Global competitive entertainment company BLAST has announced the appointment of Charlie Cowdrey as Chief Executive Officer of JioBLAST, the recently announced joint venture between BLAST and RISE, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited.

As part of the appointment, Cowdrey will relocate from London to Mumbai this September to lead the joint venture’s Indian operations, marking a major milestone in the company’s global expansion into India.

Cowdrey has been a pivotal figure within BLAST over the last four years, holding multiple senior leadership roles across the business ranging from Chief of Staff to most recently, Programme Director for Epic Games, where he played a key role in managing one of BLAST’s most high-profile publisher relationships and competitive titles in Rocket League esports (RLCS) and Fortnite Competitive (FNCS).

Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, said: “Charlie has been a key figure behind BLAST’s growth  and publisher operations over the past few years. He is a trusted leader who understands our culture, our partners and our ambitions. India represents an enormous opportunity for BLAST, and we believe Charlie is the perfect person to take this vision forward. We’re proud to have someone of his calibre opening this important new chapter for us alongside our partners at Reliance and RISE.”

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Charlie Cowdrey, CEO of JioBLAST, said: “I’m incredibly honoured and excited to take this role in spearheading JioBLAST. We will be focussed on bringing together Jio’s unrivalled reach, RISE’s commercial prowess and BLAST’s esports expertise and global publisher relationships. Bringing this all together, there is no doubt that JioBLAST will supercharge the Indian esports industry. India is one of the most vibrant and promising gaming markets in the world, and working alongside Jio offers us a unique opportunity to build something extraordinary. We can’t wait to get started and bring BLAST’s unique approach to creating next level entertainment to India.”

The announcement follows the formation of the JioBLAST, a joint venture between BLAST and RISE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, aimed at supercharging the Indian esports market. With India now home to over 600 million gamers, accounting for 18% of the global gaming audience, JioBLAST will focus on creating new esports IP, establishing a state-of-the-art production studio, and delivering tournament experiences built for India’s dynamic gaming community.

The joint venture will bring BLAST’s award-winning production expertise and international tournament IPs to India while building localized formats, mobile esports offerings, and digital-first fan engagement initiatives through JioGames. Under Cowdrey’s leadership, the Joint Venture will deliver end-to-end tournament management, publisher services, and broadcast-ready content – ensuring India becomes a central pillar in BLAST’s global footprint.

As the joint venture ramps up its operations, last month JioBLAST opened recruitment for its first six foundational roles, all based in Mumbai. The new hires will join Cowdrey in building the future of esports and competitive entertainment in India. These roles represent the first wave of local leadership and talent being brought in to shape a new chapter in Indian esports.

Kaizen Gaming and the 3F Superliga announce Betano as the league’s new official betting partner. Betano is Kaizen Gaming’s premium and internationally recognized online sports betting and gaming brand, sponsoring top clubs around the world as well as major tournaments, such as the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League. Betano has already strengthened its presence in Denmark through partnerships with several clubs – and now it will also become the official sponsor of the entire 3F Superliga from the upcoming 2025/26 season.

“We are very pleased to welcome Betano as the official betting partner of the 3F Superliga. Betano has become a major player in both international and Danish football – and with their strong focus on responsible gaming, they can contribute positively and professionally to the growth of Danish football” says Claus Thomsen, CEO of the Danish League Association (Divisionsforeningen).

“We are proud to enter into this new partnership with the 3F Superliga – a league that is at the heart of the Danish football culture. Denmark has a long and proud tradition with passionate fans and clubs with deep local roots, and we see this partnership as an opportunity for us to contribute positively to that entire ecosystem – reaching beyond the Danish clubs we are already collaborating with. At Betano, we are committed to offering responsible, engaging sports experiences, and we look forward to working with the Danish League Association,” says Julio Iglesias, Chief Commercial Officer of Kaizen Gaming.

Award-winning crash game Aviatrix is now available to even more players in Africa, following a partnership with leading brand Spotika.

The deal will see Aviatrix integrate with Spotika, which already has a strong following in Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania.

Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Spotika and bring Aviatrix to even more players across Africa. The region is full of energy, passion and a growing appetite for next-generation casino gaming. Spotika is an ideal partner as we continue to expand across the continent.”

Derick Shango, Project Management at Spotika said: “Aviatrix is one of the most exciting crash games on the market today, and we’re proud to be among the first operators to offer it in Africa. This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver innovative, engaging content to our players in Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania.”

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Last November, Aviatrix launched in South Africa for the first time, and is continuing to focus on growth opportunities across the continent.