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3 in 10 Brits Have Skipped a Shower or a Meal to Play Video Games in Lockdown

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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.

  1. FIFA 21 (2.18 million)
  2. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (1.4 million)
  3. Grand Theft Auto 5 (1.1 million)
  4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (800,000)
  5. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (660,000)
  6. The Last of Us Part II (530,000)
  7. NBA 2K20 (480,000)
  8. 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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Groove

Groove integrates KingMidas Games, adding 150+ titles to its content portfolio

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The supplier says the KingMidas catalogue is now available to operators via Groove Command across slots, instant wins, table and arcade games.

Groove has integrated KingMidas Games into its content aggregation platform, adding the studio’s catalogue of more than 150 games to its operator network. The companies said the rollout covers slots, instant wins, table games and arcade-style titles.

Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, said: “KingMidas Games brings something distinctive to our platform. They combine strong visual identity with genuine understanding of what keeps players coming back. In a crowded content landscape, that combination matters. We’re pleased to make their catalogue available to our operators and see what these games deliver in live environments.”

Groove said the deal supports its strategy of combining a portfolio of over 15,000 games with selective studio additions, and positioned the KingMidas line-up as designed for mobile-first audiences.

Sargis Khachatryan, Commercial Director at KingMidas Games, said: “Groove has established itself as a genuine aggregator of choice in this space, and we’re pleased to bring our full catalogue to their platform. Our focus has always been on creating games that players want to return to, so, visually sharp, mechanically solid, and built for mobile. Making those titles available through Groove means more operators can deploy them quickly and with confidence. It’s a straightforward partnership built on shared commercial sense, and we’re excited to get started.”

According to the company, the KingMidas Games portfolio is available to Groove partners via its back office, Groove Command. Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, added: “Our model has always been about giving operators choice without complexity. KingMidas Games fits that philosophy perfectly. They produce content that performs, and they do it at scale. Integrating them into Groove means our partners can access that performance through a single connection, with all the flexibility our platform provides. It’s another step toward making Groove the default destination for operators who want to move fast and compete effectively.”

The post Groove integrates KingMidas Games, adding 150+ titles to its content portfolio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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GR8 Tech

GR8 Tech Turns GR8_Sportsbook ON for Operators Ready to Win

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You know the game.

Players expect more. Markets move faster. Margins get tighter. Operators are still too often stuck with sportsbook tech that looks the same, feels the same, and slows everything down when speed is crucial.

GR8 Tech introduces the updated GR8_Sportsbook, a reimagined sportsbook built to transform the player experience, give operators full commercial control, and unlock more revenue-driving opportunities from day one.

This is not a typical B2B sportsbook built for show.

GR8_ Sportsbook was built as a product for ourselves, tested at scale, and shaped by real operator needs. We kept only the tools that work, convert, retain, and generate revenue.

No empty promises. No decorative features.

GR8_PLAYER EXPERIENCE ON: Transform Player Experience → Drive Growth

The new GR8_ Sportsbook front end brings a completely reimagined UI and UX, designed to make betting easier, faster, and more engaging for players.

The updated interface gives players a cleaner journey, more intuitive navigation, and a smoother path from discovery to bet placement. Every interaction is built to support conversion and long-term retention.

Differentiate. Stand out. Win.

GR8_Control On: Built Your Way, Managed in Real Time

GR8_ Sportsbook gives operators control through UBO and CRM. Operators can customize odds, content, layouts, widgets, pages, promotions, and player experiences without waiting on support or getting stuck in endless back-and-forth requests.

The new widget-based architecture gives operators control over every page layout and content block directly from the back office. That means faster execution, greater flexibility, and complete independence.

  • Built your way: customize everything from content to player experience.
  • Real-time control: make changes instantly, no support needed.
  • Market-ready: adapt fast to trends, regions, and audience needs.

Behind the experience sits mature risk management built to protect the business while giving operators the flexibility to grow.

GR8_Revenue On: Tools That Move the Numbers

GR8_ Sportsbook adds a new layer of revenue-driving tools designed for targeted growth, smarter engagement, and better player value.

Operators can run highly segmented campaigns, tailor promotions by geography, and apply boosted odds at brand, market, or user-segment level.

That means recreational players can get a more exciting betting experience, while price-sensitive users can be targeted with enhanced prices and sharper offers.

New and upgraded revenue tools include:

  • Boosted odds and enhanced prices at user-segment level.
  • Automatic VIP bet acceptance for smoother high-value player handling.
  • Zero-latency betting experience for faster, cleaner bet placement.
  • Geo-tailored promotions built around local markets and audience behavior.
  • AI-powered dynamic limits designed to maximize value per player.
  • Targeted campaigns for different user segments, player types, and growth goals.

This is revenue control built into the product.

Built for the World Cup. Built Beyond It.

Ahead of the World Cup, GR8 Tech’s primary focus is upgrading the sportsbook front end, navigation, and operator control layer to meet modern player expectations and commercial demands.

Post-tournament, the roadmap continues with a redesigned event page and the development of a performance-focused initiative using server-side rendering to improve page speed, SEO, and user experience across key high-growth regions, including Africa, India, and Latin America.

Beyond iFrame, GR8 Tech is also expanding its sportsbook ecosystem through scalable Managed Trading Services and API products.

The API product gives B2B operators access to GR8 Tech’s sportsbook engine while allowing them to build their own front end, a major advantage for brands that want full UX ownership without compromising on backend performance.

GR8_Sportsbook On

GR8_Sportsbook is for operators who don’t want another sportsbook that simply exists.

It’s for brands that want to differentiate. Control the product. Move faster. Engage better. Protect margin. Grow revenue with tools proven in real-life operations.

Because luck is not a strategy.

LUCK OFF.
GR8_SPORTSBOOK ON.

The post GR8 Tech Turns GR8_Sportsbook ON for Operators Ready to Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BIS

BiS Brasília projects growth and boosts betting debate in Brazil

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Event will bring together leaders and experts at a time of high visibility for the sector

With an expected 20% increase in attendance, BiS Brasília reaches its second edition in a scenario of strong prominence for the sports betting market in Brazil.

Regulatory advances and growing public interest have placed the sector at the center of strategic discussions, boosting the event’s relevance this year.

Held at the Royal Tulip Brasília Alvorada, the gathering will bring together experts, executives, and authorities to discuss market trends, challenges, and opportunities, with a focus on innovation, integrity, and the sustainable development of the industry.

“The BiS Brasília arrives at a decisive moment for the Brazilian market, bringing together leaders to discuss the paths of regulation, innovation, and sustainable growth of iGaming and sports betting in the country.

It will be a strategic opportunity to promote qualified dialogue and strengthen an increasingly professional and transparent ecosystem,” explains Flávio Figueiredo, co-founder of BiS SiGMA.

Based in the federal capital—epicenter of Brazil’s main political and economic decisions—the event reinforces Brasília’s role as a convergence point for the different stakeholders involved in shaping the new regulatory landscape.

This edition is expected to consolidate itself as a milestone in the maturation of the debate on the legality of betting in Brazil.

About BiS Brasília

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

The event brings together business leaders, authorities, and experts to discuss strategic topics such as Brazilian regulation, taxation, integrity, innovation, responsible gaming, compliance, AML / anti-money laundering, licensing, sports integrity, government relations, advertising, and CONAR.

BiS SiGMA South America is part of the event portfolio of SiGMA World Group, one of the leading global platforms for B2B business and event organization focused on the gaming and betting industry.

The post BiS Brasília projects growth and boosts betting debate in Brazil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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