Latest News
3 in 10 Brits Have Skipped a Shower or a Meal to Play Video Games in Lockdown
More Brits than ever played video games last year to beat the boredom of staying home, and our third lockdown in 2021 has seen the trend gain even more traction. With games being released on more platforms, and more genres than ever now is an excellent time to be a gamer!
Fresh Student Living took a deep dive into the gaming industry in the UK to see just what an impact Covid has had on gaming.
More than four in ten UK gamers say they’ve been gaming more during the COVID-19 outbreak (43%). Plus, UK gamers now make up over two thirds of the population (67%); six in ten of this group say they play mobile games (52%); a quarter PC games (25%); and three in ten console games (28%).
When the pandemic first put a stop to everyday life, the gaming world expanded with regular players putting in even more time, and new people joining the trend to connect with friends, kill time and indulge in much-needed escapism. As more people picked up controllers, the UK gaming population exploded by a whopping 63%! People reported feeling happier and calmer, with a higher sense of freedom, thanks to how immersive the best video games are.
The Average Gamer Spent the Equivalent of 39 Days Playing Last Year
Games like FIFA 21, Call of Duty, Animal Crossing and Last of Us were some of the most played games of 2020, with 3 in 10 people skipping showers and meals to play uninterrupted. Almost 6 in 10 Brits also admit to losing sleep due to gaming sessions.
Pre lockdown, the average gamer spent around 13 hours a week playing their favourites. This increased by 5 hours during lockdown with Brits spending 18 hours or more exploring new worlds online – that’s equivalent to 39 whole days spent gaming!
The average gamer usually sets aside a conservative 1-3 hours to play, but in the UK, at least 3% of the population confesses to playing for 15 hours or more in one sitting.
What Video Games is Everyone Playing?
Most Played Video Games of 2020 According to Units Sold
FIFA 21 dominated in 2020 as one of the most anticipated games in the UK, with around 14 games selling per second in the UK last year.
- FIFA 21 (2.18 million)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (1.4 million)
- Grand Theft Auto 5 (1.1 million)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (800,000)
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (660,000)
- The Last of Us Part II (530,000)
- NBA 2K20 (480,000)
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (430,000)
More Brits Are Hooked on Video Games
Lockdown has given us all more time to kill, and today the split between male and female video gamers is strictly 50-50. In the UK, 54% of men and women play a game most days, lowering stress and connecting with others being two of the primary motivators.
Multiplayer Games Keep us Connected
With time to kill and social distancing in effect for most of last year, multiplayer games’ popularity soared as more people jumped online to chat and connect. Even ex-gamers again picked up their controllers to join online communities playing games like Call of Duty, Animal Crossing or Fortnite.
Unsurprisingly, lockdown saw most Brits opt for action-packed and interactive genres, with most gamers choosing fighting, action and huge multiplayer Battle Royale games with lots of other players!
Most played genres in 2020
- Fighting – 81%
- Action – 79%
- Massively multiplayer online games – 78%
- Multiplayer online battle arena games – 75%
The Rise of Covideogamers in 2021
Lockdown has massively changed the gaming community across the world. In the UK, younger gamers spend loads of time playing while self-isolating and spend around two hours a month watching other people play online – a pastime that has increased since lockdown began.
The pandemic has also created a whole new subgenre of gamers known as Covideogamers, who exclusively started gaming during lockdown. Compared to 36% of existing gamers between the ages of 18 – 34, Covideogamers now make up 46% of the population in the same age group – 35% of these new gamers have also admitted it’s so relaxing and stress-relieving, they’re going to start playing more, long after lockdown ends!
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Latest News
Altenar and Greentube Announce Strategic Sportsbook Partnership
Leading sportsbook provider joins forces with one of the industry’s most established gaming content and technology brands
18 June, 2026
Altenar, the leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has announced a strategic partnership with Greentube, the Digital Gaming and Entertainment Division of NOVOMATIC, in a deal that will further strengthen both companies’ offerings across key regulated European markets.
The agreement will see Greentube integrate Altenar’s sportsbook technology, enabling the company to enhance its sports betting proposition with a scalable, feature-rich solution designed to maximise player engagement and operational performance.
Altenar delivers a fully managed and highly configurable sports betting platform, offering comprehensive pre-match and live betting coverage, advanced risk management, personalised promotional tools, and a flexible framework tailored to the needs of operators in regulated jurisdictions worldwide.
By combining Greentube’s extensive market presence and digital expertise with Altenar’s sportsbook capabilities, the collaboration aims to create new opportunities for growth while providing players with a seamless and engaging betting experience.
Charlie Williams, Commercial Director at Altenar, said:
“We are delighted to partner with Greentube, a company that has built an outstanding reputation for innovation, quality and excellence across the global gaming industry.
“At Altenar, we pride ourselves on delivering a sportsbook solution that combines flexibility, reliability and localisation, enabling operators to create unique experiences for their players while remaining competitive in increasingly demanding markets such as Spain and the UK.
We look forward to working closely with the Greentube team and supporting their continued growth.”
Ronald van den Brink, Chief Commercial Officer at Greentube, added:
“Partnering with Altenar reflects our commitment to evolving our product suite in line with the demands of regulated markets. Our players expect a broad, high-quality entertainment experience, and sports betting is an increasingly important part of that.
Altenar has a strong record in delivering sportsbook solutions that perform across diverse jurisdictions, and by bringing that capability together with our content portfolio and technology platform, we’re well placed to offer something compelling in markets where the bar for quality continues to rise.”
The collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities for growth while delivering enhanced value to operators and players alike.
About Altenar
Founded in 2011, Altenar is a leading turnkey sportsbook provider committed to meeting the unique needs of its clients. Renowned for its flexibility and customer-centric approach, Altenar specialises in customising solutions to new markets, audiences and requirements. With a focus on building enduring partnerships, Altenar aims to be the most partner-oriented iGaming software provider in the industry.
About Greentube
Step inside the “Home of Games” with Greentube, delivering safe and secure casino entertainment to players around the world. As the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, Greentube offers a diversified portfolio of Video Slots, Table Games, AWP Reloaded Slots, Server-Based Gaming, Social Casino Gaming, Video Bingo and more. Greentube’s omnichannel technology is at the forefront of gaming innovation and converges online, mobile and land-based gaming.
Alberta
MediaTroopers lines up eight operator partners ahead of Alberta launch
MediaTroopers said it is preparing to launch in Alberta’s regulated gaming market on July 13, as Canada’s next regulated commercial gaming market opens.
The digital marketing and customer acquisition firm said it plans to enter Alberta alongside eight “premium operator” clients, which it said are also preparing for their own market entries. MediaTroopers did not name the operators.
The company said its Alberta offering will mirror its work in Ontario, including localized acquisition strategies, compliance-focused marketing, regional player education, and market-tailored performance campaigns.
MediaTroopers also said it has seen “strong interest” from Alberta players through pre-registration activity, without providing figures.
“Alberta represents an exciting next step for regulated iGaming in Canada, and Media Troopers is ready to support operators from day one,” said Shmulik Segal, CEO of Media Troopers. “Our experience in Ontario has given us a strong understanding of what it takes to enter a new Canadian market successfully, from compliance and localization to scalable player acquisition. With eight of our premium clients already preparing for launch and early pre-registration traction underway, we see Alberta as a market with tremendous potential.”
The post MediaTroopers lines up eight operator partners ahead of Alberta launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gaming Awards
Greentube compliance director Roxane Scicluna wins Women in Gaming award
Greentube said its Director of Group Compliance, Roxane Scicluna, has won the Industry Achiever (Supplier) category at the Women in Gaming Diversity Awards 2026.
According to the company, the award recognises Scicluna’s contribution across more than 15 years in legal, regulatory and operational leadership, including work related to licensing processes with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and building compliance functions in senior in-house roles.
Scicluna said: “I’m honoured to receive this award from Women in Gaming. Throughout my career, I’ve believed that compliance should do more than meet regulatory expectations; it should help build stronger, safer and more sustainable businesses.
“This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the progress our industry continues to make in championing responsible innovation, raising standards and creating more inclusive pathways for future talent. I’m proud to be part of that journey at Greentube.”
The Women in Gaming Diversity Awards recognise individuals and organisations for diversity and inclusion across the gaming sector. Greentube said the recognition also reflects its focus on responsible entertainment and standards across the markets where it operates.
The post Greentube compliance director Roxane Scicluna wins Women in Gaming award appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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