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FC Barcelona becomes Football for Friendship Nine Values Cup holder for second time
FC Barcelona wins the Nine Values Cup repeating the achievement of 2015 and becomes the only two-times holder of the unique football trophy. The Cup is awarded every year as part of the Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship.
The Nine Values Cup is the only sports trophy in the world whose winner is determined by children. The results of the vote of the programme’s participants – Young Players and Journalists aged 10-16 from 104 countries of the world – named FC Barcelona the most socially responsible club of 2020. The Cup winner is chosen for following the Nine Values of the Football for Friendship programme: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honour.
«I would like to congratulate all the people who have made this event possible since, due to the current situation of health crisis that the planet is experiencing, it has been a great success that said event has been held in such a way professional, with extreme sensitivity and transmitting a very positive energy at all times. Congratulations Organizing Committee», – notes the CEO of Soccer Barcelona Youth Academy, sports consultant for football clubs and academies and F4F ambassador Mike Puig.
From 2015, the Nine Values Cup is awarded every year to the most socially responsible football club. Over this time, the trophy was awarded to FC Barcelona (Spain), FC Bayern Munich (Germany), FC Al Wahda (Syria), FC Real Madrid (Spain), Brazilian national team, one of the participants of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, and FC Liverpool (UK).
The Nine Values Cup was created by the famous German sculptor Achim Ripperger especially for the Football for Friendship programme. The sculpture is made of aluminum and shows the figure of a young footballer holding the Earth represented as a football. The Cup symolises the future in the hands of the younger generation depending on the values this generation believes and promotes.
In 2020, the Football for Friendship held its Eighth Season, for the first time held in the online format. “It’s great that the organizers were able to hold the eighth season of the project, even if online. This year, I was entrusted with the opportunity to announce the winner of the Nine Values Cup and announce the most socially responsible football club this year. It’s FC Barcelona, I agree with the choice of the Football for Friendship participants, because, despite the pandemic, the club never stopped coming up with something for their fans, including the youngest ones”, – notes participant of the programme, Young Ambassdor from Russia, Denis Aladev.
The football club to receive the Nine Values Cup is determined in three steps. First, there is a global vote in which any club can participate. Second, a list of clubs-finalists who’ve gained the most votes is formed. Finally, Young Participants of the Football for Friendship programme vote to determine the club that has succeeded not only in sports, but also in implementing social initiatives.
This award reflects the idea that children have about good deeds; it supports and inspires professional clubs to continue doing social initiatives aimed at helping others.
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Three-game rollout starts April 20 on BetMGM and Borgata Online Casino, with launches set for May 12 and July 2.
BetMGM has secured exclusive first-to-market rights to upcoming online slot titles from AGS’ Rakin’ Bacon!® franchise, with releases set to roll out across BetMGM and Borgata Online Casino, the company said April 20.
The first title, Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink Soda Fountain Fortunes, is available now. Two additional games are scheduled: Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink San Shen Zhu on May 12 and Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao on July 2.
“The Rakin’ Bacon! franchise is a proven mainstay on casino floors and online,” said Oliver Bartlett, Senior Vice President of Gaming at BetMGM. “Securing first-to-market rights is a natural extension of the strong relationship we’ve built with top-tier game suppliers like AGS. As a premier online casino destination, it is our commitment to offer players first access to the most anticipated titles.”
BetMGM said Rakin’ Bacon! games have been among its top-performing content, noting that two slot titles from the franchise placed among the platform’s top 15 iGaming offerings in 2025.
Zoe Ebling, Vice President of Interactive at AGS, said, “AGS is focused on bringing the energy of land-based favorites into the digital world in ways that drive real engagement. Our continued partnership with BetMGM and bringing even more Rakin’ Bacon! titles online cements AGS’ commitment to offering standout gaming experiences to players across both platforms.”
More data as follows:
- BetMGM newsroom (original release): https://casino.betmgm.com/en/blog/press/ Primary source for the announcement and any follow-up details.
- AGS newsroom: https://newsroom.playags.com/ Company source for product and partnership updates on AGS’ interactive content.
- New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement: https://www.nj.gov/oag/ge/ Regulatory context for online casino operations referenced in Jersey City, NJ.
The post BetMGM lands first-to-market exclusivity for new AGS Rakin’ Bacon! slots appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Exclusive global deal covers APT Taipei, Incheon, Jeju and the APT Championship in Taipei through the rest of 2026.
PokerOrg has been appointed the Official Media Partner of the Asian Poker Tour (APT) under an exclusive global partnership announced April 20, 2026 in Douglas, Isle of Man.
The agreement makes PokerOrg APT’s global storytelling and audience development partner for the tour’s remaining 2026 stops: APT Taipei (April/May), APT Incheon (August), APT Jeju (September/October), and the APT Championship (November), which will again be held in Taipei.
APT said it has been the fastest growing poker tour in the world since the “APT New Era” began in 2023. The company also pointed to the debut APT Championship, which it said generated more than $34 million in prize money.
“APT has been one of the most important stories in poker for several years, but much of the global audience hasn’t experienced it yet,” said Eric Hollreiser, CEO of PokerOrg parent company Triple Barrel Media. “This partnership changes that, not by reporting on APT from the outside, but by bringing players inside it and making it matter to a global audience.”
“PokerOrg is the gold standard in poker media, so bringing them on as our Official Media Partner is a natural fit. Their values around integrity and how they approach the game are fully aligned with APT.” said Fred Leung, CEO of the Asian Poker Tour.
PokerOrg said its coverage will include creator-led content, social-first formats and integrated event reporting across its platforms. The company also plans to launch a dedicated APT hub on Poker.org and extend its Pick 3 fan format to the APT Championship, with winners receiving a package to an APT event in 2027.
Relevant data as follows:
- Asian Poker Tour (APT): https://theasianpokertour.com/ Official tour site to verify schedule, destinations and announcements referenced in the partnership.
- PokerOrg: https://www.poker.org/ Official PokerOrg site for details on coverage formats, the APT hub and Pick 3 product references.
- Triple Barrel Media: https://triplebarrelmedia.com/ Parent company site for corporate context around PokerOrg and executive attribution.
The post PokerOrg named official media partner of Asian Poker Tour appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, announced a continuing partnership with AGS, a leading supplier of high-performing slot, table, and online gaming products, to debut new titles from the Rakin’ Bacon!® franchise. BetMGM will have a period of exclusivity for the new games, available at BetMGM and Borgata Online Casino.
Upcoming release schedule:
- Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink Soda Fountain Fortunes – Available Now
- Rakin’ Bacon! Triple Oink San Shen Zhu – Available May 12
- Rakin’ Bacon! Fu Zhu Bao Bao – Available July 2
“The Rakin’ Bacon! franchise is a proven mainstay on casino floors and online,” said Oliver Bartlett, Senior Vice President of Gaming at BetMGM. “Securing first-to-market rights is a natural extension of the strong relationship we’ve built with top-tier game suppliers like AGS. As a premier online casino destination, it is our commitment to offer players first access to the most anticipated titles.”
Led by Cornsquealius, the recognizable golden piggy bank character, Rakin’ Bacon! games have consistently ranked among BetMGM’s top performers, with two slot titles from the franchise placing among the platform’s top 15 iGaming offerings in 2025. What began with a traditional pot-collection bonus and five-of-a-kind pays has grown into a suite of styles and features that reflect both player trends and the brand’s creative evolution.
Zoe Ebling, Vice President of Interactive at AGS, said, “AGS is focused on bringing the energy of land-based favorites into the digital world in ways that drive real engagement. Our continued partnership with BetMGM and bringing even more Rakin’ Bacon! titles online cements AGS’ commitment to offering standout gaming experiences to players across both platforms.”
BetMGM’s award-winning online casino is home to over 7,000 titles across North American markets and one of the largest state-by-state exclusive progressive jackpot networks. BetMGM’s jackpot network currently consists of over 25 games including titles such as MGM Grand Millions, Bison Fury, and 15 Lanterns. Players can earn BetMGM Rewards Points and Tier Credits by playing at BetMGM Casino. BetMGM Rewards points can be redeemed for digital bonuses, MGM Rewards Points, and Marriott Bonvoy Points.
As BetMGM continues to expand into new markets and introduce new features, responsible gambling remains a key focus. Additionally, BetMGM is proud to provide resources to help customers play responsibly including GameSense, an industry leading program, developed and licensed to MGM Resorts by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Through the integration within BetMGM’s mobile and desktop platforms, customers can receive the same GameSense experience they have grown to rely on at MGM Resorts properties nationwide. This complements BetMGM’s existing responsible gambling tools which serve to provide customers with an entertaining and safe digital experience.
For more information on BetMGM, follow @BetMGM on X.
For more information on AGS, visit newsroom.playags.com.
The post BetMGM Secures Exclusive First-To-Market Rights For Upcoming AGS Rakin’ Bacon! Titles appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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