Latest News

FDJ Changes its Name to FDJ UNITED

Published

1 year ago

March 10, 2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

With the acquisition of Kindred last year, following Premier Lotteries Ireland and ZEturf in 2023, FDJ has cemented its status as a champion in Europe’s betting and gaming sector. To reflect its new strategy aimed at achieving lasting growth across Europe, FDJ is changing its name to FDJ UNITED.

This new name reflects the Group’s European scale while paying tribute to its roots, its history and what makes it unique. The new “FDJ UNITED” name reaffirms the Group’s historic name, “FDJ”, and combines it with “UNITED”, reflecting its international development.

“The betting and gaming sector is constantly evolving, both in France and abroad. In this environment, we have always succeeded in reinventing ourselves and adapting to key trends in our market. The Group’s IPO in 2019 marked the start of a new stage in this journey, and the recent acquisition of Kindred opens up even more new possibilities. Today, our Group begins a new chapter in its history – more diversified and more international. With FDJ UNITED, we are continuing on this adventure, driven by our passion and determination, for the benefit of all our stakeholders,” Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of FDJ UNITED, said.

The Group will continue to use the FDJ trade name in France, where this major brand is particularly popular and recognised by 97% of the population. FDJ will cover products under exclusive rights in France such as Loto, Euromillions, Astro and ParionsSport point de vente. Players will thus continue to see the FDJ logo on their scratch cards and betting slips, at points of sale and on the fdj.fr website.

With FDJ, The National Lottery and a number of iconic online betting and gaming brands, including Unibet, FDJ UNITED has a portfolio of powerful brands all over Europe, which will continue to operate under their own trade names while embodying the Group’s values.

“To kick off this new European chapter in our story, we needed a powerful new identity. Our new name, FDJ UNITED, is a corporate brand designed to showcase what we stand for, together with our new brand signature: ‘Playful. Play fair. Play forward.’ Alongside FDJ UNITED, we will of course continue to operate the brands that have made us what we are today. In particular, the FDJ brand will remain the face of the business for our customers in France, for our lottery games and our sports betting range at points of sale. Rounding out our business portfolio are other powerful brands such as The National Lottery in Ireland and Unibet across Europe,” Nathalie Le Garlantezec, Chief Communications Officer at FDJ UNITED, said.

The new name comes with a new visual identity that pays tribute to the past while looking firmly ahead to the future. The FDJ UNITED logo uses a diamond shape derived from the La Française des Jeux diamond. The diamond shape was first used in 1991 and has since featured in every version of the logo, making it a powerful visual element of the brand that is carried on in the FDJ UNITED logo. Taken from the playing card suit, the diamond represents chance. The many facets of this precious stone also symbolise the company’s multiple, complementary areas of business.

For the colours in its new visual identity, the Group has chosen to continue to mainly use shades of blue, its traditional colour, while also drawing on the Kindred colours of purple and green.

The post FDJ Changes its Name to FDJ UNITED appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

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

Published

6 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-names-faker-game-ambassador-for-ewc-and-enc-through-2028

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

13 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-signs-as-middlesbrough-fc-principal-partner-for-2026/27-season

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

13 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.