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FC Barcelona becomes Football for Friendship Nine Values Cup holder for second time

Published

5 years ago

December 15, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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.

Damjan Stamenkovic CEO of Expanse Studios

QTech Games signs Expanse Studios to distribute 60+ games via aggregator platform

Published

28 minutes ago

April 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

qtech-games-signs-expanse-studios-to-distribute-60+-games-via-aggregator-platform

QTech Games has signed a supplier partnership with Expanse Studios, the iGaming development division of Meridian Holdings Inc., to integrate and distribute Expanse content through QTech’s aggregation platform.

Under the deal, QTech customers will gain access to 60+ Expanse proprietary titles spanning crash games, slots and table games. The companies said the content is designed for mobile-first play and includes “retention features and sticky mechanics,” alongside a wider range of scratch, number and card-based titles.

Expanse Studios also said it has made its slot portfolio compatible with the social casino segment, adding to table games and other titles it already positions for social operators. The rollout forms part of Expanse’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in North and South America.

QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re committed to rolling out more and more high-class content and product innovation that drives revenue for our partners. So, this deal with Expanse Studios extends our impressive sequential pipeline for the year – and showcasing our flexible array of content which solves for fine-grained, local requirements in countries where light, rapid-load games are a must. Furthermore, by intelligently introducing social casino versions of its popular games, new modern audiences are now at our partners’ fingertips.”

Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios, added: “As QTech’s platform is a gateway to more and more global audiences, and new distributional efficiencies for Expanse. So, we can’t wait to see how our highly engaging games perform across this largely greenfield landscape of emerging markets.”

The post QTech Games signs Expanse Studios to distribute 60+ games via aggregator platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BIS

Legality of Brazil’s betting platforms to be a central theme at BiS Brasília

Published

9 hours ago

April 27, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

legality-of-brazil’s-betting-platforms-to-be-a-central-theme-at-bis-brasilia

Betting sector moves forward amid regulatory debate and reinforces the need for clear rules and a safe environment in Brazil

The advancement of sports betting regulation in Brazil has placed the sector at the center of important discussions regarding legal certainty, tax revenue, and economic development.

Amid recent debates over possible market restrictions, the postponement of new projects such as the launch of Caixa Econômica Federal’s betting platform, and the ban on prediction markets, specialists continue to emphasize the importance of consolidating a regulated, transparent, and sustainable environment for the industry.

More than just a trend, the legalized betting market is increasingly being viewed as a strategic opportunity for the country, with the potential to generate jobs, attract international investment, and significantly boost public revenue.

Regulation is also seen as an essential path toward ensuring consumer protection and combating informality.

In this context, BiS Brasília, confirmed to take place on June 2 and 3, positions itself as the leading discussion forum for the sector in Latin America.

The event will bring together authorities, operators, regulators, and experts to debate the future of the industry at what is considered a decisive moment for its consolidation in Brazil.

“It is not simply about allowing or banning betting, but about how to structure a responsible market that creates value for the entire chain—from operators to consumers—while remaining under effective public oversight,” said Alessandro Valente, chairman of BiS Brasília.

“Legality brings predictability, attracts serious companies, and creates more effective control and enforcement mechanisms.”

Another key point is the role of regulation in promoting responsible gaming. With clear rules in place, it becomes possible to implement stronger policies to prevent risky behavior, while also ensuring greater transparency in operations.

“Brazil has the opportunity to build one of the most relevant regulated markets in the world. Events such as BiS are essential to align expectations, share international best practices, and accelerate this process responsibly,” he added.

Held in Brasília, the center of the country’s main political and economic decisions, the meeting reinforces its strategic role by bringing together the different stakeholders involved in shaping this new scenario.

Expectations are that this edition will go down in history as a milestone in the maturing debate over the legality of betting in Brazil.

BiS Brasília

Now in its second edition, BiS Brasília is an iGaming and betting industry event dedicated to fostering dialogue between the private sector, government authorities, and society on the development of the regulated gaming, casino, and lottery market in Brazil.

Held in the federal capital, the event gathers business leaders, authorities, and experts to discuss strategic topics such as regulation, integrity, innovation, taxation, and responsible gaming.

BiS SiGMA South America is part of the SiGMA World group’s portfolio of events, a global leading brand in organizing B2B events and a business platform for the gaming and betting ecosystem worldwide.

The post Legality of Brazil’s betting platforms to be a central theme at BiS Brasília appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

iGaming

PokerStars sets $50m+ guaranteed Anniversary Series for May 10–June 3

Published

13 hours ago

April 27, 2026

Wladimir P.

pokerstars-sets-$50m+-guaranteed-anniversary-series-for-may-10–june-3

Online festival spans 461 tournaments and includes three Main Events on May 24 plus a $500,000 GTD Sunday Storm PKO final on May 10.

PokerStars will run an online Anniversary Series with more than $50m in guarantees from May 10 to June 3, 2026, the operator said on April 27. The schedule includes 461 tournaments and is positioned to mark PokerStars’ 25th anniversary, alongside the 15-year milestone for Sunday Storm.

The festival’s buy-ins range from $5.50 to $15,000, with qualifiers starting at $0.55, according to the company. PokerStars said it will also distribute more than $650,000 in Anniversary Series Lucky Dip tickets during the series.

PokerStars is headlining the series with three Main Events on May 24:

a $109 tournament with a $1.5m guarantee,
a $1,050 Main Event with a $2.5m guarantee,
and a $5,200 Main Event with a $2m guarantee.

Weekly Sunday events include Sunday Million, Sunday High Rollers, and Mystery Bounty specials, with Second Chance Main Events (PKO) scheduled for May 31.

The operator is also running a Sunday Storm 15th anniversary Progressive Knockout tournament with a $500,000 guarantee for an $11 buy-in. Phase 1 events are underway, with Phase 2 set for May 10.

“We’re proud to celebrate 25 years of PokerStars bringing big money poker tournaments safely to players around the world,” said Steve Clarricoats, Associate Director of Online Scheduling. “Putting $50 million up in guarantees shows our focus remains on bringing the best of PokerStars to more players in a variety of tournaments.”

More relevant data as follows:

PokerStars: https://www.pokerstars.com/ Official operator site for tournament schedule and eligibility by market.
PokerStars Blog: https://www.pokerstars.com/poker/news/ Company’s news hub where the full Anniversary Series details and formats are typically published.
PokerStars Power Path: https://www.pokerstars.com/poker/promotions/power-path/ Source for information on the $0.50+ qualification routes referenced in the announcement.

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