Press Releases

Esports Integrity Commission named official body for ICE London’s Esports Arena as part of three-year partnership

Published

6 years ago

January 29, 2020

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has been confirmed as the official sanctioning body for the ICE Esports Arena $250k CS:GO tournament which takes place live on the show floor of ICE London (4-6 February, ExCeL London, UK). This year’s ICE London will be the venue for event organisers, Clarion Gaming, and the ESIC to sign a strategic three-year partnership which will see both organisations collaborating across a broad range of issues and topics impacting the developing relationship between the esports sector and the gambling industry.

Commenting on their presence as sanctioning body for the Esports Arena tournament, which will be broadcast live, ESIC Commissioner Ian Smith said: “We are delighted to be overseeing the officiating and rules and regulations for this important event. Our partnership with Clarion provides wonderful opportunities to raise awareness about the relationship between esports and betting on esports and helping to professionalise officiating in the industry. We look forward to developing this innovation with Clarion over the next three years.”

As part of the sanctioning body’s function, ESIC will be providing player education throughout the tournament on key competitive integrity risk areas including cheating, match fixing and doping. ESIC will also be providing external referee support to oversee tournament administration and ensure ESIC compliance during the operation of the tournament.

ICE London 2020 will also see the ESIC become a Supporting Partner interfacing across Clarion’s portfolio of market leading events and services. The three-year agreement will be signed at the ICE Esports Arena by Clarion Gaming Head of esports William Harding, and Stephen Hanna, Director of Global Strategy and Partnerships at the Esports Integrity Commission.

Heralding the agreement, William Harding stated: “In recent years esports and gambling have become inextricably interwoven. Inherently very different industries, esports has a very protective and authentic user base. A respectful and tailored approach from the gambling sector is required in order to support the fast growth within the sector. ESIC is quickly becoming a leading guiding force for the international esports industry, delivering a comprehensive range of services that significantly prevent foul play. In my opinion tournament organisers which operate in the gambling sector need to hold themselves to a very high standard. Fair gameplay is essential for operators to function commercially within this space. Our stakeholders based throughout the world look to Clarion Gaming to provide a platform for insightful, expert analysis and we are delighted to now be working alongside one of the leading authorities on esports.”

Echoing these sentiments, Stephen Hanna, Director of Global Strategy and Partnerships at the Esports Integrity Commission added: “Clarion Gaming has a reputation for delivering professional and well executed business-to-business events for the gambling industry. ESIC is excited to enter into this partnership which will see us working with Clarion to ensure that esports is authentically represented at their events, in a way that is helpful to both industries. By doing so, ESIC will continue to safeguard the integrity of esports on a global scale.”

eSports

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

Published

4 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

11 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

11 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.