as an important step in strengthening our positioning in Brazil’s regulated market.”
The post Evoplay adds 24 slot titles to Oleybet in Brazil deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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