Press Releases
Employees facing increased financial stress in week before payday
fastPAYE finds that almost 78% of UK workers are living payday to payday; anxiety likely to affect staff performance in the gaming sector
Almost half of UK workers who get paid monthly experience heightened money-related worries in the run up to payday, according to research by fastPAYE, the flexible wage application for the modern workforce.
Of those surveyed by the company, which launched a revolutionary wage management system last month that enables betting and casino businesses to pay staff wages on demand, 46% said that their financial concerns increased in the week before receiving their monthly wage packet.
This stress can lead to reliance on high interest credit options to tide workers over, with most people turning to credit cards to see them through the prolonged pay period. More than half of respondents admitted to using one often and at least 20% of those turn to plastic every month.
Overdrafts also provide a fallback with 40% going into the red as payday approaches, while a fifth of employees which took part in the research resort to costly payday loans that can have significant financial consequences.
Credit acquired is most spent on groceries according to the survey, shortly followed by bills, leisure activities and house repairs as workers living payday to payday struggle to cover unexpected costs when they arise.
Backed by sister company ShopWorks, a staff management system provider to some of the biggest gaming and betting brands including Betfred, PaddyPower, Gauselmann, Novomatic, Mecca and Grosvenor, fastPAYE’s research emphasises the impact of the four to five-week pay gap can have on employee financial wellbeing.
Commenting on the findings, Ian Hogg, chairman of fastPAYE, said: “The number of people going through financial anxiety because of the outdated monthly wage system often relied on by the gaming sector is concerning, especially considering that with new technology this stress can be lessened.
“Whether you’re a casino and betting company or a large retailer, if a staff member has money-related worries it is likely to affect their performance in the workplace. But by giving employees early access to a proportion of their earned wages, businesses can give workers greater control over their finances and in turn help to harness a happier workforce.”
fastPAYE launched in January this year to provide a cost-efficient, flexible alternative to the outdated monthly wage system. The application enables businesses to offer salary drawdowns based on completed shifts before payday, and since the fastPAYE model isn’t a loan, it charges no interest.
The company has a strong heritage in the gaming sector through ShopWorks, which has years of experience working in the industry, together with the technical expertise and understanding to address operators’ staff recruitment and retention challenges.
BLAST
BLAST partners with MATCH on premium fan travel for 2026-27 events
Deal covers travel and hospitality packages across BLAST’s event slate, starting with BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.
BLAST has signed a one-year partnership with MATCH to develop premium fan travel experiences and related commercial opportunities across BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026. The companies said the work will start immediately, with an initial focus on the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals event in November.
BLAST VP of Destinations and Market Development James Woollard said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”
MATCH is best known for hospitality and accommodation programmes at major sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups
from 2010 to 2022, as well as Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grands Prix and ATP tennis tournaments. MATCH Director of UK Events and Business Strategy Richard Parker said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”
BLAST said MATCH will also bring its network of clients, sponsors, federations, agents and media partners to support international attendance and partner activation, alongside MATCH’s technology and operational infrastructure. The announcement follows BLAST’s 2025 live events activity, where the organiser said it delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five titles and sold 194,421 tickets.
The post BLAST partners with MATCH on premium fan travel for 2026-27 events appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BLAST
BLAST and MATCH Announce Strategic Partnership to Elevate Premium Esports Experiences Worldwide
Partnership to focus on fan travel experiences for BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026
BLAST, one of the world’s leading esports entertainment companies, today announced a new strategic partnership with MATCH, a globally renowned leader in premium sports experiences with extensive expertise spanning product development, production, marketing, sales and customer service.
The one-year agreement will see MATCH work alongside BLAST to deliver premium fan travel experiences and commercial opportunities across BLAST’s global esports events portfolio, with an immediate focus on the upcoming BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.
MATCH, and its associated group of companies, are internationally recognised for delivering world-class hospitality and accommodation programmes at some of the globe’s biggest and more commercially successful sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups
between 2010 and 2022, multiple Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grand Prix and ATP tennis tournaments.
The partnership comes amid continued global growth and demand for elevated live esports events. In 2025 alone, BLAST delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five of the world’s leading esports titles, selling 194,421 tickets to fans worldwide as esports continues to establish itself as one of the fastest-growing sectors in live entertainment.
James Woollard, VP of Destinations and Market Development for BLAST, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”
Richard Parker, Director of UK Events and Business Strategy for MATCH, said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”
Through the partnership, MATCH will bring its extensive global network of clients, sponsors, international sports federations, agents and media partners to BLAST events, helping expand international attendance, elevate fan experiences and further position esports within the premium live entertainment landscape.
The collaboration will also leverage MATCH’s proven technology, infrastructure and operational expertise that has supported some of the world’s largest sporting events, creating scalable fan travel solutions tailored for esports audiences and commercial partners.
MATCH’s integrated model combines rights-holder expertise with full-service delivery capabilities, enabling efficient setup, operational consistency and premium guest experiences across global events. The company’s proven international reach attracted attendees from more than 150 countries during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
, demonstrating the scale and effectiveness of its worldwide hospitality and marketing network.
The partnership reinforces BLAST’s continued ambition to innovate and expand the esports event experience globally, creating new opportunities for fans, brands and commercial partners alike.
The post BLAST and MATCH Announce Strategic Partnership to Elevate Premium Esports Experiences Worldwide appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
AI Suite
BetConstruct AI is Heading to Peru Gaming Show 2026
BetConstruct AI will be at Peru Gaming Show 2026, June 17–18, Lima, Peru, Stand N.56. PGS is Latin America’s most established iGaming event, and this year’s edition lands at a uniquely high-stakes moment for the industry.
By the time PGS opens, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will already be live. The conversation at Stand N.56 won’t be about preparation; it will be about real-time performance. BetConstruct AI will be on the floor with tournament-ready solutions operators can activate immediately: Special Bets for live market management and Bet on League for instant, zero-development tournament deployment.
Alongside the World Cup offering, the full AI Suite will be on display — CRM AI, Umbrella AI, AI Game Recommendation System, and Betting Mate AI — covering churn prediction, unified risk management, personalised casino experiences, and conversational sportsbook engagement.
The platform foundation: 140,000+ pre-match events and 90,000+ live matches monthly, 45,000+ casino games from 350+ providers via a single API, and the Affigates Affiliate Ecosystem with 7,000+ vetted affiliates and AI-based scoring.
New partners unlock exclusive commercial terms on setup!
All the visitors are welcome to Stand N.56!
The post BetConstruct AI is Heading to Peru Gaming Show 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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