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Leicester Riders announce Ygam as Charity of the Year in groundbreaking British Basketball partnership

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  • Leicester Riders announce partnership with Ygam, a charity with a mission to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harms.
  • Ygam has been appointed Leicester Riders ‘Charity of the Year’ for the forthcoming 24/25 season, alongside the Riders Foundation.
  • This is the first partnership of its kind for any team in the history of professional British basketball.
  • The partnership will involve key home games dedicated to Ygam and the charity’s work, with awareness raising and fundraising events throughout the season, alongside delivering Ygam’s City & Guilds Assured CPD training to all coaches and staff associated with the club.

Leicester Riders, the UK’s oldest professional basketball club, have announced a new partnership with Ygam, a charity with a mission to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harms.

This collaboration, a first for any team in British basketball, signifies a major stride in the Riders’ commitment to the digital safeguarding of all children and young people associated with the Club.

Through its Foundation’s Academy and partnerships with Charnwood College and Loughborough University, the Riders organisation’s commitment to young people extends beyond the basketball court. Collaborating with Ygam further enhances the organisation’s capacity to safeguard and equip young people with essential skills and knowledge to thrive in later life.

Ygam has been appointed Leicester Riders ‘Charity of the Year’ for the forthcoming 24/25 season, alongside the Riders Foundation.

The latest report from the Gambling Commission revealed that 40% of 11- to 17-year-olds have had some experience of gambling over the last 12 months. 1 in 4 have spent their own money on gambling in the past 12 months and 35% of young people have encountered gambling advertisements at sports events. Research from the Bristol Hub for Gambling Harms revealed that basketball has one of the highest gambling participation rates for young people aged 18-24 in the UK, compared to other popular betting sports like football, horse racing, and MMA.

A recent Mumsnet survey, commissioned by Ygam, revealed that children spend an average of 16.9 hours a week playing video games: more than half the amount of time they spend in school each week. Boys aged 11 to 17 are gaming the most with an average of almost a day a week (23.4 hours) spent playing video games.

Basketball is a growing sport at grass roots level in the UK, with nearly 1.25 million children and young people playing the sport at least once a week, and over 1200 licensed coaches nationwide. Popularity of professional basketball in the UK has also seen immense growth over recent years, where viewership of live and on-demand games across YouTube and Sky Sports has jumped from 1.4 million to over 20 million since the 2022/23 season.

This partnership aims to build greater awareness and educate more children and young people about the potential risks associated with gaming and gambling, both within a sporting context and beyond.

Simon Winfield, Interim CEO of Leicester Riders, said: “We’re excited to be working with Ygam. We have a deep admiration for their efforts in promoting gaming and gambling awareness among the youth of today.

“The Riders organisation takes seriously its responsibility to the young people who have entrusted us with their futures, both at Charnwood College and Loughborough University. A large part of that responsibility is ensuring that they are well set up for life beyond the Riders. Through Ygam’s education on the potential risks and dangers associated with gaming and gambling, we are fulfilling our commitment to ensuring their well-being and long-term success.

“We’re also excited at the prospect of helping to educate thousands of young people across Leicestershire, who we work closely with through the Leicester Riders Foundation. Through this partnership, we uphold the Club’s dedication to its local community, ensuring that we leave a lasting, positive influence on the lives of generations to come.”

Sacha Kent, Programme Lead for Education, Sports, and Youth at Ygam, said: “We are honoured to partner with Leicester Riders for the upcoming season and extend our reach within the sport of basketball. With gaming and gambling so heavily intertwined with professional sports, it is vital that we are doing all we can to safeguard all young people who participate in the sport they love.

“Leicester Riders do fantastic work in surrounding communities, including one of the country’s largest Basketball Apprentice schemes at Charnwood College, and a partnership with Loughborough University. The club’s community programmes also reach nearly 20,000 young people from across the city and wider county, and we are excited to use sport as a vehicle to make a real difference in the lives of young people, helping them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.”

The partnership will involve key home games dedicated to Ygam and the charity’s work, with awareness raising and fundraising events throughout the season, alongside delivering Ygam’s City & Guilds Assured CPD training to all coaches and staff associated with the club.

More details about the partnership and the initiatives planned for the upcoming season will be announced soon.

The post Leicester Riders announce Ygam as Charity of the Year in groundbreaking British Basketball partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Mash.fun Expands Crypto Sports Betting with Player Props, Hits $1 Million in Trading Volume

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Mash.fun, the innovative crypto-powered sports trading platform, has officially launched its first player props markets, giving users a new way to trade the performance of individual athletes.

The move comes as Mash.fun celebrates a major milestone, surpassing $1 million in total traded volume.

The new player props feature enables users to speculate on metrics like the aggregate minutes of goals scored by a specific player. For instance, if a player such as Erling Haaland scores in the 61st and 82nd minutes, the market settles at 143. This approach allows traders to long or short individual player performances, offering a more precise and interactive betting experience compared to traditional match outcomes.

“Player props are a natural evolution for Mash.fun, allowing our users to engage with sports betting in a more nuanced way,” said a spokesperson for Mash.fun. “Hitting $1 million in traded volume within weeks highlights strong demand for this innovative trading model.”

Mash.fun combines the user experience of top Gen Z trading apps with sports betting, featuring unique scalar markets, leveraged positions, and dynamic crypto charts. Built on the Solana blockchain, Mash.fun merges the speed and transparency of crypto with the excitement of live sports trading.

In addition to player props, Mash.fun recently introduced Shirts markets, where users trade indices based on the aggregate shirt numbers of goalscorers, further expanding its creative and engaging market offerings.

For more information, visit Mash.fun and explore the future of crypto sports trading

 

The post Mash.fun Expands Crypto Sports Betting with Player Props, Hits $1 Million in Trading Volume appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Logifuture’s Simulate Forecasts Morocco AFCON Glory After 1,000 Final Simulations

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Logifuture’s innovative Simulate sportsbook product has crunched the numbers ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026 final, running the decisive clash between Morocco and Senegal 1,000 times to predict a winner. The results point firmly toward the hosts, with Morocco emerging as favourites to lift their first AFCON title in more than 50 years.

Simulate, Logifuture’s cutting-edge virtual sports betting feature, delivers fast-paced simulations across football and basketball, offering instant results or gameplay over 10- and 30-second intervals. Players can run up to 15 simulations simultaneously, creating a constant stream of betting opportunities and immersive engagement.

AFCON Final Simulation Results: Morocco vs Senegal

According to Simulate’s data-driven modelling, Morocco won 433 of the 1,000 simulated finals (43.3%), while Senegal claimed victory 283 times (28.3%). The remaining simulations ended level after 90 minutes, highlighting the fine margins expected in the final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.

Goals are predicted to be at a premium. In line with Morocco’s defensive solidity during the tournament, 67% of simulations (633 matches) finished with under 2.5 goals, reinforcing expectations of a tense, tactical contest.

Early momentum could prove decisive. Only 5% of simulations saw a team recover from a half-time deficit to win in regulation time. Given that Morocco have conceded just once during the tournament, Senegal could face an uphill battle if they fall behind early.

Draws may also shape the outcome, with 28% of simulated matches tied after 90 minutes. Morocco’s resilience under pressure was already demonstrated in their semi-final triumph over Nigeria, where they prevailed 4–2 on penalties.

Third-Place Play-Off: Nigeria vs Egypt

Logifuture’s Simulate also analysed the AFCON third-place play-off between Nigeria and Egypt, running the fixture 1,000 times. The Super Eagles emerged victorious in 467 simulations (46.7%), while Egypt won 333 times (33.3%), with the remaining matches requiring extra time.

Low-scoring outcomes dominated the simulations. Only 267 matches featured over 2.5 goals, while 467 ended with a single goal, underlining expectations of another tightly contested encounter. Goalless draws were rare, occurring in just 67 of the 1,000 simulations, suggesting a breakthrough is likely before full time.

Boosting Sportsbook Performance with Simulate

Beyond predictions, operators using Logifuture’s Simulate have reported sportsbook GGR increases of up to 5%, driven by advanced predictive modelling and enhanced player engagement. By delivering personalised betting experiences and real-time insights, Simulate helps operators optimise offers, improve retention, and drive sustainable long-term growth.

As AFCON 2026 reaches its climax, Logifuture’s Simulate continues to demonstrate how data-led virtual sports betting can enhance fan engagement while delivering measurable commercial impact for sportsbook operators.

The post Logifuture’s Simulate Forecasts Morocco AFCON Glory After 1,000 Final Simulations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Red Papaya Launches Nova Blast Ultra: A Cosmic Slot Adventure via Microgaming

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Red Papaya, the vibrant flagship studio powered by Microgaming, has officially launched its latest blockbuster title: Nova Blast Ultra. Strapping players into a high-octane journey to the farthest reaches of the galaxy, this cosmic release blends high-end cinematic production with a suite of volatile mechanics.

Set against a backdrop of radiant space diamonds and blazing asteroid fields, the game promises a “white-knuckle ride” through deep space, where galactic wins shine brighter than the stars.

Interstellar Mechanics & Dazzling Rewards

Nova Blast Ultra is engineered to deliver futuristic precision and explosive potential. The game features an expansive 6,400 ways to win, ensuring constant action across the reels.

Key gameplay features include:

  • Nova Blast Cash & Jackpot Collection: A futuristic evolution of the popular collection mechanic. Hidden within the nebula-rich treasure zones are five static Jackpots, with the top prize reaching a stellar 2,500x the bet.

  • Energy Core Multipliers: Collect Energy Cores to boost your Cash Multiplier. In the base game, multipliers reach up to 5x, while the Free Spins round rockets this potential up to 10x.

  • Nova Blast Respins: Trigger enhanced respins that clear the board for the coveted Cash and Jackpot symbols, supercharged by Random Multiplier Energy.

Choose Your Orbit: Quantum Customization

For players seeking full control over their mission, landing Bonus symbols or filling the Quantum Meter triggers the Choose Your Nova Blast Free Spins. This feature allows players to select their own orbit, balancing the number of Free Spins against the frequency of Cash symbols.

The “space storm” intensifies during this round, where retriggers and surge respins work together to push the Cash Multiplier toward its dazzling 10x peak.

A New Standard for High-Production Slots

The high-stakes gameplay is complemented by out-of-this-world animations and a pulsating electronic soundtrack that keeps the momentum high.

Madelein Ozok, Head of Studio at Red Papaya, commented on the launch:

“Nova Blast Ultra is our most explosive slot to date. It captures the essence of Red Papaya—thrilling gameplay, big sound, and striking animations. We’ve combined creativity with deep data analytics to ensure this hits the mark with players spin after spin. We can’t wait to see it navigate its way to the top of casino lobbies.”

The post Red Papaya Launches Nova Blast Ultra: A Cosmic Slot Adventure via Microgaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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