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Gazprom’s International Children’s Social Programme Football for Friendship unites participants from over 200 countries and sets third GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title

The Ninth Season of the Gazprom International Children’s Social Programme, Football for Friendship, has finished. The key values of the programme are friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour. 12-14-year-old girls and boys from over 200 countries took part in this season’s programme.
One of the distinctive features of this year’s season was that the 2021 Football for Friendship eWorld Championship was played on the multi-user football simulator Football for Friendship World. The application was launched in December 2020 and is available free of charge in 27 languages on various platforms. The F4F eWorld Championship was contested by mixed international teams in accordance with the principles of Football for Friendship. Team Argali, represented by players from Aruba, Belize, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Mexico, were the winners of the final game of the championship. Yaan Taha, a 14-year-old commentator from Syria, commentated on the game.
In recognition of their work in the International Children’s Press Centre, Young Journalists from Bangladesh, Bolivia, Hungary and the USA were named as “Best journalists”, and the articles, interviews, and reports they prepared were published by the leading sports media in different countries.
Coaches and Young Players from over 350 football academies and sports schools participated in the sports activities of the programme, but also in environmental and educational projects. The International Football for Friendship Award went to football academies in Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka and Togo for their social projects. Another 14 football academies received grants to develop children’s football and promote the values of the programme among their students, including academies from Bolivia, Canada, Columbia, Trinidad and Tobago, Paraguay and Puerto Rico.
In the course of the final events of the season, participants achieved the programme’s third GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titles for the most nationalities in a football training session in history and the most users at a football video hangout.
Viktor Zubkov, Gazprom Chairman of the Board of Directors: “I am happy that Football for Friendship is gaining more and more friends and supporters around the world – not only amongst children but also their parents, football clubs and academies too. Gazprom carries out social initiatives in many areas, including sport. In my opinion, Football for Friendship is one of the most needed and important international social projects, especially today.”
Roberto Carlos, Global Ambassador of Football for Friendship: “I was happy to become the Global Ambassador of Football for Friendship this year. The universal relevant values promoted by the project are important for young people and their future. As a professional player and now a coach, I know how important it is not only to be a good football player, but also to have a strong character and to be able to communicate with people from different countries as representatives of different cultures. In this way, Football for Friendship truly makes our world a better place.”
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Evoplay starts a big fiesta in spicy new title Don Juan Peppers

Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has released Don Juan Peppers, a fiery new slot that blends bold bonus features with festive flair.
Set in a sun-soaked Mexican town bursting with colour, rhythm and celebration, the game invites players to join the charismatic Don Juan himself for a lively fiesta across 20 fixed paylines.
The action centres around two types of bonus symbols. Landing three Chili Bonus icons on reels two, three and four triggers seven Free Spins. During Free Spins, each appearance of a Chili Bonus symbol awards an Instant Chili Prize corresponding to the value shown above its reel.
Meanwhile, landing six or more Bonus symbols activates the bonus game. In this mode, all Bonus and Chili icons lock in place and reset the spin counter to three. Chilis in this round boost the value of up to four Bonus symbols before transforming and continuing the chase for bigger wins.
The bonus game also gives players a shot at four fixed jackpots: MINI, MEGA, SUPER, and the GRAND prize of 3,000x the bet. For players who want to skip straight to the fiesta, a Bonus Buy feature offers direct access to either the Bonus Game or Free Spins.
Don Juan Peppers is the latest release in Evoplay’s growing portfolio of standout slots, blending engaging gameplay with vibrant storytelling and proven features.
Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “Don Juan Peppers is a celebration of bold design and dynamic mechanics. By blending familiar bonus features with a distinctive aesthetic and rhythmic theme, we’ve created a slot that feels both familiar and fresh.
“It’s a fantastic showcase of our approach to delivering high-performing content with real personality.”
The post Evoplay starts a big fiesta in spicy new title Don Juan Peppers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Greek Casino Industry Undergoes Major Transformation

The Greek casino industry is undergoing a major transformation, with high-profile investments and relocations redefining the market.
While casinos now account for a smaller share of the broader gambling industry, with the total Greek gambling market reaching $31.5 billion in wagers in 2023 and gross gaming revenue of $2.8 billion, the flurry of new licenses, relocations and integrated resort projects is reshaping the sector and attracting international attention.
Following global trends, Greek casinos are evolving into integrated resorts, where gambling is just one part of a broader entertainment and hospitality experience.
These resorts aim to attract high-end tourists, generate consistent visitor flows, boost tax revenue and enhance Greece’s international brand in luxury tourism. The next five years will be critical in establishing Greece as a leading Mediterranean destination for integrated resorts.
Leading the wave is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens at the former Ellinikon site, a project valued at $1.6 billion. The venture is a partnership between Hard Rock International (51%) and GEK TERNA (49%), a major Greek construction and energy company, set to create one of Europe’s largest integrated resorts.
Standing 646 feet (197 meters) tall with 42 floors, the resort will include a five-star hotel, a conference center, event spaces and a casino built to international standards. Completion is expected within three years, creating three thousand construction jobs and three thousand permanent positions once operational.
Another key development is the relocation of Parnitha Casino to Marousi. The plan, initially proposed thirteen years ago, overcame legal hurdles after the Council of State approved Presidential Decree No. 36 (FEK 79/A/30-3-2023), which permits the transfer and modernisation of the casino into a multifunctional complex.
This Voria complex will occupy 52 acres near Golden Hall—an upscale shopping mall in Marousi—with 27 acres allocated for public spaces and 25 acres housing the casino, a five-star hotel with 150 rooms, a 1400-seat auditorium, dining, entertainment areas and a 636-space underground parking garage.
The $270 million investment is projected to create three thousand construction jobs and three thousand permanent positions, with completion expected three years after the building permit, anticipated in September 2025.
Three other casinos—in Rio, Alexandroupolis and Corfu—are undergoing financial restructuring.
Saint George Participations, linked to the Arfani and Chioni families, secured operational approval from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and plans to acquire licenses and control by purchasing existing loans and shares.
Although legally and financially complex, investors have already committed $13 million, signaling long-term involvement even before taking equity stakes.
The EEEP is also preparing to award a new casino license in Gournes, Heraklion, Crete, independent of the broader redevelopment of the former US base managed by Dimand.
Crete’s strategic location, strong tourism and new infrastructure make it highly attractive. The license is expected to be offered via tender by early 2026, drawing international interest.
The post Greek Casino Industry Undergoes Major Transformation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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UGC Calls for Global Teamwork to Stop Illegal Gambling

The Ukrainian Gambling Council (UGC) has called for a united, tech-based plan to tackle the worldwide increase in illegal online betting.
Viktoriya Zakrevskaya, UGC’s Deputy Chair, said the quick growth of digital platforms has led to more unlicensed operators. These operators often use cryptocurrencies and social media to avoid getting caught and to attract users.
Illegal operators now make up a big part of the $618.7 billion global iGaming market expected by the end of 2025. These platforms often register offshore, use anonymous payments and market online, making it harder to enforce laws against them.
Zakrevskaya pointed out that nations across the globe are trying out solutions that mix rules, tech and people’s involvement. Argentina, for example, has put in place tough age-checking systems and stops blacklisted websites on public Wi-Fi networks. This method, she explained, has made illegal sites harder to reach for at-risk groups such as kids.
In Indonesia, where betting is outlawed, officials have started watching money flows to cut off unlawful activity. Just last year, they froze 26,000 bank and e-wallet accounts tied to illegal betting operations, showing how focused money controls can limit unregulated gambling.
The US struggles with a unique problem because of its scattered rules. Unlawful betting websites are growing almost twice as fast as legal ones in the US. Over 80% of users see ads for unlicensed sites. People are now trying to tighten control on digital money and push big tech companies to better manage gambling content.
Ukraine has stepped up its crackdown. The country’s new watchdog PlayCity, which started after KRAIL was shut down, is teaming up with global tech firms like Meta to take down social media accounts that promote illegal casinos. The government has also blocked more than a hundred unlicensed sites thought to be sending money to Russia. Kyiv thinks Moscow uses the underground gambling world to fund its ongoing war.
A crucial element of Ukraine’s long-term plan involves creating a system to monitor bets and tax income in real time with transparency. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is working with tech experts to construct the platform, which should enhance supervision and boost public confidence in the regulated market.
The post UGC Calls for Global Teamwork to Stop Illegal Gambling appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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