Latest News
Spike Nations returns for third instalment of VALORANT charity tournament
Riot Games teams up with BLAST to deliver the third instalment of the VALORANT tournament Spike Nations next month (14-16 October).
12 EMEA-based teams, made up of professional esports players, popular gaming personalities and streamers from the VCT, VRLs, and Game Changers circuits, will represent their region as they compete against each other for a €60,000 prize pool with teams fighting for a bigger share of the winnings to donate to their charity of choice.
Spike Nations was first launched in November 2020 where 10 teams competed, last year it expanded to 12 teams with Eastern Europe taking home the trophy and over €14,000 for their chosen charity, Te Aud Romania.
The tournament format will consist of three groups of four, where the two top teams in each group will progress to the knockout stage. Fans can also help secure their teams name in the knockouts by donating – with the two teams with the most fan donations securing their place in the second stage of the tournament.
Leo Matlock, MD for Development at BLAST, said: “BLAST are thrilled to welcome back Spike Nations for its third instalment and are delighted to see the fan-favourite tournament become a mainstay of the VALORANT calendar. Through championing first-class technology, production and esports expertise, BLAST has established itself as the leading partner for the world’s biggest and best games. We look forward to further strengthening our long-term relationship with Riot Games, raising money for charities and delivering three days of high-quality VALORANT action, while celebrating the EMEA ecosystem and engaging with passionate fans across the region.”
Felix Morgan, Head of Action Games, EMEA for Riot Games remarked, “The response from players to last year’s event was fantastic, and we’re glad to be able to work with BLAST once again to bring back Spike Nations for a third time. After what has been another exciting year for VALORANT, both in-game, and in our pro competitions, we’re excited for fans once again to get behind their nations and cheer on their favourite creators, pro players and personalities from the scene!”
All 12 teams will be competing for national glory and a chance to raise money for worthy causes as they face each other over three-days of online VALORANT action next month.
The teams competing include:
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Team United Kingdom
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Team France
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Team Spain
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Team Portugal
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Team Nordics
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Team Poland
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Team Turkey
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Team Italy
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Team DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
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Team Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)
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Team Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Greece, Cyprus and Israel)
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Team MENA (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya)
The on-air talent team will be a mix of familiar faces from the VCT scene to up-and-comers from the VRL scene.
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affiliate marketing
Regulated iGaming markets push operators toward audit-ready affiliate tracking
As regulators scrutinise AML, RG and advertising, operators face rising pressure to validate attribution and partner payouts end to end.
Growing regulation in iGaming is changing how operators manage affiliates, track player acquisition, and control partner payouts, according to a new statement from affiliate platform provider Affnook.
The company argues that in regulated markets affiliates are increasingly treated as an extension of an operator’s marketing activity, raising the stakes for oversight in areas such as affiliate advertising practices, responsible gambling controls, anti-money laundering (AML) and data privacy. The release points to the Danish Gambling Authority as one example of a regulator highlighting potential AML risks linked to affiliate partnerships and urging operators to strengthen risk assessments across third-party acquisition channels.
Affnook says the industry is moving away from “Trust Me” affiliate reporting as stakeholders demand performance data and revenue attribution that can be independently verified. It lists audit-ready reporting, verifiable revenue attribution, transparency into tracking and commission calculations, and consistent reporting standards as key expectations in more heavily regulated environments.
The company also frames financial governance as a parallel priority to tracking, citing the need for net gaming revenue (NGR) verification, commission accuracy, invoice reconciliation and payment oversight. It adds that multi-touch player journeys and reduced effectiveness of cookie-based attribution are widening “attribution blind spots,” which can fuel partner disputes, weaken decision-making and complicate compliance reviews.
In the release, Affnook positions platform features such as audit logs, partner activity monitoring, consent-aware tracking, real-time commission calculations and server-to-server tracking as the types of capabilities operators should evaluate as regulatory expectations increase.
The post Regulated iGaming markets push operators toward audit-ready affiliate tracking appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Alberta
Play’n GO goes live in Alberta iGaming with 10+ operators
Supplier expands to its third regulated Canadian province after Ontario and Québec, launching on Alberta’s market opening week.
Play’n GO has entered the newly regulated Alberta iGaming market, launching its casino games with more than ten licensed operators on the market’s opening week, the supplier said on 16 July 2026.
The Alberta rollout marks Play’n GO’s third regulated Canadian province, following Ontario and Québec, and extends the company’s North American regulated-market footprint.
According to the company, its content was made available in Alberta for the first time on launch day via a network of licensed operators.
Esteban Perez, New Market Entry Lead at Play’n GO said: “Entering Alberta with more than 10 operators on day one of regulation is a significant milestone for Play’n GO and a testament to the strength of our regulated market strategy. Canada continues to be a key focus for us, and expanding into our third province reflects both the demand for our content and the strength of our partnerships with licensed operators.
“We are proud to support Alberta’s regulated market with a portfolio that prioritises entertainment, compliance and long-term sustainability.”
The post Play’n GO goes live in Alberta iGaming with 10+ operators appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Alberta
Play’n GO strengthens Canadian footprint with Alberta iGaming market entry
The Swedish gaming giant confirms its entry into its third regulated Canadian Province with its industry leading portfolio of games now available in Alberta for the first time
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, today announced its successful entry into the newly regulated Alberta iGaming market, with a wide range of its premium content going live with more than ten licensed operators on market launch day this week.
The milestone further reinforces Play’n GO’s commitment to regulated market expansion across North America and marks the company’s third Canadian province, following established operations in Ontario and Québec.
Play’n GO’s launch in Alberta ensures players have immediate access to a portfolio of world-class titles from day one of the market’s regulated opening. By partnering with a broad network of licensed operators at launch, the company has solidified its position as a trusted supplier in newly regulated jurisdictions.
The Alberta rollout builds on Play’n GO’s strong track record of working alongside regulators and operators to deliver safe, compliant, and high-quality entertainment to players, while supporting sustainable market growth.
Esteban Perez, New Market Entry Lead at Play’n GO said: “Entering Alberta with more than 10 operators on day one of regulation is a significant milestone for Play’n GO and a testament to the strength of our regulated market strategy. Canada continues to be a key focus for us, and expanding into our third province reflects both the demand for our content and the strength of our partnerships with licensed operators.
“We are proud to support Alberta’s regulated market with a portfolio that prioritises entertainment, compliance and long-term sustainability.”
To find out more about Play’n GO, please visit playngo.com
The post Play’n GO strengthens Canadian footprint with Alberta iGaming market entry appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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