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Football for Friendship holds expert discussion on sports development during pandemic

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Experts of the international online discussion “Motivation and training in the context of the pandemic: the impact of Internet technologies on sports” reached the mutual conclusion that the pandemic will boost the development of e-sports and broaden the way sports are perceived in the world. It’s expected that the existing trend will strengthen: over the past 3-4 years, the audience of e-sports events has grown 5-6 times.

 

The discussion was initiated by the Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship, which has, for the first time, brought the entire season online in 2020. Meanwhile, the annual World Championship for Young Participants from more than 100 countries is held in the new football simulator Football for Friendship World. In the future, the app will become a gaming platform where anyone can train, join mixed international teams, and play their favorite game in the Football for Friendship format without leaving the comfort of home.

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The guest experts — football players and e-sports players — shared their views on how the pandemic is affecting the training process, and whether e-sports will be able to fully replace traditional sports in the future.  Alexey Smertin, adviser to the President of the Russian Football Union and Ambassador of the Football for Friendship programme, and Alexandra Kosteniuk, grandmaster, three-times winner of the World Chess Olympiads, and European Chess Champion, spoke about the impact of the pandemic on professional sports. Igor Bugaenko, head of the Special Projects Department of the Russian eSports Federation (RESF), spoke about the development of Russian e-sports. The discussion was attended by representatives of FC Schalke 04: head of the e-sports division Tim Reichert, League of Legends coach Dylan Falco, and professional FIFA player Tim Schwartmann (“Tim Latka”). The discussion was moderated by Euronews TV host Andy Robini.

Igor Bugaenko expressed his conviction that the pandemic can also have a positive impact on sports: “Despite the cancellation of many offline sporting events, we are doing our best to maintain the quality and spirit of the competitions that are currently held online. The pandemic has affected how people spend their free time. I think the main achievement of this period has been to broaden the way sports are perceived, enabling people to re-evaluate the role of e-sports in the world”. The expert also noted that Russia was one of the first countries to officially recognize e-sports. According to Bugaenko, in the last 3-4 years alone, the audience of e-sports events has grown 5-6 times.

However, according to Alexey Smertin, e-sports are hard to compare to traditional sports, with their “physical overcoming of oneself, pain and hard-to-achieve results”. On the other hand, if we take a professional approach, in both traditional and e-sports it’s important to focus on achieving results; so, in this sense, there’s no difference between them.

Tim Schwartmann (Tim Latka) has a similar view: “If young people want to be successful — be it in e-sports or traditional football — they have to work hard, train a lot for the game, and never rest on their laurels”.

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Today, many football clubs are developing e-sports as a separate area. “In recent years, the popularity of e-sports has become evident. By investing time and effort into developing e-sports, we hope to establish a dialogue with the younger generation of football fans”, explains Tim Reichert, head of FC Schalke 04’s e-sports division. Reichert expects that self-isolation will accelerate the merging process of traditional and digital sports several-fold. In his opinion, e-sports and traditional sports already have many things in common: league structures, competitions, psychological demands for players, and regular training.

Alexandra Kosteniuk noted that the past months have become a landmark in the history of sport: “The pandemic has opened up a real Pandora’s box for chess players: if earlier, part of our competitions were already being held online, now it’s the most convenient format for both the audience and participants”. As she explains, the pandemic has stimulated an increased interest in online competitions over the past few months, “even in the case of chess, which is not the most popular sport among viewers, not to mention the world of e-sports in general”.

 

About the programme:

The International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship is implemented by Gazprom since 2013. Over the previous seven seasons, the programme has united over 6 000 participants from 211 countries and regions and over 5 000 000 supporters.

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Young Players and Young Journalists are the participants of the programme – boys and girls aged 12 including children with disabilities. Young Players represent different countries and cultures united in the mixed teams. They show that nationality, gender, and physical abilities aren’t a barrier to becoming a team. Young Journalists cover the events of the programme in the International Children’s Press Center. All participants become Young Ambassadors of the programme and continue to share their Football for Friendship experience and promote universal human values: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honour.

UEFA, FIFA, football federations and the world’s leading football clubs, international charity foundations, famous athletes, politicians, and artists support Football for Friendship. The project has received multiple national and international awards in the field of social responsibility, sports, and communications, including the world record for the most nationalities in a football training session in history.

In 2020, Football for Friendship will be held in the online format. A special digital platform will unite over 10 000 players of all ages. It will become the home for international children’s competitions and a playground where anyone will be able to train, join into the international mixed teams and play their favourite game in the Football for Friendship format without leaving the comfort of their home.

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PIN-UP Global invites to join the team of professionals at ICE

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Find out more about the career vacancies in the international iGaming holding PIN-UP Global during the ICE conference, which will be held from January 20 to 22 in Barcelona, where everyone will be able to talk to the recruitment team, and even have an interview right at the PIN-UP stand.  

A separate HirePoint by PIN-UP will be set up at stand 5G31, where the holding company’s recruiters will conduct quick interviews and collect references. It will be possible to make an appointment in a few seconds using a special interactive screen, and there will be nice incentive gifts for participation.

“In just a few minutes it will be possible to book your appointment by completing an application form, present your skills, discuss opportunities and take the first step towards a career at PIN-UP Global. The interactive screen will showcase current vacancies with a quick response option. This is a unique opportunity to learn about career prospects in an international holding company with a strong value system”, says Oksana Izmailova, Chief Human Resources Officer at PIN-UP Global.

PIN-UP Global continues to scale rapidly: in 2024 alone, the holding company’s team has grown by more than 1,400 people to almost 4,000. Such rapid business development every day opens up new opportunities and prospects for both existing team members and those wishing to become part of it. PIN-UP Global regularly conducts employee satisfaction surveys and pays special attention to the development of all team members.

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PIN-UP Global is an international iGaming holding company specializing in the development and implementation of advanced technologies, B2B solutions and innovative products for the iGaming industry. PIN-UP Global has offices in Cyprus, Ukraine, Poland, Kazakhstan and Armenia and a team of over 20 nationalities. In 2024, PIN-UP Global received the prestigious “Best Workplace” award from SIGMA, confirming its status as the best employer in the iGaming industry for the second consecutive year.

 

The post PIN-UP Global invites to join the team of professionals at ICE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Million Games Launches First RNG Table Games: Million Baccarat and Million Blackjack

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Million Games is excited to present its first-ever RNG table games: Million Baccarat and Million Blackjack. These timeless casino staples, enjoyed in both brick-and-mortar and online casinos around the world, offering players a thrilling and authentic experience right at their fingertips. With a focus on delivering fun and exciting entertainment, these classic games give players the opportunity to enjoy the excitement and suspense of table games!

Million Baccarat brings the excitement of this global favourite straight to your screen. Players are invited to place their bets as they predict whether the banker or the player will win, or if it’ll end in a tie. With its elegant design and smooth gameplay, Million Baccarat offers an immersive experience that replicates the refined thrill of the casino floor.

For those who love the suspense of Blackjack, Million Blackjack lets players experience the high-stakes game in a RNG format. Fans of the game will enjoy its classic rules – get as close to 21 as possible without going bust, and outsmart the dealer to claim the prize. This version perfectly captures the thrill, where every hand keeps you on the edge of your seat.

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With these two releases, Million Games introduces its first RNG table games, bringing a taste of real casino action into the online gaming world. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, Million Baccarat and Million Blackjack offer an authentic, thrilling experience where the cards are always in your hands.

Million Games CEO, Thomas Nimstad, commented: “We’ve always aimed to bring innovation and creativity to our games, but with Million Baccarat and Million Blackjack, we wanted to stick to the classics. These games have stood the test of time, and now, we’re excited to bring them to the Million Games audience in an engaging and exiting way. We believe that players will enjoy these experiences in a Million ways!”

Both games will be launched later on in January. Looking ahead, Million Games has an exciting lineup of launches scheduled in the coming 6 months. Alongside their own game releases, they will also introduce fresh content from partner studios under the Million Stars program. With more online slots, table games, and innovative gaming experiences on the horizon, Million Games is eager to expand its portfolio and bring even more entertainment to players worldwide.

The post Million Games Launches First RNG Table Games: Million Baccarat and Million Blackjack appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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FBC Melgar

Stake Peru secures official sponsorship of FBC Melgar

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FBC Melgar has proudly confirmed Stake as its new Official Sponsor for the 2025 season. This strategic alliance strengthens the club’s commitment to growth and success, marking a significant milestone in the history of “El Dominó.”

Stake, recognised as one of the world’s leading online betting platforms, will feature its logo exclusively on the chest of the men’s first team jerseys.

Additionally, Stake will also appear on the chest of the women’s team and Liga 3 jerseys, marking a historic milestone for the club as it is the first time FBC Melgar’s Official Sponsor has supported all these categories comprehensively.

This agreement highlights Stake’s commitment to FBC Melgar and its support for the club’s growth across all its categories.

Ricardo Bettocchi, Administrator of FBC Melgar said: “This alliance with Stake reinforces our commitment to keep FBC Melgar as a reference in Peruvian and South American football. Having the support of an international brand that trusts our project is a great step to continue strengthening all our categories. We are excited about the benefits that this collaboration will bring to our institution and to the entire ‘rojinegra’ family.”

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The partnership includes various initiatives aimed at enriching the fan experience, both at the stadium and through special activations and exclusive benefits. With this sponsorship, Stake and FBC Melgar strengthen a bond that promises great achievements both on and off the field.

Stake expanded its regulated market footprint by securing casino and sportsbook licences to launch in Peru’s online gaming market last year. The operator also has a strong regulated presence in Latam through Stake Colombia, and Stake Brazil.

Diana Otálora, Latam Manager at Stake, stated: “At Stake, we are proud to partner with FBC Melgar, a historic club that represents passion and excellence, reinforcing our vision of connecting with sports communities in Latin America and actively contributing to their success. This agreement, in the context of the growing regulated market in Peru, reflects our intention to contribute to the development of football at all levels and our presence in the region.”

As part of this collaboration, Stake Peru is launching unique promotions for “rojinegros” fans. Users can register at stake.pe using the affiliate code DOMINO to receive a free bet of S/20 to enjoy a complimentary wager and experience the excitement of football with even more passion.

The post Stake Peru secures official sponsorship of FBC Melgar appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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