eSports
Tottenham footballer Dele Alli enters into long-term partnership with British esports team EXCEL ESPORTS
Dele becomes an integral part of the leading British competitive gaming culture brand; helping to bridge the gap between sports, gaming and esports, the long-term partnership will connect Dele’s passion for gaming, Fortnite prowess and experience of competing at the highest level in sport to support the team
EXCEL ESPORTS, the leading British competitive gaming culture brand, with teams participating in the two biggest global competitive video games, Fortnite and League of Legends, has today announced that Tottenham Hotspur footballer, and gaming enthusiast Dele Alli has signed a long-term partnership with the team to become its first ever global ambassador. Dele’s role follows EXCEL’s recent brand update and the team’s vision of The Power of Better, it’s commitment to improve in everything it does that starts with performance. The holistic partnership unites EXCEL’s and Dele’s shared values including the importance of performance, their passion for gaming and looks to further bridge the gap between sports and competitive gaming.
Dele’s enthusiasm for gaming, notably Fortnite, is widely known amongst his fans and he considers it his biggest passion outside of football; often using it to unwind and relax when he is not training or competing. Dele, who is an ambassador for EXCEL’s Official Peripherals Partner HyperX, has previously taken his love for gaming onto the football field, celebrating his goals by performing popular Fortnite dances for Tottenham. He has more than 130,000 followers on Twitch and also took part in the charity esports series Gaming Without Borders earlier this year, raising $1.5M for Covid-19 charities.
Applying true meaning to the term “ambassador”, Dele will provide the teams roster of talent with the opportunity to benefit from his experience and knowledge of being an elite athlete to further develop their own psychological skill set, including how to deal with pressure better, overcoming challenges to perform at their highest ability and bouncing back from setbacks. It will also allow Dele to become fully immersed in EXCEL, providing him with the opportunity to understand how esports brands operate, further expand his knowledge of the industry and how to game competitively on all gaming platforms including PC.
Recently, EXCEL underwent a significant brand update where it unveiled a new ambitious manifesto and vision of The Power of Better that saw it incorporate purpose into its brand identity to help improve the gaming and esports industry. This included an updated visual identity, including a new logo, as well as the unveiling of the first edition of its Gaming for Better whitepaper series, that provides advice on how to improve individual performance and become healthier by focusing on physical activity, lifestyle balance, and creating positive habits. Earlier this year, EXCEL also signed BT as its lead partner and unveiled a new leadership team with Wouter Sleijffers joining as CEO and Robin McCammon, the former Director of Global Sports Marketing at adidas, joining as CCO.
“Everyone who knows me knows my biggest passion outside of football is gaming and after becoming increasingly involved in the industry over the past few years, it seemed like joining forces with an esports team was a natural step for me to take. What drew me to EXCEL was the fact it’s the biggest British esports brand in the country and competes at the top level of esports but as well as this, I love the fact the brand was born out of a passion for gaming and the values it upholds. My knowledge of being a competitive athlete is something I believe can really benefit EXCEL’s roster of talent as they continue to strive to be better every single day but I’ll also be looking to further my own knowledge and understanding of this truly exciting industry”, said EXCEL ESPORTS ambassador Dele.
“EXCEL ESPORTS competes at the highest level of gaming competition. Following the recent launch of the new EXCEL and our vision in The Power of Better, we’ve been looking for a person who’s our own inspiration in getting the best out of ourselves. Therefore, we’re very pleased that Dele is coming on board to support us in our new, purpose led journey. Dele knows better than anyone what it means to reach and stay at the top and also exhibits true passion and professionalism that is so prevalent in our own competitions. We look forward to working with Dele to develop our talent, utilise his advice and skill set to guide EXCEL forward and help us ensure we aren’t being complacent with our new ambition”, said EXCEL ESPORTS CEO Wouter Sleijffers.
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“90s”
BETBY launches “90s”, a new retro-inspired genre within BETBY Games
BETBY, the leading sportsbook supplier, has announced the launch of “90s”, a new genre within its proprietary esports feed, BETBY Games, bringing exclusive retro-inspired content to operators and players.
Designed around the look and feel of classic 90s video games, the new genre introduces a lineup of e-sims that take players back to the pixel era, combining retro-inspired visuals with the simplicity and high-frequency betting mechanics that define BETBY Games. While many modern esports products focus on realism and
advanced graphics, 90s takes a different approach by returning to the roots of gaming, transforming familiar retro aesthetics into a fully optimised betting experience.
The launch responds to a growing demand for greater content variety within sportsbook environments, particularly products that can deliver constant engagement beyond traditional live sports schedules.
With 1-minute match formats, 24/7 availability, and quick settlements, “90s” is designed to offer operators a new layer of always-on entertainment while maintaining the speed and betting intensity that define BETBY.Games.
One of the key strengths of “90s” lies in its distinctive positioning within the modern iGaming market.
By bringing retro-inspired game formats into a fully betting-ready environment, BETBY is offering operators access to a type of content that is rarely available today, creating a differentiated experience inspired by the iconic titles and visual style that shaped a generation of players.
The first wave of titles includes eBasketball’98, eBaseball’95, eTennis’89, and eFighting’93, each bringing its own distinctive retro identity while being fully integrated with modern betting mechanics.
The collection covers a mix of major sports and fighting content, combining familiar retro gaming cues with formats built specifically for sportsbook performance.
eFighting’93 introduces a format that complements BETBY Games’ existing eFighting portfolio, offering fast-paced matchups and simple winner markets across 6,000 monthly matches.
eBasketball’98 delivers a dynamic format featuring a high-speed 1v1 shootout between two players at a single hoop.
Bettors can place wagers on the top scorer, point handicaps, total points, and individual point counts, with the title delivering 6,000 matches per month. eBaseball’95 condenses baseball into a
high-intensity 1-inning format, offering 5,000 monthly events across 1×2, handicap, and totals markets. Completing the lineup, eTennis’89 brings an ultra-fast tennis format focused on single-game action, with 6,000 monthly matches and winner markets.
Inspired by the visual identity of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, “90s” creates a product that feels instantly recognisable to players who grew up with this style of gaming, while also offering younger audiences a distinctive and visually engaging alternative to conventional esports content.
“90s is an exciting new direction for BETBY Games because it brings something completely different to sportsbooks,” said Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Innovation & R&D at BETBY.
“There is still a very strong emotional connection around retro games, from the pixel art to the sounds and the simplicity of the gameplay.
We wanted to take that nostalgia and transform it into a product that works for modern betting: fast, clear, engaging, and available around the clock.”
“Our goal was to increase content diversity for our partners. Operators need engagement tools that work 24/7, and the “90s” genre provides a unique, fast-paced solution.
This initial launch is just the start, as we will continue to expand the portfolio with a wider mix of 90s-themed sports and casual titles,” he added.
The launch of 90s further strengthens BETBY.Games’ position as one of the most innovative proprietary esports feeds in the market, offering operators a broad portfolio of fast-betting content designed to drive engagement, increase event volume, and deliver a differentiated sportsbook experience.
BETBY
BETBY is a leading B2B provider of top-tier sports betting services, renowned for its groundbreaking technology and dedication to excellence.
BETBY’s team of industry veterans tap into their knowledge and expertise to deliver a premium, adaptable, and scalable sportsbook platform tailored to meet the varied demands of operators across the globe.
From dynamic in-play betting options to robust risk management tools and ground-breaking AI tools, BETBY is committed to propelling the success of its partners in the rapidly evolving landscape of online sports betting.
The post BETBY launches “90s”, a new retro-inspired genre within BETBY Games appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
RESPWNED partners with LOTUS 8 to bring GIRLGAMER festival to Winnipeg in 2026
RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 have signed a partnership to launch the GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026, marking the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand’s expansion into Canada.
RESPWNED manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, while LOTUS 8 is a Canada-based company focused on event development and partnerships. The companies said they will jointly develop and deliver the Winnipeg event, combining global esports IP management, event production, commercial partnerships, and local execution.
“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for GIRLGAMER as we continue to expand globally and bring our platform to new audiences,” said Tiago Fernandes, Managing Partner at RESPWNED. “Canada is a dynamic and fast-growing Esports market, and we are proud to collaborate with LOTUS 8 to deliver a meaningful and impactful event experience.”
Steven Vuong, representing LOTUS 8, added: “We are thrilled to partner with RESPWNED to bring the GIRLGAMER Festival to Canada. This collaboration reflects a shared vision of building inclusive, high-quality esports experiences while creating strong commercial and community value. Together, we are laying the foundation for a standout event in 2026.”
The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival is planned as a family-oriented event with business networking, brand activations, and community programming, and is expected to include international and local talent. Additional details, including dates, venue, and participating partners, will be announced in the coming months.
The post RESPWNED partners with LOTUS 8 to bring GIRLGAMER festival to Winnipeg in 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Canada
RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 to launch GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026
RESPWNED, the company that manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, and LOTUS 8, a Canada-based company focused on event development and partnerships, today announced their partnership to the launch of the GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival.
The strategic partnership marks a significant step in expanding the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand into Canada.
This brings its globally recognized platform for competitive gaming, inclusivity, and industry engagement to a new market.
The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival is envisioned as a family-oriented event, with business networking, brand activations, and community-driven experiences.
Under the terms of the agreement, RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 will work collaboratively to develop and deliver the event, combining their respective expertise in global esports IP management, event production, commercial partnerships, and local market execution.
“This partnership represents an exciting milestone for GIRLGAMER as we continue to expand globally and bring our platform to new audiences,” said Tiago Fernandes, Managing Partner at RESPWNED.
“Canada is a dynamic and fast-growing Esports market, and we are proud to collaborate with LOTUS 8 to deliver a meaningful and impactful event experience.”
Steven Vuong, representing LOTUS 8, added: “We are thrilled to partner with RESPWNED to bring the GIRLGAMER Festival to Canada.
This collaboration reflects a shared vision of building inclusive, high-quality esports experiences while creating strong commercial and community value.
Together, we are laying the foundation for a standout event in 2026.”
The GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival will feature a combination of international and local talent, brand partnerships, and programming designed to foster diversity, inclusion, and innovation within the gaming and esports ecosystem.
Further details, including dates, venue, and participating partners, will be announced in the coming months.
RESPWNED LTD
RESPWNED is a United Kingdom-based company specializing in esports IP management, event production, and industry consultancy.
The company manages the GIRLGAMER Esports Festival brand, a global platform dedicated to creating opportunities and visibility for women in gaming and esports.
LOTUS 8
LOTUS 8 is a Canada-based premier esports organization based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dedicated to building championship-calibre teams across North America, they are at the forefront of innovation in competitive gaming.
As pioneers in the industry, they have developed the Performance Mindset Mindfulness, a system designed to support mental health in esports.
This holistic approach blends mental wellness practices, meditation, nutrition, fitness, and proper sleep hygiene into their competitive strategy.
The post RESPWNED and LOTUS 8 to launch GIRLGAMER Winnipeg Festival in 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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