eSports
Betway Join BLAST With DOTA 2 Expansion

BLAST: Bounty Hunt Tournament joins leading online bookmaker Betway’s growing portfolio of top tier esports events.
Europe’s finest will compete over the four-day DOTA 2 tournament, with the coveted Bounty Hunt title on the line. Pulling in viewers from across the world, teams will battle for bragging rights and the $145,000 prize pool.
Betway’s sponsored team Ninjas in Pyjamas will join elite sides Alliance, Team Secret, Team Nigma, OG and Team Liquid with the first game set to start on the 9th June.
Adam Savinson, Head of Esports, Betway, said: “We have had an incredibly successful 2020 working with BLAST across their Counter Strike tournaments, making it a very easy decision to support their entry into DOTA 2. We are excited to see BLAST bring their innovative and exciting approach to a new game, and are proud to help them on that journey.”
Leo Matlock, Commercial Director for BLAST, added: “The expansion of this deal is testament to the impressive collaboration between BLAST and Betway over the last 18 months as we both strive to be industry leaders in esports and entertain fans the best we can.
“We look forward to continuing this innovative partnership as we expand into one of the world’s most played and loved games in the shape of DoTa 2. We can’t wait to deliver the world class DOTA 2 tournament that fans have been asking for, and are delighted that Betway are supporting and working with us to ensure we achieve this.”
DOTA 2 is one of the world’s most-watched esports, with two teams of five players, each controlling a single hero. Teams compete to destroy the enemies ‘Ancient’ – the building at the centre of their base. In 2019, The International – DOTA 2’s flagship tournament peaked with a concurrent viewership of 1,968,497.
About the Betway Group:
The Betway Group is a leading provider of innovative, entertaining and exciting entertainment across sports betting, casino, bingo and esports betting. Launched in 2006, the company operates across a number of regulated online markets and holds licences in the UK, Malta, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Germany and Ireland. Based in Malta and Guernsey, with support from London, Isle of Man and Cape Town, the Betway team comprises over 1,500 people.
Betway prides itself on providing its customers with a bespoke, fun and informed betting experience, supported by a fair, safe and responsible environment. Betway is a member of several prominent industry-related bodies, including International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), iGaming European Network (iGEN), the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS), and the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), and is ISO 27001 certified through the trusted international testing agency eCOGRA. It is also a partner of the Professional Players Federation (PPF) and is a donor to many responsible gambling charities, including GambleAware.
In addition to the flagship Betway brand, the Betway Group operates a number of other brands including Dream Bingo, Spin Casino and the Hippodrome Online casino. For more information about Betway’s various products and licenced brands, please visit www.betwaygroup.com.
SOURCE Betway
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Compliance Updates
ESIC Issues Lifetime Ban to StarCraft II Player Xue âFireflyâ Tao Following Match-Fixing Investigation

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The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) announced the outcome of its investigation into serious integrity breaches involving professional StarCraft II competitors Xue âFireflyâ Tao and Jinhui âJimâ Cao. Mr. Xue has been banned from ESIC Member events and competitions for life, while Mr. Jinhui has been provisionally suspended pending further sanction.
Following a detailed inquiry spanning April to July 2024, ESIC uncovered evidence of a coordinated match-fixing and profit-sharing scheme. The investigation found that Mr. Xue deliberately manipulated match outcomes to benefit illicit betting activity orchestrated by Mr. Jinhui, with whom he had a long-standing association.
Key findings include:
âą Pre-match wagers placed by Mr. Jinhui predicting Fireflyâs losses â often by precise scorelines.
âą Consistent match losses by Firefly aligning with those wagers across seven tournaments.
âą Large Alipay transfers from Jim to Firefly immediately following these matches.
âą A WeChat exchange on 21 August 2024 directly referencing prior payments and an effort to conceal evidence.
ESIC has concluded that Xue âFireflyâ Tao committed 21 breaches of the ESIC Integrity Programme, spanning both the Anti-Corruption Code and Code of Conduct. As a result, he has been handed a lifetime ban from all ESIC member events and competitions in any capacity.
Mr. Jinhui has been provisionally suspended and served with a Notice of Charge. He has until 14 July 2025 to respond before ESIC issues a formal sanction.
The post ESIC Issues Lifetime Ban to StarCraft II Player Xue âFireflyâ Tao Following Match-Fixing Investigation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
BETER Wins Esports Betting Supplier Award at the EGR B2B Awards 2025

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BETER, the in-demand provider of fast-betting content, data, and odds for esports and sports, has been awarded Esports Betting Supplier at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards 2025.
It is the first time BETER has received this award, marking a significant milestone in the companyâs journey and reflecting the growing demand for its fast-paced esports products.
The EGR B2B Awards celebrate the companies powering the global iGaming industry, recognizing excellence and rewarding those leading in innovation, reliability, and client service.
BETERâs esports offering features the fan-favorite ESportsBattle tournaments, providing non-stop betting action across popular disciplines such as eFootball, eBasketball, and eHockey, with eTennis set to become available to all partners soon. It means bettors can wager on approximately 500,000 matches annually, with up to 50 markets per event, while operators benefit from an average margin of 7.5%.
In addition, BETER provides a comprehensive Esports Odds Feed, delivering market-leading odds for over 40,000 pre-match and live events per year. These odds are calculated using official data and compiled by a team of expert traders.
With a team of over 130 esports traders, BETER ensures that players across all partner operators can place bets on the providerâs events with more than 90% uptime.
All ESportsBattle`s matches come with 24/7 live streaming, real-time data and odds, and are closely monitored by BETERâs in-house Integrity team to ensure strict adherence to fair play standards. As a result, only 0.01% of matches have been flagged as suspicious in the past 12 months.
Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: âWe are incredibly proud of the entire BETER team for the hard work that led to this achievement.
âTheir tireless efforts to deliver best-in-class esports products for the next generation of bettors have paid offânot just in winning this award, but in delivering a top-tier product and experience to our partners and their players, consistently exceeding expectations.
âThis award rounds off an incredible six months for BETER, and we head into the second half of the year with strong momentum behind us.â
Adam Conway, General Manager of Esports Business Division at BETER, added: âOur esports betting products are unmatchedâled, of course, by our ESportsBattle tournaments.
âThese tournaments truly set the standard for what a fast-betting esports experience should be, and weâre thrilled to see that recognized by the EGR B2B Awards judges.
âOur Esports Odds Feed is equally impressive and has become an essential tool for operators looking to offer the best accurate odds in the industry.
âIâd like to thank the entire BETER team for their dedication and to EGR for this recognition. We couldnât be happier to add our first EGR B2B Award to the trophy shelf.â
The post BETER Wins Esports Betting Supplier Award at the EGR B2B Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports World Cup Foundation Renews Partnership with Albaik

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The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced the renewal of its partnership with Albaik for a second consecutive year, aimed at enriching the experience of both visitors and players participating in the Esports World Cup (EWC). With a deep-rooted history in Saudi Arabia since 1974, Albaik will continue supporting the Kingdomâs gaming and esports sector through this prestigious partnership, aligned with its broader mission to empower youth and foster local talent in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
This partnership is built on a shared commitment to the future â bringing diverse entertainment offerings to the largest esports and gaming event in history. With audiences attending from across the globe, EWC 2025 offers visitors an exciting mix of competitive matches, immersive experiences and cultural programming.
Albaikâs continued involvement in EWC 2025 reflects its long-standing commitment to social, sporting and economic development in the Kingdom. It also reinforces the companyâs belief that meaningful community impact is a core part of doing business â a principle that shapes its contributions to national development and youth empowerment.
Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the Esports World Cup will unite global gaming communities for a celebration of esports culture. With 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2000 elite players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, the EWC will feature the largest prize pool in esports history, over $70 million. Fans can expect exclusive experiences, from high-stakes competition to live music, anime cafes, retro arcades, cosplay and more, drawing millions of fans online and in person.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Renews Partnership with Albaik appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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