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Bacta opens nominations for first ever awards to celebrate industry champions
Bacta has opened nominations for its first ever awards, celebrating the very best of the sector and unveiling a new set of industry champions from across the UK. The awards celebrate those who have made a great impact in the industry during the past 12 months, with categories including High Street Hero, Seaside Saviour, Supply Chain Champion, Green Giants and Rising Star.
The judges of the awards include bacta CEO John White and bacta President, Greg Wood, amongst others. The criteria the entrants will be judged on includes, creativity, upholding bacta’s values, commitment to customer wellbeing and being a team player (full details below). The winners will be unveiled at bacta’s parliamentary reception on Wednesday 24 November. Potential entrants can apply for the awards on bacta’s website and entries will be closed next Monday at close of play.
Award Categories Descriptions
High Street Hero: This award celebrates the outstanding staff members working in AGCs, High Street Bingo or inland FECs that have gone beyond the call of duty either at work or through their community engagement (which we would weigh more highly).
Seaside Saviour: This award celebrates the outstanding staff members working in FECs at the seaside that have gone beyond the call of duty either at work or through their community engagement (which we would weigh more highly).
Supply Chain Champion: This award celebrates the outstanding staff working in the supply chain and who play a vital role in helping to deliver fun and entertainment to communities across the country.
Jimmy Thomas Rising Star Award: This award aims to find the best and brightest young members (under 30) in the industry shining a light on the future leaders of the industry.
Green Giants: This award aims to find the individual or business that has shown an outstanding commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and promoting sustainability in the workplace.
Entries will be judged in line with the following criteria:
- Creativity: How the nominee has adopted a creative approach to their job (for example, looking at creative new solutions to everyday challenges) in the workplace?
- Upholding bacta’s values: How has this nominee upheld bacta’s core values (ethical, sustainable, modern, professional, partnering and open and transparent) in the workplace?
- Commitment to customer wellbeing: How has this nominee gone above and beyond to ensure that customer wellbeing is at the heart of their work (for example helping a customer who may be showing signs of problem gambling)?
- Team player: How has this nominee supported their colleagues in the place of work (for example offering to cover extra shifts, being a friendly and helpful face in the workplace)?
- Community spirit: How has this nominee worked to support their wider community through getting involved in activities such as mentoring, volunteering and fundraising for local causes?
John White, CEO of Bacta, said: “We are pleased to announce that entries for our inaugural 2022 awards are now open. Our industry has faced extremely tough times of late and we want to celebrate some of the hitherto unrecognised champions across the UK. For bacta, it’s more important than ever to be a team player, show community spirit and have a commitment to customer wellbeing.”
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Champions League
Flashscore reveals data behind thrilling night of Champions League action
New data from Flashscore, the world’s leading platform for live scores and sports content, reveals that almost 34,000,000 users tuned in yesterday for one of the most dramatic nights in UEFA Champions League history.
The intensity of the matches generated a massive wave of digital engagement, with 18 matches all taking place at the same time on the final day of the league format.
From the football-mad streets of Brazil to the frozen research stations of Antarctica, fans across 239 countries and territories checked their phones as Benfica’s goalkeeper scored a 98th-minute header and Real Madrid crashed into the playoffs.
Martin Matejka, Marketing Director of Flashscore, said: “Yesterday wasn’t just a matchday; it was a global event and we were well prepared. When game-changing moments decide matches – from a goalkeeper’s stoppage-time header against Real Madrid to last-minute winners across Europe – the world doesn’t just watch, it reacts. Flashscore sent out over 700 million push notifications to our users as drama unfolded across the continent.
“Our data shows unprecedented engagement from all over the world, and I am glad we could bring these extraordinary moments to fans from Brazil to Antarctica.”
TOP MATCHES ranked by number of users
The drama at the Estádio da Luz dominated the global conversation, with nearly 10 million users following the Benfica-Madrid clash alone.
1 Benfica vs. Real Madrid (9,7M users): The undisputed main event. Fans flocked to the match detail as Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored a historic 98th-minute header to seal a 4-2 win, sending Real Madrid to the playoffs.
2 Barcelona vs. FC Copenhagen (8,3M users): Massive interest as Barcelona thrashed the Danes 4-1 to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16.
3 Napoli vs. Chelsea (5,9M users): A rollercoaster in Naples. Chelsea fought back to win 3-2, eliminating Napoli despite a stunning “Maradona-esque” pirouette goal from Antonio Vergara.
TOP PLAYERS ranked by number of users
1. Jorginho (995K users): The Kairat Almaty midfielder trended globally after scoring a penalty against his former club, Arsenal, at the Emirates Stadium—a major talking point that drove nearly 1 million profile views.
2. Anatoliy Trubin (725K users): The unlikeliest hero. The Benfica goalkeeper’s stoppage-time header against Real Madrid sent his profile traffic into the stratosphere.
3. Andreas Schjelderup (368K users): The 21-year-old Norwegian announced himself to the world with a brace against Real Madrid.
4. Kylian Mbappé (317K users): Even in defeat, the superstar commanded attention and ranked 4th. He scored twice for Madrid, but his team’s collapse was the bigger story.
TOP TEAMS ranking by users:
1. Real Madrid (1,6M users): The “Kings of Europe” falling into the playoff round after a chaotic 4-2 loss drove massive traffic.
2. Benfica (1,1M users): The victors of the night. Their miraculous comeback and “goalkeeper goal” made them the second most-clicked team worldwide.
3. Barcelona (930K users): Solid interest as they cruised to victory and the next round.
Flashscore Global Reach
While Brazil was the single most active nation, the traffic was evenly split across continents: In Europe the huge engagement was driven by fans in Italy, France, Poland, United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Germany.
Africa’s continent showed massive interest, led by Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast. Football fever also swept across Asia, with significant user numbers from Indonesia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
The obsession reached the most remote corners of the Earth. Flashscore recorded active users from Antarctica and Christmas Island, proving that even in the most isolated locations, fans refused to miss the drama.
The post Flashscore reveals data behind thrilling night of Champions League action appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Claire Osborne Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment
Two new slots from Inspired — Coin Inferno Step ‘N’ Stack™ and Mummy It Up™
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. is thrilled to unveil the release of two entertaining online and mobile slots: Coin Inferno Step ‘N’ Stack
and Mummy It Up
, in the UK and Maltese iGaming markets.
Inspired is excited to unveil the release of their new two slot games, broadening the popular Cash Bank series.
Coin Inferno Step ’N’ Stack introduces a fiery twist to traditional slot gameplay with a 3×3 reel setup, five heated win-lines, and casino-themed symbols amidst a background of a raging sea of flames. Central to the base game are Cash Collector symbols that gather visible cash values, generating excitement and forming a pseudo-progressive coin stack that remains on the reels, amplifying the thrill with each spin. The thrill intensifies with the Win & Spin Bonus, where locked collectors, expanding reel rows, and resettable spins merge to form an exhilarating, continually escalating chase for hot cash prizes. For gamers seeking greater control and increased volatility, Fortune Spins, Fortune Bet, Gamble, and Bonus Buy choices offer exciting opportunities to intensify the action and pursue potentially larger payouts.
Mummy It Up with Cash Bank immerses players in a realm of ancient Egyptian magnificence, showcasing glimmering gold and timeless enigma. Nestled within opulent palaces embellished with scarabs, favorable beings, and treasures fit for Pharaohs, each spin ignites a spirit of exploration and the quest for exhilarating Cash Bank victories. The game expands its well-liked Cash Collection features through Cash Bank Free Spins, pseudo-persistence Scarab collections, and a Wheel Bonus Game that can grant free spins, bonus entry, or access to one of four shining Prize Pots: Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand. The game is additionally improved with enjoyable character reel modifiers and customizable gameplay features like Fortune Spins, Fortune Bet, Bonus Buy, and Gamble choices.
Claire Osborne, Managing Director of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “Inspired is starting 2026 with strong momentum, and these two launches set the tone for the year ahead. Coin Inferno Step ’N’ Stack and Mummy It Up both deliver fun and big win excitement for players, while supporting sustained player engagement and strong performance for operators. With a roadmap packed full of exciting new content, Inspired is well positioned to drive continued growth across the iGaming landscape.”
The post Two new slots from Inspired — Coin Inferno Step ‘N’ Stack™ and Mummy It Up™ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
ELA Games
Following ICE 2026 Triumph, ELA Games Officially Releases “Wealth of the East”
ELA Games is excited to announce the official B2B launch of Wealth of the East. The game, now accessible to partners, was initially introduced to the industry as the studio’s highlight during the three-day event in Barcelona, where it attracted the attention of numerous operators and aggregators because of its unique combination of slot mechanics and tabletop gaming.
The unique unveiling at ICE turned out to be a significant triumph, paving the way for the complete rollout. The ELA Games exhibit gathered industry representatives to engage with the game’s distinctive selling proposition: a twenty-sided Dice (D20) element that adds a tactile, physical sensation to digital slot gaming.
A Festivity of Wealth
The reels of Wealth of the East sparkle with the vibrant essence of an Eastern celebration. The gameplay is centered around the charming figure God Fu, a god of wealth serving as the Wild symbol in the game. He may arrive at any moment, and when he shows up, all Dice on the display spring to life, uncovering multipliers that enhance every coin visible or activate instant Jackpots. These empowered coins provide instant payouts, rewarding players as soon as they appear.
Sparking the Hold & Win Safe
The game showcases a visually impressive progression system crafted to uphold the festive theme and decorated with vibrant reds and golds. Every gathered coin also flies upward into the Golden Pot located above the reels, gradually enriching it with festive treasure that players can see and experience.
As the pot overflows, the screen bursts into red and gold as the Hold & Win game starts. Players receive 3 respins and a setup prepared to collect gold. In this intense feature, the elusive Imperial Lotus can appear, boosting multiple rewards simultaneously and elevating the entire round to new levels.
Game Stats:
● Reels: 5×3
● Lines: 10
● Max Win: x5,000
● Max Exposure: €250,000
● Buy Bonus: Yes
● Volatility: Mid
● RTP: 93.97% / 96.06%
Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, commented: “Wealth of the East was the perfect title for us to showcase at ICE 2026. We took the classic t’Eastern Celebration’ theme and gave it a distinct twist with the God Fu character and his twenty-sided dice. It adds an original, tactile layer of excitement that players really respond to. The ‘Rising Pot’ visualizes the journey toward the bonus, keeping the excitement building spin after spin. We can’t wait for the industry to see the celebration in action.”
The post Following ICE 2026 Triumph, ELA Games Officially Releases “Wealth of the East” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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