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Match Poker Online Officially Launches To “Sportify” the Game of Poker

Published

4 years ago

February 10, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Poker players around the world now have the opportunity to play the game they love in a truly unique format. The Match Poker Online app officially launches on Feb. 14 (Feb. 15 in Australia/Asia time zones) and transforms poker into a sporting competition – giving players the opportunity for the first time to realistically compare their own skills against others.

What sets Match Poker Online apart? The game truly gauges where a player stands by having players across the platform play the same hands. Players can work on their skills by comparing their own play and decisions to others around the world who have played exactly the same hand.

For the first time, players can finally answer questions like: “Should I have raised in this position preflop instead of flat calling? Has this guy got the nuts or is he bluffing? Can I take this pot with a bluff or will I get caught?”

The app is packed with features, statistics, excellent graphics, and exciting gameplay. You can even compare your own play against friends in a fantasy sports-style competition. There’s no longer a need for arguing or debate on which players are better based on conjecture and insufficient data. With Match Poker, all that data is now available.

When playing, you’re not just competing against the players at your table, but against players seated at other tables in the same seat you are. All players in that seat are dealt the same two “hole” cards and see the same flop, turn, and river.

“It’s not poker as you’ve ever played it before – it’s a Battle Royale where you compete against opponents playing the same hand as you to survive elimination,” Match Poker Online head of customer relations Jake Colman says. “This makes it a pure test of skill – a sport – an official mind sport. And, for the first time in the history of poker, you can obtain an official world ranking. No other poker experience gives you this.”

The Battle Royale version kicks off the app’s launch. Players win chips at their normal poker table, but their real opponents are the players in the same seat at other tables. These same users receive the exact same cards. In this way, the luck of the cards has no effect on a player’s result compared to the others. If your full house was smashed by quads, so was theirs – the only question being “did you score better than them?”

“Match Poker shows you how better players played exactly the same cards, offering a unique learning experience,” Colman says. “Plus, the app collects stats on your play and uses them to tell you if you are playing too aggressively, too passively, too loose, or too tight.”

Here’s a look at what’s ahead for Match Poker Online users in the coming months:

After launch, the year will be split into “Seasons” with players battling to move through the rankings toward a place on their country’s national team.
Match Poker will hold national events of almost every ranking level. This is all overseen by the International Federation of Match Poker, which has its sights set on making Match Poker an Olympic sport.
Players can leverage the Match Poker database of thousands of results for every hand played. This allows for unique insights into how you can become a better poker player.
The “Famous Hands” feature will allow players to relive some of the biggest hands in poker history and replay these moments themselves.
More features and game types will be unveiled.

The release comes after years of development and now offers players some high-powered insight on their poker skills as well as plenty of fun. How do you match up? Download and find out.

Match Poker Online will be available in the App Store and Google Play Store beginning a few days before the official launch date.

eSports

Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors

Published

6 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-awards-2026-returns-for-global-honors

The Esports Awards is set to return in 2026, bringing together the global esports community for its annual celebration of excellence.

Scheduled to take place in North America later this year, the awards will honor the top players, teams, creators, and innovators who defined the past year in competitive gaming. Exact dates and venues will be revealed in the coming months.

Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of esports achievements at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony recognized industry icons such as Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed, and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while inducting six new members into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025. Earlier in 2025, the Esports Awards hosted the one-off Decade Awards, which drew a global audience of 36.25 million live viewers.

For the 2026 edition, fan-favorite categories such as Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year, and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving fans a direct voice in recognizing the standout moments and figures in esports over the past year. Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, which includes seasoned industry veterans, broadcasters, creators, and professional players, ensuring both credibility and integrity.

In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will make a comeback, offering a day of networking and friendly competition for industry leaders, creators, and esports competitors ahead of the awards.

Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, said: “The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026. Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognizing the individuals, teams, and moments that defined the past year in esports.”

Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ official X account for updates on venues, dates, nominees, and voting.

The post Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Acquisition

Optimove Buys Smartico, Keeps Independence

Published

6 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

optimove-buys-smartico,-keeps-independence

In a strategic move set to reshape the competitive landscape of iGaming marketing technology, Optimove has announced the acquisition of Smartico. Despite the deal, both companies will continue to operate independently—preserving their brands, leadership teams, and product strategies.

This acquisition comes at a pivotal moment for the global online gambling industry. According to recent market research, the sector reached an estimated $95.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to nearly double to $185.17 billion by 2033. As the industry scales, so does its complexity, driven by evolving regulations in Europe, fragmentation in the United States, and rapid expansion across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. In this environment, robust customer relationship management (CRM) solutions are no longer optional—they are essential.

A Strategic Alliance Without Integration

Unlike traditional acquisitions that lead to integration, Optimove’s approach is notably different. Smartico will remain a fully autonomous business unit, with its founders continuing to lead strategic direction, product development, and day-to-day operations. Clients can expect no disruption in services, pricing, or product offerings.

This independence reflects a deliberate strategy: fostering competition within the same ecosystem. Both companies will continue to innovate separately, pushing each other—and the broader industry—forward.

Two Distinct Visions of iGaming CRM

The deal unites two of the most influential approaches to CRM in iGaming:

Optimove built its reputation on advanced data analytics and AI-driven marketing. As the originator of the “Positionless Marketing” concept, the company enables marketers to orchestrate campaigns using intelligent agents that deliver hyper-personalized experiences at scale. This approach has reportedly improved campaign efficiency by up to 88%.
Smartico, on the other hand, carved out its niche by integrating gamification directly into CRM systems. By embedding game-like mechanics into player engagement strategies, Smartico has helped operators drive deeper interaction and retention. The company is now advancing further by incorporating generative AI across its platform.

Together, these two philosophies—data-centric intelligence and gamified engagement—represent the future of player retention and marketing in iGaming.

Strengthening Market Leadership

According to Pini Yakuel, the decision to acquire Smartico was driven by its originality and execution. He emphasized that Smartico stood out as a competitor due to its pioneering role in combining gamification with CRM—an innovation that has since become a key differentiator in the market.

Similarly, Arman Gal highlighted that the partnership allows Smartico to scale faster while maintaining its identity. With Optimove’s backing, the company gains additional resources to expand its innovation capabilities and global reach.

Competition as a Catalyst for Innovation

Interestingly, both companies will continue to compete in the same market. Optimove will further develop its gamification solution, Optimove Gamify, while Smartico continues executing its independent roadmap. This dual-track strategy is rooted in the belief that competition drives better outcomes for operators.

Rather than consolidating power, the acquisition creates a dynamic ecosystem where two leading platforms evolve side by side—each pushing the boundaries of what CRM can achieve in iGaming.

The Role of AI in the Next Phase of Growth

Artificial intelligence remains at the core of this transformation. Optimove has been embedding AI into its platform since 2012, long before it became industry standard. Today, its AI-powered decisioning agents enable real-time campaign orchestration across multiple channels.

Smartico is following a similar trajectory, integrating generative AI to enhance its gamification-driven engagement model. This convergence signals a broader trend: the fusion of AI, CRM, and user experience design as the next frontier in digital marketing.

A Defining Moment for iGaming Marketing

This acquisition underscores the maturation of the iGaming CRM sector. What began as a niche category has evolved into a critical component of modern marketing infrastructure. With two leading innovators now aligned—yet independent—the industry is poised for accelerated innovation.

For operators navigating an increasingly complex global market, the message is clear: the future belongs to those who can combine data intelligence, personalization, and immersive engagement.

THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE

Published

6 hours ago

April 7, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

the-esports-awards-returns-in-2026-for-a-celebration-of-esports-excellence

The Esports Awards will return later this year for its 2026 edition, taking place in North America and honouring the outstanding players, teams, creators and innovators of the past year in esports
Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of excellence at the HyperX Arena, alongside the one-off Decade Awards, which reached 36.25M live views globally
The Esports Awards Golf Invitational will also return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the main ceremony
Full details on the venue, date, nominees and voting will be revealed in the coming months

The Esports Awards has announced the return of its annual ceremony for 2026. Bringing together the global esports community under one roof, the Esports Awards will once again recognise the players, teams, creators and innovators who have defined the past year. The ceremony will take place in North America later this year, with exact dates and venue to be revealed in the coming months.

Last year’s edition of the Esports Awards marked a significant milestone, celebrating 10 years of esports excellence at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony honoured some of the industry’s most recognised figures, including Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while welcoming six new inductees into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025 award. Earlier in the year, the Esports Awards also hosted the one-off Decade Awards in August, presented by Trevor “Quickshot” Henry, Jessica “JessGOAT” Bolden and Barney Banks, reaching 36.25M live views globally.

For the 2026 edition, fan-favourite categories including Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving the community a voice in recognising the moments and individuals that shaped the past year in esports.

Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, a group of industry veterans, broadcasters, creators and players, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the awards.

In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the awards.

“The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026” said Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognising the individuals, teams and moments that defined the past year in esports.”

Further updates regarding the venue, date, nominees and voting will be announced in the coming months. Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ X account for the latest updates.

The post THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.