Latest News

Riot Games expands ground-breaking VCT Game Changers programme to EMEA

Published

5 years ago

September 9, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Following astounding success in North America earlier this year, Riot Games is expanding its VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Game Changers programme to the EMEA region with three new tournaments set to take place over the next three months.

First announced back in February 2021, the VCT Game Changers programme aims to foster an inclusive environment for competition and create safe opportunities for women to compete without fear of identity or gender-based harassment. VCT Game Changers EMEA will supplement the competitive season in the region by creating new opportunities and exposure for women within VALORANT esports.

Kicking off later this month, the three incoming VCT Game Changers EMEA tournaments will take place across three key dates:

September 27 – October 3, 2021
October 25 – October 31, 2021
November 15 – November 21, 2021

Both events in September and October will be open qualifier tournaments, featuring up to 64 teams made up of women. However, the tournament in October will be a special “All-in” edition which will allow for co-ed teams, provided at least three team members are women. Entrants will then compete for a share of the €20,000 prize pool up for grabs per tournament. All contestants must also hold a rank of Platinum 1 at the time of registration, or during the preceding Act. The third and final tournament will take place in November, offering up a total prize pool of €50,000. Further information on this will be announced in due course.

“Right now, the esports industry is suffering from a severe lack of female representation at pro level. If we want to inspire more women to pursue their esports dreams, we need to take direct action to make these games more accessible, and create a level playing field for them to enter in years to come. We want VCT Game Changers EMEA to be that stepping stone for women, in the EU to show off their VALORANT skills and compete in a fair, safe environment but still within the ecosystem, said Vera Wienken, Brand Manager DACH for Riot Games and a leader of the VCT Game Changers EMEA initiative.

“We’re very excited to announce the expansion of VCT Game Changers to the EMEA region, and we’re proud of how this initiative has helped create a competitive ecosystem that is more representative of the diverse VALORANT community,” said Alexandra LePlante, Event Manager for Riot Games. “However, ultimately we would love to see enough diversity within the wider competitive VALORANT ecosystem in years to come, that we no longer need programmes like VCT Game Changers.”

VALORANT quickly established itself as a fan-favorite among the global first-person shooter community after launching its closed beta in April 2020. The game made history on its first day, breaking viewership records with 34 million hours-watched in a single day, and surpassing 1.7 million peak concurrent viewers, a peak concurrent record second only to Riot Games’ 2019 League of Legends World Championship Finals. Over the course of VALORANT’s two-month beta testing period, an average of nearly 3 million players logged on each day to play. Fans also demonstrated their enthusiasm for the shooter by watching more than 470 million hours of VALORANT closed beta streams on Twitch, the world’s leading service and community for multiplayer entertainment, and Korean video-streaming service AfreecaTV.

You can tune in to the action on Twitch and follow all the updates on the official VCT Europe twitter. During the semi-finals and finals of each event, you can join your favourite content creators as they host watch parties and enjoy the games with the community.

assurance

eGaming Integrity wins SME News UK Enterprise Award for gambling assurance

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

egaming-integrity-wins-sme-news-uk-enterprise-award-for-gambling-assurance

eGaming Integrity has been named Independent Online Gambling Assurance Provider of the Year 2026 at the UK Enterprise Awards, organised by SME News. The company is based in the Isle of Man and works with operators in regulated online gambling markets.

According to the company, the award recognises its assurance work aimed at helping gambling operators evaluate whether their compliance processes are prepared for regulated market requirements, as regulatory expectations increase around compliance standards and customer protection.

eGaming Integrity said its internal audit reviews assess how gambling businesses operate in practice, including whether procedures and controls meet standards expected by regulators. The company added that the process is designed to help operators identify where controls are effective and where improvements may be needed before issues emerge.

Emma Shilling, Director at eGaming Integrity, said,

“This award recognises the reason eGaming Integrity was created. Responsible operators want to know where they stand before problems appear, and independent assurance provides that outside perspective.

“Our team has seen regulation from both sides, which helps us understand where processes can break down and how operators can make practical improvements.”

Speaking on the accomplishments of the 2026 winners, Laura O’Carroll, Awards Manager, said,

“The announcement of our UK Enterprise Awards is perhaps one of our most anticipated milestones every year, and the 2026 launch is no different. We are truly pleased to deliver our digital magazine and winners list, showcasing such excellence, to our readers again this year. Atop this, to our winners, and from our team to yours, we wish you all a sincere congratulations on your success in this year’s programme.”

The post eGaming Integrity wins SME News UK Enterprise Award for gambling assurance appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Bonus Buy

Booming Games launches Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter slot

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-launches-tasty-bonanza-max-scatter-slot

Booming Games has launched Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter, a new online slot released on 16 July 2026 from the supplier’s Malta base. The title is the second game in its Max Scatter series and uses a 6×4 grid with Scatter Pays, cascading wins and a stated maximum win potential of 15,000x.

The game pays when eight or more of the same symbol land. Winning symbols are removed and remaining symbols cascade down, with new symbols dropping in until no further wins are formed.

Free Spins are triggered by landing four or more Scatter symbols, including Scatters and Max Scatters, awarding 10 Free Spins. During the bonus, Random Multipliers can appear with values from 2x to 100x and remain active until the cascade sequence ends, after which multiplier values are combined and applied to the total win. Three or more Scatter symbols during Free Spins add five additional spins, while the feature ends if the max win is awarded.

Booming Games also includes Bonus Buy options priced at 100x the bet amount and a “Super Buy Bonus” at 500x, which the company says offers multipliers from 15x to 100x. A BOOST+ option increases the bet by 25% and increases the chance of triggering bonus features.

Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter is a great example of how we’re innovating within one of our top performing franchises. By adding exciting new Max Scatter mechanics to one of our most popular slots, we are confident the game will appeal to players looking for top-quality entertainment and high-stakes gameplay.”

The post Booming Games launches Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter slot appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gaming Realms

Gaming Realms launches Slingo games with Swiss4Win in Switzerland

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

gaming-realms-launches-slingo-games-with-swiss4win-in-switzerland

Gaming Realms has launched its Slingo portfolio in Switzerland with Swiss4Win.ch, the online casino brand of Casinò Lugano, on 16th July 2026.

The supplier said the agreement is its second operator launch in the Swiss market and extends distribution of its content library through Playtech’s platform.

Swiss4Win.ch players now have access to a selection of titles including Slingo Sweet Bonanza, Slingo Xxxtreme and Slingo Gold Cash.

Mariachiara Lagravinese, Regional Account Manager at Gaming Realms, said: “Building on our recent debut in Switzerland, this partnership with Swiss4Win.ch will see us reach an even greater audience in the country where our unique content has been popular with local players.

“Switzerland represents an attractive market for us and this launch with a reputable local operator sees us strengthen our foothold in the region.”

Paolo Sanvido, CEO of Casinò Lugano, said: “We’re committed to offering our players a diverse portfolio of premium gaming content, and Gaming Realms’ Slingo titles bring something truly unique to our casino lobby. We’re excited to introduce these games to our customers and further strengthen our entertainment offering with engaging and innovative experiences.”

The post Gaming Realms launches Slingo games with Swiss4Win in Switzerland appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.