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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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Brazil
Evoplay adds F12.bet.br deal to grow in Brazil
Evoplay has signed a content partnership with Brazilian operator F12.bet.br, expanding the supplier’s footprint in Brazil’s regulated online gambling market.
Under the deal, F12.bet.br will roll out a selection of Evoplay titles on its online casino, including Penalty Shoot Out: Cup Mania and Hot Triple Sevens.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales, said: “Brazil is one of the most exciting markets in global iGaming right now. The pace and scale of its growth, mixed with the passion for sports and gaming amongst its players, makes it a unique opportunity for us.
“This partnership allows us to bring a carefully selected mix of our most engaging titles to an audience that values both entertainment and authenticity. We see huge potential here and this is another step of our journey in the market.”
Carlos Artur, Сasino Manager Specialist at F12.bet.br, added: “Our goal is to provide content that truly reflects what Brazilian players are looking to engage with.
“Evoplay’s games bring a fresh perspective to our offering, combining strong visuals with intuitive gameplay. We’re confident their titles will resonate strongly with our audience.”
The post Evoplay adds F12.bet.br deal to grow in Brazil appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETER
BETER to make US exhibition debut at SBC Summit Americas 2026
BETER, one of the award-winning providers of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports betting content, will exhibit at SBC Summit Americas for the first time.
The company will be attending at Stand 813, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion across the United States.
SBC Summit Americas 2026 takes place from June 9–11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bringing together more than 10,000 industry professionals and over 400 exhibitors.
BETER will be welcoming delegates interested in enhancing their sportsbook offerings with fast-paced content and cutting-edge solutions at Stand 813.
Since entering the regulated US market in 2025, BETER has secured regulatory approvals and licenses in nine states, including Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Illinois, and Kentucky.
BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide, offering up to 50 markets per event and an average operator margin of 7.5%+.
Its esports portfolio includes the ESportsBattle product featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis. Its sports portfolio features the Setka Cup table tennis content and the BSKT Cup basketball league.
In addition, BETER provides its Esports Odds Feed, offering market-leading odds with the highest uptime across 450+ tournaments globally, covering more than 40,000 pre-match and live events annually, all powered by a team of in-house expert traders.
All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, and sports federations.
The company’s rapid impact across the US market, alongside the strong performance of its products and the quality of its data, has earned it two nominations at the prestigious SBC Awards Americas 2026 – Rising Star in Sports Betting and Live Gaming & Betting Product.
Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “We have made significant progress in establishing BETER as a trusted provider in the United States over the past 12 months.
Our participation in this exhibition marks an important milestone as we make our official debut in the region, showcasing the strength and scalability of products that are already proven globally.
“We are excited to present our full product suite to a US audience for the first time and warmly invite all attendees to visit us at Stand 813 to meet the team and explore partnership opportunities.”
Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, added: “Our presence at SBC Summit Americas reflects the strong momentum behind our content and solutions, as well as the growing demand from operators for high-performance esports and sports betting products.
“As we expand further across regulated US markets, we see significant opportunities to deepen partnerships and drive innovation in fast-betting experiences. We look forward to connecting with both existing partners and new ones at our stand.”
“Book a meeting with BETER team”, says the company.
The post BETER to make US exhibition debut at SBC Summit Americas 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Brazil
Evoplay accelerates Brazilian expansion with F12.bet.br partnership
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with F12.bet.br, further expanding its presence in Brazil’s fast-evolving regulated market.
The partnership will see the selection of Evoplay’s popular titles, including Penalty Shoot Out: Cup Mania and Hot Triple Sevens, made available to Brazilian players via F12.bet.br’s online casino.
F12.bet.br is an emerging force in Brazil’s online gaming and sports betting sector. The company delivers a range of digital betting and interactive entertainment services, aligning with the country’s developing regulatory framework and growing demand for licensed online gaming experiences.
By partnering with local operators such as F12.bet.br, Evoplay continues to strengthen its position in one of the industry’s most promising regions, reinforcing its commitment to delivering engaging, localised content to players across Latin America.
Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales, said: “Brazil is one of the most exciting markets in global iGaming right now. The pace and scale of its growth, mixed with the passion for sports and gaming amongst its players, makes it a unique opportunity for us.
“This partnership allows us to bring a carefully selected mix of our most engaging titles to an audience that values both entertainment and authenticity. We see huge potential here and this is another step of our journey in the market.”
Carlos Artur, Сasino Manager Specialist at F12.bet.br, added: “Our goal is to provide content that truly reflects what Brazilian players are looking to engage with.
“Evoplay’s games bring a fresh perspective to our offering, combining strong visuals with intuitive gameplay. We’re confident their titles will resonate strongly with our audience.”
The post Evoplay accelerates Brazilian expansion with F12.bet.br partnership appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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