Latest News

Most controversial VAR decisions revealed ahead of Premier League

Published

5 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.

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.

Latest News

22Bet Partners Introduces The Winner’s League — An Affiliate Competition Built for Football Season

Published

45 minutes ago

April 15, 2026

Master Editor

As the football world prepares for its biggest stage, 22Bet Partners is warming up with a competition of its own.

In anticipation of the upcoming World Cup, the affiliate program has announced “The Winner’s League”, a limited-time campaign designed to reward new partners who bring winning traffic during the most exciting period of the football calendar.

Being a brand deeply rooted in the global sports scene, 22Bet has long aligned its identity with the energy, competition, and global passion surrounding football. The new campaign reflects that same spirit — turning affiliate performance into a league of its own.

Running from April 15 to June 15, The Winner’s League invites new affiliates to step onto the field, compete for performance-based rewards, and secure boosted revenue share conditions ahead of the football season’s peak traffic period.

For traffic owners focused on Tier-1, Tier-2 markets, the campaign offers a straightforward challenge: bring players, reach milestones, and climb the reward ladder.

How The Winner’s League Works

The promotion is available exclusively to new partners who register and meet the campaign requirements during the promotional period.

To participate, affiliates must:

Register in the 22Bet Partners affiliate program
Drive traffic from eligible Tier-1, Tier-2 regions
(For detailed GEO information, partners are encouraged to contact their affiliate managers.)
Generate verified First Time Deposits (FTDs) during the campaign period

Only traffic that complies with the program’s official rules and conditions will be considered eligible.

Bonus Levels & Rewards

The Winner’s League operates with a clear milestone structure. As partners increase their performance, their rewards grow accordingly.

20 FTDs

5% RevShare boost for 1 month

50 FTDs

10% RevShare boost for 2 months

100 FTDs

5% RevShare boost for 3 months
Exclusive Secret Football Box

The Secret Football Box will be awarded to the first 10 partners who reach the 100 FTD milestone.

Additional Campaign Rules

Bonuses are credited after FTD confirmation.
Each partner receives only the highest reward tier achieved.
The promotion applies to the following brands within the program:
- 22Bet
- Betlabel
All traffic must comply with the official affiliate program rules outlined in the Terms & Conditions

Playing the Long Game

For affiliates who treat performance marketing like a competitive sport, the timing of the campaign is no coincidence.

Major football tournaments historically bring some of the highest engagement levels in sports betting, and 22Bet Partners is positioning its affiliate network to capture that momentum early.

With The Winner’s League, the message is simple: the football season is approaching, the audience is warming up, and the field is open for new players.

For affiliates ready to compete, the league has already begun.

Compliance Updates

KSA Completes Its Investigation Into How Minors Could Still Gamble Online Despite Age Restrictions

Published

3 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

ksa-completes-its-investigation-into-how-minors-could-still-gamble-online-despite-age-restrictions

The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has completed its investigation into how minors could still gamble online despite age restrictions. The investigation shows that it is virtually impossible for minors to gamble with legal gambling providers.

Minors are not allowed to gamble in the Netherlands. When age verification is circumvented, it is primarily done via accounts belonging to adult family members and friends. However, the KSA received reports that it was possible for minors to create accounts with legal online gambling providers and launched an investigation in 2025 as a result.

The study examined the registration process at online gambling providers, with a specific focus on identity verification and bank account verification. Transaction data requested from banks allowed for a more in-depth investigation into potential shortcomings.

The investigation shows that there are virtually no serious irregularities. However, in a very limited number of cases, players were able to use another person’s bank accounts or link their own bank account to another player’s account. This could occur almost exclusively in situations where people have exactly the same initials.

Discussions with online gambling providers revealed that they did not have an immediate solution for this. The KSA notes that such a solution is now available and will engage in a technical session with the online providers to discuss what the KSA expects from the sector in this regard. The KSA will also share its recommendations with the online gambling providers at a later date, and these guidelines will be incorporated into the Wwft guidance.

Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Board of the Dutch Gaming Authority, said: “The KSA is deeply concerned about minors gambling. Fortunately, it appears that this hardly ever occurs among licensed providers, but we do have clear indications that it is happening nonetheless. This is likely on the illegal market. Illegal providers often apply no or low standards for age verification and advertise specifically targeting this young demographic, for example via TikTok. This is extremely harmful, and the KSA is therefore working hard to combat the illegal supply. We are also placing a stronger focus on educating minors to make them aware of the risks of gambling.”

The post KSA Completes Its Investigation Into How Minors Could Still Gamble Online Despite Age Restrictions appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Aigars Jurgelans

Amusnet Announces Strategic Partnership with Concorde Casino Group

Published

3 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

amusnet-announces-strategic-partnership-with-concorde-casino-group

Amusnet, a leading provider of next-generation gaming solutions, has announced a new strategic partnership with the Concorde casino group, which operates three casinos in Cyprus: Concorde Tower Casino in Nicosia, Concorde Luxury Casino in Bafra and Concorde Aria Casino in Kyrenia. This collaboration marks a significant step in Amusnet’s strategy to expand its gaming portfolio into the vibrant Cyprus Land-based casino market.

The partnership’s initial phase includes installing 16 of Amusnet’s state-of-the-art Type S 32 slot cabinets across the two locations. Manufactured to the highest standards of the global casino industry, Amusnet’s premium slot machines combine cutting-edge technology, sleek design and exceptional player engagement. The game selection features some of Amusnet’s most popular titles, including Crazy Red, Candy Palace,100 Extra Crown, Art of Gold, Extra Crown, Vampire Beast and Phoenix Star.

The partnership started with the installation of 16 of Amusnet’s state-of-the-art Type S 32 slot cabinets at the group’s first two casino locations, Concorde Tower Casino in Nicosia and Concorde Luxury Casino in Bafra. Manufactured to the highest standards of the global casino industry, Amusnet’s premium slot machines combine cutting-edge technology, sleek design and exceptional player engagement. The game selection features some of Amusnet’s most popular titles, including Crazy Red, Candy Palace, 100 Extra Crown, Art of Gold, Extra Crown, Vampire Beast and Phoenix Star. The partnership continues with the installation of 8 Type S J55 slot cabinets at the newest Concorde Aria Casino, scheduled to open in May 2026.

“Our expansion into the Cyprus Land-based market is a testament to our shared vision and commitment to quality with Concorde Casino. This partnership provides us with a strong foundation of excellence and mutual trust. The collaboration allows us to continue our mission of providing exceptional gaming experiences, seamlessly introducing the success of our online portfolio to their premium Land-based venues,” said Borislav Marinov, Head of Business Development, Land-based at Amusnet.

“At Concorde Casinos, we are always looking for ways to diversify and strengthen our product offering. In my view, Amusnet brings a product that is particularly well-suited to players who are already familiar with and enjoy online slot games, helping us connect Land-based entertainment with modern player preferences. I am impressed by Amusnet’s innovations, the quality of their products, and the high level of technical support they provide. We are pleased to have them as a partner and look forward to developing this cooperation further,” said Aigars Jurgelans, Slot Director at Concorde Casinos.

The post Amusnet Announces Strategic Partnership with Concorde Casino Group appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.