Latest News
TIGA reveals shortlist for UK Games Education Awards 2023
TIGA, the trade association representing the UK’s video games industry, has revealed the shortlist for the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2023.
These awards recognise outstanding students, education providers and best practice.
The winners of the 12 categories will be announced in a virtual ceremony on Friday September 29th 2023, together with the winner of a special award that will be revealed during the programme.
Creative Assembly, the studio behind the Total War series and new FPS title Hyenas, is the headline sponsor of the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2023. As a multi-award winner for their education work, Creative Assembly utilises the skills and passions of 850 employees to provide industry outreach to students across the globe.
The Awards are further supported by: Gold sponsor Sumo Group, the award winning international family of game development studios; and Bronze sponsor, Lockwood Publishing.
Dr Richard Wilson OBE, TIGA CEO, said: “The TIGA Education Awards shortlist highlights leaders in games education: outstanding students, excellent providers and good practice in education. Thank you to Creative Assembly, our headline sponsor, Sumo Group, our Gold Sponsor and Lockwood Publishing, our Bronze Sponsor, for supporting excellence in skills and learning, and for making the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2023 possible. We look forward to revealing the crème de la crème when we announce the winners of the Awards on September 29th.”
Sophie Bryan, Head of HR, Creative Assembly, said: “We are pleased to sponsor yet another year of the TIGA UK Games Education Awards and to present the Creative Assembly Best Student Game Award. It is an opportunity to support and promote excellence in games education which is a priority for our Legacy Project education outreach work. Each year, through the awards, we see an incredible calibre of students and educational practice and this year is no different; congratulations to all shortlisted.”
Christina Haralambous, Group Director of Communications & Marketing, Sumo Group, said: “Sumo Group is delighted to be sponsoring the TIGA UK Games Education Awards for 2023. Nurturing, supporting and celebrating future talent, and those that help educate that talent, is important to continue to move our industry forward. Congratulations to all those on the shortlist for these prestigious awards.”
Halli Bjornsson, CEO of Lockwood Publishing, said: “The TIGA Games Education Awards recognise achievements and spur further progress in education and skills. Congratulations to all of our finalists and I look forward to seeing the winners.”
TIGA’s charity partner for the Games Education Awards 2023 is The Passage. The Passage’s vision is of a society where street homelessness no longer exists and where everyone has a place to call home. Founded in 1980, The Passage provides practical support and a wide range of services to help transform the lives of people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Guided by their Vincentian values, The Passage offers their clients resources and solutions to prevent or end their homelessness for good. The charity runs a modern Resource Centre in London, helping people to find routes to employment, benefits and stable accommodation; four residential projects, outreach and health services and homelessness prevention schemes.
TIGA GAMES EDUCATION AWARDS 2023 SHORTLIST
OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: ARTIST
- Abertay University: Daniel Tolland
- Birmingham City University: Joseph Gordon
- Norwich University of the Arts: George Kee
- Norwich University of the Arts: Salene Tarling
- Staffordshire University: Megan-Louise Morris
- Staffordshire University: Aaron Burnhope
- University of Gloucestershire: Sam Carrier
- University of Hertfordshire: Maxine Lugg
- University of Hertfordshire: Diana Karakushyan
- University of Portsmouth: Victoria Primmer
OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: AUDIO
- Birmingham City University: Zih-Syuan Yang
- Norwich University of the Arts: Rhys Anthony
- Staffordshire University: Felype Goncalves Fernandes
- University of Portsmouth: Antti Liakka
OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: COMPUTER GAMES TECHNOLOGY
- Abertay University: Rhys Duff
- Abertay University: Justin Syfrig
- Birmingham City University: Nadia Nadeem
- Bournemouth University: Annie Holliday
- Staffordshire University: Davide Pelino
- Staffordshire University: Conner Pittaway
- University of Portsmouth: Siddhesh Swamy
- University of Portsmouth: Victoria Primmer
- University of the West of England: William Whitehouse
- University of the West of England: Zac Collins
OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: DESIGNER
- Abertay University: Dominik Gawron
- Brunel University: Rui Silva
- Bournemouth University: Archie McGrath
- Bournemouth University: Ethan Shellard
- City, University of London: Ayotunde Norman-Williams
- Norwich University of the Arts: Szymon Garczynski
- Staffordshire University: Jade Staines
- Staffordshire University: Olivia Cross
- Staffordshire University: Tyler Timlin
- University of Portsmouth: Liam Peachey
OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: PROGRAMMER
- Abertay University: Bridget Casey
- Birmingham City University: Ryan Westwood
- Bournemouth University: Ethan Shellard
- Sheffield Hallam University: Chae Taylor
- Sheffield Hallam University: Benjamin Kimberley
- Staffordshire University: Arnav Mehta
- University of Gloucestershire: Pheobe Pudge
- University of the West of England: William Whitehouse
- University of Portsmouth: Kian Bennett
- University of Portsmouth: Ethan Crooks
OUTSTANDING TIGA GRADUATE OF THE YEAR: PRODUCTION/ENTERPRISE
- Abertay University: Lyes Oussaiden
- Bournemouth University: Anita Oyebola
- Bournemouth University: Dario Splendido
- Bournemouth University: Giorgos Karambasis-Rodriguez
- University of Hertfordshire: Zuzana Remenarova
- University of Hertfordshire: Darina Koycheva
- University of Portsmouth: Joshua Hammond
- University of Portsmouth: Zane Oliver
- University of Portsmouth: Patrick Rotzetter
OUTSTANDING TIGA POST-GRADUATE OF THE YEAR
- Sheffield Hallam University: Benjamin Kimberley
- Sheffield Hallam University: Chae Taylor
- Staffordshire University: Jamie Linnell
- University of Hertfordshire: Muthuramalingam Ponnilavan
- University of Hertfordshire: Reshu Shrestha
- University of Hertfordshire: Safwan Sadik
- University of Portsmouth: Adam Jerrett
DIVERSITY AWARD
- London College of Communication, University of the Arts, London
- University of Greenwich
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Portsmouth
EXCELLENCE IN UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE – INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
- Abertay University
- Birmingham City University
- Staffordshire University
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Portsmouth
INNOVATIVE TEACHING
- Abertay University
- Birmingham City University
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Portsmouth
EXCELLENCE IN GAMES RESEARCH
- Abertay University
- Birmingham City University
- Bournemouth University
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Games and Game Intelligence (IGGI)
- Sheffield Hallam
- Staffordshire University
- University of Greenwich
CREATIVE ASSEMBLY BEST STUDENT GAME
- Abertay University: Slipways
- Birmingham City University: Checkmate Evolution
- Bournemouth University: Rum Runner’s Revenge
- City, University of London: WAFFLE
- London College of Communication, University of the Arts London: Letter Wars
- Norwich University of the Arts: Dog Walking Simulator
- Sheffield Hallam University: Death Rebuke
- Staffordshire University: Prepare to Dine
- University of Gloucestershire: Burger Zombies
- University of Greenwich: Void Edge
- University of Hertfordshire: My Shadow
- University of Portsmouth: Malltopia
- University of the West of Scotland: Project Retro Museum
TIGA has also today unveiled its Graduates of the Year, listing 89 outstanding graduates and post-graduates in games.
Asia
S8UL’s League of Legends roster qualifies to represent India at Asian Games 2026
S8UL Esports’ League of Legends roster has qualified to represent India at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, running from September 19 to October 4. The organisation said the team secured qualification through the regional qualifiers after winning the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2026, described as the official national qualification tournament for the Asian Games.
S8UL said the roster competing under India’s banner is Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Sanindhya Malik (Deadcorporal), Mihir Ranjan (Lotus), Ahmed Shahid (Nero), and Rahul Bisht (Bob). The regional qualifiers featured 14 teams across a group stage and a split stage, with top performers advancing to the Asian Games main event.
In Group B, the team went unbeaten against Jordan, Sri Lanka, and Kazakhstan to progress, according to S8UL. In the split stage, it lost to Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia but did enough to secure a berth. India will now face opponents including Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Vietnam at the main event.
Four players—Kat Bot, Infi, Deadcorporal, and Lotus—were also part of India’s League of Legends contingent at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, where S8UL said the team finished fifth.
Akshaj Shenoy aka Kat Bot, captain of India’s League of Legends team, said, “Qualifying for the Asian Games is a proud moment for all of us. We knew the regional qualifiers would be extremely competitive, and every match demanded complete focus. For many of us, this will be our second Asian Games, which makes this qualification even more special because we understand the level of competition that awaits us. We are grateful to S8UL for believing in this roster and providing us with the support, stability, and opportunities needed to keep improving as a team. Representing India is always an honour, and we’ll do everything we can to make the country proud in Aichi-Nagoya.”
S8UL co-founder and CEO Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug added, “Representing India at the Asian Games is among the highest honours an athlete can achieve, and seeing our League of Legends roster earn that opportunity is incredibly special. This team has demonstrated resilience, discipline, and a willingness to continually improve, qualities that are essential for success at the international level. At S8UL, our goal has always been to create pathways for Indian athletes to compete on the biggest stages in the world. We have no doubt they will give their all when they step onto the stage in Aichi-Nagoya and compete for the nation with pride,” S8UL also noted that Gurashish Singh (Soul) and Prateek Bhaunt (B Haunt) previously qualified for the Asian Games in Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 after winning at NESC 2026.
The post S8UL’s League of Legends roster qualifies to represent India at Asian Games 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Ignition Casino
Ignition Casino survey: LA fans most likely to back themselves to score for USMNT
Los Angeles ranks as the most confident sporting city in the US, according to new research commissioned by operator Ignition Casino, with 30% of respondents saying they believe they could score a goal for the USMNT at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The nationwide survey, conducted by Censuswide among 1,000 respondents between April 14 and April 17 2026, asked Americans about their confidence across multiple sports scenarios, including scoring for the USMNT at the World Cup, scoring a point against LeBron James one-on-one, or kicking a game-winning Super Bowl field goal.
After Los Angeles, Miami placed second on the World Cup scoring question at 29%, followed by Dallas at 27.1%, according to the research. Ignition Casino said that excluding Columbus, every city in the top 10 recorded at least 17% of respondents believing they could score for the USMNT at the tournament.
At state level, California topped the rankings. The survey found 29.7% of Californians believe they could score for the national team at the World Cup, and California also ranked first overall for combined sporting confidence with an average score of 32.8%. The release also cited Georgia, Illinois and Virginia as posting “more than a quarter” of respondents in each state believing they could score for the USMNT.
The survey also included non-football confidence measures. Ignition Casino said 32.3% of Miami respondents and 37.5% of Californians believe they could score at least one point against LeBron James in a one-on-one basketball game, while 32.5% of Los Angeles respondents and 36.7% of Virginians believe they could kick a Super Bowl-winning field goal.
The post Ignition Casino survey: LA fans most likely to back themselves to score for USMNT appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
N1 Brand Series: N1 Bet — Player Profile & GEOs
Every brand requires its own approach, which is why in the N1 Brand Series, the N1 Partners team breaks down products through a practical, hands-on lens.
In this episode let’s look inside N1 Bet: its core strengths, audience specifics, and approaches to improving traffic efficiency. In addition, the team has prepared a traffic setup for N1 Sport Promo, a new promotion aligned with the upcoming high-intensity sports season and FIFA 2026.
Within the campaign running from June 10 to July 20, partners will be able to earn additional bonuses for high-quality sports and prediction traffic, increasing their potential rewards alongside the number of acquired FTDs.
N1 Bet: Product breakdown
N1 Bet combines classic sports betting, casino, and Prediction Markets into a single product, offering users a wide variety of markets, an intuitive interface, fast onboarding, and attractive promotional mechanics designed to boost engagement.

- Brand name: N1 Bet
- GEOs: AU, NZ, AT, DE, CA, CH, IE, NO, IT
- Main verticals: Casino, betting, prediction markets
- Target audience: Users aged 25-55 interested in online casinos, slots, and live games, oriented toward a fast and seamless gaming experience.
- User value: Ease of use, fast access to games, bonuses, and promotional mechanics
- Features/advantages: Simple and fast registration flow, smooth UX, wide selection of slots and live games, fast deposits/withdrawals, and regular promotions.
- Reg2Dep:
PPC: 40–60%
FB: 22–30%
SEO: 40–45%
- Retention Rate: 25–35%
- LTV: up to €1500
Player’s portrait
N1 Bet audience is primarily composed of Tier-1 GEO users, which directly influences their behaviour and expectations toward the product. From a payment behaviour perspective, Tier-1 audiences demonstrate a higher average deposit compared to Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, especially in Australia, New Zealand, and the DACH region.
Another key product characteristic is strong mobile dominance. On average, 87% of active users play from mobile devices. In English-speaking GEOs, this share is even higher:
- AU — 95%
- NZ — 96%
- CA — 95%
In practice, this is mostly a mobile-only audience. In the DACH region, mobile traffic is also dominant, although desktop still retains a presence:
- DE — 89% mobile
- AT — 91% mobile
Peak player activity occurs in the evening — from 19:00 to 23:00 local time.
Player characteristics by GEO
Austria
- A premium audience segment.
- 91% of users play on mobile devices.
- High interest in slots, especially classic titles such as Legacy of Dead and Book of Ra.
- Higher rates with fewer deposits.
- Behavior is close to a VIP segment.
Germany
- Also a premium segment.
- 89% mobile traffic, while maintaining a noticeable desktop share.
- The most balanced mix of slots, live casino, and sportsbook.
- Slots share is lower than in other GEOs, but classic slots remain in demand.
Australia
- 95% mobile users.
- High average revenue per user.
- Main interest focused on slots and crash games.
- Branded games, including Chicken Road 2 x N1 Bet, are among the most popular products.
Canada
- 95% mobile audience.
- Average ARPPU is comparable to Australia.
- Gaming behaviour is mostly slot-oriented.
- High interest in branded content.
- Lower sensitivity to bonus offers compared to other markets.
New Zealand
- The most mobile-driven audience — 96%.
- Lower ARPPU and average bet size.
- The only GEO with a consistently high share of live casino activity — 17% to 56% vs 10-22% in other markets.
- The most diverse gameplay behavior overall.
New players’ behavior
New user behaviour largely depends on traffic source:
- Facebook Crash campaigns — users start with crash games (Chicken Road, Aviator, etc.) and then gradually move into slots.
- Facebook Slots campaigns — users immediately engage with slots without switching categories.
- PPC — most common mix: slots + live casino.
- Influence — mixed interest across slots, crash games, and live casino.
- SEO — primarily focused on slots and live games.
General trends
- Slots remain the main driver of new player activity, accounting for 60–80% of playtime (higher in AT and AU, lower in DE and CA).
- Crash games work extremely well as a primary conversion tool, especially for Facebook traffic.
- Live casino becomes more popular after the 2nd–3rd deposit, especially among users from DACH and NZ.
High-LTV Player Behavior
High lifetime value players are not characterised by single large deposits but by consistent product engagement:
- more than 4 active gaming sessions per week;
- use of multiple verticals simultaneously (slots + live, slots + sportsbook, sportsbook + prediction markets);
- active participation in VIP and loyalty programs;
- use of cashback and loyalty systems instead of bonus hunting;
- strong interest in new providers, tournaments, and product updates;
- stable deposit patterns without sharp promo-driven spikes;
- engagement in onsite activities (tournaments, bonus shop) and CRM communications.
This category of users forms the most stable and long-term LTV for partners.
Top 3 Working Funnels for N1 Bet
Funnel 1
This funnel is designed for a broad audience and performs well due to a simple and clear message. The main focus is the ability to start with a small amount and potentially win big. This approach helps maintain a low FTD cost and quickly scale traffic volume.
- Traffic source: Facebook
- GEO: AU
- Page type: PWA
- Audience: Men and women 25+
- Approach: The creative is based on a dynamic video. It starts with a stack of cash in front of a smartphone or computer screen, then shifts to gameplay featuring slots, bonuses, and winning combinations. A voiceover explains the low entry threshold, easy start, and the ability to play directly from a smartphone. The main goal is to create a sense of accessibility and highlight potential winnings.
- Why it works: Users immediately see core triggers — money, wins, and a low entry barrier. The funnel appeals to the desire for fast results with minimal investment.
- Key funnel element: Slots and PWA
- Performance indicators: CPC, FTD cost, and average player value
- Scaling method: Duplication of successful ad campaigns
- Risks/limitations: May attract lower-quality traffic
- Common mistakes: Launching too many campaigns at once with high budgets
- Expert note: This funnel should be scaled gradually. The best approach is to start with a single campaign and allow algorithms to gather sufficient data. If stable FTD and average value metrics are achieved over several days, scaling should be done through duplication rather than abrupt budget increases.
Funnel 2
This approach can attract higher-quality audiences thanks to a combination of a recognizable influencer, a real casino environment, and a native-style product presentation. When executed properly, it can maintain an acceptable FTD cost while bringing in users with strong long-term engagement potential.
- Traffic source: Facebook
- GEO: AU
- Page type: PWA
- Audience: Men and women 25+
- Approach: The creative features a well-known influencer inside a physical casino. They play a slot, share their experience, show bet sizes and winnings. The atmosphere is important: other casino visitors react emotionally, creating a sense of real entertainment and leisure. The entire video is positive and demonstrates that this experience is accessible to anyone.
- Why it works: Users see a familiar face and recognizable environment, which increases trust in the ad.
- Key funnel element: Creative and PWA
- Performance indicators: CPC and FTD cost
- Scaling method: Duplication of working campaigns
- Risks/limitations: Improper scaling may significantly increase FTD cost
- Common mistakes: Rapid budget increases instead of gradual scaling
- Expert note: This funnel often delivers higher-quality audiences compared to standard gaming creatives. However, scaling should be done carefully. If performance is stable, it is better to increase volume gradually through duplication while keeping winning campaign settings.
Funnel 3 (for N1 Sport Promo traffic)
During the N1 Sport Promo campaign, sports traffic funnels become especially important.
Below is an approach that can perform well during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Traffic source: Facebook Ads
- GEO: Canada
- Page type: PWA with content tailored to a specific World Cup match
- Audience: Men 25–45 interested in football, sports betting, sports news, and international tournaments. Focus is on users actively following the World Cup, discussing matches, and looking for predictions.
- Approach: The creative is built in a news or analytical format centered around a specific World Cup match. It includes predictions, team statistics, starting lineups, injury updates, team form, and expected outcomes. The content must be tightly linked to an upcoming match or trending topic actively discussed by the audience.
- Why it works: Users engage with content they are genuinely interested in. Instead of a standard betting ad, they receive relevant match insights and become part of the analysis process. The high interest in the World Cup enables broader reach and high-quality sports traffic.
- Key funnel element: Creative relevance and match context
- Performance indicators: High CTR, strong registration conversion, and high percentage of users placing bets after registration
- Scaling method: Continuous creation of new creatives for each match day, teams, popular fixtures, and trending tournament news
- Risks/limitations: Creatives quickly lose relevance and require constant updates
- Common mistakes: Using generic sports creatives without match context, scaling too early, and failing to update after the news cycle ends
- Expert note: During the World Cup, funnels built around specific matches or teams perform best. Users respond more strongly to events happening today or tomorrow than to generic sportsbook ads. Fast content updates and relevance are key success factors.
Final Takeaways
N1 Bet consistently performs well across Tier-1 markets when using the right approach. Simple gaming creatives drive volume, influencer-based funnels improve traffic quality, and sports-driven funnels effectively capitalize on major event interest.
With the right strategy, N1 Bet remains a strong product both for scaling volume and for working with high-quality audiences.
Run traffic to N1 Bet with N1 Partners and maximize results during the hot sports season:
- 14+ casino and betting brands with high Reg2Dep
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners
Be number one with N1!
The post N1 Brand Series: N1 Bet — Player Profile & GEOs appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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