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!
Powered by WPeMatico
Platform pairs sportsbook simulations with a QualiBest survey on fan confidence and compares 2026 sentiment to Brazil’s 2002 campaign.
Superbet has launched “As Odds do Penta,” a data and research hub focused on Brazil’s 2026 World Cup outlook, using sportsbook-driven simulations and public opinion polling to compare the current cycle with the national team’s 2002 campaign. The initiative was announced in São Paulo in June 2026 and is hosted at termometrosuper.com.br.
According to Superbet, its sportsbook model runs predictive simulations and weighs performance metrics alongside qualitative inputs, including media coverage tone and fan engagement, to recreate historical probabilities and compare them to today’s market. “The odds in 2002 would certainly be as high as what we have now in 2026.. The scenario has several similarities: widespread distrust, a tense qualifying phase, and pressure from the press.”, said Guilherme Simantob, a statistician at Superbet.
Superbet also cited results from “Termômetro Super,” a survey commissioned from Instituto QualiBest and conducted June 4-6 with 824 internet users aged 40+ across Brazil. The company said 58% of respondents see a medium-to-high probability of a Brazil turnaround in 2026, and that 58% reported being optimistic or moderately confident based on historical parallels. The release also noted demographic splits, including higher uncertainty among women; a more negative view among Class A respondents compared to Class C; and a stronger “medium probability” view among respondents aged 61+ (44%) versus those aged 40-50 (33%).
On whether prior World Cup disappointments affect belief in a 2026 title, Superbet said 35% reported that pressure from previous defeats reduces confidence, while 22% said history shows Brazil performs strongly when expectations are low; 37% described themselves as moderately confident.
The company added that, based on its reconstruction, Brazil would have been priced at 8.50 in 2002 (which it equated to an 11% mathematical chance). For 2026, Superbet said Brazil’s title odds are around 9.50, and that the “mercado internacional” assigns the team about a 5% chance to win. Commentator Jorge Iggor, cited in the release, argued that entering without being the market favorite can reduce pressure: “Looking at the historical context and the odds themselves proves that not carrying the absolute favoritism for 2026 is a great advantage. Arriving without the weight of being the top team on the market relieves the pressure and makes the atmosphere much lighter. In 2002, the team also defied all predictions and clinical doubts about its main stars to lift the trophy.”
Superbet also highlighted what it called an experience edge in the current squad: “There is an unprecedented and favorable point for the current team. The players selected for the 2026 tournament have accumulated far more titles than the 2002 team at that time: 305 titles combined now, compared to 176 in 2002. This provides experience in big games that could be our unseen advantage.”, Simantob said. The company said the hub will update during the tournament, including additional “Termômetro” polling updates tracking changes in public confidence.
The post Superbet launches ‘As Odds do Penta’ hub tracking Brazil 2026 title odds appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Leading sportsbook provider Altenar has announced the launch of Super Early Payout to give soccer bettors more chance to celebrate winning moments before the final whistle.
The new promotion has gone live in time for the World Cup 2026 and means bettors who back a team in eligible markets will have their bet settled as a winner as soon as their selected team takes a one-goal lead, regardless of the final result.
This is an upgrade to the popular Early Payout offer, which requires a team to lead by two goals before qualifying bets are settled. Reducing the threshold to one goal allows Super Early Payout to deliver faster wins and an even more engaging betting experience.
Operators can configure the promotion for a specific team or both teams, while also having the option to replace the standard 1X2 market for a more prominent promotional experience.
Altenar has also brought greater flexibility to promotional campaigns with improvements to the Early Payout feature, which can now be applied directly to selected events rather than entire championships, making it easier to highlight key World Cup fixtures and other high-profile matches.
The enhancement supports both two-goal and three-goal Early Payout configurations and can also be applied to one or both teams. By moving beyond championship-wide set-ups, operators can create more targeted campaigns.
Expanded markets have also enriched Altenar’s soccer coverage at major tournaments such as the World Cup. New additions allow bettors more choice when it comes to player performance, including how goals or shots were made (by foot, header, outside the box etc).
Player specials have been expanded to include substitute coverage, allowing betting opportunities to remain relevant even when the originally selected player is replaced by a substitute.
A comprehensive range of player, team and match markets are also now available for matches that go to extra time, creating additional betting opportunities during the knockout stage of tournaments such as the World Cup.
These new features follow on from the World Cup Lobby, which was recently released by Altenar as a dedicated event hub designed to enhance player engagement and streamline navigation during the upcoming tournament.
Nikos Zygouris, Head of Sportsbook Product at Altenar, said: “At Altenar, we’re focused on giving our partners the flexibility to tailor their sportsbook experience to the needs of their customers.
“Super Early Payout allows operators to offer a more engaging soccer betting proposition, while our expanded range of markets means bettors have more choice than ever when it comes to placing bets on the markets which matter most to them.
“These enhancements combine greater promotional flexibility with deeper soccer coverage, helping operators maximise engagement throughout the World Cup.”
The post Altenar launches Super Early Payout to boost World Cup engagement appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arnold Ash has agreed a sponsorship deal for the Arthurian League’s 2026 US Tour, which will culminate in the inaugural Transatlantic Cup on Friday 26 June in Philadelphia. The announcement was dated Friday 12th June 2026.
The Transatlantic Cup will be played during the 2026 World Cup and is framed by organisers as part of events marking 250 years of US independence. US amateur champions West Chester United SC, holders of the 2025 US Adult Soccer Association (USASA) National Amateur Cup, will host the Arthurian League representative side.
Arnold Ash’s logo will appear on the front of the touring team’s white and red England kit. The company said the headline partnership covers the full 12-day tour, including additional matches against New York Athletic Club and Boston Bolts, plus in-stadium branding at the ticketed fixture at Drexel University’s Vidal Athletic Complex and across event online and social channels.
Jon Arnold, CEO at Arnold Ash, said: “Arnold Ash has been a proud sponsor of the Arthurian League representative sides at major events before, but it doesn’t get any bigger than this. The team is hugely talented, made up of the top amateur players England has to offer and – as the best-of-the-best – reflect the Arnold Ash core principles of quality, experience and consistency.
“The World Cup is now underway, but for the next five weeks, the Transatlantic Cup is where the real action is at! We wish both England teams the best of luck stateside!”
Billy Jenkins, Manager of the Arthurian League representative team, said: “Arnold Ash’s sponsorship is hugely valuable to our team, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued backing of grassroots football.
“We are honoured to participate in the first-ever Transatlantic Cup and just like England’s professional team hope to be lifting prestigious silverware on US soil in the coming weeks.”
The post Arnold Ash sponsors Arthurian League US tour ahead of 2026 Transatlantic Cup appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Arshak Muradyan5 days agoDigitain Secures Licence from Danish Gambling Regulatory Authority
-
Australia5 days ago
NSW Scores with Extended Trading for FIFA World Cup
-
8MBets5 days ago
Himalayan Harmony Group Announces 2026 Nepal Online Casino Portfolio with Six Licensed Brands
-
Compliance Updates5 days ago
CT Interactive Expands Certified Portfolio in Peru
-
Eastern Europe5 days ago
ELA Games reports 244.52% active user growth in Romania
-
Crystalbet5 days ago
Octoplay goes live with Entain-owned Crystalbet in Georgia
-
Latest News4 days ago
N1 Partners x RAZE Case: ROI+ in Canada within 3 Days
-
Africa4 days ago
WorldGaming Enters into Partnership with African iGaming Alliance
