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Entain and McLaren F1 Team open the doors for women to return to work

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The companies are launching a joint Returnship programme for women to return to careers in the world’s most exciting industries 

Entain, the global sports betting, gaming and interactive entertainment group, and the McLaren F1 Team, are launching applications for their joint Returnship programme, to help reignite the careers of women returning to roles in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). 

While the representation of women in STEM is steadily increasing 1, there remains a significant gender imbalance – in the UK, just 26% of STEM graduates are women, and only 24% of the STEM workforce are women2. There is an urgent need to change the perceptions of careers in STEM, open more opportunities for women to pursue careers in the field, and help both women and men thrive equally in STEM. 

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As 26% of sports bettors globally are now female3, and F1 continues to experience a rise in female fans, with approximately 40% of fans now female4, it has become even more important for both companies to reflect the customer experience by having a diverse workforce. The Returnship programme is another step in the right direction to making this change. 

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain CEO, said: “The fusion of technology, sport and entertainment, and desire to support talented women re-entering the workforce meant that launching this brand-new programme with our partner, McLaren, is an obvious step. We share a passion and commitment for giving women a platform to reignite their careers in STEM and hope that through this programme, we not only support a generation of ambitious women now but inspire future generations of girls to land their dream STEM role.”  

As part of the programme, an initial cohort of ten Returnship places will be created, offering unique opportunities and experience at either Entain or the McLaren F1 Team over a six-month period. The programme is designed to suit different women at different stages in their career, with successful candidates being supported by a 1-1 transitional coach specialising in returning to work, flexible working, networking with senior executives, and an opportunity to discuss permanent role opportunities after the six-month programme. Example placement roles span from software engineers and back-end developers to data scientists and design engineers, with the full list available on the programme’s website. 

Candidates who meet the following minimum criteria are being sought:  

  • At least 3 months unemployed, underemployed​ or reskilling 
  • At least 2 years prior professional experience 
  • STEM focused qualifications or experience or a personal and evidencable passion for technology / data / engineering 

Entain is committed to embedding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into all corners of its business, and has launched a number of programmes to support this commitment, under its EnTrain programme, which is designed to increase access to education and training in technology and improve diversity. With EnTrain, Entain has set the objective to positively impact the lives of over 1,000,000 people around the world, either directly or through their families and dependents, by 2030. 

The Entain x McLaren F1 Team Returnship programme also complements Entain’s existing Reboot@Ivy initiative, which helps women return to their technology careers at its locations in Hyderabad and Manila.  

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Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, commented: “We are excited to be launching the first returnship of its kind within F1 in partnership with Entain. This is an opportunity to drive real change within the Engineering and Technology industries and is part of our overall commitment to making STEM careers more accessible to all, and to having 40% of our employees from under-represented backgrounds by 2030.” 

In December 2022, Formula 1 announced teams for its F1 Academy: an all-female racing series for younger drivers, set for 2023. Likewise, Extreme E has elevated women in motorsport with its gender-equal motorsport series. These moves demonstrate the eagerness to propel women drivers into the upper echelons of the sport, and mirror what Entain and the McLaren F1 Team are hoping to achieve through the Returnship programme. 

 

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Jelly, True Rippers BGMI star, speaks out against cyberbullying: calls for a safer, more respectful ecosystem

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Jelly, one of India’s leading Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) athletes, representing Infinix True Rippers, has issued an appeal to the esports community to stand against cyberbullying and threats in the esports ecosystem.

Following the BMPS 2025 Semifinals 2, where Jelly was performing with the sole goal of helping his team qualify for the grand finals, the player faced a wave of online hate, including abusive messages and death threats, all for eliminating a rival and his former team.

In a heartfelt statement, Jelly explained: “I am here to qualify just like every other team. If there is a fight against GodLike, I cannot just put my guns down and I also don’t know who is in front of me. Every team on this stage is here to play for victory. I wanted both teams to qualify, theirs and mine, but because of mistakes, neither of us made it. It is not because of one fight alone that things went wrong.”

Jelly also condemned the personal attacks he has faced and appealed for a safer esports ecosystem:

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“No player deserves hate or threats for doing their job and competing. We put in countless hours to train, just like any athlete in any sport. We need to stand for fair, safe, and respectful esports, without fear of abuse.”

With esports continuing to grow as a mainstream sport in India, the need for stronger measures to protect players from cyberbullying and online harassment is more crucial than ever. Jelly emphasized that athletes, content creators, and fans deserve a positive, supportive environment to thrive.

The 24-year-old pro has pledged to use his platform to promote safe gaming practices and challenge toxic behavior within the gaming community.

Infinix True Rippers, the team Jelly represents, also extended their support to his statement, reiterating their commitment to building a culture of fairness, mental well-being, and respect in Indian esports.

 

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The post Jelly, True Rippers BGMI star, speaks out against cyberbullying: calls for a safer, more respectful ecosystem appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Optimove Ignites APAC Expansion with Leading iGaming Operators Joining Platform

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Magency Life, WeClub Malaysia, and 2up.io sign on following Optimove’s regional launch

Optimove, the creator of Positionless Marketing and the #1 Player Engagement Platform in iGaming, today announced that three leading APAC iGaming operators: Magency Life, WeClub Malaysia, and 2up.io have selected Optimove as their player engagement platform. This follows the company’s formal launch of operations in Asia-Pacific and underscores its momentum in the region.

The announcement comes immediately after Optimove’s appointment of iGaming veteran Jack Wheeler to head the APAC region. Wheeler and team are driving regional growth and supporting operators in scaling player engagement strategies through data, personalization, and AI-driven orchestration.

“Our rapid adoption in the region is validation that iGaming operators in APAC are forward thinking, with a deep commitment to meaningful player engagement,” said Jack Wheeler, Senior Account Executive and Head of APAC. “Optimove’s ability to empower operators that embrace Positionless Marketing to increase marketing efficiency by 88% is ushering the APAC iGaming industry into an era where real-time marketing execution is scalable.”

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Optimove’s Positionless Marketing Platform gives marketing teams the power to independently launch and optimize campaigns across channels without waiting on engineering, creatives, or analysts.

The company’s Optimove Ignite+ program, played a key role in accelerating adoption across the region. The comprehensive program is designed to accelerate growth for emerging iGaming and sports betting operators. It offers exclusive access to Optimove’s #1 Player Engagement Platform, along with expert CRM guidance, actionable insights, and proprietary industry benchmarks. Optimove Ignite+ empowers operators to enhance player engagement, improve marketing efficiency, and scale efficiently in a highly competitive market.

“These partnerships mark a major step forward in our mission to help operators across APAC build deeper, longer-lasting relationships with their players,” said Motti Colman, VP of Revenue at Optimove. “It underscores that Positionless Marketing, and its ability to free marketers to execute personalized player journeys without bottlenecks, is a key to growth in competitive markets. We’re honored to be chosen.”

With regional operators facing rising competition and evolving player expectations, Optimove provides the tools to act instantly on data, deliver personalized experiences, and drive lifetime value all from a single, AI-powered platform.

 

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The post Optimove Ignites APAC Expansion with Leading iGaming Operators Joining Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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PepsiCo Returns as Main Partner of the Esports World Cup 2025

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PepsiCo brings back Pepsi and introduces Mountain Dew, energising the global gaming community at the world’s largest esports event.

The Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) today announced its renewed partnership with PepsiCo, establishing Pepsi and Mountain Dew as Main Partners of the Esports World Cup 2025, set to take place this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With Pepsi and Mountain Dew joining the EWC, both iconic beverages will fuel and energize the worldwide gaming community.

The renewed partnership marks the continued expansion of PepsiCo’s footprint in gaming and a bold step forward in delivering world-class experiences to fans in Riyadh and around the globe.

Following its debut as a Founding Partner in 2024, Pepsi returns to the Esports World Cup with an expanded presence across the 2025 festival. Activations will include immersive fan zones, large-scale product sampling, and co-branded content with artists, creators, and players.

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Mountain Dew, joining as a Main Partner for the first time, is levelling up players’ game in EWC 2025 to EWC 2025. A long-standing supporter of gaming, the brand will deliver immersive on-site experiences, exclusive merchandise drops, and branded competitions that resonate from grassroots to pro. With a digital-first campaign themed “Dew levels up your game,” Mountain Dew will activate across KSA social channels, broadcast, and festival touchpoints — reinforcing its ambition to lead in gaming culture and power the next generation of players.

Both brands will feature prominently throughout the event — from the Opening Ceremony to hospitality areas — with branded fridges and product placement across esports venues, the Players’ Lounge, and festival grounds, uniting music, gaming, and entertainment to deliver high-energy fan experiences.

Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer at Esports World Cup Foundation, said: “We’re excited to have Pepsi and Mountain Dew back as Main Partners for the second year. These are brands that truly get gaming and its fans. With their support, this year’s Esports World Cup will be an even bigger celebration of community and creativity”

Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the Esports World Cup will unite global gaming communities for a celebration of esports culture. With 25 tournaments across 24 games, 2,000 elite players, and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, the EWC will feature the largest prize pool in esports history, over $70 million. Fans can expect exclusive experiences, from high-stakes competition to live music, anime cafes, retro arcades, cosplay, and more, drawing millions of fans online and in person.

To learn more about EWC, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.

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The post PepsiCo Returns as Main Partner of the Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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