Hero Esports, an industry leader and the largest esports company in Asia, has announced its championship venues for the Asian Champions League (ACL) Grand Finals 2025 taking place May 16-18 in Shanghai. The landmark event will transform three of the city’s most iconic venues into battlegrounds for nine premier esports titles, cementing Shanghai’s status as the global esports capital.

The tournament is expected to attract 80,000+ live attendees across three venues, with global broadcasts reaching millions via Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Participating teams will be competing for a total prize pool of $2 million. Selected ACL winners will earn direct entry to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—the largest esports event in history due to take place from July to August.

“Shanghai’s selection as our host city reflects its unmatched esports infrastructure and passionate community. By combining elite competition with DreamHack’s festival energy, we’re creating a new blueprint for global esports events,” said Jonny Wang, CEO of ACL.

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“This is Hero Esports’ most ambitious project to date. The ACL bridges Asian talents with the world stage while delivering unforgettable fan experiences through cutting-edge production,” said Danny Tang, Co-Founder & CEO of Hero Esports.

Wunderino, a market leader in the virtual slots games market, has launched OKTO.CASH, the fast and secure cash-to-digital payment solution of OKTO. This collaboration marks a significant step for the payment provider, strengthening its footprint in the German market and bolstering its status as a frontrunner in cash-to-digital payments across Europe’s online igaming sector and beyond.

By integrating OKTO.CASH, Wunderino aims to accommodate players who prefer cash transactions yet seek the convenience of online gaming experience. Through OKTO’s extensive network of over 14,000 retail outlets—including gas stations, Lotto locations, kiosks and convenience stores—users of Wunderino can now instantly deposit cash to their online Wunderino accounts. This streamlined approach delivers a fast, mobile-first, user-friendly and secure top-up method ideally suited to the needs of the German market.

Romain Guilbert, Head of Operations & Payment Product at Wunderino, said: “At Wunderino, we continually seek out payment solutions that enhance our players’ gaming experience. By introducing OKTO.CASH, our users can deposit cash at familiar retail locations, giving them more flexibility and control. In a fast-paced and competitive environment, offering cutting-edge, mobile-first options is vital. OKTO’s strong track record in digital payments internationally made them the perfect partner, and we’re excited to add this new cash-to-digital payment method.”

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Mikhail Ovsepyan, Head of DACH at OKTO, said: “OKTO has built its reputation on delivering payment solutions that meet the needs of modern, mobile-centric players who value speed, security, and simplicity. Our embedded payment technology fully integrates with Wunderino’s platform, allowing instant deposits without users ever leaving the app or site. It’s the ideal solution for those wanting the benefits of digital while still using cash. We’re delighted to partner with Wunderino, and this collaboration signals our commitment to driving innovation in iGaming payments and beyond.”

Helma Lodders, who has held the position of chair at the Licensed Dutch Online Gaming Providers (VNLOK) since its inception in 2021, has announced her decision to step down. Lodders’ term expires and she has chosen not to extend it. Current board member Björn Fuchs was unanimously elected as the new chair on the recommendation of the board. He will combine this role with his employment as Chief Digital Officer at Fair Play Casino.

In the run-up to the opening of the online gambling market, Lodders helped shape the trade association. Under her leadership, VNLOK has grown into a reliable discussion partner for politics, government, media and social organisations involved in gambling policy. In addition to representing the interests of the members, her efforts have also helped to place the extensive illegal gambling market high on the political and social agenda.

Helma Lodders said: “Since the establishment of VNLOK, I have fulfilled the role of chairman with pleasure. It was a period of political and social turbulence. At the same time, I have always kept the goal in mind; to work on a safe, reliable and controllable market with the right care for vulnerable players. Now that my term is ending, the time has come to pass the baton. I thank my fellow directors for the trust they have placed in me and have every confidence in Björn Fuchs as my successor.”

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Björn Fuchs said: “I regret the departure of Helma Lodders. The board is grateful for the way in which she has given substance to our association with her skills and strength in an honest manner. The board therefore expresses its appreciation for the efforts that Helma has made since the foundation.”

“I look forward to my new role as chairman of VNLOK with pride and confidence. I will get started with great enthusiasm and, together with the members, will commit myself to the importance of a well-regulated online gambling market,” Björn Fuchs said.