DATA.BET, a distinguished leader in esports betting solutions, was recognised at the European iGaming Excellence Awards, which took place on 15 October in Warsaw, Poland.

The EiGE Awards 2024, organised by Hipther, gathered vital industry leaders to celebrate the achievements of the most influential companies in the iGaming sector all around Europe. Held as part of the European Gaming Congress, the awards served as the highlight of the event, honoring the best-performing companies across the region. The congress itself offered a dynamic format of panel discussions, presentations and workshops, allowing attendees to explore the latest trends, challenges and growth opportunities in the sector.

This award highlights DATA.BET’s significant impact on the esports betting landscape, and showcases its ability to deliver reliable and advanced solutions that meet the needs of both operators and bettors. As the popularity of esports continues to grow within the European betting market, this achievement reinforces the company’s position at the forefront of the market.

“We are honored to receive this recognition. This award emphasizes both our achievements and the progress of our products. Throughout the year, we’ve introduced a range of new offerings, including Bet Builder and Widgets, such as Scoreboards and Pitch Tracker. Notably, the Player Props, launched in 2023, has quickly become a favorite among bettors. This acknowledgment reflects our team’s hard work and dedication, continuously striving to deliver top-tier esports betting solutions in the European market,” said Otto Boning, Head of Sales at DATA.BET.

In a landmark move for Indian esports, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the inclusion of esports as a demo event in the prestigious Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Trophy Games 2024. The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) has incorporated Skyesports as the Principal Technical Partner along with Esports Association of Tamil Nadu and Thamizh Esports Association to launch the initiative.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Trophy Games is a flagship sports initiative aimed at promoting and nurturing grassroots talent across various sports. The inclusion of esports reflects the Tamil Nadu Government’s commitment to embracing the evolving trend in sports on the back of the inclusion of esports in the Asian Games, and the announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to introduce a standalone Olympic Esports Games in 2025.

“We are thrilled to witness the debut of e-sports as a demo event at this year’s Chief Minister’s Trophy. This groundbreaking inclusion reflects Tamil Nadu’s forward-thinking approach to sports and youth engagement. Esports has rapidly grown in popularity around the globe and by introducing it in the Chief Minister’s Trophy as a demo sport, Tamil Nadu is taking a major step toward recognising and nurturing diverse athletic talents, both in traditional sports and emerging digital platforms,” said the Additional Chief Secretary, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department.

Eight Skill-Based Games to Be Part of The Esports Test Event In The Tamil Nadu CM Trophy 2025, Engaging More Than 1.5 Million Gamers

The eight games set to be a part of the Tamil Nadu CM Trophy are as follows:

●       Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)

●       Pokemon UNITE

●       Real Cricket 2024

●       EA FC 2024

●       NBA 2K25

●       eChess

●       Street Fighter 6

●       F1 2024

The selected games span a diverse range of titles, catering to mobile, PC, and console gamers. Registrations are now open to all eligible gamers in Tamil Nadu .The competition kicks off with online qualifiers, where participants will vie for a spot in the grand finale. Skyesports along with Esports Association of Tamil Nadu and Thamizh Esports Association will manage the entire event, culminating in an exciting on-ground finale in Chennai on October 20, bringing together the top players from each category for a thrilling conclusion.

“Esports is already part of the Asian Games and will soon be getting a standalone event by the IOC. In line with these evolving trends, we are introducing esports as a test event this year, and plan to make it an official part of the Tamil Nadu CM Trophy in 2025,” said the Member Secretary of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).

The Tamil Nadu State Government aims to engage 1.5 million gamers and esports enthusiasts through participation and viewership. Additionally, it aims to bring an active participation of more than 100,000 gamers through the open-for-all qualifiers.

The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) announced that VSPO, the largest esports company in Asia, has officially become an ESIC member. Founded in 2016, VSPO has established itself as a key player in the global esports industry after hosting events across Asia, Europe and North America. This membership demonstrates VSPO’s commitment to promoting fairness, transparency and ethical conduct in the global esports ecosystem.

VSPO is renowned for its end-to-end esports offerings, including tournament operations, content production, talent incubation and integrated marketing solutions. The company recently announced the Esports Asian Champions League (ACL), Asia’s new premier international esports tournament featuring multiple titles. It has previously hosted high-profile esports events such as the Honor of Kings Pro League (KPL), PUBG Global Championship (PGC) and the esports series at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, collaborating with major game developers and global brands.

By joining ESIC as a member, VSPO aligns with the industry’s most rigorous and widely accepted integrity standards, ensuring the protection and sustainability of its own tournaments and further supporting the esports industry as it continues to grow on a global scale. This will include enforcing ESIC’s Integrity Program across all tournaments and events, which addresses cheating, match-fixing, doping and other unethical behaviours.

As an ESIC member, VSPO commits to upholding the integrity of the esports ecosystem by adopting ESIC’s codes of conduct, cooperating with investigations and enforcing any sanctions imposed by ESIC. This ensures a consistent, global approach to maintaining fair play and transparency, safeguarding the credibility of esports for players, teams and fans alike.

VSPO becomes part of a prestigious roster of ESIC members, which includes some of the world’s most prominent tournament organisers such as ESL FACEIT Group, BLAST, LVP (MEDIAPRO Group) and NODWIN Gaming. VSPO membership comes as the company enters an exciting period. Last week it announced that Founder Dino Ying has transitioned to Executive Chairman, with Co-Founder Danny Tang becoming CEO. VSPO is also set to be renamed to Hero Esports, aligning with its domestic brand as part of its ongoing global growth strategy.

Stephen Hanna, Chief Executive Officer of ESIC, said: “VSPO’s commitment to excellence and its global influence makes it an invaluable addition to our growing membership of leading esports stakeholders. VSPO’s membership reinforces the importance of a unified approach to integrity, and we look forward to working together to ensure that the global esports industry continues to grow on a foundation of fairness and trust.”

Danny Tang, CEO and Co-Founder of VSPO, said: “We are proud to join a community that shares our commitment to maintaining the integrity of the esports ecosystem, protecting the credibility of esports for players and fans. A united front is the only way to ensure all participants can thrive, knowing that their efforts and talents are respected and valued.”