In his early days at the Monarch School in San Diego, Juan Rivera would wear a hoodie, walk around with headphones and pretty much keep to himself.

“I was a loose cannon,” he recalled. “Mad or quiet. Too annoying.”

That changed after he joined the school’s video game team.

“With Esports, I could be myself,” he said. “It changed my life a lot.”

Rivera is one of the success stories of an effort by educators to use the passion students have for video games to teach them life skills. That’s especially important for students at Monarch School which, in partnership with the San Diego County Office of Education, teaches homeless youth.

Students, and their coach Chris Garcia, an educational technology coordinator for the county office, explored the power of Esports in a presentation Friday at Comic-Con, a place that celebrates video games.

This is the week! Excited for @Comic_Con and the panel from our @SanDiegoMonarch #EsportsEDU Ss. Come check it out for free! Here’s all the information: https://t.co/XcSms4IijU @SanDiegoCOE @SD_Comic_Con @OutsideComicCon #SDCC2025 pic.twitter.com/P6nblRPLpc

— Chris Garcia (@GarciaEdTechSD) July 22, 2025

The school has 300 students, and it is the only comprehensive K-12 school in the nation developed specifically to serve unhoused students and their families.

Monarch has been using video gaming competitions since 2018 to give students skills and experiences they can use in their lives.

It taught Juan discipline and leadership, he said. For teammate Leo King, it helped him manage his emotions and cope with stress. But it wasn’t just the skills he learned. It taught him how to work with others.

“These are like my second family,” he said. “People I really depend on.”

Jessica Gonzalez said Esports helped her manage stress, whether it’s dealing with a big test or her personal life.

Garcia calls Gonzalez the team’s assistant coach and credits her for encouraging fellow team members to overcome whatever challenges come up in their lives.

Gonzalez said the Esports is an island they can escape to, and a place to build memories.

“It’s a place to disappear to and a time to take a breather,” she said.

The team bond was on full display Friday as the students wore team jackets with a logo of a butterfly shaped like a video game controller.

Team members are looking forward to the future, which includes plans for college but also more video game competitions.

Said King: “It’s definitely helped me grow as a person the last two years.”

Over the last few years, casino streaming has exploded from an underground niche into a dynamic segment of the digital entertainment industry. No longer confined to high-stakes poker tables or anonymous gambling forums, today’s casino enthusiasts are taking their passion public — broadcasting spins, big wins, and even losses to thousands of viewers worldwide. Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick are teeming with streamers who blend high-stakes gameplay with personality-driven entertainment.

What was once just a casual pastime has become a legitimate career path for many. Aspiring streamers — some with minimal technical expertise but a deep love for slots or live table games — are now building loyal audiences, forming brand partnerships, and even earning substantial incomes through viewer support and affiliate programs.

This growth parallels the broader boom in online gambling and live entertainment. With players increasingly seeking engaging, social, and real-time experiences, casino streamers are perfectly positioned to offer exactly that.

From player to personality: the casino streamer journey

The transition from casual casino player to professional streamer is rarely an overnight success. Most start simply — playing games they love and sharing clips with friends. But for those determined to take it further, the path involves developing a public persona, technical setup, content strategy, and strong community engagement.

The first phase is passion-driven. Aspiring streamers often begin with limited resources: a basic microphone, a webcam, and an entry-level capture card. Their streams may be unpolished, but they’re authentic — which matters. Many successful streamers today look back on their early content as rough but crucial stepping stones.

Next comes learning the rhythms of content creation. Unlike casual play, streaming demands consistency and performance. Streamers must learn to entertain even during losing streaks, engage the chat while concentrating on gameplay, and stay up-to-date on the newest games and bonus mechanics.

New streamers face several challenges:

• Discoverability: With so many creators online, getting noticed can be tough.
• Regulations: Navigating gambling laws and platform terms of service is essential.
• Financial risk: Especially for real-money gambling streamers, maintaining a budget is key.

That’s where the community of casino streamers becomes essential. Forums, Discord groups, and subreddits allow newcomers to share tips, get feedback, and find mentorship.

Ultimately, those who succeed do so not just because they gamble well, but because they treat streaming like a business and entertainment like a craft.

Building an audience and monetizing the passion

For a casino streamer, building an audience is the lifeline of their career. Without viewers, there are no donations, no subscriptions, and no sponsorships. That’s why new streamers must focus first on content that resonates.

Consistency is key. Successful streamers tend to stick to regular streaming schedules, ensuring followers know when to tune in. This predictability helps build habits among viewers and supports stronger community engagement.

Next comes content differentiation. What makes you worth watching? Is it your commentary, your luck, your expertise, or your sense of humor? Some streamers focus on high-stakes spins; others dive deep into reviewing new slot games or analyzing bonus mechanics.

Talking with viewers in real time, responding to chats, and fostering a community atmosphere turns passive watchers into loyal fans. Many top streamers host giveaways, loyalty rewards, and community events to boost interaction.

Once the audience grows, monetization opportunities multiply:

• Twitch/YouTube monetization: Subscriptions, bits, Super Chats, and ads.
• Affiliate marketing: Promoting specific casinos with referral links.
• Donations and tipping platforms like Ko-fi or Streamlabs.
• Sponsorships: Collaborations with casinos or gaming brands.

Importantly, ethical streamers prioritize transparency. They disclose affiliate relationships and clearly communicate risks, especially when real money is involved.

Success in this space doesn’t depend solely on winning big — it’s about creating value, offering entertainment, and building trust. Those who understand this shift from just “playing” to “performing” often find longevity in the ever-expanding digital entertainment world.

Platforms and partnerships: tools for growth

While charisma and content are critical, infrastructure and partnerships often determine how far a casino streamer can go. That’s where dedicated platforms and supportive networks come into play.

Sites like Bookofslots.com are becoming important hubs for casino streamers — offering visibility, networking opportunities, and affiliate tools tailored to their niche. These platforms often provide featured listings, bonus codes, and community-driven reviews that help streamers expand their reach.

Additionally, streamers benefit from affiliate programs that allow them to earn revenue by referring viewers to online casinos. With proper tracking links, streamers can monetize engagement while helping viewers discover games they enjoy.

Casinos and iGaming companies frequently look for influencers with engaged audiences to promote new games, events, or platforms.

To succeed in this ecosystem, streamers need to:

• Understand platform rules.
• Maintain transparent disclosures around partnerships.
• Diversify income through multiple channels.
• Stay updated on market trends and viewer preferences.

As confirmed by OptiView by Dolby, the social casino streaming space is rapidly expanding, offering more tools, engagement opportunities, and monetization models.

Investing in good streaming software, stable internet, and quality visuals/audio can significantly improve professionalism and viewer retention.

Conclusion

The world of casino streaming is no longer just for hobbyists — it’s a viable, creative career path for those willing to combine entertainment, strategy, and authenticity. As the online gambling industry continues to grow, so too does the demand for content that educates, entertains, and engages.

Aspiring streamers have more tools and support than ever before, from the growing community of casino streamers to platforms that connect them with audiences and monetization opportunities.

Just because the summer break is nearly over doesn’t mean you have to return to school with the same boring old laptop. These days, a powerful computer that’s compact enough to be with you at all times is super convenient. It’s hard to strike that balance between portability and performance, but we’ve got two awesome deals that do exactly that. Right now, you can get your hands on two different Asus ROG gaming laptops—the Zephyrus G14 and Strix G16—for a massive discount, blending work and gaming seamlessly.

First up, we have the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. There are two models on sale at the moment, both equipped with a gorgeous 3K OLED display running at 120Hz. That’s fast and sharp enough for even the most seasoned professionals. You can get the RTX 5060 model with 16GB of RAM for just $1,349, while the model with the RTX 5070 Ti and 32GB of RAM will cost you $2,049. You save a whopping $450 on the former, and $350 on the latter. The RTX 5060 model, therefore, offers a better value proposition, and it’s paired with a budget-oriented AMD Ryzen 9 270 processor. The laptop is built well overall, nailing all the fundamentals like the trackpad and keyboard, and decent battery life that won’t run out in the middle of a presentation.

In our testing, last year’s G14 with a Ryzen 9 8945HS and an RTX 4060 performed well for its size and stature. It ran most games at 60 FPS or above at 1080p, and the CPU churned out decent numbers in synthetic benchmarks. While the Ryzen AI 9 270 is essentially just a rebranded 8945HS, the GPU is a noticeable upgrade, so expect more performance out of that 5060. It may not be able to handle 4K multi-stream video editing, but working on complex spreadsheets while getting in a quick gaming session should be easy, especially if you opt for the 5070 Ti variant with 32GB of RAM. Keep in mind that the memory is soldered, so that option can be enticing if you don’t plan on upgrading till school’s over.

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If you’re looking for a bit more juice, Asus has got another excellent gaming laptop for you: the ROG Strix G16, for only $1,549. This one’s a big boy, featuring a 16″ screen with a 165Hz refresh rate powered by an RTX 5070 Ti and an AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX under the hood. As such, this laptop is not as slim as the Zephyrus but packs even more of a punch due to its high-performance 140W 5070 Ti, compared to 110W you’d get on the Zephyrus G14. There’s 16GB of RAM on board, and the screen, while not OLED, still has a decent 1600×1200 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio, great for seeing just a little more in your browser tabs.

When it comes to performance, the newer Strix G16 aced our testing, but that model is equipped with a much faster CPU, so we won’t directly compare numbers. Still, just for reference, you can expect to run pretty much any game at 1440p with more than 60 FPS or play esports titles at 1080p while doubling your frame rate. For professional work, the CPU will keep up aplty with its 16 cores so you can actually edit 4K video without hassle this time. The build quality of the Strix G16 is great, but the design is a bit more brash with its RGB strip around the chassis, so you might stand out a bit in class. The trackpad, keyboard, and battery life are all sufficient; however, the speakers leave a little to be desired.

Regardless of which laptop you choose, they’re both great options that offer solid bang for your buck. You get a performant machine that’s lightweight and easy to travel with, or you get a gaming powerhouse that can easily replace a desktop. Either way, the price is right. Don’t miss out, or you might be stuck with that slow Chromebook for the rest of the year!

If you’re looking for more savings, check out our Best PC Hardware deals for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals, Hard Drive Deals, Gaming Monitor Deals, Graphics Card Deals, or CPU Deals pages.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) – Gaming is helping some San Diego students overcome adversity—and now they’re getting the rare chance to share that journey on one of Comic-Con’s stages.

“My favorite games I like to play personally while I’m competing is Super Smash Bros,” said high school sophomore, Jessica Gonzalez.

For Gonzalez, her love of gaming isn’t just a hobby. She’s part of the seven-member esports team at Monarch School in Barrio Logan.

Competing against other schools means practicing once a week at the San Diego County Office of Education’s Linda Vista Innovation Center.

Gaslamp Quarter goes all-in for Comic-Con with exclusive deals and activations

“Whether it be attendance, grades, finding a community, finding friendships,” said Education Technology Coordinator for the San Diego County Office of Education, Christopher Garcia while speaking on the benefits of youth gaming competitions.

As coach of the team, Garcia has a window into the struggles some students carry with them every day. Monarch School supports families who’ve experienced homelessness.

“Being able to have a community where they can come and feel safe, where they can find mentorship, where they can find guidance–that’s what our esports club does,” Garcia continued.

Before joining the team, Gonzalez said she remembered feeling isolated. She said, “I was really having attendance problems on showing up to school and not really having any motivation or any reason to really want to come to school.”

However, over the last year there’s been a shift. “When I did start showing up more and I did start getting along with everyone, it brought out a better side of myself than what I was previously,” said Gonzalez.

She and some of her teammates will share their stories at one of Comic-Con’s educational panels Friday at the San Diego Central Library from from 5 to 6 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.

Team Vitality has revealed that it has signed a multi-year deal with global sports betting and gaming leader Stake. The latter has become the esports organization’s official sponsor for the men’s Counter-Strike 2 team.

This partnership further establishes Stake.com as a forward-thinking brand that embraces innovation. The company has several prominent partnerships with Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters and the organization itself, and is now moving into a new and exciting vertical.

The partnership will see Stake’s logo prominently featured on Team Vitality’s team jerseys, with the first land-based event on the calendar set for IEM Cologne, a prominent stop on the Counter-Strike competitive circuit.

Stake has also been careful in its selection of Team Vitality, hailing the team as one of the most formidable CS2 powerhouses. The company has specifically been tracking its recent performance, including the team’s winning of several prominent titles, including the Blast Austin Major and ESL Grand Slam.

Team Vitality and Stake will work together to create various activations across social media and other supported channels to drive engagement and boost awareness for their respective brands. The guiding principle here would be “authentic connection,” as the brands want to grow organically in the vertical.

Team Vitality co-CEO Vas Roberts has welcomed the news and had this to say, commenting on the prominent partnerships:

“This partnership with Stake is historic: not only for its scale but also for its symbolic value. It reflects the success of our ambition to establish Team Vitality as a leading global esports brand, alongside the biggest names in their respective industries. At a defining point in our Counter-Strike journey, this collaboration will allow us to create innovative experiences, offer exclusive content around our team, and support our CS2 roster as it reaches new competitive heights.”

The World-class Caliber Partner Stake Has Been Looking For

Strake Chief Marketing Officer Akhil Sarin has been similarly happy to see Stake expand with Team Vitality. He described the esports org as the “caliber of world-class partner” that the company is constantly seeking to engage with.

Most recently, Stake announced another similar partnership, with Patrice Evra, a former soccer pro. The company has also teamed up with various franchises and sports organizations around the world, including Formula 1, where Stake.com is fielding its team.

In the volatile landscape of gaming and digital media, regulatory compliance is often a litmus test for operational resilience. GameSquare Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GAME), a company synonymous with high-risk, high-reward ventures in esports and content creation, has just navigated a critical juncture. After a 10-month battle to restore compliance with Nasdaq’s $1.00 minimum bid price rule, the company achieved success on July 21, 2025, with a 10-day closing bid price above the threshold. This milestone not only averts immediate delisting but also signals a strategic recalibration that could redefine investor confidence in the sector.

The Compliance Challenge: A Tale of Two Crises

GameSquare’s non-compliance saga began in October 2024, when its stock price fell below $1.00 for 30 consecutive days. At the time, the company faced a dual crisis: a deteriorating financial position (negative EBITDA of -$23.11 million in 2024) and a fragmented business model spread across media, crypto, and esports. The Nasdaq delisting threat amplified investor skepticism, with the stock trading at a trough of $0.69 per share.

To regain compliance, GameSquare pursued a two-pronged strategy:
1. Capital Structure Optimization: A $2 million credit facility from the Jones Family and a $10 million asset sale (including its stake in FaZe Media) provided liquidity to reduce cash burn.
2. Operational Streamlining: Divesting non-core assets and refocusing on high-margin esports properties like FaZe Esports signaled a pivot toward profitability.

The company also secured a 180-day extension (until October 13, 2025) by demonstrating compliance with market value of publicly held shares, a critical step in buying time to execute its plan.

Strategic Implications: From Survival to Growth

The compliance restoration is more than a regulatory checkbox—it’s a catalyst for long-term operational resilience. Three key factors position GameSquare to rebuild investor trust:

1. FaZe Esports as a Profit Engine: By consolidating its esports division, GameSquare has created a scalable asset. FaZe Clan’s global following (over 50 million social media followers) and tournament revenue streams now anchor the business. The planned GAMERGY 2026 esports festival in Dallas, a joint venture with GGTech Entertainment, could unlock new revenue channels and brand partnerships.

2. Crypto and Digital Media Diversification: While crypto remains a volatile bet, GameSquare’s Ethereum-native yield strategy (partnering with Dialectic) and NFT initiatives demonstrate agility in capitalizing on blockchain trends. This diversification mitigates overreliance on traditional gaming revenue.

3. Financial Prudence Over Aggressive Expansion: The suspension of at-the-market (ATM) offerings and focus on debt restructuring (e.g., settling convertible notes with Yorkville Advisors) reflect a shift toward capital preservation. This contrasts with the company’s earlier growth-at-all-costs approach, which contributed to its liquidity crisis.

Investor Confidence: A Fragile Rebuilding Effort

Despite these strides, skepticism lingers. GameSquare’s balance sheet still shows a cash reserve of $4.68 million (as of Q1 2025), and its gross profit margins remain weak at 15.88%. However, the compliance victory removes a major overhang, allowing the market to reassess the company’s strategic direction.

For long-term investors, the key metrics to monitor are:
– EBITDA Recovery: A return to positive EBITDA would validate the operational pivot.
– Stock Price Stability: Sustaining a bid price above $1.00 for 90+ days could attract institutional buyers.
– GAMERGY 2026 Performance: The event’s ticket sales, sponsorships, and media coverage will test the company’s ability to monetize its esports brand.

The Road Ahead: Risks and Opportunities

GameSquare’s path is far from assured. The esports market is highly competitive, and the company’s reliance on FaZe Clan’s brand equity could backfire if the team underperforms in major tournaments. Additionally, regulatory scrutiny of crypto initiatives remains a wildcard.

However, the company’s management has shown a willingness to adapt. The recent termination of ATM offerings and focus on non-dilutive capital (e.g., credit facilities) suggest a maturing approach to corporate governance. For investors willing to tolerate near-term volatility, GameSquare’s position in the $1.5 trillion global gaming industry—and its foothold in esports—offers asymmetric upside.

Conclusion: A Cautionary Buy for Strategic Investors

GameSquare’s Nasdaq compliance restoration is a victory, but it’s only the first step. The company must now prove that its strategic overhauls translate into sustainable profitability. While the stock remains a high-risk bet, its alignment with the explosive growth of esports and digital media makes it a compelling case study in corporate resilience.

For long-term investors, the key takeaway is this: GameSquare’s ability to navigate regulatory and financial challenges could serve as a blueprint for other high-growth firms in the sector. Those who can stomach the volatility may find themselves positioned to benefit from the next phase of the gaming revolution.

Investment Advice: Consider a small, strategic position in GAME for a 12–18 month horizon, contingent on Q3 2025 EBITDA improvement and positive sentiment around GAMERGY 2026. Use stop-loss orders to mitigate downside risk.