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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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Red Papaya launches Pirate’s Fight for Fortune slot with 20,000x max win
Microgaming-powered studio ships a medium-volatility title with a three-tier bonus system and 96.37% RTP.
Red Papaya has released a new slot, Pirate’s Fight for Fortune, the studio announced on 15 April 2026. The Microgaming-powered title launches with a stated maximum win of 20,000x and targets mid-range risk players with medium volatility.
The game runs a 5×4 reel layout with 40 fixed paylines, an RTP of 96.37%, and a hit frequency of 27.19%, according to the studio. The bet range is 0.20 to 12.50.
Gameplay is built around a multi-tiered bonus system with Bronze, Silver and Gold bonus levels. The base game also uses a Collect mechanic, where Pirate Coins appearing on reels 1-4 can be collected when a Collect symbol lands on reel 5, with a multiplier of 1x to 5x applied to the total value of coins collected on that spin.
An optional Boost feature increases the total bet by 50% to improve the frequency of Silver/Gold Pirate Coins and increase the chance of triggering bonus games, Red Papaya said. Bonus play uses a “Hold & Win” style format with persistent coin collection into colour-coded treasure chests above the reels.
Madelein Ozok, Head of Studio at Red Papaya, said: “With Pirate’s Fight for Fortune, we wanted to combine a classic high-seas theme with a sophisticated multi-tiered bonus structure. This game’s high quality art and engaging audio also lends to an exciting storyline which we know players love.
“By utilising a persistent collection mechanic that builds anticipation with every spin, and offering players three distinct levels of bonus gameplay alongside a massive 20,000x Grand Jackpot, we’ve created a high-engagement title that stands out in any operator’s lobby.”
The post Red Papaya launches Pirate’s Fight for Fortune slot with 20,000x max win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AGCO
Platipus Secures Ontario Supplier Licence
Platipus Gaming has officially obtained a supplier licence to operate in the province of Ontario, Canada. This licence allows the company to provide gaming content to licensed operators in the province and represents a significant milestone in Platipus’ ongoing focus on regulatory alignment, operational consistency, and responsible product supply.
Importance for Operators
For Ontario-licensed operators, partnering with a licensed supplier like Platipus ensures that content is delivered in line with AGCO requirements. This reduces the need for additional regulatory assessments and supports smoother integration of third-party content into licensed operations. All products are designed and supplied with responsible gambling and player protection in mind, adhering to the technical and operational standards required by the Commission.
Strategic Significance for Platipus Gaming
The Ontario licence is a reflection of Platipus’ compliance-by-design philosophy. Regulatory considerations are integrated early in the development process, rather than being addressed as a final checkpoint. This approach ensures that products, processes, and operational structures are prepared for regulated environments from the outset.
Operating under AGCO also positions Platipus to engage with other regulated markets where Ontario standards are often referenced as benchmarks. The licence supports the company’s long-term goal of maintaining consistent product quality, operational reliability, and responsible content supply across multiple jurisdictions.
Company Perspectives
A spokesperson from the Legal Department commented: “We are pleased to receive our supplier licence in Ontario and to make our gaming content and solutions available. Following a comprehensive application process, we can now formally present this achievement as part of our regulated market presence.”
Viktoriia Andreasen, Head of Marketing, added: “Ontario stands out as a well-structured and highly organised jurisdiction. It represents an important regulated market with strong operational standards”.
Ontario supplier licence confirms that Platipus can deliver content in one of the world’s most tightly regulated iGaming markets, with all technical, operational, and compliance requirements addressed.
This milestone represents more than a geographic expansion. It signals that Platipus Gaming has structured processes, robust governance, and a compliance-focused development approach, supporting sustainable regulated operations and long-term market participation.
The post Platipus Secures Ontario Supplier Licence appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
customer acquisition
Media Troopers cites March Madness betting surge across US regulated markets
Media Troopers said March Madness 2026 drove one of its strongest periods for traffic and customer acquisition across US-regulated sports betting markets, following the conclusion of the tournament in which the Michigan Wolverines beat the Connecticut Huskies 69-63 in the national championship game.
The digital marketing and customer acquisition group said final figures were not yet complete, but noted consistent traffic and conversion rates across its network during the multi-week event. Media Troopers also pointed to the American Gaming Association’s estimate of a $3.3 billion handle from licensed US betting operators during this year’s tournament.
“Everyone talks about the Super Bowl as the peak moment, and in terms of a single event, that’s true,” said Media Troopers CEO, Shmulik Segal. “But March Madness betting has always been different, and we can see it by the exponential growth this year. Unlike the Super Bowl which peaks over one night, March Madness delivers scale over time. You’re not looking at one spike, you’re looking at consistent, high-intent engagement for weeks.”
The company said operators benefited from repeated touchpoints, with returning customers using existing accounts to place college basketball bets throughout the tournament. “What made this March Madness so powerful was frequency,” Segal added. “Users are not just placing one bet. The predictions, odds, and results create a new reality every day. So bettors are coming back day after day, round after round. From an acquisition and retention perspective, that’s incredibly valuable.”
Segal also tied the tournament’s impact to continued expansion in the US regulated landscape. “Regulation has changed the game,” he said. “You now have more states, more operators, and more competition. Events like March Madness allow operators to differentiate and build long-term relationships with players, not just capture one-off bets.”
The post Media Troopers cites March Madness betting surge across US regulated markets appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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