Latest News

Nottingham’s Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club Goes All In With NOVOVISION Tournament

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2025

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Owned by entrepreneur and passionate Poker enthusiast Rob Yong, Dusk Till Dawn is a Poker Club run by Poker players for Poker players. Yong originally founded the club out of annoyance that he and his best friend Nick Whiten were refused entry to a local poker tournament because they were one minute late for registration. Disgruntled, his friend suggested to better open their own Poker place – and that’s exactly what Yong did in 2006, with Nick Whiten acting as Managing Director.

Today, the Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club is highly popular with Poker fans throughout the Nottingham region and beyond, with some 45 Poker tables plus video slots and electronic Roulette games. It has established a name as “The Home of UK Poker”, with daily tournaments that draw a huge community of players. The focus is mainly on low-stakes recreational Poker in an ambience that appeals to occasional players, amateurs and pros alike as well as hosting official Poker championships like the World Championship of Amateur Poker (APAT), the World Poker Tour (WPT) Prime UK, the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) and the UK Poker Championships (UKPC).

What better place in the UK to use NOVOMATIC’s premium solution for live table tournaments? With top customer service and smooth tournament operations being top priorities, Yong and Whiten decided to place their bets on a solution that covers the DTD’s entire business requirements including live table tournament management: NOVOVISION.

The system was implemented at DTD in a very unique and highly customised set-up with a broad range of functionalities across several modules. NOVOVISION core provides for cashdesk, player management, floor management as well as accounting and reporting. NOVOVISION access creates smooth access processes with QR code, face recognition and fingerprint functionalities. The NOVOVISION wallet serves as a convenient single wallet for players to manage their funds and buy-ins and can also be accessed via the NOVOVISION smart features of the new DTD player app. These do not only include fast and easy credit transfers via an external payment provider, but also tournament details, alerts and standings as well as a general overview of the tournament calendar, news and much more. Also, the floor staff benefits from the smart functionalities comprised in the notifier application that inform them in real-time about a demarcated variety of floor events.

NOVOVISION tournament is a dedicated live table tournament tool. Its functionalities include detailed settings for the game types, chips, levels, buy-ins and a dynamic prize calculation as well as sophisticated tournament table and player management, thus significantly reducing the administrative and organisational effort. The application also enables the DTD team to manage the tournament display content as well as messaging and sound notifications for all screens across the venue.

During the levels, DTD staff can monitor and control all tournament details live and in real-time. Timers indicate the current duration or time left to start specific events while other actions during the ongoing tournament, e.g., reseating, removing, adding players or manually shortening the tournament by skipping individual rounds, just require a few clicks in the system. All tournament events are tracked in real-time and instantly displayed in the “history” tab.

NOVOVISION tournament supports any type of Poker game as well as other live games, and is fully integrated with the NOVOVISION cashdesk for the tournament registration as well as managing the players’ buy-ins and prize wins directly via their individual NOVOVISION wallet.

Fabian Schnötzinger, Market Coordination NBS, said: “The Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club is a truly special place with an atmosphere that represents the love of Poker. With the new NOVOVISION tournament module, the teams on the floor and behind the scenes can work together seamlessly to ensure the smooth running of the tournament, while focusing on creating an exceptional experience for the players. This project stands out not only for its prestige, but also as a true example of teamwork and dedication. The NOVOVISION team worked closely with the Dusk Till Dawn team to implement a new tournament application, inspired by a shared vision. Thanks to all who made this vision a reality.”

Paul Abbott, Sales Manager at NOVOMATIC Gaming UK, said: “When Nick and the Dusk Till Dawn team approached us at ICE enquiring about the NOVOVISION CMS system, it was very clear that they truly embrace innovation. Understanding their operational requirements and introducing the system solutions was a real privilege for us, as we knew that the system would easily meet and exceed expectations, in many areas of their business. That’s not to say that everything was “out of the box”, the guys have worked closely with the NOVOMATIC system design team, together introducing some fantastic new features to the already impressive CMS arsenal. Working with the DTD team continues to be a pleasure and the prospect of introducing the NOVOVISION Casino Management System to many more UK customers is for me, a very exciting prospect.”

Nick Whiten, Managing Director of Dusk Till Dawn, said: “The system passed its baptism of fire with flying colours at our recent Deep Stack and Bounty Hunter tournaments, and staff and players alike found it a very enjoyable experience. Player buy-in and registration is the fastest it has ever been. We definitely weren’t promised too much.”

The post Nottingham’s Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club Goes All In With NOVOVISION Tournament appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Agganis Arena

RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History

Published

2 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

rlcs-boston-major-becomes-most-watched-event-in-rocket-league-history

The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Boston Major 2026 has officially become the most-watched event in Rocket League esports history, setting a new benchmark for global engagement and competitive excellence.

Held at Agganis Arena in Boston, the Major concluded with a thrilling all-French Grand Final, where Gentlemates defeated tournament favourites Team Vitality 4:2 to claim the first Major title of the 2026 season.

Record-Breaking Viewership Milestone

The RLCS Boston Major 2026 delivered unprecedented audience numbers:

Peak Viewers: 624,316 concurrent viewers
Average Viewership: Over 270,000 viewers
First RLCS event ever to surpass 600,000 concurrent viewers

This milestone represents a 33.3% increase over the previous all-time peak recorded at the 2022–23 RLCS World Championship, highlighting sustained year-over-year growth and expanding global interest in Rocket League esports.

The event’s performance reinforces RLCS as one of the fastest-growing competitive circuits in modern esports.

A Grand Final Worthy of the Record

The Boston Major culminated in a high-stakes French showdown between Gentlemates and Team Vitality. The 4:2 victory secured Gentlemates’ first Major trophy of the season and signaled a shift in competitive power dynamics heading deeper into 2026.

The all-French final further amplified international audience engagement, particularly across European broadcast markets, contributing significantly to the event’s record-breaking concurrent viewership.

Global Broadcast Reach and Multi-Language Coverage

Beyond peak numbers, the Boston Major showcased:

Multi-language broadcast streams
Cross-platform digital distribution
Strong in-arena attendance
Expanded regional fan engagement

Hosted in front of thousands of live fans at Agganis Arena, the event combined traditional arena esports spectacle with robust online streaming performance — a formula that continues to fuel RLCS’s accelerating global momentum.

What This Means for Rocket League Esports

The 2026 Boston Major marks a defining moment for the RLCS ecosystem:

Sustained Global Growth – The consistent upward trend in viewership confirms Rocket League’s staying power within the esports landscape.
Mainstream Momentum – Breaking the 600K peak threshold positions RLCS among elite-tier esports events globally.
Competitive Depth – The diversity and intensity of international competition continue to elevate the broadcast product.
Commercial Validation – Record audience metrics strengthen sponsorship, media rights, and long-term circuit investment potential.

As the 2026 season progresses, the Boston Major sets a new performance benchmark that future Majors and the World Championship will aim to surpass.

The post RLCS Boston Major Becomes Most Watched Event in Rocket League History appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Competitive Poker

David Lappin Named PokerStars Ambassador

Published

2 hours ago

February 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

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PokerStars has officially named Irish poker professional David Lappin as the winner of its inaugural Live League ambassadorship, marking a major milestone for both the seasoned pro and the global poker brand. The announcement follows the conclusion of the 2025 PokerStars Live League season, where players competed across European events for leaderboard supremacy and a coveted ambassador position.

Lappin, widely respected as a poker player, writer, commentator, and industry voice, now joins the prestigious PokerStars ambassador roster after emerging as the standout candidate among top leaderboard performers.

A Season-Long Path to Representation

The 2025 PokerStars Live League introduced a structured, merit-based pathway for players to earn ambassador status. Competitors accumulated points across three buy-in-based leaderboard tiers — High, Medium, and Low — throughout major European live events.

Qualifying tournaments included stops on the renowned European Poker Tour (EPT), regional PokerStars Open events, and even the iconic Irish Poker Open, a long-standing highlight of the European poker calendar.

At the end of the season:

Top 30 players (Top 10 per tier) earned the right to audition.
A PokerStars judging panel selected the ultimate ambassador.
Lappin was chosen for his consistency, credibility, and player-first approach.

This structure reflects PokerStars’ growing emphasis on meritocracy and community representation rather than purely promotional appointments.

Player-Led Representation at the Core

As a PokerStars Ambassador, Lappin’s role extends beyond brand visibility. His focus will center on:

Competing in flagship EPT Main Events
Participating in PokerStars Open stops
Promoting online-to-live qualification routes
Engaging directly with the player community

PokerStars has made clear that this ambassadorship is rooted in authentic player representation. Lappin has long advocated that ambassadors should serve as bridges between operators and players — not simply brand spokespeople.

His reputation as a thoughtful commentator and outspoken industry analyst positions him as a natural intermediary between grassroots competitors and event organizers.

Cédric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars, emphasized Lappin’s longstanding presence on the circuit and deep understanding of the live ecosystem. According to Billot, Lappin’s authenticity and alignment with PokerStars values made him a “natural fit” for the role.

Strengthening the Online-to-Live Pathway

A key component of Lappin’s ambassadorship will be highlighting PokerStars’ satellite ecosystem — a system allowing online players to qualify for major live tournaments at a fraction of the standard buy-in.

This online-to-live funnel remains central to PokerStars’ brand identity. By promoting satellite qualifiers and digital routes into live events, Lappin reinforces PokerStars’ commitment to accessibility and upward mobility within competitive poker.

For aspiring players, this messaging underscores an important truth: online grinders can convert modest investments into major live opportunities.

The 2026 PokerStars Live League Expansion

The announcement coincides with the launch of the 2026 PokerStars Live League season, which began at PokerStars Open Campione.

Key highlights of the 2026 league include:

€157,500 in PokerStars LIVE credits awarded
Prizes distributed across High, Medium, and Low tiers
A new €100,000 live freeroll at the first EPT stop of 2027
Expanded rewards structure benefiting top 30 finishers in each tier

The second stop of the 2026 season is currently underway at EPT Paris, offering players additional opportunities to earn leaderboard points.

League standings and live updates are available through the PokerStars Live app, further integrating digital tracking with live competition.

Strategic Implications for PokerStars

Lappin’s appointment reflects broader strategic shifts in the live poker landscape:

Community Credibility Over Celebrity Marketing
PokerStars continues prioritizing ambassadors with deep player roots rather than purely mainstream appeal.
Reinforcing European Live Dominance
By strengthening the Live League and EPT ecosystem, PokerStars consolidates its hold on Europe’s premier live poker circuits.
Retention Through Gamification
The leaderboard structure encourages year-long engagement, incentivizing consistent participation rather than one-off tournament attendance.
Expanding Reward Distribution
The 2026 freeroll addition broadens prize accessibility, rewarding loyalty across all buy-in levels.

Why This Matters for the Poker Industry

The poker industry has increasingly leaned into hybrid engagement models — combining online platforms, live tours, community ambassadors, and digital content ecosystems.

Lappin’s appointment symbolizes this evolution. As a hybrid figure — competitor, analyst, content creator — he embodies the modern poker ambassador archetype: credible, vocal, accessible, and community-oriented.

The Live League format itself may also influence competitor operators to rethink how ambassador programs are structured, shifting toward performance-based selection models.

The post David Lappin Named PokerStars Ambassador appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts the only live streaming service in Las Vegas to broadcast the excitement of its smoke free gaming area

Published

2 hours ago

February 25, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

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Three table games also added to the first and only smoke free gaming space in downtown Las Vegas

To highlight the excitement of its smoke free gaming area, the first and only one in downtown Las Vegas, the Plaza Hotel & Casino has partnered with Vegas Live Casino Network to launch the only live streaming channel dedicated to broadcasting casino play in Las Vegas, seven days a week.

The Plaza has long promoted social media posting by guests and created the smoke free gaming area as a social media friendly space with vibrant backdrops and copyright free music. Now, the Plaza is partnering with Vegas Live Casino Network to be the first Las Vegas property with its own dedicated YouTube channel to broadcast the excitement players are having in its smoke free gaming space at https://www.youtube.com/@VegasLiveCasinoNetwork.

Thanks to the new broadcast stream from Vegas Live Casino Network, guests will be able to subscribe and share the video stream of themselves playing the slots machines or the new table games with friends and family to show the fun they are having at the Plaza.

The broadcast will stream live Sunday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 6 p.m. to midnight. To learn more about the live streaming service, watch the launch video for the Vegas Live Casino Network at the Plaza at: youtube.com/watch?v=PfboeigVH_c.

The smoke free gaming space is home to dozens of the industry’s most popular slot machines, and now, the Plaza also added three table games, including blackjack, baccarat, and European roulette. Blackjack will offer bets starting at $25 to $2,000; baccarat will start bets at $25 up to $3,000; and European roulette will be a $200 progressive table. Outside bets: even money is $3,000 maximum and 2-1 is $1,500 maximum bet. The table games will be open from 6 p.m. to midnight daily.

To learn more about the new offerings in the Plaza’s smoke free gaming area visit: plazahotelcasino.com/casino/smoke-free-slots/.

The post Plaza Hotel & Casino debuts the only live streaming service in Las Vegas to broadcast the excitement of its smoke free gaming area appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.