Latest News

Most controversial VAR decisions revealed ahead of Premier League

Published

4 years ago

August 9, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

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.

Gambling in the USA

Inspired and bet365 Launch Next-Gen Virtual Sports: V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports

Published

8 hours ago

August 20, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

inspired-and-bet365-launch-next-gen-virtual-sports:-v-play-nhl,-nba-re-play,-and-re-play-esports

Inspired Entertainment, Inc. (“Inspired” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: INSE), a leading B2B provider of gaming content, technology, hardware, and services, is proud to announce the launch of three groundbreaking Virtual Sports titles – V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports – available through bet365, one of the world’s premier online gambling brands.

These new products represent the next generation of Inspired’s award-winning Virtual Sports portfolio, featuring cutting-edge motion capture, ultra-realistic animation, and non-stop action to deliver an engaging player experience.

V-Play NHL is an officially licensed product that brings the speed and intensity of professional hockey into the virtual arena. Featuring real NHL teams and logos, the game delivers an authentic sports betting experience with broadcast-quality graphics and dynamic gameplay.

NBA Re-Play, officially licensed by the NBA and the NBPA, uses iconic archive footage and advanced rendering technology to recreate unforgettable basketball moments. Fans can engage with the action in innovative ways, thanks to new betting formats and cinematic presentation.

Re-Play eSports offers fast, always-on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) virtual gameplay and betting opportunities for one of the most popular competitive video games globally and its captive audience of digitally native fans. The product utilizes official tournament archive footage from the Champion of Champions Tour, a top CS:GO event, with official in-game data and video feeds provided by data and technology company GRID.

These new titles are part of Inspired’s growing suite of officially licensed North American Virtual Sports products available through bet365, further reinforcing the companies’ shared leadership in the space.

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with bet365 through the launch of these groundbreaking products,” said Brooks Pierce, President & CEO of Inspired. “With V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports, we continue to redefine what’s possible in Virtual Sports, delivering high-quality, immersive content that resonates with both fans and bettors.”

“Inspired continues to lead the way in Virtual Sports innovation,” said a bet365 spokesperson. “With compelling visuals, official league integrations, and thrilling gameplay, these titles are set to be a major hit with our global audience.”

The launch highlights the ongoing collaboration between Inspired and bet365 and their joint commitment to innovation and player-first entertainment.

All three products are now live on bet365’s global platform, fully optimized for desktop and mobile.

18+, GambleAware.org, Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.

The post Inspired and bet365 Launch Next-Gen Virtual Sports: V-Play NHL, NBA Re-Play, and Re-Play eSports appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

Latest News

155.io names Raúl Cué as Head of Integration to unleash chaos content worldwide

Published

14 hours ago

August 20, 2025

Wladimir P.

155.io-names-raul-cue-as-head-of-integration-to-unleash-chaos-content-worldwide

Reading Time: < 1 minute

155.io, the live content studio built for a mobile-first world, has appointed Raúl Cué as Head of Integration to accelerate its mission of bringing chaos-fueled content to the next-gen of players.

With extensive iGaming experience, Cué joins the 155.io team to help operators and aggregators seamlessly connect with the studio’s 24/7 live portfolio, featuring Marbles.io, Stairpong.io, and the newly launched Ducks.io.

Raúl Cué, Head of Integration at 155.io, said: “It’s rare you see a company in this space do something truly unique and that instantly drew me to Sam and 155.io. They’ve quickly curated a revolutionary portfolio of titles where my goal is elevating the integration experience for operators and aggregators. I’m looking forward to being in Lisbon for the SBC Summit where we’re bringing our live chaos to the show – watch this space!”

He will also support partners in quickly making these cutting-edge titles live, whether through Hub88.io or via simple direct integrations. Cué’s role extends to working with providers to identify and implement practical solutions, ensuring integrations are efficient as well as impactful, sustainable, and future-ready.

Cué joins 155.io from Live Casino provider EEZE, bringing an impressive track record across Live Casino, Slots, and the sweeps market.

Sam Jones, CEO of 155.io, commented: “Welcoming Raúl to the 155.io set-up adds real momentum to the significant progress we’ve made. His expertise will help us bring even more chaos, flipping the tables on real-world, awesome content that the new wave of players love. He’s exactly who we need to drive the next growth stage.”

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Latest News

First Look Games and Zillion Games Partner to Bring 50+ Award-Winning Titles to Global Affiliate Network

Published

14 hours ago

August 20, 2025

Wladimir P.

first-look-games-and-zillion-games-partner-to-bring-50+-award-winning-titles-to-global-affiliate-network

Reading Time: 2 minutes

First Look Games, the London-based B2B marketing platform empowering iGaming game studios, has announced a new partnership with Zillion Games, the award-winning Cyprus-based game developer known for high-performing HTML5 slots and custom casino solutions. The partnership takes effect immediately.

Founded in 2018, First Look Games enables game studios to distribute certified marketing assets, demo games, and game information to a network of over 1000 approved affiliated publishers who collectively reach more than 40 million players worldwide. The platform offers advanced reporting tools, including Accuracy Management and Sentiment Analysis, which are set up to bring unique insights to game studios to support their growth.

Zillion Games, established in 2021, has quickly built a reputation for innovation and quality in online slots, with a portfolio of more than 50 titles, including popular releases such as Candy Stash Deluxe, Gems Sky, and Golden Dragon Deluxe. RNG-certified by iTech Labs, Zillion supports 190+ currencies, including fiat and crypto, and delivers its games to 900+ operators worldwide. Its content is available across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, USA, Brazil and other key markets, with notable growth marked by multiple EGR award wins, including EGR Europe Awards 2025 “European casino content supplier. Under 5 years” and EGR Italy Awards 2024 “Rising Star.”

Through this partnership, Zillion Games’ complete catalogue is now available to First Look Games’ affiliate network. Affiliates gain instant access to promotional materials, demo links, and game information to deliver accurate, engaging & compliant content. The collaboration aims to expand Zillion’s market reach, support growth in new jurisdictions, and set higher standards for compliance and review quality.

Partnership Benefits

Faster time to market for Zillion Games releases

Access to high-quality visuals, game sheets, and demo tools

Enhanced compliance and Accuracy Management features

Support for expansion into new regulated markets

The partnership meets the rising demand for streamlined content distribution. Affiliates will have instant access to accurate marketing materials and compliance documentation, enabling them to serve their audiences more effectively while maintaining regulatory standards.

“Partnering with First Look Games is a powerful step forward for Zillion Games,” said Tasha Sokolova, Head of Marketing at Zillion Games. “Our mission has always been to deliver unlimited excitement and massive winning opportunities to players worldwide, and now we can extend that reach through a network of trusted affiliates who share our passion for quality and innovation. With First Look Games’ advanced tools, we’re able to launch games faster, maintain the highest standards of compliance, and connect with millions of players in new and exciting ways.”

Tom Galanis, Co-Founder and CEO at First Look Games said: “We’re delighted to welcome Zillion Games to the First Look Games platform. Their recent titles have hit the mark with players and partners alike, combining standout gameplay with innovative features that set new standards in the market. We’re excited to support them on their journey by connecting them with our global network of affiliate publishers and provide them new data insights to support their growth.”

The post First Look Games and Zillion Games Partner to Bring 50+ Award-Winning Titles to Global Affiliate Network appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.