Esports Growth Requires Clear Frameworks for Identity Ownership and Protection

eCLUTCH Launches eCLUTCH Arabic, Expanding Esports Access Across the MENA Region🚀 eCLUTCH is proud to announce the launch of #eCLUTCHArabic, a dedicated Arabic-language esports channel designed to serve the fast-growing esports ecosystem across the Middle East and North Africa. The channel delivers live esports events fully commented in Arabic, featuring regional experts and pundits who bring local insight and cultural relevance to global competitions. With popular titles such as Fortnite, Rocket League, and Rainbow Six Siege, eCLUTCH Arabic offers a premium, engaging experience tailored specifically for Arabic-speaking audiences. Built on eCLUTCH’s broadcast-ready, multiscreen ecosystem, the channel is designed for seamless distribution across linear TV and digital platforms, enabling operators and partners to reach a new generation of esports fans with culturally adapted content. With eCLUTCH Arabic, eCLUTCH continues its mission to bridge global esports with local markets, empowering regional communities and unlocking new opportunities for esports distribution across MENA. STAY TUNED.. THERE IS MORE TO COME... Arnaud Verlhac Youlia Silverstov Sam Butler Ayellet Bar Rashmin Abhani Cyrine NEFFATI #eCLUTCH #Esports #MENA #ArabicContent #Broadcast #GamingIndustry #EsportsTV

The Middle East East is not just an emerging esports market. It is becoming a global powerhouse for live Esport and competitive entertainment. Today, we are proud to position eCLUTCH as a major live esports tournament provider in the region with the launch of the first 100 % Arabic esports channel fully dedicated to live competitions and live events. This milestone would not have been possible without the strong support of our strategic partners SAWA Media | Dubai and OSN whose vision and commitment to premium live content are helping elevate the esports ecosystem across MENA. Together, we are building more than a channel. We are building a platform for live competitive esports, culturally relevant, locally adapted and globally connected. More to come. Esports Middle East BroadcastPro Middle East Ali A. Imad El Khoury Samer Shahin Alaa Bou Ajram Tome Miladinoski Youlia Silverstov Shmulik Koren Melvin Saldanha Désiré Koussawo Bertrand Amar Dennis Kittel Mohammad Al Nimer Sam Butler Puneet Kumar Rashmin Abhani Shmulik Koren Patrick Rivet Samy Ouerfelli 🔜 Tashkent (Uzbekistan) Akshat Rathee Massimo Vimini Ayellet Bar Yael Pitigliano Andy Grant #eCLUTCH #Esports #MENA #LiveEsports #Broadcast #ArabicContent

Today I'll be on panel SiGMA World on community and fan engagement in MENA esports, preparing one thought keeps coming back. We talk a lot about scale: audience size, reach, growth curves. Yet most sustainable sports properties didn’t start by optimising for scale. They focused on belonging. Traditional sport has done this well for decades with clubs, local heroes and rivalries. Today, research across football and basketball shows that repeat attendance and long-term fandom are driven more by identity and habit than star power alone. Esports already has the audience. The harder question is how attention turns into community or a sense of belonging. In MENA, young, digital and culturally diverse that question feels even more important. #esports #gcc #uae #ksa

Quick update that was just announced for this year’s EsportsTravel Summit! Nicole Pike, Global Head of Sport at YouGov, will be unveiling brand new research on esports fans, including what truly drives live event attendance, engagement, and loyalty. This will be the FIRST TIME this data is being shared publicly, and it’s expected to provide some really valuable insights for destinations and partners looking to attract and grow esports events 🎮 The session will cover: - New YouGov research on esports fan behavior - Data-backed insights to help attract events and partners - How esports audiences compare to traditional sports fans - Practical takeaways to strengthen your event and bid strategy This is exactly the kind of content that makes the EsportsTravel Summit such a valuable event for destinations & partners serious about growing their presence in esports. Don't miss out! Join us June 23-25 in the Cincy Region - hosted by meetNKY Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau. 🌐https://lnkd.in/erxRbhEZ #EsportsTravelSummit #Esports #SportsTravel #SportsTourism

CasinoCanada has announced a new partnership with GG.BET, strengthening GG.BET’s presence across key regional markets. The collaboration focuses on producing specialised reviews and SEO-driven content for esports and sports betting audiences, delivering reliable information and a streamlined user experience. As esports and sports betting continue to converge, partnerships like this highlight the growing importance of targeted content and regional expertise in sustainable market expansion. 👉 Read the full announcement: https://lnkd.in/dDUda2pz #iGaming #EsportsBetting #SportsBetting #Partnerships #GamingIndustry #Canada

The way sports entertainment is consumed is changing fast and with the new NLC format, we are in the forefront of the development. From the latest article by esports charts: “While the NLC no longer reaches the extraordinary heights it achieved last year during Marc “Caedrel” Lamont’s Los Ratones era, it remains one of the strongest-performing ERLs from a viewership perspective. The league currently ranks as the second most popular regional competition of the season, trailing only the LFL 2026 Invitational.” “The key question now is how quickly other ERLs will follow suit. The success of creator-backed teams like Los Ratones and 4 SWINES & A BUM has demonstrated a clear and repeatable formula for driving audience growth. Whether other regional leagues can successfully integrate creator-driven rosters may ultimately determine how the broader ERL ecosystem evolves in the coming seasons.” It is always a challenge to break the norm, but we are on the right path! https://lnkd.in/eBjnAHD5

We are proud to announce a major milestone in our competitive journey — our Free Fire MAX roster has officially qualified for FFMIC 2026. This achievement reflects months of disciplined preparation, structured training, and relentless dedication from our players and management. Competing at this level demands far more than mechanical skill — it requires resilience, teamwork, adaptability, and consistent performance under pressure. Our lineup has continued to demonstrate these qualities throughout the season. As we move toward one of the most competitive stages of the year, we are actively exploring brand partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, and strategic collaborations with organizations aiming to connect with the rapidly expanding esports and gaming audience. FFMIC offers a powerful environment for authentic brand integration, high-impact visibility, and community-driven engagement. Through our competitive presence, digital content, and audience interaction, we are focused on building partnerships that create meaningful and measurable value for collaborators. We welcome discussions with brands, agencies, and industry leaders who share a vision for innovation, growth, and long-term impact within the esports ecosystem. Let’s connect and create something impactful together. #Esports #FreeFireMAX #FFMIC2026 #Gaming #GamingIndustry #EsportsBusiness #EsportsEcosystem #BrandPartnerships #Sponsorship #DigitalMarketing #ContentMarketing #CompetitiveGaming #MobileEsports #IndiaEsports #CreatorEconomy #Performance #Growth

🚀 CasinoCanada is pleased to announce a partnership with GG.BET, a leading international esports and sports betting platform. This collaboration will expand GG.BET's presence in key regional markets and provide targeted, engaging content for esports and sports betting enthusiasts. CasinoCanada is an online casino guide managed by SEOBROTHERS. 🗣️ Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR at SEOBROTHERS, commented: "GG.BET is a pioneering force in the esports betting space, combining innovation with deep industry knowledge. Partnering with CasinoCanada aligns perfectly with our goal to support platforms that prioritise player engagement and responsible growth. Together, we look forward to delivering valuable content that resonates with esports and sports fans alike and contributes to the sustained success of GG.BET."

THE GIFT OF ESPORTS: #BOUNDLESS Esports continues to prove that borders are no barrier to connection. The two teams featured in this MLBB scrim, VIPER 7 from Senegal and TROLL4EVER from Mauritania represent one of the greatest gifts esports offers: digital connection with boundless opportunities. Players may be competing from their individual homes or places of residence, but through the game, they meet at the same time, in the same lobby, united by passion. Beyond winning, these moments foster teamwork, shared experiences, and the building of strong, sustainable community pathways for African esports. Afro Family Legends is a community-driven esports initiative designed to empower MLBB players across Sub-Saharan Africa by providing structured programs and consistent activities that support long-term sustainability on the continent. Today marked Day 2 of our friendly engagements, with 20 registered MLBB teams from multiple African countries. The stage is being set for an exciting showdown. A big appreciation to Edmond Mensah for carrying the community on his shoulders and ensuring discipline, coordination, and timely participation across all teams. We are currently open to partnerships for the main season. Here’s how your brand gains visibility: > Logo placement on all social media artworks > TV commercial or video played during live streams > Live presenter mentions during main broadcast gameplay > Pan-African exposure through the social media platforms of all participating teams As always More Vim. KH

We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Esports World Cup Foundation, a pioneering organisation shaping the future of global esports. Gemba has been engaged to support the Foundation’s commercial strategy, with a particular focus on ticketing solutions and the development and go-to-market approach for premium hospitality experiences. These initiatives will play a critical role in delivering world-class fan engagement and unlocking new revenue streams for one of the most ambitious esports projects globally. This work builds on previous esports projects completed by Gemba for major rights holders, venues and brands.