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Blackpool FC features Safer Gambling logos on team shirts in collaboration with LeoVegas
During Saturday’s Football League One match against Shrewsbury, Blackpool FC’s regular front-of-shirt sponsorship will promote the nationwide ‘Safer Gambling Week’ campaign. Blackpool FC is the only club this weekend to feature this important message, thanks to the brand placement that has been donated by the club’s principal partner, LeoVegas. This initiative aims to raise awareness and promote the importance of gambling responsibly.
As the official principal partner of Blackpool FC, LeoVegas has been showcasing its brand on the front of the first-team adult shirt since July this year. The partnership offers an opportunity not only to promote the greatest igaming experience but also to emphasise the importance of gambling in a safer way. In support of the cross-industry initiative ‘Safer Gambling Week’ in the United Kingdom and Ireland, LeoVegas Group is replacing the shirt’s ordinary branding with ‘Safer Gambling’ logos. Blackpool FC’s first team will wear the special match kit at the Football League One match against Shrewsbury Town FC on Saturday, 18 November. Blackpool will be the only club that weekend to showcase these logos on their shirts, highlighting the commitment to the campaign.
Sam Behar, LeoVegas Group Director of UK and Ireland, said “Responsible gaming is at the heart of our offering at LeoVegas. We are incredibly proud to work with Blackpool and to make sure all fans understand the range of tools we have on offer to ensure our players keep their play safe. Safer Gambling Week is an important time of the year and, as such, ensuring that we replace our logo on the front of shirt to promote the week was crucial to us at LeoVegas. We thank Blackpool for their ongoing support for this week and for how we communicate our commitment to responsible gaming.”
Jonty Castle, Blackpool FC Chief Operating Officer, added, “Safer Gambling Week is an important nationwide initiative, which both ourselves at the football club and LeoVegas wanted to bring to the forefront of people’s thinking this weekend.”
“Raising awareness on the importance of safer gambling is vital, and Saturday’s match will see us promote this in a unique way, with LeoVegas replacing their front of shirt sponsorship with the ‘Safer Gambling’ logos. Alongside crucial information, support and advice being spread across our website and social media platforms, the key messaging surrounding Safer Gambling Week is being circulated as far and wide as possible by both ourselves and our valued partners at LeoVegas.”
“We thank LeoVegas for their ongoing support and for their kind donation of their front of shirt sponsorship to such a worthy cause this weekend.”
Safer Gambling Week, 13-19 November, is an annual campaign to promote safer gambling across the UK and Ireland with the support of a wide range of partners. The objective is to stimulate nation-wide conversations about safer gambling, giving people the information they need to gamble more safely, as well as directing those who need further advice and support to the right point of contact. For more information, visit https://safergamblinguk.org/.
Deal covers travel and hospitality packages across BLAST’s event slate, starting with BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.
BLAST has signed a one-year partnership with MATCH to develop premium fan travel experiences and related commercial opportunities across BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026. The companies said the work will start immediately, with an initial focus on the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals event in November.
BLAST VP of Destinations and Market Development James Woollard said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”
MATCH is best known for hospitality and accommodation programmes at major sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups
from 2010 to 2022, as well as Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grands Prix and ATP tennis tournaments. MATCH Director of UK Events and Business Strategy Richard Parker said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”
BLAST said MATCH will also bring its network of clients, sponsors, federations, agents and media partners to support international attendance and partner activation, alongside MATCH’s technology and operational infrastructure. The announcement follows BLAST’s 2025 live events activity, where the organiser said it delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five titles and sold 194,421 tickets.
The post BLAST partners with MATCH on premium fan travel for 2026-27 events appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BLAST
BLAST and MATCH Announce Strategic Partnership to Elevate Premium Esports Experiences Worldwide
Partnership to focus on fan travel experiences for BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026
BLAST, one of the world’s leading esports entertainment companies, today announced a new strategic partnership with MATCH, a globally renowned leader in premium sports experiences with extensive expertise spanning product development, production, marketing, sales and customer service.
The one-year agreement will see MATCH work alongside BLAST to deliver premium fan travel experiences and commercial opportunities across BLAST’s global esports events portfolio, with an immediate focus on the upcoming BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.
MATCH, and its associated group of companies, are internationally recognised for delivering world-class hospitality and accommodation programmes at some of the globe’s biggest and more commercially successful sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups between 2010 and 2022, multiple Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grand Prix and ATP tennis tournaments.
The partnership comes amid continued global growth and demand for elevated live esports events. In 2025 alone, BLAST delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five of the world’s leading esports titles, selling 194,421 tickets to fans worldwide as esports continues to establish itself as one of the fastest-growing sectors in live entertainment.
James Woollard, VP of Destinations and Market Development for BLAST, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”
Richard Parker, Director of UK Events and Business Strategy for MATCH, said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”
Through the partnership, MATCH will bring its extensive global network of clients, sponsors, international sports federations, agents and media partners to BLAST events, helping expand international attendance, elevate fan experiences and further position esports within the premium live entertainment landscape.
The collaboration will also leverage MATCH’s proven technology, infrastructure and operational expertise that has supported some of the world’s largest sporting events, creating scalable fan travel solutions tailored for esports audiences and commercial partners.
MATCH’s integrated model combines rights-holder expertise with full-service delivery capabilities, enabling efficient setup, operational consistency and premium guest experiences across global events. The company’s proven international reach attracted attendees from more than 150 countries during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, demonstrating the scale and effectiveness of its worldwide hospitality and marketing network.
The partnership reinforces BLAST’s continued ambition to innovate and expand the esports event experience globally, creating new opportunities for fans, brands and commercial partners alike.
The post BLAST and MATCH Announce Strategic Partnership to Elevate Premium Esports Experiences Worldwide appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Operator publishes World Cup outright odds as of June 11 and promotes fast markets and bet builder products around the tournament.
GG.BET has launched its “Big Game Summer” campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, positioning the promotion around tournament betting and a “special tournament prize pool,” according to the company.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs across the USA, Canada and Mexico and expands to 48 teams, 104 matches and a 39-day schedule. Under the new format, the field is split into 12 groups of four, with the top two in each group plus eight best third-placed teams moving into a newly added Round of 32.
GG.BET said its World Cup offering includes “Fast Markets” for selected matches and a Bet Builder product for custom combinations, alongside “exclusive tournament bonuses” and “fast payouts.” The company did not disclose the campaign’s prize pool size or any eligibility terms in the release.
The operator also published outright odds taken from gg.bet “as of 12:00 CET on June 11, 2026,” noting they are subject to change. GG.BET listed Portugal at 5.17, followed by Spain (5.77), Germany (5.87), England (7.2), Colombia (8.62), Argentina (9.88), France (9.89) and Brazil (10.38).
In the release, GG.BET pointed to the tournament opener on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa at Azteca Stadium, describing it as “the first stadium in history to host a men’s FIFA World Cup for the third time.”
The post GG.BET rolls out Big Game Summer campaign tied to FIFA World Cup 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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