Press Releases
70% of UK Punters Have Continued To Bet Throughout Lockdown, Freebets.com Survey Finds
Horse racing was by far the most popular sport to bet on, despite the closure of UK and Irish racecourses; 40% said they bet on Esports and Virtual Sports
Freebets.com, a leading UK betting comparison site, owned and operated by XLMedia today released an informative survey outlining the state of the UK’s online betting market during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The report reveals intriguing insights into the areas that have continued to thrive, with over 70% of British bettors continuing to place bets despite the temporary suspension of almost all major professional sports.
The survey questioned visitors to the freebets.com site between April 6 and April 26, 2020 and found that horse racing was by far the most popular sport to bet on, with 34.5% of respondents saying they were still placing wagers on international racing.
Despite UK and Irish courses being closed as of mid-March, racing carried on in countries including Australia, the US and Sweden.
The survey also showcased the rise in prominence of Esports and virtual sports, as betters embraced these new categories. A significant 40% of players said that they have now betted on these computer-based sporting options.
Stuart Simms, XLMedia PLC Group CEO said, “The results of this survey have been particularly encouraging, illustrating how our customers have continued to enjoy betting on sports at this time. The popularity of Esports and Virtual Sports stand out as the data suggests that these new categories have begun to cement their position as viable betting options.”
Somewhat surprisingly, football also remained an attractive proposition for betting fans as 25% said they were continuing to bet on the beautiful game, even though the only live games were from less popular leagues such as the Belarusian Premier League and Nicaraguan Primera Division.
The full survey results can be found at https://www.freebets.com/freebets-com-survey-online-betting-during-the-covid-19-crisis/.
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Bespoke Gaming Studio
CreedRoomz and Casumo Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Live Casino Experience
CreedRoomz, a leading provider of premium live casino solutions, and the award-winning online operator Casumo have announced a major strategic partnership. The collaboration focuses on delivering a highly personalized and branded live dealer environment, designed specifically to resonate with Casumo’s unique player community.
This partnership combines CreedRoomz’s technical expertise in bespoke studio construction with Casumo’s reputation for innovation and player-centric entertainment.
A Tailored Gaming Ecosystem
The centerpiece of this deal is the creation of a state-of-the-art dedicated studio. Unlike standard shared tables, this exclusive environment is built from the ground up to reflect Casumo’s distinctive visual identity, featuring:
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Exclusive Blackjack Tables: Casumo players will enjoy priority access to dedicated tables, ensuring seat availability and a premium, private feel.
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Branded Roulette Variants: The launch includes fully customized versions of Kickoff Roulette and Luxe Auto Roulette, complete with Casumo’s signature colors, styling, and logos.
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Bespoke Dealer Experience: Professional dealers will host games in custom Casumo-branded attire, bridging the gap between the brand’s digital personality and the live table experience.
Leadership Perspectives
The leaders of both organizations emphasized the importance of quality and brand alignment in this collaboration.
“Partnering with a brand of Casumo’s calibre is a testament to the quality of our live casino offering,” said Hayk Tovmasyan, Head of Live Casino at CreedRoomz. “We are confident that our dedicated tables will resonate strongly with the Casumo audience, providing an exceptional experience that strengthens brand loyalty.”
Tim De Borle, COO at Casumo, added: “This partnership allows us to further elevate our Live Casino proposition with high-quality, dedicated content. CreedRoomz’s ability to deliver bespoke studios aligns perfectly with how we think about product quality and brand identity.”
The post CreedRoomz and Casumo Forge Strategic Partnership to Elevate Live Casino Experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
iGaming News 2026
Spinomenal Rings in 2026 with Japanese-Inspired “Kami Reign Ultra Mode”
Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has officially kicked off the new year with the launch of Kami Reign Ultra Mode. The latest addition to the studio’s popular Mythology Series, the game transports players to a mystical twilight forest governed by ancient Japanese spirits.
Set against a backdrop of blooming cherry blossoms and traditional torii gates, the 5×4 reel slot is elevated by an atmospheric oriental soundtrack and a narrative centered on four powerful entities: Kitsune (the Fox Spirit), Raijin (the Thunder Demon), Jorōgumo (the Spider Woman), and Amaterasu (the Sun Goddess).
A Four-Stage Spiritual Journey
The game’s core innovation lies in its progressive Free Spins feature. Triggered by landing three Japanese Maple Tree symbols, the bonus round advances players through four distinct modes, each representing a different spirit:
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Kitsune’s Guaranteed Wins: Any losing spin triggers a respin that guarantees a winning combination.
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Raijin’s Sticky Wilds: Sticky Wilds appear and remain on the reels until the end of the round. In Ultra Mode, a multiplier starts at x2 and increases with every respin, resetting only after a win.
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Jorōgumo’s Synced Reels: Two random reels are synchronized to display identical symbols. In Ultra Mode, this expands to three synced reels.
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Amaterasu’s Stacked Wilds: Landing a full Stacked Wild triggers a respin. In Ultra Mode, Stacked Wilds are guaranteed on every spin across reels one to five.
The Power of Ultra Mode
Players can drastically enhance their gameplay by landing the Ultra Scatter—represented by a Divine Cherry Blossom Tree. This “Ultra Mode” boosts the mechanics of each free spin stage, offering increased multipliers, more synced reels, and guaranteed stacked Wilds.
In the base game, players can also benefit from random win multipliers of x2 or x3, while five Wild symbols on a payline offer a payout of x300 the bet.
“Kami Reign Ultra Mode takes players on an awesome Asian adventure alongside four Japanese spirits,” commented Omer Henya, CO-CEO of Spinomenal. “Stunning graphics, rich storytelling, and progressive features all help build an experience that players will adore.”
The post Spinomenal Rings in 2026 with Japanese-Inspired “Kami Reign Ultra Mode” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
B2B iGaming
Groove Technologies to Showcase Future of Scalable iGaming Growth at ICE Barcelona 2026
Groove Technologies, the award-winning B2B iGaming solutions provider, has announced its high-profile participation in ICE Barcelona 2026. Taking place from January 19–21 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, the event marks a significant milestone as the world’s premier gaming trade fair moves to its new Spanish home.
Groove Technologies will join over 600 exhibitors and 65,000 industry professionals to demonstrate how its “plug-and-play” growth ecosystem is helping operators navigate the complexities of a maturing global market.
Mastering the Next Wave of iGaming Trends
As the industry looks toward 2026, the focus has shifted from mere content volume to sustainable, data-driven growth. Groove’s platform is designed to address this shift, offering a single, powerful engine that consolidates:
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Massive Content Library: Access to over 15,000 games from 150+ top-tier providers.
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Streamlined Integration: A single API that reduces technical debt and speeds up time-to-market.
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Growth-Focused Tools: Built-in analytics, marketing automation, and localization features to engage players in diverse regulatory environments.
Leadership Insights: Partnership as a Catalyst for Growth
The Groove leadership team will be on-site to discuss strategic scaling and market entry.
“The industry is moving beyond just offering games; it’s about delivering the right localized content with the right tools,” said Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove Technologies. “ICE is the definitive venue to connect face-to-face with partners who are serious about scaling their business intelligently.”
Giusy Campo, Business Development Director, emphasized the importance of networking: “Our entire platform is built to be a growth catalyst. I’m looking forward to discussing the specific mechanics of success with current and future partners. Let’s transform potential into performance.”
Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and COO, added that the platform serves as a “comprehensive growth ecosystem,” allowing operators to launch fast and adapt to local player preferences with minimal friction.
Key Trends to Watch in 2026
Groove’s participation is informed by the critical trends set to dominate the iGaming landscape in 2026, including:
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Hyper-Personalization: Real-time tailoring of the player experience.
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Safer Gambling & Compliance: Automated, proactive player protection tools.
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Social & Mobile Integration: Features that build community and leverage mobile-first habits.
Operators and prospective partners can visit the newly launched domain at www.groovetech.com to book a meeting with the team in Barcelona.
The post Groove Technologies to Showcase Future of Scalable iGaming Growth at ICE Barcelona 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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