Latest News
Entain and McLaren F1 Team open the doors for women to return to work
The companies are launching a joint Returnship programme for women to return to careers in the world’s most exciting industries
Entain, the global sports betting, gaming and interactive entertainment group, and the McLaren F1 Team, are launching applications for their joint Returnship programme, to help reignite the careers of women returning to roles in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
While the representation of women in STEM is steadily increasing 1, there remains a significant gender imbalance – in the UK, just 26% of STEM graduates are women, and only 24% of the STEM workforce are women2. There is an urgent need to change the perceptions of careers in STEM, open more opportunities for women to pursue careers in the field, and help both women and men thrive equally in STEM.
As 26% of sports bettors globally are now female3, and F1 continues to experience a rise in female fans, with approximately 40% of fans now female4, it has become even more important for both companies to reflect the customer experience by having a diverse workforce. The Returnship programme is another step in the right direction to making this change.
Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain CEO, said: “The fusion of technology, sport and entertainment, and desire to support talented women re-entering the workforce meant that launching this brand-new programme with our partner, McLaren, is an obvious step. We share a passion and commitment for giving women a platform to reignite their careers in STEM and hope that through this programme, we not only support a generation of ambitious women now but inspire future generations of girls to land their dream STEM role.”
As part of the programme, an initial cohort of ten Returnship places will be created, offering unique opportunities and experience at either Entain or the McLaren F1 Team over a six-month period. The programme is designed to suit different women at different stages in their career, with successful candidates being supported by a 1-1 transitional coach specialising in returning to work, flexible working, networking with senior executives, and an opportunity to discuss permanent role opportunities after the six-month programme. Example placement roles span from software engineers and back-end developers to data scientists and design engineers, with the full list available on the programme’s website.
Candidates who meet the following minimum criteria are being sought:
- At least 3 months unemployed, underemployed or reskilling
- At least 2 years prior professional experience
- STEM focused qualifications or experience or a personal and evidencable passion for technology / data / engineering
Entain is committed to embedding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into all corners of its business, and has launched a number of programmes to support this commitment, under its EnTrain programme, which is designed to increase access to education and training in technology and improve diversity. With EnTrain, Entain has set the objective to positively impact the lives of over 1,000,000 people around the world, either directly or through their families and dependents, by 2030.
The Entain x McLaren F1 Team Returnship programme also complements Entain’s existing Reboot@Ivy initiative, which helps women return to their technology careers at its locations in Hyderabad and Manila.
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, commented: “We are excited to be launching the first returnship of its kind within F1 in partnership with Entain. This is an opportunity to drive real change within the Engineering and Technology industries and is part of our overall commitment to making STEM careers more accessible to all, and to having 40% of our employees from under-represented backgrounds by 2030.”
In December 2022, Formula 1 announced teams for its F1 Academy: an all-female racing series for younger drivers, set for 2023. Likewise, Extreme E has elevated women in motorsport with its gender-equal motorsport series. These moves demonstrate the eagerness to propel women drivers into the upper echelons of the sport, and mirror what Entain and the McLaren F1 Team are hoping to achieve through the Returnship programme.
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eSports
Esports community establishes Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE)
The Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE) was established following a General Assembly held on 6 March 2026 in Rio de Janeiro. The organisation was founded with the stated goal of promoting competitive integrity, legal safety, and institutional research within the esports sector.
Carlos Gama, Vice President of Games and Esports at the Rio de Janeiro branch of the Association of Brazilian Information Technology Companies (ASSESPRO) and President of the Advisory Council of FERJEE (Rio de Janeiro Esports Federation, involved with the upcoming IEM Rio) was elected as Executive President to lead a multidisciplinary team tasked with developing frameworks for the industry’s regional growth.
One of the primary objectives of the ILAE is the creation of a local Esports Arbitration Chamber. This mechanism is intended to serve as a specialized venue for the mediation and resolution of conflicts, such as contractual disputes between players and organisations. The model aims to offer a technical alternative to the traditional judicial system, seeking to provide greater legal security and faster resolutions for administrative and professional disagreements within the competitive environment.
The ILAE’s structure is centered on an Executive Board that includes:
- Vice-President Marcella Ferreira (former pro player and current sports psychologist),
- Administrative-Financial Director Vinicius Verly (FERJEE), and
- Project Director Marianna Muniz (FERJEE and OnFire Agency).
Technical oversight is managed by lawyers:
- Dr. Antonio Carlos Bratefixe (Research and Knowledge) and
- Dr. Osmar Berardo, who will direct the institute’s Arbitration Chamber.
The Fiscal Council is led by: Dr. Soraya Vasconcelos, who also leads Brazilian organisation Galorys, responsible for financial and institutional oversight.
Regarding the institute’s mission, Carlos Gama stated that the organization intends to facilitate dialogue across the Latin American esports community. “We want to bring together athletes, teams, researchers, organizations, companies, and public managers to build a common development agenda for the region,” Gama noted. He also highlighted that a priority for the ILAE will be the production of research on strategic themes, such as social inclusion and competitive integrity policies.
The ILAE’s governance framework also incorporates individuals with competitive backgrounds, aiming to ensure the organisation remains informed by the practicalities of the sector. This includes the participation of former FPS and eFootball pros Marcela “Callax”, Renato “Rentão”, Monik Bisoni, Gabriela Tavas, and Gabriel “Franja” within the various councils and administrative chairs.
By integrating these perspectives alongside legal and academic professionals, the institute intends to address the specific needs of the regional ecosystem. The organization has opened associations to professionals, researchers, and entities.
The post Esports community establishes Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE) appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Latest News
SPORTRADAR AND BSN STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP TO ELEVATE BASKETBALL IN PUERTO RICO
Sportradar AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) has expanded its agreement with BSN Puerto Rico (Baloncesto Superior Nacional), reinforcing its long-term commitment to supporting professional basketball in Puerto Rico through advanced technology, data and integrity solutions. Basketball is the most bet upon sport in Puerto Rico and the second most popular across the LATAM region.*
Sportradar holds the exclusive betting and gaming audiovisual (AV) and data rights for BSN basketball competitions worldwide, alongside non-exclusive coaching and talent scouting rights, to drive the growth of Puerto Rican basketball and strengthening fan engagement across international markets.
The agreement features the provision of Integrity Services, such as Sportradar’s proprietary Universal Fraud Detection Service (UFDS AI) for comprehensive real- time betting market surveillance. Additionally, BSN Puerto Rico will access a portfolio of sports performance and management solutions, including Synergy Stats and the Competition Management Platform, to support league operations, performance analysis and regulatory compliance.
“We are proud to deepen our ties with BSN to accelerate the development of basketball in Puerto Rico,” said Raphael Sobral, Sports Partnerships Director, LATAM at Sportradar. “By combining our cutting-edge technology with our unmatched data and integrity services, Sportradar is providing the backbone for BSN’s next phase of global growth and operational excellence.”
“This partnership reaffirms BSN’s commitment to modernization and operational excellence across the league. Having a partner like Sportradar allows us to strengthen our processes, elevate the use of official data, and ensure the highest standards of integrity and performance as we look ahead to the 2026 season and the future of professional basketball in Puerto Rico,” said Ricardo Dalmau, President of BSN.
The extended partnership further strengthens Sportradar’s role as a trusted technology and data partner for more than 20 basketball competitions in regulated markets worldwide, including the NBA, EuroLeague, ACB Spain, LNB France, Lega Basket Italia and NBL Australia.
The post SPORTRADAR AND BSN STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP TO ELEVATE BASKETBALL IN PUERTO RICO appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Conferences
R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026
At the heart of the exhibition is the IRIS platform, R. Franco Digital’s GLI-certified, open-architecture solution. Designed to deliver a seamless experience across casino, sports betting, and retail operations, IRIS gives operators the flexibility, scalability, and security required to grow efficiently across multiple Latin American markets.
In addition to its robust infrastructure, R. Franco Digital will present its latest high-performance gaming titles, including Strange Spins, Genie Triple Bonanza, Diamond King Gorilla, Luxury Blast, Zorro: Final Duel, and The Phantom. Each game incorporates localized mechanics and culturally relevant themes, ensuring maximum engagement for LatAm players.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, commented:
“Latin America is a cornerstone of our global strategy. GAT Expo Cartagena provides an essential platform to connect with partners and showcase how our technology evolves alongside the region’s regulatory landscape. We are excited to highlight the latest advancements in our IRIS platform and our expanding game portfolio, both designed to deliver operational excellence and support regulated operators across LatAm.”
Visitors to the expo will be able to experience live demonstrations of the IRIS platform and explore R. Franco Digital’s diverse content offerings, emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation, localization, and operator success in the region.
The post R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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