Latest News
Rugby sevens pools announced for Tokyo 2020 Olympics
The pools for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic rugby sevens competitions have been announced by World Rugby exactly one month ahead of the men’s final at Tokyo Stadium
Tokyo 2020 Olympic rugby sevens pools announced with less than a month to go; The 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams are in three pools of four teams; Reigning men’s gold and silver medalists Fiji and Great Britain will face hosts Japan; Women’s Olympic champions Australia to play USA, China and Japan; Rugby sevens set to thrill fans from 26-31 July at Tokyo Stadium.
The pools for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic rugby sevens competitions have been announced by World Rugby exactly one month ahead of the men’s final at Tokyo Stadium.
The 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams have been allocated to three pools of four teams, according to rankings based upon performances in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and other World Rugby sanctioned tournaments over the past two years.
There are some mouth-watering encounters for fans around the globe to look forward to as rugby sevens makes its second appearance at the Olympic Games following an unforgettable debut in Rio.
Men’s competition
The men’s competition sees three of the top four placed teams from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games together in Pool B as reigning Olympic champions Fiji will face silver medalists Great Britain and hosts Japan, who finished a very creditable fourth in Rio, along with Olympic debutants Canada who claimed bronze at the last HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event, which took place in Vancouver last year.
Pool A sees a renewal of the mouth-watering antipodean rivalry between current Rugby World Cup Sevens and World Series champions New Zealand and Australia, who met in the final of the last Series event in Vancouver, with the All Blacks Sevens winning a tightly contested match 17-14. Joining them in Pool A are Argentina, who finished sixth in Rio, alongside Olympic debutants the Republic of Korea who qualified for Tokyo by winning the Asian qualification tournament with an extra-time ‘golden point’ try to overcome Hong Kong.
South Africa, bronze medalists in Rio, and USA are in Pool C having both achieved direct Olympic qualification by finishing in the top four of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019, where the USA Eagles finished runners-up after reaching the medal podium in seven of the 10 Series rounds. Joining them are Kenya, who qualified courtesy of their first Rugby Africa men’s sevens title since 2015, and Olympic debutants Ireland, who secured the final spot thanks to a thrilling 28-19 victory over France in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco earlier this month.
Women’s competition
The women’s competition is equally fascinating with Pool C seeing hosts Japan grouped with Rio 2016 Olympic champions Australia alongside a powerful USA team, who qualified directly for Tokyo after finishing runners-up in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019, reaching the medal podium in five of the six rounds. The pool is completed by Olympic debutants China, who secured their place in Tokyo with an emphatic 33-0 victory over Hong Kong in the Asian qualifier final.
Pool B is the only pool without an Olympic debutant as Rio 2016 bronze medallists Canada are joined by France, Fiji and Brazil. France were in fine form as they swept all before them to qualify for Tokyo via the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco earlier this month. Brazil qualified for Tokyo thanks to a 28-15 victory over Colombia in the South American qualifier, while Rio 2016 quarter-finalists Fiji overcame Papua New Guinea to qualify from Oceania.
In Pool A, current Rugby World Cup Sevens and World Series title holders New Zealand will face the Russian Olympic Committee team, Great Britain and Kenya. New Zealand beat both Kenya and Great Britain on the way to claiming the silver medal at Rio 2016, while Russia ended the Black Fern’s record-equalling 37-match winning run on the Series with a 17-17 draw in Kitakyushu in April 2019. The Russian team secured their Olympic debut via this month’s Repechage.
The top four placed teams in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019 qualified directly for Tokyo while Japan were awarded their place as host nation. The remaining seven teams qualified via regional tournaments and the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco.
Following a successful test event involving members of the Japan national teams in April, preparations are on track for a world-class tournament at Tokyo Stadium, which proved to be an excellent host venue during Rugby World Cup 2019.
To ensure teams are as best prepared as possible to perform on the greatest sporting stage of all, World Rugby has invested US$4 million into Olympic qualified unions’ sevens programmes and towards the costs of hosting a number of high-performance preparation events, the last of which took place in Los Angeles, USA, and Townsville, Australia, over the past weekend.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “Today’s announcement marks a very exciting step on the road to Tokyo with less than a month to go until the players run out in Tokyo Stadium to compete on the Olympic stage.
“These will certainly be unique Olympic Games and we have been working very closely with the IOC, Tokyo 2020 and all other stakeholders towards delivering a safe, secure and highly impactful rugby sevens competition in Tokyo.
“Rugby sevens is a key priority for World Rugby and the inclusion of the sport for the first time in the Games at Rio 2016 had a profound effect, attracting an estimated 30 million new fans globally. With the recent launch of our new ‘This Is How We Sevens’ campaign we are confident millions more fans will engage with the thrilling, fast-paced and action-packed spectacle that is rugby sevens.
“As always, player welfare is at the heart of all our planning and we are confident that as it proved during Rugby World Cup 2019, Tokyo Stadium will be an excellent venue for the teams to inspire the world with their skill, athleticism, determination and the core rugby values of solidarity, integrity and respect.
“With the pools decided, we can now countdown the days and look forward what promises to be another memorable edition of Olympic rugby sevens.”
Mikako Kotani, Sports Director for Tokyo 2020, said: “Today, rugby sevens’ pool allocations for Tokyo 2020 are announced. This year, rugby sevens will return to the Olympic Games for the second time after its inclusion at the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016 for the first time.
“We had a successful test event at Tokyo Stadium in April and we are confident that we have an excellent venue for the players so that they will be able to show their best performances to inspire the world and connect the world together once more.
“We are excited to welcome an international rugby tournament back to Japan and we hope rugby’s One Team Spirit will touch the hearts of people in Japan and in the world. I wish the very best of luck to all the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams. Good luck to all the athletes and look forward to welcoming you all soon.”
Rugby sevens is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated events of the Tokyo Games, following the outstanding success of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, which captured the nation’s imagination with record-breaking broadcast audiences and huge numbers of new rugby fans across Japan and Asia.
The men’s competition will take place from 26-28 July, with the women’s tournament following on 29-31 July with the gold medal match happening on ‘Super Saturday’. All the action will take place at Tokyo Stadium, which was the venue for the opening match of Rugby World Cup 2019.
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Gambling in the USA
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 5-11

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
Latest News
Bragg Gaming Group confirmed that it will release its first quarter 2025 financial results prior to the opening of the financial markets on Thursday, May 15, 2025. The release will be followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, hosted by Bragg Chief Executive Officer, Matevž Mazij and Chief Financial Officer, Robbie Bressler, to discuss the Company’s financial results and provide a business update. During the call, management will review a presentation that will be available on the day of the call.
Context Networks Inc, the first programmatic advertising platform engineered for the gaming industry, has announced the rollout of its groundbreaking Deep Intelligence Marketing strategy, redefining how brands engage consumers in bars, taverns and on-premise slot route operations. Leveraging the power of AI-driven data analytics, machine learning and context-aware digital couponing, Context Networks is turning local venues into the next frontier of high-impact retail media. Through its Contextual Promotions Media Network (CPMN), Context is converting digital screens—such as slot machines in bars—into dynamic, smart advertising surfaces. These systems use advanced data signals to deliver highly targeted promotions based on real-time factors like venue type, consumer behaviour, time of day, and even emotional context, moving far beyond traditional static or cyclic Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising.
ACR Poker’s Blitz Bonus Boost promotion is back by popular demand to supercharger players’ bankrolls, offering a 50% bonus up to a sizzling $500. To take advantage, players need to deposit $25 or more by 11:59 pm ET on Saturday, May 31 using bonus code: BLITZ and ACR Poker will match 50% of it, up to $500.
Partnerships
International Game Technology PLC announced that IGT PlaySports technology is now powering retail sports betting at Silver Reef Casino Resort in Ferndale, Wash. This technology agreement builds on IGT PlaySports’ leadership in the region, marking the 11th casino in Washington State to deploy the Company’s award-winning sports betting platform, and the 10th casino in the State to leverage its trading advisory services.
Playtech and Hard Rock Digital (HRD) have launched New Jersey’s first-ever dedicated trivia experience on the top-rated Hard Rock Bet online casino platform. This milestone establishes Hard Rock Bet as the first operator to launch a dedicated Live Trivia Game Show in the state. Since the announcement of their strategic partnership in 2024, Playtech has provided a wide range of gaming content through Hard Rock Bet, including slots, card & table games, and live dealer games.
Everi Holdings Inc. announced the Company’s digital CashClub Wallet technology is powering Penn Entertainment Inc’s (PENN) “PENN Wallet” at M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, NV. The “PENN Wallet” offers M Resort guests the ability to access cashless payments throughout the gaming floor via integrations with existing loyalty and payments systems. PENN currently utilises CashClub Wallet technology across 22 properties in 11 jurisdictions. CashClub Wallet elevates patron engagement with frictionless, omni-channel payments. Everi’s industry-leading cashless payments solutions drive additional volume, improve operational efficiencies and transform the traditional casino cash-centric environment into a modern, seamless experience for an enhanced player journey.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – May 5-11 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
SBC Summit’s INFINITY Lisbon Levels Up with Timmy Trumpet on the Decks

Blending classical training, jazz roots, and EDM firepower, Timmy Trumpet will take the stage at the INFINITY Lisbon closing party with a high-energy set that promises to close SBC Summit with a bang.
Taking place on Thursday, September 18th at the MEO Arena—which serves as the Super Stage during the day—the venue will transform into the ultimate party setting for the Australian DJ and producer, widely regarded as one of the most explosive live performers in EDM.
Known for his trumpet solos and crowd-hyping energy, his headline set will be open to VIP attendees and complimentary operator and affiliate pass holders.
“The Greatest Show in Gaming couldn’t happen without the greatest showman in EDM! Jokes aside, no one brings the fire quite like Timmy Trumpet,” said Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC. “He’s that rare artist who can blend high-energy drops with live instrumentation and still keep the crowd bouncing from start to finish.”
Timmy Trumpet’s musical journey began at just four years old when he picked up the trumpet. By thirteen, he was named Young Musician of the Year and earned a full scholarship to the Conservatorium of Music, studying under the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Anthony Heinrich. Within two years, he became the lead soloist for the Australian All-Star Stage Band, touring Europe and performing at some of the world’s top jazz festivals.
His evolution into the electronic music scene came naturally, blending live trumpet with high-energy EDM—culminating in his breakout hit Freaks in 2014, which has since surpassed a billion streams across all platforms and contributed to a discography that has amassed over 5 billion streams worldwide.
Trumpet’s Tomorrowland debut in 2017 remains the most-streamed set in the festival’s history. In 2024, he reached a new career high, ranking 5th on DJ Mag’s Top 100. That same year, he closed the main stage at Tomorrowland in both Belgium and Brazil—his Belgium set becoming the most-viewed performance of the year and further cementing his legacy as one of the festival’s most iconic acts.
The DJ’s genre-blending style and electrifying energy have also led to collaborations with some of the biggest names in electronic music. His discography includes powerhouse tracks with global stars like Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Hardwell, KSHMR, R3HAB, W&W, and ALOK, among others.
“We already announced Alok last month as part of the INFINITY Lisbon lineup, and now confirming Timmy Trumpet means we’ll have two powerhouse DJs headlining the closing party—an experience I’m sure our attendees will truly appreciate,” said Sojmark.
This won’t be the first time SBC event attendees are treated to electrifying DJ performances. The tradition began last September during the debut edition of SBC’s flagship show in Lisbon, with headline acts including Darude, Miss Monique, and Don Diablo. It continued earlier this year at SBC Summit Rio, where Afrojack and Brazilian duo Dubdogz brought the energy behind the decks. Next, the tradition heads to SBC Summit Americas, where Steve Aoki will headline the INFINITY Florida closing party in Fort Lauderdale.
“It’s becoming a tradition—and one that both we at SBC and our delegates absolutely love,” Sojmark added. “Industry events are fantastic in so many ways. But they’re also demanding. Closing them with world-class acts creates an experience that’s both celebratory and memorable, which is exactly what SBC Summit is all about.
SBC Summit will return to the Feira Internacional de Lisboa and MEO Arena on 16–18 September. Set to welcome 30,000 industry professionals from around the world, the event will offer three days of in-depth educational content, a comprehensive exhibition floor, and networking opportunities.
The post SBC Summit’s INFINITY Lisbon Levels Up with Timmy Trumpet on the Decks appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Wikibet.com Partners with iConvert to Power Smarter Conversion Across its Markets

iConvert, the conversion platform built specifically for iGaming, is partnering with online casino and sportsbook Wikibet.com operated by Geeker Technology N.V., to ramp up first-time deposits (FTDs) across all its markets and English-speaking territories worldwide.
Wikibet.com is built for players, including VIPs, who value speed, simplicity, and real rewards. But even the best user experience needs to be matched with conversion flows that deliver. That’s where iConvert steps in.
The goal? Maximise player acquisition without maxing out marketing budgets.
By using iConvert’s behavioural overlays which are tailored by traffic source, GEO, and device, Wikibet.com is now optimising every visit in real-time, ensuring more of the right players convert the moment they land.
Wikibet gets it. They’ve built an operator brand with sharp UX, live dealers, and serious player rewards. Our job is to make sure every marketing dollar they spend results in deposits, not dead ends. This partnership is about precision, targeting bounce points, streamlining the journey, and turning intent into revenue
Ashley Wood, CEO, iConvert: “We built Wikibet for players who care about quality and speed, so it made sense to work with a partner who could bring that same mindset to conversion. iConvert gives us real-time insight, clean integration, and tangible FTD uplift. We’re excited to scale this across multiple markets and see what’s possible.”
Idan Levy, CEO of Wikibet.com: “This partnership marks another strategic step in iConvert’s global expansion, now powering over 140+ operators across 50+ markets, with over 3 million FTDs delivered to date.
Because in 2025, traffic alone isn’t enough. Conversion is the edge.”
The post Wikibet.com Partners with iConvert to Power Smarter Conversion Across its Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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