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Copper Box Arena, the Home of eSports, as the Positive effects of gaming are revealed in new study

Published

3 years ago

October 20, 2023

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Better gyms and leisure surveyed over 2,000 people in the UK, including almost 1,000 gamers, on the benefits of gaming and their perceptions of what a gamer is.

95% underestimate the physical activity and training regimes of pro gamers.
86% of people in the UK don’t think eSports athletes deserve the same recognition and respect as traditional athletes.
Non-gamers get just 12 minutes more sleep per night than gamers.
Over a third of gamers say their attention has improved since starting gaming.

Copper Box Arena on Queen Elizabeth Park in East London celebrated it’s 10 year anniversary this year and is fast becoming the home of eSports in the UK, with a new study revealing the diverse image of gamers and eSports professionals across the country, as well as a host of positive impacts associated with gaming.

The research from Better, operators of the Copper Box Arena, found that 96% of gamers report positive impacts in their day-to-day lives, with benefits including improvements to their attention span (33%), stress relief (50%), a sense of escapism (48%), and improved mental health (30%). For many, gaming allows players to connect with others online and temporarily escape the stresses of the real world, with Copper Box Arena providing a huge platform for the gaming community to share in these benefits.

Copper Box Arena is drawing in avid eSports fans from all over the world, and Stuart Hutchison, General Manager at Copper Box Arena, said: “We’re immensely proud to be part of the emergence of eSports. Copper Box Arena is rapidly becoming the home of eSports in the UK after hosting huge tournaments such as League of Legends, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone Global Series Finals already this year.”

86% of people in the UK don’t think eSports athletes deserve the same recognition and respect as traditional athletes.

Despite the gaming industry’s rapid growth and the evident benefits of gaming, the study revealed that there is still some way to go to convince non-gamers, with many misconceptions of gaming still prevalent.

Overwhelmingly, 86% of respondents in the UK do not believe that eSports athletes deserve the same recognition and respect as traditional athletes. Furthermore, only one in five respondents viewed eSports as a legitimate form of competitive sport compared to traditional sports like football and rugby, and almost 9 in 10 Brits were unwilling to accept eSports into the Olympics.

Additionally, over half of the UK population (54%) believes gaming can cause some form of social isolation, and three in 10 feel it would encourage poor mental health. While our study showed gamers were actually spending more time outside than non-gamers, Brits still believe gaming would lead to a lack of exercise (58%), an unhealthy lifestyle (47%), and a poor diet (42%).

However, there is a glimmer of hope for eSports enthusiasts, as a quarter of Brits believe that eSports has the potential to attain the same level of popularity as traditional sports in the future, signifying potential growth amongst fans of the industry.

Commenting on the comparison, Nathan David, Head of Foundation at the College of eSports (CoEs), which offers innovative and practice-focused degrees in a range of international eSports business areas, said: “If you speak to any performance athlete, they will tell you that despite the physical aspect of sport and competition being key, the mental and psychological factors are just as important; dealing with stress and performing under pressure are two parallels often referred to.

“I think you will see an attitude change in the perception of eSports over the next 5 to 10 years or so as misconceptions and further understanding of our industry is addressed.”

Non-gamers get just 12 minutes more sleep per night than gamers.

The prevailing stereotype of gamers as isolated, sedentary individuals glued to screens has long persisted. However, the research reveals that gamers actually spend longer on average outside each day than non-gamers. With regards to sleep, over half (56%) of Brits felt gaming would encourage a lack of sleep. However, non-gamers stated they get an average of just under six and a half hours a night, compared to gamers’ six hours and 16 minutes, revealing a minuscule 12-minute difference between the two.

Nathan David said: “We always promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle that includes promoting your wellbeing socially, mentally, and physically. It is undeniable that gaming is almost entirely sedentary, but it is achievable to still be physically and mentally healthy despite playing games. Good sleep/recovery, a balanced diet, and physical activity are necessary in all forms of life, including for esports players or gamers.”

eSports

Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028

Published

9 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.

EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.

“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”

Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”

EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.

The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brand Partnerships

Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season

Published

16 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.

The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.

Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.

“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.

“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”

Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.

“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”

The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGCO

ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch

Published

16 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

thrilltech-secures-agco-supplier-licence-for-ontario-launch

ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.

The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”

The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.

ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.

The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.