Press Releases

Gazprom Football for Friendship 2021: Young Participants from 211 countries and regions to set new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title

Published

5 years ago

April 9, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Gazprom launches the Ninth Season of the International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship, which will be held online on May 14-29, 2021. For the very first time, representatives of football academies and journalists will gather in Istanbul during the UEFA Champions League Final celebrations to discuss children’s football development at the Football for Friendship Ambassadors Forum.

This year, Football for Friendship will once again unite Young Participants, boys, and girls, from 211 countries and regions. Young Players aged 12-14 will unite into 32 Teams of Friendship to participate in the 2021 Football for Friendship eWorld Championship. The Championship will be held in the F4F World the football simulator available for free in 27 languages on MS Windows, Apple macOS, Android, iOS. Young Journalists will cover the events of the program in the International Children’s Press Center and share with their peers the key values of the program: friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions, and honor. The official attempt to obtain the program’s third GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titles for the most nationalities in a football training session in history and the most users in a football video hangout.

On May 29, football experts and journalists from different countries will come together at the Football for Friendship Ambassadors Forum that will take place in Istanbul during the UEFA Champions League Final. Representatives of the football community will discuss the challenges of children’s sports development and share their experiences. Over the years, Football for Friendship has become an important international platform for discussing relevant issues of children’s sports and football.

The International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship is implemented by Gazprom since 2013. Over the previous eight seasons, the program has united over 15 000 participants from 211 countries and regions. Over 6 000 000 people have participated in sports, educational, and ecological events of the program. UEFA, FIFA, football federations, and the world’s leading football clubs, international charity foundations, famous athletes, politicians, and artists support Football for Friendship. The project has received over 50 national and international awards in the field of social responsibility, sports, and communications.

Carmen Pozo, co-founder of the Women’s Football Academy Las Superpoderosas, winner of the First International Football for Friendship Award, Bolivia: “The Football for Friendship program provides football experts with a platform for dialogue. This is especially important right now since we are facing new challenges in the development of children’s and youth sports. Exchanging experience and projects at the Football for Friendship Forum helps football academies and organizations in solving these issues.”

Robin O’Day, director of the O’Day Football Academy, Ireland: “Football for Friendship is a unique program that gives children from all over the world the opportunity to dive into an intercultural environment without barriers, make friends with peers from opposite parts of the globe, instills in them universal values and makes it possible to be heard. These are important elements in educating future world leaders.”

Latest News

All Systems Go: Scientific Games Launches New, Advanced Technology for Arizona Lottery

Published

1 hour ago

July 10, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

all-systems-go:-scientific-games-launches-new,-advanced-technology-for-arizona-lottery

Scientific Games announces that a new suite of systems technology is now powering the Arizona Lottery‘s sales across the state, headlined by exciting new draw games for players. The technology advancement features Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem, including a central gaming system and retailer management system.

In addition to enhancing security and streamlining operations for the Arizona Lottery, the technology upgrade was designed to elevate the player experience, bring fresh energy to the Lottery’s classic draw game lineup, and provide even more opportunities for retail partners to succeed.

“Our teams have been working hard behind the scenes with the Scientific Games teams, and we are thrilled to see this project come to life. The changes to our draw games will give our players bigger value, more ways to play and even more chances to win,” said Alec Thomson, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. “Ultimately, the advanced technology ecosystem modernizes our operations and positions the Arizona Lottery for future growth.”

The expansion of the Arizona Lottery’s draw games portfolio includes:

Massive upgrade to The Pick with an automatic multiplier on every single play, better overall odds of winning and a brand-new instant win add-on called The Pick PLUS
Addition of a daily midday drawing for the Pick 3 game
Addition of an all-new Pick 4 game with midday and evening drawings
Addition of Powerball Double Play – an exciting add-on offering a second chance to win up to $10 million in a separate drawing immediately following the Powerball drawing

As part of the technology enhancements, Scientific Games upgraded gem | suite, the company’s comprehensive software suite, to accommodate the Arizona Lottery’s expanded draw game portfolio. gem | suite efficiently manages the Lottery’s network of 3,600 retailers’ licensing, communications and business intelligence that helps manage products in stores.

“As the Arizona Lottery’s systems technology partner since 2015, Scientific Games is focused on readying the Lottery for long-term sustainability through advanced systems and software, and exciting new products that engage players and drive proceeds to the good cause programs that benefit Arizonans,” said John Schulz, President, Americas & Global Instant Products.

Scientific Games has been a provider to the Arizona Lottery for 45 years, including Scratchers games and licensed brands. The company provides services and expertise to the Lottery from its Phoenix location.

Serving 150 lotteries in 50 countries, Scientific Games is the world’s largest lottery games company, the fastest-growing lottery systems provider, and a leading provider of digital lottery solutions. The company is one of the first lottery companies globally certified by the World Lottery Association as a Responsible Gaming Supplier.

Scratchers® is a registered service mark of the California Lottery.

The post All Systems Go: Scientific Games Launches New, Advanced Technology for Arizona Lottery appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Arizona Lottery

Scientific Games rolls out Momentum systems upgrade for Arizona Lottery

Published

3 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

scientific-games-rolls-out-momentum-systems-upgrade-for-arizona-lottery

New central gaming and retailer management systems support expanded draw game features across the Lottery’s 3,600 retail locations.

Scientific Games said a new suite of systems technology is now powering the Arizona Lottery’s statewide sales, including updates to its draw games portfolio. The rollout is based on Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem, incorporating a central gaming system and a retailer management system.

Arizona Lottery Executive Director Alec Thomson said the technology and game changes are intended to modernize operations and refresh the draw game lineup. “Our teams have been working hard behind the scenes with the Scientific Games teams, and we are thrilled to see this project come to life. The changes to our draw games will give our players bigger value, more ways to play and even more chances to win,” Thomson said. “Ultimately, the advanced technology ecosystem modernizes our operations and positions the Arizona Lottery for future growth.”

The Lottery’s draw game changes include an update to The Pick featuring an automatic multiplier on every play and an add-on called The Pick PLUS, the addition of a daily midday drawing for Pick 3, the launch of a new Pick 4 game with midday and evening drawings, and the addition of Powerball Double Play.

Scientific Games said it also upgraded its gem | suite software to support the expanded draw portfolio and to manage retailer licensing, communications and business intelligence across the Arizona Lottery’s network of 3,600 retailers. “As the Arizona Lottery’s systems technology partner since 2015, Scientific Games is focused on readying the Lottery for long-term sustainability through advanced systems and software, and exciting new products that engage players and drive proceeds to the good cause programs that benefit Arizonans,” said John Schulz, President, Americas & Global Instant Products.

Scientific Games has supplied products and services to the Arizona Lottery for 45 years, including Scratchers games and licensed brands, and supports the Lottery from a Phoenix location, according to the company.

The post Scientific Games rolls out Momentum systems upgrade for Arizona Lottery appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Jonathan Jossel

Silver Strike slot machines at the Plaza Hotel & Casino to offer new coins

Published

3 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

silver-strike-slot-machines-at-the-plaza-hotel-&-casino-to-offer-new-coins

Committed to creating a vintage Vegas gaming experience, the Plaza Hotel & Casino has long been a home for Silver Strike slot machines that dispense specialty collector coins. Beginning this month, the Plaza’s Silver Strike machines will dispense new $20 silver-clad coins to winners betting $1.50.

As casino floors evolved over the years, Silver Strike slot machines became less prevalent as more high-tech machines were added. Now considered a historic game with a limited number of machines still in existence, Silver Strike has a growing and dedicated fan base, many of whom are loyal Plaza customers.

Due to their popularity, the Plaza refurbished two Silver Strike slot machines in 2020 and added two more in the years since. The machines resemble those of a bygone era, and now three of the machines will award winning players one of three newly designed $20 silver-clad collector coins. The fourth machine will continue to award the previous $10 Jonny Rockets and BINGO coins until it runs out and will then be filled with the new $20 coins.

The new coins feature one of three different motifs: a pack of Plaza playing cards encircled with the Plaza’s current tagline “The Place To Be Downtown;” a vintage Vegas scene with the Plaza logo and 1971 to celebrate the year the property opened; and the North Tower of the Plaza with a miner and the tagline “Where Vegas Began.”

Players can decide whether to keep the Plaza collector coin to win the complete set or cash it in, each with a value of $20.

“Offering a retro gaming experience and highly sought-after collector coins, Silver Strike has been immensely popular at the Plaza since we brought it back in 2020,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “The new silver coins beautifully pay homage to the Plaza and its history, and no doubt will keep players excited to win so they can collect the set.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Visit https://tinyurl.com/2tvkkep3 to download high resolution photos of a Silver Strike machine and the new coins.

The post Silver Strike slot machines at the Plaza Hotel & Casino to offer new coins appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.