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Orange holds first Pan-African football tournaments enabling youth to be actors of positive change, to tackle plastic waste, via their passion for football

Orange, a major partner of African football since 2008, is the official sponsor of the AFCON for the 7th time in a row
The Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 is a major event on the continent and this year’s edition is eagerly awaited following its postponement in 2021 due to the Covid crisis. In the lead up to the big event and as official sponsor, Orange (www.Orange.com) has held a series of ‘Orange Sponsors Change’ regional football tournaments across its footprint enabling 12-13-year-olds to play football and collect plastic waste in exchange for rewards and the chance to be celebrated during the AFCON final on February 6th. All the regional tournament winners will then be invited to the International final of ‘Orange Sponsors Change’ next spring for an unforgettable experience.
The competition, running from 9th January to 6th February 2022, will be held in six stadiums in five cities across the country. Out of the 24 teams that have qualified, 11 belong to a country where Orange is present: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.
Passion with a purpose – the genesis of “Orange Sponsors Change”
The Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 provides Orange with an opportunity to reiterate its environmental commitments. Plastic waste is now one of the world’s biggest problems and Orange believes it can play a role in combating this issue.
“Orange Sponsors Change” is a unique program which was first launched 2018 in Liberia and Cameroon and then successfully extended in 2019 to Egypt and Tunisia. With fans’ passion for football and a participative approach at its core, ‘Orange Sponsors Change’ gives all football fans and young players the opportunity to enjoy their passion for football whilst having a positive impact on their communities and the planet. Fans are encouraged to collect and recycle their plastic waste via recycling bins during the tournaments, and in return for their recycling efforts, Orange works with local companies to recycle the plastic collected and return them to fans and their communities in the form of soccer jerseys, balls and even soccer fields constructed exclusively from recyclable materials.
“Orange Sponsors Change,” a pan-African program premiere
This year, Orange wanted to take advantage of its partnership with the largest African sporting event to extend and promote Orange Sponsors Change in 12 countries on the continent (Morocco, Sierra Leone, Mali, Liberia, Cameroon, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso, CAR, DRC) and give it a new pan-African dimension.
This first Pan-African edition encouraged 12-13 year-olds to participate in local qualifying tournaments while collecting plastic waste, and the first local tournaments mobilized thousands of young people and their families and achieved tonnes of plastic waste collection, for example:
- In Cameroon, football players who participated in Orange Sponsors Change joined forces with the Orange “Clean Your City” initiative to collect waste in seven cities across the country. In total, 1,300 volunteers roamed the streets to collect 14 tonnes of plastic which will be transformed into football equipment and redistributed to football academies in Cameroon.
- In Côte d’Ivoire, 500 players from 50 different clubs across the country took part in the competition, collecting over 19 tonnes of plastic that will be transformed into construction equipment.
During the AFCON
The stadiums will be filled with Orange tap-taps enabling fans to support their team and share their passion. This year all the tap-taps will no longer be made of plastic but recycled biodegradable potato starch, reflecting Orange’s commitment to the reduction of plastic waste. In addition, Orange will be providing young players across it’s footprint with 20,000 balls made from recycled rubber, so they can continue to enjoy their passion for football long after the big event.
Béatrice Mandine, Executive Director of Communication, Brand and Engagement said: “At Orange, we support major sporting events in the countries where we operate by placing the focus of our strategy on the fans: we offer them the means to enjoy their passion. “Orange sponsors change” adds another brick to this promise: combining passion for football and commitment to the environment. It is a great action that will leave a positive legacy”.
Alioune Ndiaye, CEO of Orange Africa and the Middle East, explains: “Africans are very passionate about football. Orange Sponsors Change helps raise awareness among young people about environmental issues through football; this is a great proof of the Orange Group’s commitment to society and the planet.”
Source: Orange
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ACR POKER ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR FIRST-EVER BATTLE OF MALTA ONLINE SERIES AWARDING $5 MILLION GTD PRIZE POOL

Buy-ins from $5.50 to $630 in packed 68-event schedule
ACR Poker and Battle of Malta (BOM) have released the full schedule for the first-ever online edition of the beloved European live poker festival, the Battle of Malta Online, guaranteeing $5 million across a 68-event schedule.
Starting this Sunday on ACR Poker, the Battle of Malta Online schedule highlights include the $66 multi-flight event featuring a $500,000 GTD prize pool (flights from July 3rd, Day 2 on July 27th), the $109 tournament with $400,000 GTD (Event 68), and the $630 tournament awarding $600,000 GTD (Event 67). There’s also plenty of lower buy-in events starting at just $5.50, so everyone can join the fun and compete for great prizes.
Players can also compete for one of ten €8,000 packages to the live Battle of Malta festival at Casino Malta from October 28th to November 5th, putting players in the heart of the action at one of poker’s most prestigious events. Five packages are up for grabs each Sunday via the Beast Satellites, which play on July 13th and 20th at 5:05pm ET. All BOM Main Event satellites will also be exclusively on ACR Poker, and players who survive Day 1 online will take their stack to Day 2 live in Malta.
“The full schedule for the Battle of Malta Online is finally here, and it’s everything players could hope for,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “There’s a great mix of buy-ins and formats, alongside big guarantees, so there’s something for players of all skills and levels. The series is just around the corner, so now’s the time to plan the grind and get ready to compete for the first-ever Battle of Malta Online titles.”
What’s more, the Battle of Malta Online will feature a $35,000 Leaderboard Contest, where players earn points in any BOM event across two leaderboards: High Buy-in (over $44) with an $8,000 top prize, and Low Buy-in (under $33) with a $4,000 first prize. Plus, the overall winner will score an €8,000 package to Malta this October.
Battle of Malta Online marks the 10-year anniversary of BOM, which has earned its place as one of Europe’s most iconic poker festivals, celebrated for its electric atmosphere, elite-level competition, and unforgettable player experiences. Last October, BOM reached new heights with a prize pool exceeding €4.7 million and participants from over 60 countries. This year’s BOM boasts a €2 million GTD prize pool, a revamped schedule including the €2,200 buy-in ACR High Roller, and plenty of exciting off-the-felt activities.
For further details on the Battle of Malta Online, visit ACRPoker.eu.
The post ACR POKER ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR FIRST-EVER BATTLE OF MALTA ONLINE SERIES AWARDING $5 MILLION GTD PRIZE POOL appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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Zimpler introduces ID+: A next-gen identification layer for digital payments

Zimpler, a leading Swedish company in Pay-by-bank solutions, today announced the launch of Zimpler ID+, a new identity layer designed to simplify compliance and accelerate user conversion within digital payment environments. By embedding biometric identification and regulatory checks directly into the first user interaction, Zimpler ID+ reduces friction in sectors with complex onboarding requirements.
“Zimpler ID+ gives our partners a direct path to compliance and conversion – cutting onboarding time, reducing drop-offs, and removing the need to build identity infrastructure in-house,” said Tobias Gunnesson, Chief Product Officer at Zimpler.
“While most verification flows still rely solely on deposit-based triggers or cookie tracking, we’re the first to enable verification at the point of entry – meeting compliance head-on and delivering a better user experience from the start.”
Purpose-built for highly regulated digital environments
Zimpler ID+ serves industries where compliance is critical and abandonment rates are costly, such as iGaming and financial services. It ensures users are verified from the start, without requiring deposits or post-registration identity checks.
Key features include:
- Quick onboarding: Verification and collection of KYC data takes place at the first point of contact, not only at the point of payment
- Seamless return user experience: Returning users can identify with biometric technology and are recognized with the help of cookies
- Works even without cookies: If cookies are unavailable, the user can easily identify themselves using a passkey
- Built-in compliance: Regulatory assurance at every step of the customer journey
By functioning as a unified identity layer from sign-up through repeat visits, Zimpler ID+ helps businesses minimize onboarding churn and maximize regulatory confidence.
Solving identification friction at scale
The launch of Zimpler ID+ comes as businesses across Europe face rising pressure to improve digital onboarding while maintaining regulatory standards. National ID systems remain foundational – but they weren’t built to optimize every business touchpoint.
Zimpler ID+ complements these systems by offering operators a plug-in layer of biometric identification and gathering of KYC information tailored to business needs. It removes the need for deposit triggers, repeated logins, or re-verification after a device change.
“With Zimpler ID+, we’re introducing a flexible approach that gives businesses more control over identity flows – without compromising security or relying solely on external systems” said Gunnesson.
Product availability
Zimpler ID+ is now available as a value-added service to select partners in Finland, with more markets to be added in the future.
By embedding advanced onboarding capabilities directly into its existing infrastructure, Zimpler expects ID+ to strengthen customer retention and enhance platform value across regulated sectors for years to come.
The post Zimpler introduces ID+: A next-gen identification layer for digital payments appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Heavyweight Club by GR8 Tech Signals New Era of Operator Ambition at iGB L!VE

The iGaming industry got a taste of heavyweight ambition at iGB L!VE London 2025, where GR8 Tech unveiled its Heavyweight Club—an exclusive community that takes domination in iGaming markets as seriously as world champion Oleksandr Usyk takes defending his undisputed heavyweight title.
“iGB L!VE London was the ignition point for the Heavyweight Club. We showcased top-tier tech and connected with operators ready to lead, scale, and dominate. The energy, the conversations, the demand for real performance confirmed what we’ve always believed: the iGaming industry is hungry for heavyweight solutions and GR8 Tech is here to deliver,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, GR8 Tech’s CRO.
Industry Response Points to Market Appetite
With increased competition making differentiation more challenging, speed-to-market pressure intensifying as new markets emerge, and technology debt from legacy systems hindering operators’ growth, the industry is at a critical juncture. In 110 meetings with the sales team and over 65 conducted demos, operator feedback consistently centered on these exact challenges.
This shift is evident across the ecosystem. Mariia Shmelova, CEO of Aff.Tech—GR8 Tech’s proprietary affiliate management platform—observed similar patterns: “One major trend is the demand for greater transparency and performance accountability. Operators want to see exactly what’s driving traffic, conversions, and ROI. That’s why we’ve been doubling down on data—not just analytics, but actionable insights that affiliates and operators can use in real time. We’re also seeing growing interest in multi-geo, multi-brand campaigns, and our platform is built to support those kinds of complex setups with ease. Flexibility, automation, and smart integrations are the future.”
The conversations revealed a clear understanding: champion ambitions require champion tools. Operators emphasized the need for high-performance solutions that deliver geo-specificity for local market domination and margin mastery that turns competitive pressure into profit advantage. The response highlighted how operators are seeking partners who understand that every champion needs exactly the right tools for their specific fight.
GR8 Tech’s approach resonated because it addresses this reality with three key solutions designed for different use scenarios:
- Hyper Turnkey, which delivers fully managed casino and sportsbook operations that scale with ambition;
- ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame with its lightning-fast integration and market-specific customization capabilities;
- Infinite Casino Aggregation, offering premium gaming experiences with an operator-first flexibility.
This comprehensive approach ensures every operator gets precisely what they need to overcome their unique market challenges and achieve championship-level performance.
Heavyweight Club Momentum Builds Toward Next Championship Round
The “Fight for Greatness” collection drew significant attention on the show floor. Attendees’ enthusiasm for the showcased apparel and accessories, paired with strong performance of the online store, confirmed that the Heavyweight Club resonates far beyond technology—it’s a mindset people want to embody and a philosophy they want to wear.
GR8 Tech’s AR experience featuring Oleksandr Usyk became a magnet for attendees, with over 80 participants stepping into the champion’s world in one of the most memorable activations on the show floor. Winners of the AR experience didn’t just walk away with impressive pictures—they earned tickets to witness Usyk defend his undisputed heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois this July.
Just as Usyk will defend his title at Wembley, the Heavyweight Club will continue its championship journey beyond iGB L!VE. The next epic edition awaits at SBC Summit in September, where the movement will expand with new challenges and opportunities for operators ready to dominate their markets.
Ready to fight for greatness? Connect with GR8 Tech and step into the ring.
GR8 Tech. Platform for Champions
GR8 Tech is an award-winning provider, delivering high-performance sportsbook and iGaming solutions that empower operators to lead and win in competitive markets. Key elements of GR8 Tech’s comprehensive portfolio include the Hyper Turnkey solution, ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame, Infinite Casino Aggregation, and Platform Acceler8 suite, featuring its proprietary affiliate management platform, Aff.Tech.
With a geo-specific approach to solutions, a focus on practical innovations, and an operator-first mindset, GR8 Tech helps its clients achieve measurable results in their target markets quickly and efficiently. Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 100 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions, including the title of the Best Sports Betting Provider in CEE by GamingTECH Awards 2025.
The post Heavyweight Club by GR8 Tech Signals New Era of Operator Ambition at iGB L!VE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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