Latest News
The Credit Thing goes live with TrueLayer’s Open Banking recurring payments, bringing VRP to consumers for the first time
TrueLayer, Europe’s leading open banking platform, announced that The Credit Thing has successfully implemented its recurring payments API and made the first consumer Variable Recurring Payments (VRP) transactions in the UK.
The Competition and Markets Authority has mandated the UK’s nine largest banks to provide VRPs that support the automatic transfer of money between two accounts belonging to the same person, referred to as ‘sweeping’. TrueLayer is the first open banking provider to offer a single API that enables businesses to connect to select UK banks, including HSBC, to take recurring payments as a replacement for direct debit and card-on-file payments.
The Credit Thing is focussed on helping the more than 15 million people in the UK who are left behind by incumbent services due to thin credit histories. Using open banking to securely link bank accounts during the application process, consumers whose credit histories look thin or non-existent can prove their creditworthiness. In addition, by applying in-app rather than online, virtual cards are issued as soon as they are approved, which can then be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay or used to pay for purchases online.
An existing TrueLayer customer for standalone consumer payments powered by open banking, it is now using the firm’s recurring payment API to deliver an improved experience for consumer repayments. Rather than clunky direct debits that can take days to process, with TrueLayer consumers can mandate recurring payments in seconds and The Credit Thing receives instant notification.
Consumers also have far more control, with a single payment approval that removes the need to re-authenticate or re-authorise transactions, through a payment consent that is tied to a bank account and doesn’t expire until it’s revoked by them. Unlike both direct debit and card-on-file, recurring payments with TrueLayer provide The Credit Thing with instant access to the funds deposited. It’s also a more cost effective alternative, removing the fees incurred by card payments and their potential for chargebacks, and the operational overheads of managing direct debits.
Colin Hollingsbee, CIO for The Credit Thing, commented: “Could this be the beginning of the end for Direct Debits? VRP is a real game changer. We pride ourselves on providing great experiences and being at the cutting edge. That’s why we’re excited to be the first in the industry to do this with TrueLayer, reinforcing our philosophy to deliver on innovation.
“This isn’t innovation for the sake of it. It delivers meaningful benefits – consumers are firmly in control, the service is secure and user friendly, the cost of service is ultra competitive, and regular payment approval rates are likely to be phenomenal.”
Kirill Zotin, CTO for The Credit Thing, added: “VRP integration may sound complex, but with the TrueLayer partnership it was seamless. It took just a few weeks from our first conversation to live payments. This is what the future of banking looks like, when agility and innovation pushes the boundaries of available services. I’m really glad that consumers using The Credit Thing already experience the future of payments.”
Matt Parish, Product Lead for VRP at TrueLayer, commented: “This is a significant day for the UK payments industry – the first business using variable recurring payments to deliver a better consumer experience. TrueLayer’s first-of-its-kind API brings the transparency, speed and control of VRP to more people in the UK as a replacement for direct debit and card-on-file payments. We’re delighted to be working with an innovator like The Credit Thing who has seen the massive potential of VRP to support its business.”
TrueLayer is the market leader having launched the industry’s first recurring payments API for both sweeping and sweeping in early May. This was followed by NatWest Group signing an agreement with TrueLayer to provide VRPs as a new payment option for businesses and consumers.
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EMEA ESPORTS
MOVEMBER TEAMS UP WITH RIOT GAMES EMEA ESPORTS
TLDR:
- Movember is partnering with the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA, and Game Changers EMEA Championship as the Official Mental Health Partner, supporting players, team staff and the wider community for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Date: January 20, 2026 [London]
What you need to know:
- Riot Games and Movember announce a multi-year partnership focused on embedding mental health and wellbeing into the EMEA esports ecosystem.
- The partnership will integrate mental health and wellbeing frameworks, support systems, and initiatives across the leagues.
- Movember will provide tools and resources to better manage competitive pressure, build healthier habits, and be encouraged to discuss mental health openly.
- Planned initiatives for the upcoming year include mental health training for players and staff, and player-only roundtables on stress and coping strategies, with a view to use this to cascade content and guidance to the wider esports community.
- Movember will share messaging on the broadcasts and on-site during events that highlight the importance of mental health and help reduce the stigma around honest discussions and seeking help when needed.
- Together, Movember and Riot Games aim to make the gaming environment a healthier environment for all.
Quote from Daniel Ringland, Head of VALORANT Esports, EMEA:
“Supporting the wellbeing of the VCT EMEA community, our players, and team staff is something we are committed to strengthening, so we’re thrilled to welcome Movember as a partner. While supporting open conversations and ensuring our players know trusted resources are available is a priority, this partnership also helps raise awareness around mental health and wellbeing across the wider VCT EMEA community. Movember’s expertise will help normalize these discussions beyond the competitive stage, and provide the tools so everyone connected to our ecosystem feels supported by professionals committed to making a positive impact.”
Quote from Maximilian Peter Schmidt, Director of League of Legends Esports, EMEA
“Partnering with Movember allows us to take our commitment to supporting the wellbeing of our players and teams to the next level. We want our community to feel empowered to speak openly about the challenges they face and know resources are available if needed. Gaming should be a safe and healthy space for everyone, and this partnership will help us ensure that the environment is maintained and strengthened.”
Quote from Dan Cooper, Global Director, Innovations at Movember:
“Movember is committed to bring community first solutions to today’s most urgent mental health challenges. Esports is a focus area for our work in mental health, and by working with Riot Games we aim to have a real impact and drive positive change in esports.”
The post MOVEMBER TEAMS UP WITH RIOT GAMES EMEA ESPORTS appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
2RBO Affiliates
2RBO Affiliates Wins “Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year” at the 19th International Gaming Awards
2RBO Affiliates is proud to announce that it was honored with the Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year award at the 19th annual International Gaming Awards (IGA).
The ceremony took place on January 18th, at the Intercontinental Hotel Barcelona, bringing together the global elite from both the online and land-based gaming sectors.
The “Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year” is a highly competitive category designed to recognize innovative approaches to brand recognition and popularity. In selecting the winner, IGA judges evaluate the unique strategies that generate the most significant impact, drive sales, and successfully develop a business’s identity.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from our peers and industry insiders,” said Aviv Rosenblit, Head of Affiliates at 2RBO. “This award validates our commitment to pushing creative boundaries and delivering scalable, sustainable growth for our partners through innovation and transparency.”
2RBO Affiliates continues to set the pace for the industry with its advanced platform and a portfolio of leading iGaming brands, including Betinia, Swiper, CampoBet, and ToonieBet. By seamlessly integrating unique gamification features with state-of-the-art designs, the program delivers an unmatched user experience that maximizes partner profitability and long-term engagement.
Supported by renowned industry newspaper The iGaming Post, the IGA is celebrated as the “biggest and best charity event of the year.” By winning this nomination, 2RBO Affiliates solidifies its position as a high-performance leader dedicated to fostering long-term partnerships through personalized support and innovative tracking tools.
For more information about the affiliate program and their award-winning campaigns, visit 2rbo Affiliates.
About 2RBO Affiliates
2RBO Affiliates is a high-performance affiliate program representing top-tier iGaming brands. By combining modern gamification and flexible commission models with real-time performance data and proactive compliance measures, 2RBO delivers a superior experience for partners worldwide, ensuring growth and loyalty in a competitive landscape.
About the International Gaming Awards (IGA)
The International Gaming Awards (IGA) recognizes excellence across the global gaming industry. Bringing together professionals from every tier—from mobile gaming innovators to luxury casino operators—the IGA celebrates industry leadership while raising vital funds for deserving charities worldwide.
The post 2RBO Affiliates Wins “Affiliate Marketing Campaign of the Year” at the 19th International Gaming Awards appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Eastern Europe
GameTimeTec Set to Access Emerging Markets Through QTech Games
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has continued to maintain the momentum in its content pipeline, thanks to its latest deal with rising star supplier, GameTimeTec, a casino developer consistently producing dynamic content across slots, arcade, crash, dice, and card genres.
GameTimeTec’s ShowTime portfolio of slots and arcade-style games always brings something fresh, with popular titles now including Lucky Clover (Hold and Spin), Glory of Olympus (Unlocked), Air Gold (Miles Jackpot), Vikings Thunder, Chimon, SpinTop, Fortune Avengers, Sugar Love, and Celtic Bash. All these games ride on the back of exceptional maths modelling that varies the volatility spectrum, helping to foster some truly engaging gameplay.
The deal organically broadens GameTimeTec’s international footprint, unlocking unmined jurisdictions for diversified growth from Asia to Africa and Eastern Europe to Latin America.
CJ Shaw, CEO at GameTimeTec, commented: “We’re naturally thrilled to have teamed up with QTech Games to improve our distribution across emerging regions, seamlessly offering our fantastic games to a range of untapped operators.”
“It’s all about delivering more high-performing games, appealing to a broader range of players across the igaming spectrum – notably, slots, arcade, crash, dice, and card games. We strive to deliver balanced gameplay mechanics, varied volatility and sophisticated maths models, giving our games global appeal.”
Philip Doftvik, CEO, QTech Games, said: “GameTimeTec’s content brings a level of energy and engagement that we’re delighted to share across our sprawling network for emerging markets. Like us, they know that localised solutions comprise the key to success across this patchwork quilt of opportunities.”
The post GameTimeTec Set to Access Emerging Markets Through QTech Games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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