Latest News
Manchester United the most popular Premier League club on the planet, new research reveals
- Manchester United is the most popular Premier League club in the world.
- Red Devils get top billing in 37.2% of all nations, 6.46% more than their closest rivals Liverpool.
- One of the Red Devils (93), or Reds (87), account for being the most popular in 72% of all countries.
- Collective efforts of Chelsa, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham can account for just 39.78% of United’s global popularity.
Manchester United will begin the 30th Premier League season as the most popular Premier League club in the world, new research has confirmed.
While the Old Trafford club may have fallen away from challenging for trophies in recent years, they have maintained their grip as the Premier League’s most popular export, headlining in 93 of the 250 countries worldwide.
Hot on their heels, though, and closing fast is Merseyside outfit Liverpool, fuelled by their successes in 2019 and 2020, where they won both the Champions League and Premier League, the latter their first title triumph in 30 years. These on-field triumphs appear to have made all the difference, with the Anfield side now trailing by just 6.46%, or six countries to be precise!
The Liverpool-Manchester megalopolis – the two cities some 35 miles apart – is famed for its historic rivalry in sporting and other senses, and the pair lay unanimous claim to the lionshare of attention from a combined 180 nations, a colossal 72% of the planet.
For context, the combined global clout of Chelsea (19), Manchester City (9), Arsenal (8) and Tottenham (1) only musters 39.78% of Manchester United’s geographical wins on the international stage.
The True Colours of Football study, conducted by William Hill, crunched a range of search volume data for each top-flight club in hundreds of key towns and cities across the UK, as well as accurately mapping online popularity in almost every country across the globe.
Indicative of the beautiful game’s gravitas in Africa is Uganda, South Sudan and Kenya leading the way in interest in the Premier League’s elite, the UK, home to the game’s origins, fourth – just above Sierra Leone.
Big numbers in China and India spend their time following the travails of Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s United side, but it is a much more closely-fought affair in the U.S. and Canada, where they narrowly edge out Liverpool.
Liverpool red, though, washes over much of Europe, the Middle East and Russia, with unparalleled dominance in the northernmost region of the African continent, claiming four of the seven countries. And while West Africa appears to be very much a Chelsea stronghold, United enjoy the freedom of the continent’s south, dominating swathes of territory from Tanzania’s capital Dodoma to Cape Town in South Africa.
Six different clubs add colour to the vibrant palette of football that is South America, with the footballing powerhouses of Mexico and Brazil most compelled to follow Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side, while the EPL’s only Mexican player Raúl Jiménez elevates Wolverhampton into second spot in that particular nation, the Midlands club outscoring the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.The of Columbian poster boy James Rodriguez instantly elevated Everton to El Maximo – the biggest thing there is, Miguel Almirón ensures Newcastle enjoys plenty of Paraguayan affection and Marcelo Bielsa, the enigmatic Argentine who ended Leeds’ 16-year wait for Premier League football, has won the hearts and minds of his countrymen and women back home.
Powered by WPeMatico
Latest News
Spinomenal Welcomes Majestic Joker into Its Classics Series
Spinomenal, a top iGaming content provider, has introduced Majestic Joker within its renowned Spinomenal Classics series.
Majestic Joker draws influence from the elegance of a traditional casino setting, infused with a fun, contemporary twist. Against a vibrant, dramatic setting of red and gold, Spinomenal’s newest launch features traditional fruit symbols like grapes, lemons, cherries, and watermelons.
An upbeat, dynamic soundtrack enhances the experience, elevating the gameplay and making players sense that each spin is crucial to the performance. The impressive Joker emblem signifies the Wild and can substitute for any symbol except for Double symbols, Free Spins, and Bonus symbols. Five Wilds appearing on a winning line reward players with x200.
Players who hit three Free Spins icons will activate the Free Spins feature. Prior to accessing the feature, players need to spin the Wheel of Fortune to find out the number of free spins they receive – between 10 and 40 – and the symbol that will double during the round.
A golden Star emblem signifies the Bonus feature, where three Stars activate the Bonus game. Players start with three spins, aiming to fill the meter by gathering dispersed winning symbols. For every five collected symbols, one cell in the metre is filled. Obtaining a +1 symbol grants an additional spin, and after the spins conclude, the ultimate payout is based on the highest filled meter cell.
Majestic Joker includes the Stacked Wilds feature, allowing Wild symbols to show up on the reels while spinning to boost winning opportunities. Throughout the base game, only Double Symbols can be triggered, converting all visible symbols into their double versions.
Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Majestic Joker encapsulates everything that players love about classic slots experiences, reimagined with a modern touch and proven mechanics. Our newest addition to our Classics series is a modern tribute to classic slot entertainment.”
The post Spinomenal Welcomes Majestic Joker into Its Classics Series appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
Thunderkick Unveils Pan’s Arcadia, a Utopian Wilderness
Independent slots developer Thunderkick has infused the age-old concept of harmony into Pan’s Arcadia, where the deity of nature combines a serene environment with a Sticky Respins feature and a complex progressive bonus game.
Pan is surrounded by elemental nymphs on the 6×3 grid, set against a picturesque background filled with wildlife. The core game is enhanced by the Sticky Respin feature, which can be triggered on any winning spin, fixing symbols in position and re-spinning the other icons to prolong the gameplay.
Landing three magical scatters activates the bonus round, in which three dice are cast to grant up to 18 free spins. During the feature, more scatters are gathered, and every third one provides three extra spins. These sets propel advancement through the bonus stages, as finished groups of three dice have their values multiplied and summed to the Cube collection meter.
The initial four levels, activated by gathering 36 to 179 Cube points, turn the different nymphs into wilds for the rest of the round. Level five, achieved with 180 points, eliminates all mid-value symbols and brings in the valuable Dark Pandora symbol. At this point, the Sticky Respin feature stays active, and one wild is added to the grid prior to each spin.
The conclusion is unveiled with 216 points, changing Dark Pandora into the mighty Pandora of Light, which features solely Pan symbols and wilds. Every spin features a 2×2 wild positioned on reels three and four, with each filled spot applying a 2x multiplier to wins that intersect. In this feature, Sticky Respins keep symbols fixed in position regardless of winning, allowing for a maximum win potential of 4,320x.
Pan’s Arcadia reflects Thunderkick’s ongoing commitment to crafting immersive game worlds, combining premium production with thoughtfully layered feature sets designed to maximise replay value and deliver operators sustained commercial impact.
Viktor Johansson, Slot Game Creator at Thunderkick, said: “Patience and progression sit at the heart of Pan’s Arcadia. It is a journey designed to evolve over time, where each step forward feels meaningful and persistence levels up potential.
“Arcadia represents a utopic vision, a balance between nature and spirit, and it was essential for that tone to carry through the entire game. The art team has created a serene world, which, when paired with the depth of the bonus game, delivers a cohesive and engaging experience.”
The post Thunderkick Unveils Pan’s Arcadia, a Utopian Wilderness appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
betting terminals
Meridianbet Completes Fairbet Acquisition, Expanding Malta Retail Gaming Network Under Golden Matrix Group
Meridianbet, a leading global sports betting and gaming operator and a subsidiary of Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has completed the acquisition of Fairbet Ltd., a licensed retail gaming operator in Malta.
The transaction significantly expands Meridianbet’s physical retail footprint in one of Europe’s most tightly regulated gaming jurisdictions.
Fairbet operates under Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) license B2C/195/2011, and the acquisition grants Meridianbet 100% ownership of Fairbet’s retail operations across Malta and Gozo, the archipelago’s second-largest island. The deal expands Meridianbet’s presence beyond its existing locations and further consolidates its position within the Maltese retail gaming market.
As part of the transaction, nine additional retail locations will be integrated into the Meridianbet network, increasing the company’s total number of storefronts in Malta to 20. The enlarged retail estate is expected to operate more than 60 sports betting terminals and over 120 slot machines, significantly boosting Meridianbet’s land-based gaming capacity.
The companies’ previous technology partnership will now transition into full operational integration, with Meridianbet assuming complete operational control of Fairbet’s retail network. All locations will be rebranded under the Meridianbet name, ensuring unified technology, compliance, and customer experience across the portfolio.
Malta’s retail gaming sector is governed by one of the most restrictive regulatory frameworks in Europe, with only three licensed operators permitted to operate retail betting locations: Meridianbet, Izibet (the National Lottery operator), and Fairbet. With Fairbet now wholly owned by Meridianbet, the company effectively controls two of the three retail gaming licenses in the jurisdiction.
The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) enforces strict licensing criteria, substantial capital requirements, and rigorous compliance standards that create significant barriers to market entry. These conditions limit competition and create long-term scarcity value for licensed operators that meet the regulatory threshold.
“Completing the acquisition of Fairbet strengthens our position in a market where regulatory barriers create inherent scarcity value,” said Zoran Milosevic, CEO of Meridianbet. “This transaction allows us to expand our retail infrastructure in Malta, while our technology now supports the majority of licensed retail gaming in the country. It reflects our disciplined M&A strategy, targeting high-barrier markets where limited licensing creates durable competitive advantages.”
The Fairbet acquisition aligns with Meridianbet’s broader growth strategy, which combines organic expansion with selective mergers and acquisitions in jurisdictions where regulation encourages consolidation. Malta has been a core operational hub for Meridianbet since 2008, with the company ranking among the country’s originally licensed gaming operators during the early development of the MGA framework.
Malta’s gaming industry benefits from a regulatory regime widely regarded as one of Europe’s most credible. The MGA’s oversight framework emphasizes investor protection, technical compliance, and financial stability, positioning Malta-licensed operators for trust and recognition across international markets.
Meridianbet’s expanded retail footprint across Malta and Gozo enhances its ability to serve both local customers and the island nation’s strong tourism sector. According to Malta’s National Statistics Office, tourist arrivals exceeded three million visitors in 2024, reinforcing the strategic value of a broad, well-positioned retail gaming network
The post Meridianbet Completes Fairbet Acquisition, Expanding Malta Retail Gaming Network Under Golden Matrix Group appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
BetPlay7 days agoBlask Awards 2025: Betano, Caliente, BetPlay, Betsson and others define Latin America’s iGaming landscape
-
Canada7 days agoComeOn Launches New Marketing Campaign in Ontario
-
DEGEN Studios7 days agoDEGEN Studios brings Wild West chaos to the reels with Sunset Showdown
-
iGaming7 days agoMajestic Claws Hold & Hit leaps into Spinomenal’s slots portfolio
-
Latest News7 days agoThrillTech partners with Nordplay Group to launch ThrillPots across Nordic-facing casino brands
-
bingo halls6 days agoBingo Halls and Casinos in Colombia Increased Their Contributions to Healthcare System by 9.3% in 2025
-
Brightstar Lottery PLC6 days agoBrightstar Lottery Delivers Industry-Leading Sales Force Automation Solution to Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
-
Compliance Updates5 days agoFinland Govt Looks at Whether Scratchcards can be Gifted Again



