Latest News
Fan Index Reveals: The MOST Popular Gaming Character of ALL TIME
The most popular gaming character is Mario, receiving a whopping 451 points from the fan index
In second place is Sonic the Hedgehog with 394 points, receiving a staggering 59,700,700 Google searches in the last year
Legend of Zelda’s Link lands third place with 377 points, holding the largest number of Reddit mentions
The least popular gaming character is Jack from BioShock with just 48 points!
We’ve spent a lot of time at home, getting to know our favourite video games more than ever before, falling even more in love with a whole range of gaming characters. However, there is plenty of debate about which characters are the nations’ favourite!
With this in mind, experts at Stashbird.com wanted to discover the most popular gaming characters of all time from the best-selling video game franchises*. To thoroughly investigate, Stashbird.com created a gaming fans’ index by analysing the following factors:
Sales of the franchise
Average worldwide searches over the past year
Number of hashtags on Instagram
Number of Reddit mentions
Gamers’ popularity score (survey)
The top 10 most popular characters
Stashbird.com can reveal that in first place, and crowned the most popular gaming character, is Mario with a massive 451 fan index points!
Mario ranked first for franchise sales with a staggering 653,000,000 worldwide copies of Mario games sold, bagging him an easy 100 points. The fun-loving character also ranked sixth for average worldwide searches with 4,606,547 (86 points) in the past year alone! Despite these results, Mario only ranked 10th for popularity, with 45% of gamers choosing him as their ultimate favourite.
Not far behind in second place is Sonic the Hedgehog with 394 points. The extraterrestrial hedgehog ranked second for worldwide searches (59,700,000), giving him 97 points! He was voted the favourite by only 21% of gamers surveyed, however bagged himself 91 points for his 94,300 Reddit mentions.
Link from The Legend of Zelda places third, accumulating 377 points! It is no surprise as the star of the Nintendo series to have ranked top for Reddit mentions (3,920,000) and popularity score (74%), receiving 100 points for both! Interestingly, he ranked lower down for search volumes, with 1,196,200 average searches over the past year.
At number four is Donkey Kong with 354 points, scoring high with 3,930,000 yearly average searches (83 points), 570,000 Instagram hashtags (77 points) and 26,400 Reddit mentions (80 points).
To complete the 10 most popular gaming characters, the results are as follows:
5. Master Chief (Halo) 323 points, Crash (Crash Bandicoot) 323 points, Sora (Kingdom Hearts) 323 points
6. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy) 314 points
7. Pac-Man (Pac-Man) 308 points
8. Kirby (Kirby) 306 points
9. Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher) 294 points
Closing the top 10 is Ezio Auditore Da Firenze, star of four of the Assassin’s Creed games, with 291 points!
Just making the bottom 10 is Joel Miller, ranking 25th out of a possible 34 places, from the Last of Us. This is not surprising as the franchise only scored 14 points for its 24 million sales. He also scored low on Reddit searches, receiving just 29 points for his 1,670 mentions.
John Marston from Red Dead Redemption and Simon Belmont from Castlevania were both among the least popular with 94 and 74 points, respectively.
Bioshock’s Jack rounds off the bottom 10 list with measly 48 points – a staggering 403 points less than first place contender Mario.
Methodology
1. *Stashbird.com analysed the list of best-selling video game franchises that have sold at least 20 million copies and pulled the most popular/recognised character from each to compile the list of 36 most popular gaming characters of all time.
2. The team then created an index looking at several factors, including sales of the franchise, search volumes using SemRush, the number of Instagram hashtags per character and the number of mentions on Reddit.
3. Finally, to complete the index Stashbird.com surveyed 4,567 gamers worldwide to ask them to vote for their favourite from the list to give each character a popularity score.
4. Games where there is no playable main character were excluded from the list.
5. Stashbird normalised the data by using the PERCENTRANK.INC function in Excel. This function returns the rank of a value in a data set as a percentage of the data set between 0 and 1. These values were then multiplied by 100 to make the range between 0 and 100. The maximum score a character could receive was 500.This enabled the team to rank the 36 characters from most to least popular based on their total points. The data was collected on 29/02/2021 and is correct as of then.
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Asia
S8UL’s League of Legends roster qualifies to represent India at Asian Games 2026
S8UL Esports’ League of Legends roster has qualified to represent India at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, running from September 19 to October 4. The organisation said the team secured qualification through the regional qualifiers after winning the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2026, described as the official national qualification tournament for the Asian Games.
S8UL said the roster competing under India’s banner is Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorporal), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Ahmed Shahid (Nero), and Rahul Bisht (Bob). The regional qualifiers featured 14 teams across a group stage and a split stage, with top performers advancing to the Asian Games main event.
In Group B, the team went unbeaten against Jordan, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan to progress, according to S8UL. In the split stage, it lost to Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia but did enough to secure a berth. India will now face opponents including Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam at the main event.
Four players—Kat Bot, Infi, Deadcorporal, and Lotus—were also part of India’s League of Legends contingent at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, where S8UL said the team finished fifth.
Akshaj Shenoy aka Kat Bot, captain of India’s League of Legends team, said, “Qualifying for the Asian Games is a proud moment for all of us. We knew the regional qualifiers would be extremely competitive, and every match demanded complete focus. For many of us, this will be our second Asian Games, which makes this qualification even more special because we understand the level of competition that awaits us. We are grateful to S8UL for believing in this roster and providing us with the support, stability, and opportunities needed to keep improving as a team. Representing India is always an honour, and we’ll do everything we can to make the country proud in Aichi-Nagoya.”
S8UL co-founder and CEO Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug added, “Representing India at the Asian Games is among the highest honours an athlete can achieve, and seeing our League of Legends roster earn that opportunity is incredibly special. This team has demonstrated resilience, discipline, and a willingness to continually improve, qualities that are essential for success at the international level. At S8UL, our goal has always been to create pathways for Indian athletes to compete on the biggest stages in the world. We have no doubt they will give their all when they step onto the stage in Aichi-Nagoya and compete for the nation with pride,” S8UL also noted that Gurashish Singh (Soul) and Prateek Bhaunt (B Haunt) previously qualified for the Asian Games in Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 after winning at NESC 2026.
The post S8UL’s League of Legends roster qualifies to represent India at Asian Games 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Ignition Casino
Ignition Casino survey: LA fans most likely to back themselves to score for USMNT
Los Angeles ranks as the most confident sporting city in the US, according to new research commissioned by operator Ignition Casino, with 30% of respondents saying they believe they could score a goal for the USMNT at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The nationwide survey, conducted by Censuswide among 1,000 respondents between April 14 and April 17 2026, asked Americans about their confidence across multiple sports scenarios, including scoring for the USMNT at the World Cup, scoring a point against LeBron James one-on-one, or kicking a game-winning Super Bowl field goal.
After Los Angeles, Miami placed second on the World Cup scoring question at 29%, followed by Dallas at 27.1%, according to the research. Ignition Casino said that excluding Columbus, every city in the top 10 recorded at least 17% of respondents believing they could score for the USMNT at the tournament.
At state level, California topped the rankings. The survey found 29.7% of Californians believe they could score for the national team at the World Cup, and California also ranked first overall for combined sporting confidence with an average score of 32.8%. The release also cited Georgia, Illinois and Virginia as posting “more than a quarter” of respondents in each state believing they could score for the USMNT.
The survey also included non-football confidence measures. Ignition Casino said 32.3% of Miami respondents and 37.5% of Californians believe they could score at least one point against LeBron James in a one-on-one basketball game, while 32.5% of Los Angeles respondents and 36.7% of Virginians believe they could kick a Super Bowl-winning field goal.
The post Ignition Casino survey: LA fans most likely to back themselves to score for USMNT appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
N1 Brand Series: N1 Bet — Player Profile & GEOs
Every brand requires its own approach, which is why in the N1 Brand Series, the N1 Partners team breaks down products through a practical, hands-on lens.
In this episode let’s look inside N1 Bet: its core strengths, audience specifics, and approaches to improving traffic efficiency. In addition, the team has prepared a traffic setup for N1 Sport Promo, a new promotion aligned with the upcoming high-intensity sports season and FIFA 2026.
Within the campaign running from June 10 to July 20, partners will be able to earn additional bonuses for high-quality sports and prediction traffic, increasing their potential rewards alongside the number of acquired FTDs.
N1 Bet: Product breakdown
N1 Bet combines classic sports betting, casino, and Prediction Markets into a single product, offering users a wide variety of markets, an intuitive interface, fast onboarding, and attractive promotional mechanics designed to boost engagement.

- Brand name: N1 Bet
- GEOs: AU, NZ, AT, DE, CA, CH, IE, NO, IT
- Main verticals: Casino, betting, prediction markets
- Target audience: Users aged 25-55 interested in online casinos, slots, and live games, oriented toward a fast and seamless gaming experience.
- User value: Ease of use, fast access to games, bonuses, and promotional mechanics
- Features/advantages: Simple and fast registration flow, smooth UX, wide selection of slots and live games, fast deposits/withdrawals, and regular promotions.
- Reg2Dep:
PPC: 40–60%
FB: 22–30%
SEO: 40–45%
- Retention Rate: 25–35%
- LTV: up to €1500
Player’s portrait
N1 Bet audience is primarily composed of Tier-1 GEO users, which directly influences their behaviour and expectations toward the product. From a payment behaviour perspective, Tier-1 audiences demonstrate a higher average deposit compared to Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and the DACH region.
Another key product characteristic is strong mobile dominance. On average, 87% of active users play from mobile devices. In English-speaking GEOs, this share is even higher:
- AU — 95%
- NZ — 96%
- CA — 95%
In practice, this is mostly a mobile-only audience. In the DACH region, mobile traffic is also dominant, although desktop still retains a presence:
- DE — 89% mobile
- AT — 91% mobile
Peak player activity occurs in the evening — from 19:00 to 23:00 local time.
Player characteristics by GEO
Austria
- A premium audience segment.
- 91% of users play on mobile devices.
- High interest in slots, especially classic titles such as Legacy of Dead and Book of Ra.
- Higher rates with fewer deposits.
- Behavior is close to a VIP segment.
Germany
- Also a premium segment.
- 89% mobile traffic, while maintaining a noticeable desktop share.
- The most balanced mix of slots, live casino, and sportsbook.
- Slots share is lower than in other GEOs, but classic slots remain in demand.
Australia
- 95% mobile users.
- High average revenue per user.
- Main interest focused on slots and crash games.
- Branded games, including Chicken Road 2 x N1 Bet, are among the most popular products.
Canada
- 95% mobile audience.
- Average ARPPU is comparable to Australia.
- Gaming behaviour is mostly slot-oriented.
- High interest in branded content.
- Lower sensitivity to bonus offers compared to other markets.
New Zealand
- The most mobile-driven audience — 96%.
- Lower ARPPU and average bet size.
- The only GEO with a consistently high share of live casino activity — 17% to 56% vs 10-22% in other markets.
- The most diverse gameplay behavior overall.
New players’ behavior
New user behaviour largely depends on traffic source:
- Facebook Crash campaigns — users start with crash games (Chicken Road, Aviator, etc.) and then gradually move into slots.
- Facebook Slots campaigns — users immediately engage with slots without switching categories.
- PPC — most common mix: slots + live casino.
- Influence — mixed interest across slots, crash games, and live casino.
- SEO — primarily focused on slots and live games.
General trends
- Slots remain the main driver of new player activity, accounting for 60–80% of playtime (higher in AT and AU, lower in DE and CA).
- Crash games work extremely well as a primary conversion tool, especially for Facebook traffic.
- Live casino becomes more popular after the 2nd–3rd deposit, especially among users from DACH and NZ.
High-LTV Player Behavior
High lifetime value players are not characterised by single large deposits but by consistent product engagement:
- more than 4 active gaming sessions per week;
- use of multiple verticals simultaneously (slots + live, slots + sportsbook, sportsbook + prediction markets);
- active participation in VIP and loyalty programs;
- use of cashback and loyalty systems instead of bonus hunting;
- strong interest in new providers, tournaments, and product updates;
- stable deposit patterns without sharp promo-driven spikes;
- engagement in onsite activities (tournaments, bonus shop) and CRM communications.
This category of users forms the most stable and long-term LTV for partners.
Top 3 Working Funnels for N1 Bet
Funnel 1
This funnel is designed for a broad audience and performs well due to a simple and clear message. The main focus is the ability to start with a small amount and potentially win big. This approach helps maintain a low FTD cost and quickly scale traffic volume.
- Traffic source: Facebook
- GEO: AU
- Page type: PWA
- Audience: Men and women 25+
- Approach: The creative is based on a dynamic video. It starts with a stack of cash in front of a smartphone or computer screen, then shifts to gameplay featuring slots, bonuses, and winning combinations. A voiceover explains the low entry threshold, easy start, and the ability to play directly from a smartphone. The main goal is to create a sense of accessibility and highlight potential winnings.
- Why it works: Users immediately see core triggers — money, wins, and a low entry barrier. The funnel appeals to the desire for fast results with minimal investment.
- Key funnel element: Slots and PWA
- Performance indicators: CPC, FTD cost, and average player value
- Scaling method: Duplication of successful ad campaigns
- Risks/limitations: May attract lower-quality traffic
- Common mistakes: Launching too many campaigns at once with high budgets
- Expert note: This funnel should be scaled gradually. The best approach is to start with a single campaign and allow algorithms to gather sufficient data. If stable FTD and average value metrics are achieved over several days, scaling should be done through duplication rather than abrupt budget increases.
Funnel 2
This approach can attract higher-quality audiences thanks to a combination of a recognizable influencer, a real casino environment, and a native-style product presentation. When executed properly, it can maintain an acceptable FTD cost while bringing in users with strong long-term engagement potential.
- Traffic source: Facebook
- GEO: AU
- Page type: PWA
- Audience: Men and women 25+
- Approach: The creative features a well-known influencer inside a physical casino. They play a slot, share their experience, show bet sizes and winnings. The atmosphere is important: other casino visitors react emotionally, creating a sense of real entertainment and leisure. The entire video is positive and demonstrates that this experience is accessible to anyone.
- Why it works: Users see a familiar face and recognizable environment, which increases trust in the ad.
- Key funnel element: Creative and PWA
- Performance indicators: CPC and FTD cost
- Scaling method: Duplication of working campaigns
- Risks/limitations: Improper scaling may significantly increase FTD cost
- Common mistakes: Rapid budget increases instead of gradual scaling
- Expert note: This funnel often delivers higher-quality audiences compared to standard gaming creatives. However, scaling should be done carefully. If performance is stable, it is better to increase volume gradually through duplication while keeping winning campaign settings.
Funnel 3 (for N1 Sport Promo traffic)
During the N1 Sport Promo campaign, sports traffic funnels become especially important.
Below is an approach that can perform well during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Traffic source: Facebook Ads
- GEO: Canada
- Page type: PWA with content tailored to a specific World Cup match
- Audience: Men 25–45 interested in football, sports betting, sports news, and international tournaments. Focus is on users actively following the World Cup, discussing matches, and looking for predictions.
- Approach: The creative is built in a news or analytical format centered around a specific World Cup match. It includes predictions, team statistics, starting lineups, injury updates, team form, and expected outcomes. The content must be tightly linked to an upcoming match or trending topic actively discussed by the audience.
- Why it works: Users engage with content they are genuinely interested in. Instead of a standard betting ad, they receive relevant match insights and become part of the analysis process. The high interest in the World Cup enables broader reach and high-quality sports traffic.
- Key funnel element: Creative relevance and match context
- Performance indicators: High CTR, strong registration conversion, and high percentage of users placing bets after registration
- Scaling method: Continuous creation of new creatives for each match day, teams, popular fixtures, and trending tournament news
- Risks/limitations: Creatives quickly lose relevance and require constant updates
- Common mistakes: Using generic sports creatives without match context, scaling too early, and failing to update after the news cycle ends
- Expert note: During the World Cup, funnels built around specific matches or teams perform best. Users respond more strongly to events happening today or tomorrow than to generic sportsbook ads. Fast content updates and relevance are key success factors.
Final Takeaways
N1 Bet consistently performs well across Tier-1 markets when using the right approach. Simple gaming creatives drive volume, influencer-based funnels improve traffic quality, and sports-driven funnels effectively capitalize on major event interest.
With the right strategy, N1 Bet remains a strong product both for scaling volume and for working with high-quality audiences.
Run traffic to N1 Bet with N1 Partners and maximize results during the hot sports season:
- 14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners
Be number one with N1!
The post N1 Brand Series: N1 Bet — Player Profile & GEOs appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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