Latest News
Most controversial VAR decisions revealed ahead of Premier League
- Kurt Zouma’s cancelled strike against Manchester United was named the most controversial VAR incident.
- 30.92% of all English Premier League matches have seen a VAR intervention.
- The data also shows a 23.96% year-on-year decrease in average VAR controversy.
- The Premier League appears to be tracking UEFA’s roll out, with changes made just 0.62% more frequently in the English top flight.
- PGMOL has announced a string of new rule changes.
The Premier League is hoping a string of new rule changes can inject new life into VAR technology when the 30th Premier League season gets underway on 13th August.
From thicker offside lines to new handball rules, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has set out its stall for the 2021-2022 domestic campaign which is almost upon us.
Accidental handballs in the build-up to goals will no longer be deemed an offence, while thicker offside lines will be used in order to eliminate situations where a goal is ruled out due to a toenail being offside.
And following a string of ‘armpit offsides’ last season, FIFA has also clarified that the bottom of a players’ armpit is to be classed as part of a players’ body.
While the technology’s use in the English top-flight has courted more than its fair share of detractors, Credible or VAR-cical by William Hill, can reveal a good level of progress has already been made with average controversy dropping by 29.36% last season.
The controversy rating of an incident, of which there has been 235 in total over the last two seasons, now sits at 5.14 having been 6.76 during its turbulent debut season. That equates to a change made by VAR every 3.23 matches.
Across the 504 matches under UEFA’s jurisdiction, from February 2019 through to the 2021 Champions League Final, there were 157 changes made, or a change every 3.21 matches.
Kurt Zouma’s cancelled strike against Manchester United in February 2020, ruled out by VAR official Chris Kavanagh, is considered the most controversial VAR call in Premier League history, with a controversy score of 10.7.
William Hill’s Credible or VAR-cical analysis has been tracking Premier League VAR incidents ever since Gabriel Jesus was ruled offside by David Coote on August 10, 2019 (the first ever VAR review in EPL history – rated at 7.92).
The data shows that in total, there have been a total of 235 incidents, or interventions, logged, with reactionary metrics such as Tweet volume, sentiment, articles generated and associated levels of engagement, culminating in a bespoke controversy rating being assigned to each.
Across the last two domestic campaigns, Wolverhampton (6.91) are the club which has been embroiled in the most controversial VAR incidents. Chelsea (6.5), Liverpool (6.34), Everton (6.25), Manchester United (6.19) make up the top five.
Brentford-based official Chris Kavanagh, who was promoted to the Select Group of referees in 2017, lands himself the unenviable title of ‘most controversial video assistant referee’, averaging 6.8.
David Coote (6.67), Kevin Friend (6.59), Lee Mason (6.51) and Andre Marriner (6.35) make up the rest of the top 5.
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Ani Kobaldze
REEVO Announces New Partnership with Esoterica Games
REEVO has announced a new partnership with Esoterica Games, a fast-growing provider of innovative casino content. This collaboration further strengthens REEVO’s aggregation ecosystem, expanding its offering with a diverse portfolio that includes slots, crash games, player-to-player experiences and instant games.
Through this partnership, Esoterica Games’ portfolio is now available on the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to a wide range of creative and flexible gaming experiences through a single integration. The addition of Esoterica Games reinforces REEVO’s commitment to building a platform that delivers both variety and performance across multiple player segments.
For REEVO, this partnership reflects its continued focus on expanding its aggregation platform with forward-thinking studios that bring creativity and innovation to the ecosystem.
Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with Esoterica Games is an exciting step forward for REEVO as we continue to expand our aggregation platform with innovative and diverse content. Their ability to deliver multiple game formats, from slots to crash and P2P experiences, adds real depth to our ecosystem. At REEVO, we focus on giving operators access to content that stands out and performs, and this partnership strengthens our ability to deliver engaging and flexible experiences across different markets.”
Ani Kobaldze, Account Manager at Esoterica Games, said: “We are excited to partner with REEVO and bring our portfolio of innovative games to an even wider audience. This partnership represents an important step in expanding our global reach and delivering high-quality gaming experiences to more operators and players worldwide. By combining our unique portfolio with REEVO’s strong distribution network and commitment to quality, we look forward to creating even greater value for operators and players alike.”
The post REEVO Announces New Partnership with Esoterica Games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Betway
Betway Signs Real Madrid Legend Guti as Brand Ambassador
Betway officially signed Real Madrid legend Jose María Gutiérrez ‘Guti’ as a new brand ambassador for their Spanish market operations.
A true Spanish football legend, Guti came through the Real Madrid youth academy before making his first-team debut in a 4-1 win over Sevilla at The Bernabéu in December 1995. He went on to represent ‘Los Blancos’ 542 times between 1995 & 2010, scoring 77 goals and helping the club to 15 major trophies. He received his first cap for Spain in May 1999 and went on to represent his country on 13 occasions between 1999 and 2005.
Guti left his beloved Real Madrid in 2010, playing one final season for Turkish side Besiktas, before hanging up his boots in 2012. Post-retirement, coaching positions at Real Madrid and Besiktas led to his appointment as manager of Segunda side Almeria in 2019. Since leaving the club the following year, he has gone on to work in TV punditry, becoming a highly respected figure within the Spanish football media.
“Guti joins Betway as one of the greatest legends in Real Madrid’s recent history. He represents loyalty to the colours, excellence, and the purest talent in world football, making him the perfect ambassador for Betway in Spain,” Ignacio Alonso, Marketing Manager for Betway Spain, said.
“I’m excited to join Betway Spain as an ambassador. My time in elite football showed me that quality and commitment are inseparable; today, I’m proud to represent those values with a market leader and share this path with all of you,” Guti said.
The post Betway Signs Real Madrid Legend Guti as Brand Ambassador appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
KSA Tightens Gambling Ad and Betting Rules Ahead of FIFA World Cup
The Dutch Gaming Authority is intensifying its supervision of advertising and sports betting during the World Cup this summer. Prior to the World Cup, Dutch license holders were specifically reminded by letter of the applicable rules regarding advertising and betting offers.
In the letter, the KSA points out, among other things, the ban on untargeted advertising and sports sponsorship. The KSA also reminds providers that not all types of online betting are permitted in the Netherlands; for example, betting on who receives a yellow card or the first corner kick is not allowed. In the event of violations, the KSA takes immediate enforcement action.
During this period, the KSA is also extra vigilant regarding illegal providers and advertising for illegal offerings: immediate punitive action is being taken in these cases as well. Additionally, during the World Cup, attention is being paid to the risks of sports betting, particularly to raise awareness among young people.
Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Board of the Gaming Authority, said: “We saw at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championship that gambling increased. This makes it attractive for companies to attract new players during that period. While I understand this, I strongly urge providers to remain mindful of the protection of young adults and other vulnerable groups, and to adhere to the applicable rules. If we observe that this is not happening, we will take immediate action.”
The post KSA Tightens Gambling Ad and Betting Rules Ahead of FIFA World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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