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Rank extends partnership to support unpaid Carers

Published

6 years ago

July 28, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Rank is delighted to announce that we have extended our groundbreaking partnership with Carers Trust into 2021.

This hugely successful partnership has had a major impact in supporting Carers Trust’s work with hundreds of thousands of unpaid carers right across the UK. Since its inception more than six years ago in February 2014, Rank colleagues and customers have raised a very impressive £2.6 million for the charity, with the money raised benefitting over 12,000 unpaid carers. Funds have typically been provided to adult carers in the form of grants, distributed through Carers Trust’s network of over 120 local carers charities.

These grants can be life changing for carers struggling to provide round-the-clock care for members of their families experiencing long-term illness, disabilities, poor mental health or substance addiction. The grants provide money for essential household items that would otherwise remain unaffordable. Money for new beds, cookers and washing machines – or to pay for hospital visits – can have a major impact in making the lives of unpaid carers much more manageable.

From the very beginning of the partnership, Rank’s employees and customers have enthusiastically embraced the fundraising drive for unpaid carers. This commitment has seen an impressive £300,000 raised in the last twelve months alone. And since early April this year, Meccabingo.com has increased its contribution to Carers Trust, raising over £77,500.

Back in December our Mecca colleagues launched a special pre-Christmas fundraising drive that raised an impressive £39,000 over the festive season. And in addition to fundraising, colleagues also worked hard to bring some Christmas cheer to carers. This included Mecca venues inviting unpaid carers from their local area in for a much-deserved Christmas lunch and a break away from their caring roles. One of these was Mecca Knotty Ash near Liverpool. They laid on an extra special day including a pampering and spa treatment session for 12 very deserving carers from Sefton Carers Centre.

We also gifted our sponsorship logo placement on Ipswich Town FC’s kit to Carers Trust for the 2020/21 season. The shirt is a special commemorative edition, celebrating forty years since the club won the UEFA Cup Final and is bound to attract a lot of attention, not just in Ipswich but across the UK!

Most impressively of all, colleagues from across the Group have continued to fundraise and support unpaid carers throughout the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown. Even though traditional fundraising events like sponsored runs have not been possible due to the lockdown, we have shown how money can still be raised with challenges like ‘Walk the UK’ which saw team members walking the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats while sticking to their local streets and parks.

Welcoming Rank’s extension of the partnership, Carers Trust’s CEO, Gareth Howells, said:

“This is fantastic news for Carers Trust and all the unpaid carers across the UK we are working with to make their caring responsibilities more manageable. On behalf of those unpaid carers, and everyone at Carers Trust, I’d like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Rank’s employees and customers for all their generosity and tireless commitment to going the extra mile to support unpaid carers.

“And coming as it does within the context of a global pandemic and an increasingly challenging funding environment, today’s announcement could not be more timely. Such sustained support for unpaid carers is also particularly important given the UK’s ageing population and the increasing pressure being put on health and social care budgets.”

Rank chief executive, John O’Reilly, said:

“I am really pleased with the fantastic support that Rank’s colleagues and customers have shown Carers Trust over the last year. It’s extraordinary to see that, despite the difficulties we’ve faced over the last five months with our Mecca and Grosvenor venues closed and over 7,000 colleagues having to be on furlough, we have continued with our efforts to raise money and have now topped £300,000 this year. This is an outstanding amount of which everyone should be very proud.

“There has never been a more important time to be raising money to support carers and the amazing work of the Carers Trust. We are committed to continuing this high level of support with our colleagues across the Group inventing ever more ingenious ways of raising money for this marvellous charity. Thank you to all our colleagues and our customers for your amazing efforts and long may it continue.”

EPIC agree

Onrise and EPIC agree strategic partnership for gambling harm prevention

Published

17 minutes ago

March 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

onrise-and-epic-agree-strategic-partnership-for-gambling-harm-prevention

Onrise, the trusted mental health platform for athletes across the US, has entered a strategic partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, a leading consultancy in gambling harm prevention. The collaboration aims to enhance support services for athletes and coaches at professional and collegiate levels amid growing concerns around sports wagering and gambling-related risks.

EPIC Global Solutions brings expertise grounded in lived experience of gambling addiction. Through this partnership, EPIC will provide education and training—both face-to-face and digital—to supplement Onrise’s network of over 250 peer support experts. These services are designed to help sports organizations promote safer relationships with gambling products.

The Onrise platform already offers a comprehensive support system, including licensed therapists, psychiatric care, sports performance coaching, and retired athlete peer support, all delivered securely through one-on-one sessions with flexible scheduling.

Kim Quigley, Founder and CEO of Onrise, commented:
“Student-athletes live in a time where gambling and sport intertwine in so many ways, with significant wagering interest in collegiate sport. This partnership with EPIC Global Solutions is about getting in early, before a bet becomes a burden carried in silence. By pairing world-class gambling education with Onrise’s athlete-specific mental health care, we can spot risk sooner, intervene faster, and protect their health, future, and the team communities depending on them.”

Paul Buck, CEO of EPIC Global Solutions, added:
“This partnership arose from a shared alignment of values. Gambling and sports wagering is growing fast in the US, particularly in sports and college sectors. Together, we can provide stronger, athlete-focused support to promote mental health, wellbeing, and performance.”

The partnership coincides with Problem Gambling Awareness Month in the US, running throughout March to raise awareness of early identification and prevention of gambling-related harms.

The post Onrise and EPIC agree strategic partnership for gambling harm prevention appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Dota 2 Team

LEON Esports Expands its Partnership with GamerLegion to Include a Dota 2 Team

Published

17 minutes ago

March 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

leon-esports-expands-its-partnership-with-gamerlegion-to-include-a-dota-2-team

Online casino and sportsbook LEON has strengthened its esports involvement by extending its partnership with the organisation GamerLegion to cover the team’s North American Dota 2 roster.

Previously sponsoring GamerLegion’s Counter-Strike 2 team, LEON’s expanded collaboration marks the next step in the brand’s growing esports strategy.

GamerLegion’s Dota 2 squad, formed in late 2025, played its first official match on November 15th and is currently ranked approximately #17 globally. The team has already competed in major tournaments, including PGL Wallachia, DreamLeague, and BLAST Slam.

As part of the extended partnership, LEON and GamerLegion will introduce exclusive giveaways, fan activities, and collaborative content for the esports community, further strengthening engagement across both teams and their audiences.

The post LEON Esports Expands its Partnership with GamerLegion to Include a Dota 2 Team appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Colombian market

GoldenRace reinforces leadership in the Colombian market alongside Olympia Apuestas Virtuales

Published

17 minutes ago

March 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

goldenrace-reinforces-leadership-in-the-colombian-market-alongside-olympia-apuestas-virtuales

GoldenRace, a global leader in Virtual Sports and the first and only ACDV-certified provider in Colombia, has signed a partnership with Olympia Apuestas Virtuales. This collaboration expands GoldenRace’s footprint in the Colombian retail sector while raising standards for virtual gaming.

Colombia has long been a strategic market for GoldenRace, and its compliance with Coljuegos regulations ensures operators can run certified, fully transparent products. Olympia’s terminals now feature GoldenRace’s full virtual sports portfolio, demonstrating how advanced technology can seamlessly adapt to local legal and operational requirements. Since November 2025, Olympia has successfully deployed multiple terminals, highlighting growing player demand for fast, secure, and accessible gaming experiences.

GoldenRace virtual betting delivers instant excitement, with events every five minutes and betting options across football, horse racing, dog racing, motorcycling, and more. The platform requires minimal registration while offering immediate results, catering to players seeking quick, adrenaline-filled entertainment.

Martin Wachter, CEO and Founder of GoldenRace, commented:
“Our track record in Colombia has allowed us to understand what operators need and what players love. Partnering with Olympia lets us expand in the retail sector, bringing certified virtual games to physical points of sale where trust and immediacy are crucial.”

David Cadavid, Betting Coordinator at BetPlay and Olympia Casinos, added:
“This partnership is central to our diversification and growth strategy. Virtual betting represents both fast, accessible entertainment and a contribution to the national economy. GoldenRace’s certified products are a clear opportunity for innovation, development, and profitability in Colombia.”

The GoldenRace–Olympia alliance is set to continue transforming the virtual betting landscape in Colombia, offering players instant action while supporting sustainable business growth.

The post GoldenRace reinforces leadership in the Colombian market alongside Olympia Apuestas Virtuales appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.