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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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affiliate marketing
N1 Partners at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 Results: A Key Pit Stop on the Road to the Helicopter
N1 Partners turned its presence at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 into a full-throttle hub for business and networking — reconnecting with partners, solidifying collaborations, and expanding shared strategies at N1 Partners’ booth. The event became another major milestone in the journey toward the grand finale of the flagship N1 Puzzle Promo campaign.

This stop followed London and Lisbon earlier in the year, where each event revealed a new chapter of the promo’s story. London introduced the branded iconic double-decker Wealth Bus activation, Lisbon added the “Surfing on the Waves to Success” experience, and Rome brought an Italian racing-spirit pit-stop concept, fueling the next pace of the competition.
“Our road to the N1 Puzzle Promo final in Barcelona is made up of many milestones, the brightest of which are London, Lisbon, and now Rome,” says Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates at N1 Partners. “Each point isn’t just an event. It’s where we meet partners in person, plan new steps together, and keep moving forward. Rome felt like a ‘pit stop’ in the best sense – a moment to refuel, check the direction, and continue the race toward the helicopter.”
A Booth That Never Stopped Moving
The N1 Partners stand became one of the most vibrant spots of the exhibition floor, drawing continuous attention from attendees and media alike.
- 500+ productive meetings were held with major affiliates and key iGaming players.
- 600+ portions of gelato were served — a crowd favorite symbolizing the Italian touch.
- 200+ N1-branded merch packs were handed out, quickly becoming recognizable visuals across the venue.
- 300+ participants took part in the HeliRun Challenge, the bespoke mechanical time-trial maze where accuracy, speed, and focus count.
- 250+ took part in the LEGO Ferrari giveaway, with the lucky winner describing their prize as “an everyday reminder of how competition keeps you moving.”
The booth aesthetic took inspiration from Italian racing culture – not flashy but clear, focused, and energetic, reflecting the push toward the finish line of the campaign.




Spotlight and Media Presence
Throughout SiGMA Central Europe, N1 Partners engaged in multiple media interviews and appearances across leading affiliate-industry platforms and podcasts. Discussions focused on the evolution of affiliate marketing, the mechanics behind N1 Puzzle Promo, and how tailored offers and transparency continue to reshape the multi-brand affiliate model.
Next Stop: Barcelona 2026 — The Grand Finale
The journey continues to Barcelona, where during iGB/ICE Europe 2026 N1 Partners will host the grand finale celebration of the N1 Puzzle Promo.
- Grand prize for winners – a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter.
- Premium gifts for the top 10 winners: Porsche eBike Sport, Cartier Santos Medium watch, MacBook Pro, Leica Q2, Apple Vision Pro, and more.
- Exclusive prize draw for ceremony guests.
- Full entertainment show with top artists and a headliner.
“We look forward to celebrating with our partners who’ve been part of this journey. It’s our shared moment to enjoy,” said the N1 Partners team.

Join the Race
Want to accelerate your affiliate performance? Join N1 Partners and become a driver in the race to win.
Visit n1.partners for details.
About N1 Partners
N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser, uniting 14+ casino and betting brands.
Operating across 10+ Tier-1 GEOs, the company delivers high-conversion traffic and flexible terms for partners worldwide. With Reg2Dep rates of up to 70% and a trusted network of 10,000+ affiliates, N1 Partners offers competitive deals for top partners — CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 45% — ensuring that partners always stay ahead in the game.
Be number one with N1!
The post N1 Partners at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 Results: A Key Pit Stop on the Road to the Helicopter appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Atomo Gaming
Fast Track Announces partnership with Atomo Gaming to expand Latin American iGaming presence
Fast Track leading CRM platform for the iGaming industry, has announced a strategic partnership with Atomo Gaming, a leading iGaming platform provider with a strong foothold across Latin America. The collaboration will be officially unveiled at the XIX CIBELAE Congress in Asunción, Paraguay, on November 10-14, 2025.
The partnership will combine Fast Track’s AI-native CRM with Atomo Gaming’s platform infrastructure. The collaboration marks Fast Track’s expansion into the Latin American market and establishes a working relationship with Atomo Gaming’s network of operators in the region.
Fast Track is the industry leader in providing modern state-of-the-art tech stacks to work with real-time data and AI, including proprietary self-learning technologies to maximise relevance for its customers. Fast Track CRM integrates seamlessly with gaming platforms, distribution channels, and bonus engines, utilising real-time data to enable targeted campaigns and dynamic, personalised player journeys. The company recently launched Fast Track AI, a natural language platform that enables users to execute campaign creation, automation, and deep data analysis through conversational inputs.
Atomo Gaming is a Spain-based technology company that develops gaming platforms for online and land-based operations. The company’s “Alborán” platform provides multi-balance wallets, online casino and sportsbook functionality, retail integration, risk management, business intelligence, and game aggregation capabilities.
Through this partnership, operators using the Atomo Gaming platform could gain access to Fast Track’s advanced CRM capabilities, including automation, analytics, and AI-driven player engagement tools. The integration will enable Atomo Gaming’s operator network to implement sophisticated CRM strategies through Fast Track’s natural language interface.
Ramón Monrós, CEO and Co-founder of Atomo Gaming, said: “This partnership enables operators on the Atomo Gaming platform to access advanced CRM technology that addresses the specific needs of Latin American markets. Fast Track’s natural language capabilities allows our operators to implement player engagement strategies efficiently, supporting their growth in the region.”
Simon Lidzén, CEO and Co-Founder of Fast Track, said: “Latin America represents one of the most dynamic and exciting iGaming markets globally, and partnering with Atomo Gaming allows us to be part of that growth story. Together, we’re bringing technology that will fundamentally change how operators engage with their players. This collaboration represents our commitment to making advanced CRM accessible to operators everywhere, empowering them to compete and succeed in their markets.”
The post Fast Track Announces partnership with Atomo Gaming to expand Latin American iGaming presence appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
iGaming
OKTO Expands Payment Capabilities in Mexico with Direct Card Deposits
OKTO, the next-gen Payment Service Provider, has officially launched its direct card in solution in Mexico, marking another milestone in its mission to deliver orchestrated payment experiences across Latin America. The new service is seamlessly connected to Mexico’s local payment rails, enabling real-time card deposits that are fully aligned with the country’s financial infrastructure.
This launch forms part of OKTO’s Orchestrated Pay-ins and Payouts strategy, designed to simplify and optimize every stage of the payment journey for merchants and users. With card payments representing more than 25% of Mexico’s iGaming audience, the solution provides operators with direct access to a major segment of players who rely on the convenience, familiarity, and trust of card-based deposits.
By integrating directly with licensed local acquirers, OKTO removes unnecessary intermediaries, giving merchants greater control over their payment flows, more competitive pricing structures, and strengthened fraud management. This direct connection results in faster processing times, higher approval rates, and a smoother experience that meets the expectations of both operators and players in a rapidly expanding market.
Momentum is already building, with five merchants preparing to go live on the platform. This early adoption highlights the strong demand for localized, compliant, and frictionless payment solutions within Mexico’s iGaming ecosystem. The card in service complements the existing SPEI in and out local payment options available through the OKTO platform, further enhancing the breadth of payment capabilities for merchants in the region.
Following the successful rollout of real-time account-to-account payments in Peru last month, OKTO continues to expand its footprint across Latin America with solutions tailored to each market’s regulatory and consumer landscape. The launch in Mexico reinforces OKTO’s commitment to empowering merchants with payment services that drive conversion, efficiency, and sustainable growth.
“Mexico represents a key market in OKTO’s Latin American expansion strategy. Our direct card-in solution directly addresses the needs of a significant portion of iGaming users who continue to prefer card payments, combining this familiarity with the speed, reliability, and control of OKTO’s payment gateway. By integrating with Mexico’s local acquiring network, we help merchants reduce costs, increase approval rates, and deliver the fast, seamless deposit experience that players expect from trusted, high-performing brands,” said Thomas Georgopoulos, COO at OKTO.
The post OKTO Expands Payment Capabilities in Mexico with Direct Card Deposits appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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