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Flutter UKI Launches “Cash4Clubs” Programme

Published

1 year ago

September 13, 2024

flutter-uki-launches-“cash4clubs”-programme

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Acting on its commitment to Do More for Communities, Flutter UKI is providing 200 community sporting organisations across the UK and Ireland with the opportunity to apply for grants of £2,000 to improve their facilities, purchase new equipment, run coaching programmes and drive participation in sports.

Last year’s winners included Basa in Rochdale, which runs fitness classes for over 60’s women, the Gosport Bowmen archery club in Hampshire and the London Wheelchair rugby club – who sent four players to the ParalympicsGB squad in Paris.

Of the clubs awarded funding last year, over 85% said they had been able to deliver more activities – and a total of 9000 new people aged 18 or over had engaged in health and fitness programmes as a result.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP and chair of the cross-party DCMS Select Committee, said: “I hope that grassroots clubs will make the most of the opportunity to apply for a Cash4Clubs grant.

“These clubs do great work in our communities, bringing people together, getting them active and developing new skills and passions. This money will make a huge difference.”

Since Cash4Clubs was launched in 2008, nearly £6 million has been invested into community sports by Flutter through its brands, which include Paddy Power, Sky Betting & Gaming, Betfair and tombola.

Ian Brown, Chief Executive of Flutter UKI, said: “The stunning success of Team GB at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics once again highlighted the power of sport. We hope Cash4Clubs can play an important part in helping at the grassroots level by enabling small clubs to play an even bigger role in their community.

“There are priceless benefits in people trying out a sport for the first time, getting active or having the confidence to take their hobby to the next level. We believe this programme can make a real difference in the areas that need it most.”

Flutter UKI is working with leading UK charity Sported to deliver the Cash4Clubs programme. Two hundred bids will be selected for funding by the awards panel, with a particular emphasis this year on clubs in impoverished areas trying to boost participation.

Sport England has a 10-year to improve the lives and communities in England through physical activity and sport.

While sports activity has recovered from the pandemic, a parliamentary report last year warned there has been little progress in tackling barriers to participation in sport and physical activity across England.

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee said nearly two in five adults in England still do not meet guidelines for recommended activity.

Sarah Kaye, Chief Executive of Sported, said: “We continue to see people who are increasingly at risk of being unable to access the benefits of sport because of the growing financial challenges faced by grassroots groups.

“It’s a privilege to partner with Flutter on Cash4Clubs and we will ensure.”

One of last year’s winners, Welcome House Hull, used the Cash4Clubs grant to help set up Acorn FC, a football team made up exclusively of refugees and asylum seekers. They went on to make history by playing the first competitive match in the UK between asylum seeker teams.

Shirley Hart of Welcome House, commented: “We formed our football team Acorn FC and with the money from the grant we could be taken seriously as we could practise more, appear more professional, play better. We teamed up with Active Through Football and made history by playing the first inter-city asylum seeker competitive football match. We could not have done this without your grant.”

Craig Streeter, Vice Chairman of the London Wheelchair Rugby Club, said: “We appreciate all donations of any amount and would like to say a huge thank you to Cash4Clubs. These donations help fund anything from tournaments to tape and are essential in the progression of the club and our members.

“We certainly do encourage other clubs to apply for the scheme. Wheelchair Rugby is an expensive sport, and any ease of financial burden helps our players from grass roots to Paralympic glory.”

The post Flutter UKI Launches “Cash4Clubs” Programme appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Akshat Rathee

Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone

Published

6 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

indian-esports-2026:-strategic-growth-and-the-asian-games-milestone

The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.

The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.

Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.

The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.

Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.

Market Evolution and Key Trends

The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.

Trend	Impact in 2026
Mobile Dominance	Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware.
Beyond BGMI	2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.”
Monetization Shift	Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression.
Tier II & III Growth	Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content.

The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Bison Strike

ENJOY Boosts Global Distribution with Strategic EveryMatrix Deal

Published

6 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

enjoy-boosts-global-distribution-with-strategic-everymatrix-deal

ENJOY, the fast-rising iGaming content developer, has secured a significant distribution agreement with EveryMatrix. The deal will see ENJOY’s full suite of video slots and next-generation live casino game shows integrated into the SlotMatrix aggregation platform, making them available to an expansive network of tier-one global operators.

This partnership marks a critical milestone for ENJOY as it enters its primary phase of commercial expansion. By joining the SlotMatrix ecosystem—one of the industry’s largest content hubs—ENJOY gains immediate access to regulated markets worldwide and a streamlined path to brand visibility.

Bison Strike and Innovation in the Spotlight

The integration includes ENJOY’s most recent flagship launch, Bison Strike, alongside a curated library of high-performing titles. ENJOY is carving out a reputation for “indie-style” creative flair combined with technical reliability, focusing on two core verticals:

Video Slots: High-volatility titles with immersive storytelling and meticulously crafted art.
Live Game Shows: 24/7 interactive experiences streamed from a purpose-built studio, designed to drive player retention through next-gen engagement mechanics.

Leadership Insights on Global Scalability

The agreement follows a string of successful partnerships for ENJOY, which has already established links with platforms like SoftGamings and Gamingtec under the leadership of its new CCO.

“This partnership with EveryMatrix gives us a launchpad that, as a newcomer, we are privileged to access,” said Christos Zoulianitis, Chief Commercial Officer at ENJOY. “EveryMatrix’s reputation as a trusted aggregator and its global distribution power allow us to accelerate our growth significantly. We’re bringing fresh ideas to both the slots and live casino verticals, and EveryMatrix gives us the reach to put that innovation in front of the right operators immediately.”

Bjorn Sjoberg, CCO at SlotMatrix, added: “ENJOY has shown real ambition and creative flair with its early releases. Our mission is to connect high-quality, forward-thinking studios with operators who value fresh content, and ENJOY fits that brief perfectly.”

The post ENJOY Boosts Global Distribution with Strategic EveryMatrix Deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Blask Index

Saudi Arabia, Greece, and the Philippines Lead iGaming’s Rising Markets in 2025

Published

6 minutes ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

saudi-arabia,-greece,-and-the-philippines-lead-igaming’s-rising-markets-in-2025

Saudi Arabia, Greece, and the Philippines have emerged as the most significant rising markets of 2025, according to a comprehensive year-end analysis from the market intelligence ecosystem Blask.

The findings are based on the proprietary Blask Index, a real-time tracking tool that monitors player attention and search volumes across 107 countries. While established markets like the United Kingdom maintained the top spots, these three jurisdictions saw the most aggressive climbs in global rankings.

2025 Market Movers: The Biggest Climbers

The global iGaming landscape experienced a shift in 2025 as emerging interest in the Middle East and regulatory overhauls in Asia-Pacific redirected player attention.

Market	Index Rank Change	2025 Position	Key Growth Driver
Saudi Arabia	+9 Places	20th	High youth demographics & digital adoption
Philippines	+4 Places	12th	New PAGCOR B2B licensing framework
Greece	+4 Places	17th	Robust online growth from operators like OPAP

Saudi Arabia: The Surprise Performer

Saudi Arabia was the year’s most improved market, breaking into the Global Top 20 for the first time. Despite strict local prohibitions, the market saw a sharp uptick in interest driven by a young, mobile-first population (over 70% under age 35) and a massive shift toward digital entertainment under the Vision 2030 initiative. The growth reflects an “underground” surge in demand typically seen in restricted but hyper-connected markets.

Philippines: Regulatory Modernization

The Philippines climbed to 12th place, fueled by the PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) decision to formalize the iGaming supply chain. The introduction of the B2B Accreditation Framework in October 2025 forced game developers, aggregators, and payment providers to undergo formal probity checks, bringing the region in line with mature jurisdictions like the UK and Ontario.

Greece: Digital Transition

Greece’s ascent to 17th place was largely attributed to the performance of its largest operator, OPAP. The company reported double-digit growth in its iGaming and sports betting divisions throughout 2025, with online GGR surging nearly 20% in the first half of the year. This success underscores the Greek market’s successful transition from a retail-heavy model to a digital-first ecosystem.

“The global iGaming landscape is shifting faster than ever,” said Max Tesla, CEO and co-founder of Blask. “Operators that can spot emerging trends early, and understand what is actually driving interest on the ground, are far better positioned to capture new growth opportunities as they appear.”

The post Saudi Arabia, Greece, and the Philippines Lead iGaming’s Rising Markets in 2025 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.