eSports
Luckbox rolls out Skrill and NETELLER payment services

Esports brand extends its partnership with Paysafe to offer new ways for players to pay
Luckbox, a pioneering esports betting platform, today announced the roll out of Skrill and NETELLER, part of leading integrated payments platform Paysafe, to offer new payment options for customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. From today, Luckbox is able to offer a broad range of payment options available via Skrill and NETELLER, including Paysafe’s own Rapid Transfer, the instant secured bank payment option.
This latest collaboration between Luckbox and Paysafe represents the extension of a partnership between the two companies which recently saw Luckbox join forces with Paysafe’s marketing technology and services provider Income Access to launch its new affiliate programme.
Luckbox, based in the Isle of Man and part of Real Luck Group Ltd, is a betting platform designed for passionate esports fans. The brand offers a wide range of markets on 13 esports with live streams for popular games such as CS:GO, Dota 2, League of Legends, FIFA and NBA2K, pre-match and in-play betting, combo betting and more.
The importance of offering multiple payment methods was highlighted in research undertaken by Paysafe among 2,000 online sports bettors in the US in December 2020. The data showed that 40% of sports bettors that have tried to make an account deposit using a bank card have experienced at least one card decline and 43% have changed their preferred online sportsbook due to declined transactions. The majority of players also state that depositing via a digital wallet is either their first or second preferred payment method, with one third (32%) stating that it is their current payment method of choice.
Quentin Martin, CEO at Luckbox, said: “We are delighted to be working with Skrill and NETELLER, two of the most prestigious payment brands in the gambling industry. This agreement ensures we have payment options available to players in key markets for us, not least in Latin America, Europe and the CIS region, where esports betting is hugely popular. Skrill and NETELLER are highly trusted brands and help us offer a seamless onboarding process for new players as well as an improved user experience for our existing players.”
Lorenzo Pellegrino, CEO of Skrill, NETELLER and Income Access at Paysafe Group, added: “Luckbox is on an exciting growth journey in the gaming industry and we are excited to be working with them on multiple fronts to serve the global esports community. Payments is a key consideration for players as they choose and stay with an operator, so the checkout is a critically important part of the customer experience to get right.”
Powered by WPeMatico
eSports
MSI Joins Forces with Red Bull Expanding the Scale of MSI MGA, Empowering a New Era for Premier Esports Tournaments

MSI (Micro-Star International), a world-leading brand in AI, high-performance computing, and gaming, announced a strategic partnership between its renowned MGA (MSI Gaming Arena) platform and Red Bull.
This collaboration is poised to not only solidify MSI’s leadership position within the esports sector but also to significantly broaden the MGA’s reach to a wider gaming community. Furthermore, the partnership will enhance MGA’s global visibility and introduce the experience of MSI’s cutting-edge esports hardware to more diverse and dynamic event settings.
This collaboration will encompass three of Red Bull’s flagship annual esports tournaments: Red Bull Home Ground with its European events, Red Bull Team5 and another event that will be announced soon. As part of this partnership, MSI will equip these events with its top-tier gaming laptops and desktops, comprehensively upgrading the competition hardware and enhancing the on-site experience to deliver more thrilling and technologically advanced esports spectacles for global audiences.
MSI’s participation extends beyond mere hardware provision; it signifies an amplified investment in its MGA initiative. Now celebrating its 15th year, MGA has been steadfast in its mission to cultivate esports culture and offer a global platform for players to demonstrate their prowess. Through this alliance, MSI will infuse the MGA spirit into these larger-scale Red Bull tournaments, collaborating with Red Bull to champion the worldwide advancement of esports.
Sam Chern, Vice President of Marketing at MSI, said: “By sponsoring Red Bull’s premier esports tournaments, we are honored to further champion the spirit that MGA represents—leveraging world-class performance and innovative technology to unleash player potential, ignite competitive passion, and forge countless unforgettable highlight moments.”
The post MSI Joins Forces with Red Bull Expanding the Scale of MSI MGA, Empowering a New Era for Premier Esports Tournaments appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports World Cup 2025 Press Conference Kicks Off in Riyadh

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has launched the opening press conference for the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, officially marking the start of the world’s largest esports and gaming festival. Running until August 24, the event features more than 2000 elite players, 25 tournaments across 24 leading titles and a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million, cementing its status as the biggest and most significant esports event ever.
EWC 2025 brings together the world’s top 200 Clubs to compete in a first-of-its-kind cross-title format. At the heart of the competition is the Club Championship, where teams accumulate points across multiple games to become the EWC Club Champion, claim a $7 million grand prize and hoist the coveted EWC Club Championship trophy. The $70+ million prize pool also includes $38+ million for individual Game Championships, $5 million in global qualifier rewards and $450,000 in MVP bonuses.
Speaking at the opening press conference, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman, Saudi Esports Federation, said: “Guided by the ambitious vision and leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz AlSaud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom is cementing its position as a global leader in gaming and esports. The Esports World Cup is a clear reflection of that progress. We are immensely proud to welcome back the world in Riyadh for the Esports World Cup. This event stands as a global milestone for esports by showcasing the scale, ambition, and future of competitive gaming. It is a moment that will shape the direction of the industry for years to come.”
He continued: “Hosting this event reflects our deep commitment to building a world-class, sustainable esports ecosystem. It demonstrates the Kingdom’s belief in the power of gaming to connect, inspire, and create meaningful opportunities for future generations. It also supports our broader ambition to diversify the economy and position the Kingdom as a global hub for sports, gaming, and entertainment in line with Vision 2030 and the National Gaming and Esports Strategy. Esports is no longer niche. It is a global sport, a cultural movement, and the Esports World Cup is its most powerful and unifying stage. We are honoured to lead this transformation and shape the future of the industry from here in Saudi Arabia.”
“EWC 2025 is about bringing the gaming world together – iconic games, elite players, and millions of fans around a shared celebration. Through new ways of global broadcasts, original shows, and documentary storytelling, we’re opening doors, creating opportunities, and sharing esports in new and exciting ways. With record-breaking competition, this summer is special—not just for gamers, but for everyone who joins us,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
Faisal bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at Esports World Cup Foundation, added: “The Esports World Cup is redefining what’s possible in esports. It brings together the world’s top teams to compete in the most iconic and advanced arenas, delivering a level of excitement that is unmatched across the industry. Through EWC, the world has witnessed inspiring stories of triumph, heartbreak and glory, for players, teams and communities across the world.”
He continued: “The event is also a powerful platform for leading publishers, brands and creators to connect with global audiences and shape the future of esports. As we look ahead to EWC 2025, we invite the world to be part of what comes next. Together, we are setting new standards, creating new opportunities and driving the industry forward.”
The post Esports World Cup 2025 Press Conference Kicks Off in Riyadh appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Compliance Updates
ESIC Issues Lifetime Ban to StarCraft II Player Xue “Firefly” Tao Following Match-Fixing Investigation

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) announced the outcome of its investigation into serious integrity breaches involving professional StarCraft II competitors Xue “Firefly” Tao and Jinhui “Jim” Cao. Mr. Xue has been banned from ESIC Member events and competitions for life, while Mr. Jinhui has been provisionally suspended pending further sanction.
Following a detailed inquiry spanning April to July 2024, ESIC uncovered evidence of a coordinated match-fixing and profit-sharing scheme. The investigation found that Mr. Xue deliberately manipulated match outcomes to benefit illicit betting activity orchestrated by Mr. Jinhui, with whom he had a long-standing association.
Key findings include:
• Pre-match wagers placed by Mr. Jinhui predicting Firefly’s losses — often by precise scorelines.
• Consistent match losses by Firefly aligning with those wagers across seven tournaments.
• Large Alipay transfers from Jim to Firefly immediately following these matches.
• A WeChat exchange on 21 August 2024 directly referencing prior payments and an effort to conceal evidence.
ESIC has concluded that Xue “Firefly” Tao committed 21 breaches of the ESIC Integrity Programme, spanning both the Anti-Corruption Code and Code of Conduct. As a result, he has been handed a lifetime ban from all ESIC member events and competitions in any capacity.
Mr. Jinhui has been provisionally suspended and served with a Notice of Charge. He has until 14 July 2025 to respond before ESIC issues a formal sanction.
The post ESIC Issues Lifetime Ban to StarCraft II Player Xue “Firefly” Tao Following Match-Fixing Investigation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Balkans6 days ago
BFU and Elitbet Extend Their Partnership Until 2028
-
Baltics5 days ago
Betsson Lithuania Extends Sponsorships with FK Žalgiris and Lithuanian Basketball Federation Until 2027
-
Brazil6 days ago
SkillOnNet Expands Nolimit City Partnership to Enter Brazil
-
EurAsia6 days ago
Amusnet Sponsors the Most Traded NFT Collection at the Ortak x B.F.T.H. Arena Awards 2025
-
Baltics4 days ago
Swintt Joins Forces with TOPsport to Capitalize on Lithuanian Market
-
Endorphina Press Releases5 days ago
Endorphina’s Sticky Lips: Our Joker Returns, Ready to Stick You with Unforgettable Luck!
-
Africa6 days ago
Premier Bet Announces Francis Ngannou as its Pan-African Brand Ambassador
-
CP Games6 days ago
Zenith expands in LatAm with exclusive CP Games content distribution deal