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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.

1spin4win

1spin4win partners with OdiBets to strengthen its presence in Africa

Published

4 hours ago

April 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

1spin4win-partners-with-odibets-to-strengthen-its-presence-in-africa

For the studio, the collaboration marks another step in expanding across Africa. Between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025, 1spin4win increased the number of partnerships in the region by 1.7 times, significantly cementing its local position.

The deal comes at a time of strong growth for the African iGaming industry. According to H2 Gambling Capital, the region’s sports betting and iGaming market could reach $22bn in GGR by 2029, highlighting significant opportunities for operators and providers looking to scale their international reach.

Through the agreement, 1spin4win’s portfolio of more than 200 classic online slots will become available to OdiBets players. The provider’s content is well-suited to local audiences, combining simple gameplay, recognizable mechanics such as Hold and Win, and timeless fruit- and coin-based formats. Additionally, the studio’s titles are optimized for mobile devices, ensuring fast load times and uninterrupted gameplay even on weaker internet connections.

Founded in 2018, OdiBets has grown into a major name in East Africa, offering sports betting and casino entertainment through a clear, user-friendly platform. The operator is known for its focus on responsible gambling, accessible player experience, and strong customer support.

Jaime Carvajal, Business Development Manager at 1spin4win, shared, “Teaming with OdiBets is an exciting opportunity for 1spin4win to introduce our classic portfolio to broader audiences across African markets. We believe our straightforward, mobile-friendly slots are a strong match for players who value reliable, clear, and engaging gameplay.”

Benedict M, Country Marketing Manager at OdiBets added, “At OdiBets, we are always looking to bring our players the very best in gaming content, and partnering with 1spin4win is a natural step in that journey. Their dedication to crafting high-quality, immersive slot experiences aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver world-class entertainment to players across Africa. We are excited about what this partnership means for our platform and even more excited for our players to get their hands on what we are building together.”

About 1spin4win

1spin4win is an established game provider founded in May 2021 by ambitious developers with over 15 years of experience in the gambling industry. Since its inception, the company has expanded its portfolio to include over 200 classic online slots, all characterized by quality mathematics, transparent mechanics, and well-balanced gameplay — key factors that drive strong player retention. The studio aims to release an average of four new games each month in 2026 and offers effective promotional tools for casino operators to help them enhance player loyalty.

The post 1spin4win partners with OdiBets to strengthen its presence in Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Eastern Europe

Soft2Bet launches Zinx iGaming and sportsbook brand in Romania

Published

4 hours ago

April 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

Soft2Bet has launched Zinx in Romania, rolling out a new digital platform that combines online casino content and sports betting for local players.

Soft2Bet said Zinx was built with localisation in mind, with product design and marketing tailored to Romanian player preferences. The company positioned the brand around “safe, transparent play,” but did not share launch timing beyond the announcement or provide performance targets.

The platform includes a retention mechanic called MEGA Round, a prize-wheel feature integrated into Soft2Bet’s MEGA gamification engine. Soft2Bet said players can earn spins through deposits, with prizes awarded at random.

Yoel Zuckerberg, CPO at Soft2Bet, stated, “With Zinx, we are bringing an incredibly competitive and relevant digital product to Romania, perfectly balancing thrilling, electric gameplay with safe and transparent operations. Our powerful dragon mascot and the innovative MEGA Round gamification engine help define the Zinx experience across both casino and sports betting. We are confident Zinx will set a new benchmark for Romanian players seeking a modern, diverse and secure entertainment platform.”

Soft2Bet said the Romania launch supports its broader strategy of building localised iGaming brands that combine product features with targeted local marketing.

The post Soft2Bet launches Zinx iGaming and sportsbook brand in Romania appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.