Competitive entertainment company BLAST and GamingMalta, an independent non-profit foundation set up by the Government of Malta, are proud to announce a transformative three-year partnership. The partnership will see Malta become a premier destination for world-class esports events and innovation, with BLAST debuting in Malta with the BLAST Premier Bounty S2 in August 2025.

The partnership will initially host nine major international esports tournaments in Malta, featuring some of the most prestigious competitions from BLAST’s global calendar, including the BLAST Premier and BLAST Slam circuits. In addition to these headline events, BLAST will establish a permanent esports broadcasting facility equipped with cutting edge technology that will span over 1,000m2 hosting Tier 1 esports tournaments and an office presence on the island, creating a dedicated team and infrastructure to support content production, operations, and long-term engagement in the region.

As part of the collaboration, GamingMalta will also benefit from global visibility across all BLAST Premier and BLAST Slam broadcasts, with millions of fans tuning in around the world. Beyond tournaments and exposure, the partnership also underscores a shared commitment to community development and education.

BLAST will support GamingMalta’s mission by investing in local esports initiatives, forging connections with universities and grassroots organisations, and helping create meaningful career opportunities for Maltese players, content creators, and aspiring professionals within the gaming industry.

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Together, BLAST and GamingMalta will position Malta as a global esports destination, leveraging high-profile events to attract international teams, fans, and media coverage. The initiative is also expected to generate significant economic benefits through increased tourism, hospitality demand, and international business.

Silvio Schembri, Minister for the Economy, Enterprise & Strategic Projects for Malta, added: “This partnership with BLAST – a premier global esports entertainment company – aligns perfectly with the Government of Malta’s Vision 2050, which places digital innovation, youth engagement, and the creative economy at the heart of our national strategy. It reflects our ongoing commitment to positioning Malta as a hub for future-facing industries, while also creating real opportunities for our young people through education, careers, and international exposure. By investing in strategic collaborations like this, we continue to build an economy that is innovative, resilient, and globally relevant.”

Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, said: “Our partnership with GamingMalta makes a major milestone for BLAST having secured a multi year partnership to elevate esports and gaming in Malta. We are excited to bring live output, a new studio and competitive entertainment to the island.”

Ivan Filletti CEO of GamingMalta remarked “At GamingMalta, we are committed to nurturing every level of the gaming ecosystem – from grassroots to global. This multi-year partnership with BLAST is a bold step forward in our relentless journey to continue establishing Malta as a world-class esports hub. We will continue to champion our ‘Home of Gaming Excellence’ vision by delivering top-tier events and creating new opportunities for the next generation of esports talent.”

The BLAST Premier Bounty S2 features 32 teams from across the Counter-Strike scene battling for a spot at our LAN finals and a slice of the $500,000 USD prize pool. The innovative Bounty format allows teams to select their opponents and utilize wager mechanics to raise the stakes and chase riches.

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Clarion Gaming celebrated ‘double gold’ at the AEO Excellence Awards widely recognised as the Oscars for the events industry.

Held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel which has hosted royalty, dignitaries and business leaders for nearly a century, the Awards saw World Gaming Week, comprising ICE and iGB Affiliate Barcelona judged Best International Show (Europe) with Clarion Gaming receiving the accolade of ‘Organiser Team of the Year’ a category which was judged across every industry sector and jurisdiction.

Reflecting on the illustrious Awards which showcase the very best that the events industry has to offer, Clarion Gaming Managing Director, Stuart Hunter said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to win Gold across two incredibly competitive categories and to be recognised by the judging panel which was drawn from across the events industry ecosystem.

“I can’t think of another team anywhere in the event’s space that’s risen to the huge challenge of moving three market leading and established shows to two different countries over the course of 18-months.

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“Taking ICE and iGB Affiliate to Barcelona has opened-up so many opportunities for the entire industry supply chain and we have the same aspirations for iGB L!VE which opens in London in July following its relocation from Amsterdam.”

He added: “The philosophy which is embedded in the Clarion Gaming DNA is to always work alongside our customers, understand their business needs and use the power of our brands to help meet their objectives irrespective of their size.

“By embracing this approach, our commitment to being industry partners empowers us to make bold decisions and achieve even greater outcomes for our customers.”

Incline Gaming Marketing, the provider of specialist digital marketing services for the global regulated gaming market, has strengthened its executive team with two internal promotions.

The first sees Joanne (Jo) Dennis become Chief Commercial Officer, having been Director of UK/EMEA for the past 14 months.

Jo became part of the Incline team after the business acquired Random Colour Animal, which she co-founded, bringing with her more than 25 years of experience in brand, marketing and commercial strategy.

As CCO, Jo has been tasked with overseeing business development, account management and partner success worldwide.

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She will lead the full commercial lifecycle for Incline’s suite of services, developing ambitious sales and growth strategies and overseeing their execution.

Her remit also centres on expanding Incline’s client portfolio across the globe and driving expert account direction to strengthen partnerships and deliver measurable value.

The second promotion sees Oren Langburt, former VP of CRM Marketing, promoted to Chief Marketing Officer, expending his remit to lead the CRM and User Acquisition divisions globally.

As part of the founding Incline team, Langburt has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth trajectory. He has been instrumental in scaling the agency’s CRM managed services business, shaping a best-in-class offering grounded in Incline’s deep industry expertise.

Langburt brings more than 15 years of marketing experience, including leadership roles at some of the biggest companies in the industry, including the likes of FanDuel.

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As CMO, he will focus on unifying performance strategy across acquisition and retention ensuring clients see the full impact of Incline’s integrated services model.

Jo Dennis, Chief Commercial Officer at Incline Gaming Marketing, said: “It’s an exciting time to be taking on the CCO role and growth journey for the business.

“We have achieved huge success across The Americas, Europe, Africa and beyond with our user acquisition, CRM and creative design services, and are now taking this momentum to the next level. 

“We are the only digital marketing and creative agency that is focused on, and specialises in, the regulated global gambling industry. Our deep level of multi-market expertise, and operator-side experience within the Incline team, gives us the edge. 

“In the role of CCO, my focus is on providing even more value to our new and existing partners, driving performance-led success across our full suite of digital marketing and creative activities.” 

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Oren Langburt, Chief Marketing Officer at Incline Gaming Marketing, added: “I’m incredibly excited to step into this role and continue building on the momentum we’ve created at Incline. We have an exceptional team and I’m energized by the opportunity to help shape the future of how we drive further growth for our partners. My focus will be on empowering our teams, deepening client partnerships, and continuing to push the boundaries of what performance marketing in igaming can be.”

The appointments come ahead of the Canadian Gaming Summit, which takes place from 17 – 19 June, where Incline Gaming Marketing will be in attendance; as well as IGB Live in London from 2 – 3 July.