Press Releases
Ygam launches new Gaming & Esports Programme
Ygam has unveiled a new addition to its portfolio of award-winning harm prevention programmes, with a specific focus on safeguarding young gamers.
The Gaming & Esports Programme is a pioneering initiative designed to educate and support young gamers, their parents and carers, as well as professionals working in the gaming and esports sectors – helping to create a safer, more supportive experience for young people.
The global esports market has seen dramatic growth over the past 5 years and is expected to be worth $10.91 billion by 2032. With over 80% of 16–24-year-olds playing video games in 2024 and 83% of those young people playing online, Ygam’s new programme will actively address the growing need for more effective education on digital safeguarding.
The programme covers topics like microtransactions and virtual currencies, the role of advertising and evolving gaming mechanics, impact of gaming on mental health, motivations and benefits of pursuing a career in esports, inclusivity within gaming and how to encourage safer virtual spaces.
In February, a successful pilot was delivered to young people from the Sheffield United Community Foundation and esports students from Sheffield Hallam University. Hosted by the National Video Game Museum, the pilot was well received by both staff and young people, providing strong insight into the value of the programme.
Sacha Kent, Programme Lead for Gaming & Esports, said: “It’s vital we recognise the central role gaming plays in the digital lives that children lead today. This new programme marks an important step in helping young people enjoy gaming safely, with the knowledge and tools to better understand potential risks and harms. Through our work with parents, young people, and professionals across sectors, we know there is a real demand for this kind of education. We’re incredibly proud and excited to begin delivering it to communities across the country.”
Charlotte Nichols MP, Chair of the APPG Video Gaming and Esports, said: “Video games are an enormous part of huge numbers of children and young people’s everyday lives. They offer so much in entertainment, socialisation and education but there are of course dangers in the online world. Ygam do so much good work in this field to raise challenging issues and work to address them to make gaming a safer place, and I am glad to work with them to do this.”
Lia Thompson, President of the Gaming & Esports Society at Sheffield Hallam University and attendee of the pilot session, said: “I think the new Ygam programme is really important – the Gaming and Esports industry is going in the right direction with the increasing ability to report inappropriate behaviour, but safeguarding needs to start before that. There needs to be more awareness of the behaviour that is actively happening, so that it stops being normalised. If we can get young people to think about this early on, we can stop it from happening in the first place, and Ygam’s new programme really helps to achieve this.
“As a woman in gaming, you see these behaviours normalised from a young age, so you begin to think that’s how you should act to be accepted by the community. This is not the true version of yourself, and toxic behaviour online should not be enabled like this. Ygam’s training is bringing attention to the impact of these behaviours, changing mindsets and helping others feel more comfortable calling it out to make their communities and peers safer.”
Ygam has already delivered the programme to nearly 100 adults and young people, through two open sessions and to the Newcastle United Foundation.
The Gaming & Esports team will be continuing to deliver a full programme of open sessions throughout April and May.
The post Ygam launches new Gaming & Esports Programme appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Press Releases
MightyTips ambassador Jevgenijs Aleksejevs wins and takes his pro boxing record to 18-0
MightyTips ambassador and professional boxer Jevgenijs “The Hurricane” Aleksejevs improved his record to 18-0, defeating Ismaël “Issou” Seck from France with a unanimous decision at the AAA Fighting Series boxing event in Braunschweig, Germany on May 3, 2025.
On a solid boxing card at the Millenium Event Center, the reigning IBO European middleweight champion Jevgenijs Aleksejevs continued his undefeated run with a commanding performance over his first 10-round bout. The Latvian took on France’s Ismaël Seck (13-8-2), a durable and battle-tested fighter who had never been knocked out.
“Jevgenijs epitomises the values at the heart of the MightyTips brand: a will to win, commitment, and pursuit of excellence,” Eugene Ravdin, SEOBROTHERS Head of PR, said. “The Hurricane delivered a thrilling performance and showed his fighting spirit against formidable opposition. At MightyTips, we believe this is just another step in his journey towards greatness — and we’ll continue to stand by Jevgenijs every step of the way.”
How it happened
Aleksejevs established dominance from the off and masterfully closed the distance, not allowing the Frenchman to settle into a rhythm and use his height and reach advantage. The Latvian unleashed intelligent combinations, mixing up levels with double and triple punch sequences. His ability to switch from head to body and back again kept Seck on the defensive.
Seck’s resilience allowed him to survive the distance despite withstanding wave after wave of heavy shots from Aleksejevs. The judges awarded Aleksejevs a well-deserved unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 97-93). A performance like this sends a strong message to the middleweight division: The Hurricane is ready for bigger challenges.
“I feel excellent about the fight,” Jevgenijs Aleksejevs commented. “It was a valuable experience and a great lesson for me. I hope the spectators enjoyed it as much as I did. My matchmaker will line up a good title fight for me soon. This one served as a kind of check-up bout.”
Who is Jevgenijs Aleksejevs
Born in Riga, Aleksejevs is a former kickboxer and a 2008 junior European champion. A leg fracture in 2015 forced him to switch disciplines. He made his pro boxing debut 12 years ago and now boasts a KO rate of 55%. He is renowned for his counterpunching ability and often dominates during the later rounds. He has been acting as the MightyTips ambassador since June 2023. This win lifted him to the 39th in the BoxRec.com middleweight world ranking.
The post MightyTips ambassador Jevgenijs Aleksejevs wins and takes his pro boxing record to 18-0 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
(In order of appearance from left to right)
India is on the brink of witnessing a gaming revolution that is shaping the global industry. With 590 million gamers and industry projections estimating the market to reach INR 66,000 crores at a growth rate of 14.5%, as compared to the global growth of 8% (CAGR). India is now poised to become a billion dollar gaming powerhouse outpacing growth globally.
A large contributor to this sea change is mobile gaming. India has now become the second-largest mobile gaming market by downloads, with figures 3.5 times higher than the US or Brazil. As per a recent Lumikai report, 23 million new gamers from the country joined in FY24, with weekly playtime shooting up by a notable 30%. Backed by $2.8 billion in investments and significant job creation potential, gaming is becoming a key pillar of India’s digital economy.
Nitish Mittersain, CEO & Joint MD at Nazara Technologies, says that the evolution exceeds beyond mere numbers. He underscores, “In a world where gaming is becoming a cultural and economic force, India is no longer just a consumer market, but also becoming a maker. With scale, talent, and strategic capital, Indian companies are rewriting the rules, growing from local leaders to global powerhouses.”
The country’s mobile-first ecosystem, enormous internet penetration, and tech-savvy youth have made it a fertile ground for gaming, while what’s also changing is how games are being made, distributed, and funded.
According to Anuj Tandon, Partner India & UAE at BITKRAFT Ventures, “The Indian gaming industry is experiencing a significant resurgence. A large talent pool and innovative narrative developers are fostering ecosystem expansion, leading to the creation of globally marketable games. Recognizing the emerging prominence of the Indian market, BITKRAFT is looking to make strategic investments to support its development as a vital contributor to the international gaming & entertainment sector.”
With the gaming sector in India empowering the larger community, content, and creators across the country, games are increasingly interactive among larger audiences, and platforms are working to intrigue new-age streamers and influencers from tier 2 & 3 cities in India.
Speaking about the shift in the Indian gaming market, Piyush, Founder & CEO of Rooter, “India has witnessed a significant surge in in-app purchases by gamers over the past three years, driving industry revenue growth at a 40% CAGR. Once a challenging market to monetize, improved micro-transaction behavior and effective pricing strategies are now encouraging gamers to spend more for enhanced experiences. Content creators are leveraging streaming platforms like Rooter to collaborate with publishers and raise awareness about games and their assets. Over the last two years, Rooter has unlocked multiple monetization channels, engaging with over 100 brands, numerous gaming publishers, global platforms, and gift card partners to create scalable revenue opportunities.”
The rise in engagement is paving the way for real business opportunities. Casual games particularly have opened new doors for monetization via in-app purchases, ads, partnerships, and sponsorships especially when game access is embedded seamlessly into daily routine platforms.
Yashash Agarwal, CEO & Co-founder of Gamezop, explains, “The world is waking up to where the real action in gaming lies, and that’s India. A projected revenue CAGR of 14.5% – nearly double the global average, is a clear sign that India is not just part of the global gaming story, we’re writing the next chapter.
Web gaming, in particular, is seeing explosive traction, and India is leading the charge. We’re witnessing a new wave of native users turn to web games for their accessibility, speed, and immersive play – no downloads, no wait time, just instant fun. What’s equally exciting is that India is not just consuming web games at scale; it’s also emerging as a powerhouse for web game development.
From an infrastructure perspective, we find ourselves in a better position than ever before. Devices are becoming smarter and faster, and with 5G technology, smartphones today have more capabilities than ever. As a result, people are spending more time online, leading to a surge of apps and websites across categories. At Gamezop, we’ve seen how seamlessly web games can plug into the everyday digital lives of Indian users across news, entertainment, utility, and fintech platforms. With the right regulatory and infrastructure support, India could very well define the future of web gaming.”
Meanwhile, on the development front, the industry is seeing a shift toward homegrown innovation. Indian studios have evolved from providing services like localizing global titles to creating original games that are performing well on the global stage.
Anurag Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Felicity Games, puts it plainly, “India is not just becoming a billion-player market, it’s emerging as a powerhouse for innovation in mobile gaming. With a young, connected population and a rapidly evolving developer ecosystem, we’re seeing global-quality titles being built and scaled from here. At Felicity Games, we’re proud to be part of this movement by publishing Indian games for global audiences, backed by strong unit economics and technology-led operations.”
With supportive regulation, sustained investment, and a stark rise in talent, India’s gaming sector is reportedly estimated to reach around INR ~500,000 Crores in value by 2034. India with the growth, innovation, and the large user base is set to emerge as a billion-dollar global giant, surpassing the global growth and setting new benchmarks.
The post Gaming in India – The Rise of a New Billion-dollar Economic Powerhouse appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Press Releases
ToonieBet Launches Sportsbook, Elevating Player Experience and Local Community Engagement in Ontario
ToonieBet Expansion with Sportsbook on App Store and Google Play, to Continue with Commitment to Delivering Localised and Engaging Experience for Ontario Players
ToonieBet, Soft2Bet’s flagship online casino and sportsbook for Ontario, has officially launched its sportsbook on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The platform is tailored specifically for local players, offering a dynamic betting experience with a broad range of sports events and competitive odds. The platform also features personalised promotions and loyalty rewards designed to match the preferences of Ontario’s diverse betting community.
The sportsbook uses official data feeds, ensuring players have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information on top local and international sports events. Additionally, the platform offers live broadcasting with real-time match analytics, allowing users to make informed betting decisions as events unfold. Integrated with MEGA and advanced player account management features, the operator is committed to delivering a seamless and responsible gaming environment that enhances the overall player experience while supporting local sports initiatives.
As part of this launch, the platform has also introduced a Sportsbook section on its official website, expanding its portfolio and bringing more choice to its growing customer base. With access to over 85,000 live events each month and more than 70,000 pre-match events across a wide range of sports, players now have even more ways to bet on what they love. Soft2Bet’s Canadian brand invites all players to explore its standout online casino and the full spectrum of sports betting, all delivered through a fast, secure, and fully localised platform.
Since its debut at the end of 2024, ToonieBet has offered a fast, fair, and secure online casino and sportsbook experience, fully localised for Ontario’s vibrant gaming market. The Apple App and Google Play additions further enhance accessibility, bringing ToonieBet’s premium entertainment to players on the go.
Additionally, this milestone complements the operator’s recent partnership with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, which made ToonieBet the Official Online Casino Partner of the team. The partnership includes in-arena branding, digital promotions, and fan engagement initiatives like social contests, allowing ToonieBet to connect with Ontario sports fans in exciting ways and offering chances to win team merchandise and tickets.
Yoel Zuckerberg, Soft2Bet’s Chief Product Officer stated: “As Soft2Bet continues our rapid growth, we are excited to provide Ontario players with access to ToonieBet’s sportsbook which is now available on the Apple App and Google Play Store, offering seamless access to a customised experience tailored for the province’s passionate gaming community.”
ToonieBet is Soft2Bet’s brand, one of the world’s fastest-growing iGaming turnkey solutions providers, that delivers high-quality products and services for online gambling operators with iGaming brands around the world and a portfolio of 19 global licenses, including Ontario.
The post ToonieBet Launches Sportsbook, Elevating Player Experience and Local Community Engagement in Ontario appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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