OLEAN — The eSports stadium at SUNY Jamestown Community College’s Cattaraugus County Campus continues to be a hub for regional high school and middle school competitions.

Five schools in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties and more than 50 students ranging from sixth grade to seniors participated in the CA BOCES spring tournament at JCC’s downtown Olean location. Since 2023 it was the fifth time BOCES has held a tournament on the campus.

“We have used the campus and space multiple times and have always been very happy with the venue,” said Karen Insley, CA BOCES program manager who oversees student programming. “As usual, Jonathan (Kowal, JCC athletic and recruitment coordinator) was a fantastic host. The Magnano Room and the eSports arena are a perfect fit for our group.”

Members of the Randoph eSports team compete at Jamestown Community College in Olean. (SUNY JCC)

Teams from Andover, Bolivar-Richburg, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Olean and Randolph enjoyed the day at JCC playing Rocket League, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros. games.

Randolph earned the season-long Rocket League crown, finishing unbeaten in matches.

“The students love being able to show off their talents and skills in a competitive environment,” said Andrew Garvey, coach of Randolph. “They are always so excited when we get to bring home a trophy or banner to display in the school. They see it happen so often for traditional sports, so it’s so nice for them to be recognized in a similar fashion.”

While some other area schools opt to play in remote leagues against teams from around the country, the CA BOCES league doesn’t require a hefty entry fee and allows students to compete locally, and face-to-face in fall and spring tournaments at JCC.

“My students love the face-to-face competition,” said Malibu Peelman, Bolivar-Richburg coach. “They love having an event for eSports, and for my older students they enjoy learning of the possibilities of further education at JCC.”

JCC’s sprawling eSports stadium, with its capacity to host 60 or more students, is a perfect place for a regional gaming tournament. The stadium opened in 2022 and is home to the college’s National Junior College Athletics Association Esports team. It includes an arena for official competitions and a mezzanine for viewing, a meeting room with computers for practice, an activity area with console games, and a reception area.

CA BOCES plans to hold its next big tournament, this December, at JCC.

Garvey said the stadium is “great facility with lots of equipment and rooms to fit students,” while Peelman added that the space “allows for focus in the students’ gaming interest.”

Theresa Pfeil from Hinsdale Central School attended the spring tournament to see what it was all about and for guidance in growing the eSports program at the school. The Olean team, meanwhile, visited the JCC arena for the first time this spring to play.

Kowal said that in addition to BOCES affiliated schools, many from around the region and beyond have visited the stadium to play and observe what JCC has created.

“We’ve had visitors in the past just come to see what it was, how to build something, and then went on their way back to their school,” Kowal said.

Though Randolph has had an informal gaming club for 12 years, many area schools are new to eSports. CA BOCES started its eSports league for schools three years ago, with a half dozen or more competing at different times.

Visit JCCJayhawks.com for more information about JCC eSports.

The ongoing Group’s work earned it the Great Place to Work (GPTW) seal last week. The certification – a global reference in people management and organizational climate – recognizes the company for promoting a positive environment, with development, well-being and inclusion initiatives. The GPTW survey assesses employee perceptions in five pillars – credibility, respect, impartiality, pride and camaraderie.

“We believe that growing responsibly requires investing in people, providing an environment of genuine care with opportunities for constant development,” says Sophia Serak, the group’s People Director. “Since the beginning of the group’s companies, taking care of people has always been an essential part of our culture. In recent months, we have focused even more efforts on strengthening our values, keeping up with the accelerated pace of our growth without ever losing sight of the human aspect. The arrival of the GPTW seal confirms that we are on the right path,” says the executive.

Among the most recent advances are the strategic hires that further strengthen the company’s leadership and governance, such as the arrival of Hugo Baungartner, who took on the role of executive director of Institutional Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Esportes Gaming Brasil, with the aim of supporting the brand’s expansion and strengthening institutional connections. The arrival of Hugo and other leaders is part of a more structured and rigorous selection process that is aligned with the group’s culture and strategic objectives.

In addition to forming new teams, the company consistently invests in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of its team, offering a complete benefits structure.

Highlights include the health and dental plan, which also covers up to two dependents up to 18 years of age; free access to two monthly sessions with a psychologist and nutritionist; and encouragement to practice physical activities through Wellhub, which is extended to family members. In addition, employees have access to discounts at pharmacies and on their energy bills, among other support in their daily lives. All of this reinforces the company’s commitment to valuing and caring for the people who make its growth happen.

Engagement, ethics and development

To strengthen engagement and connection between teams, the Group promoted, throughout the first half of the year, actions that value diversity and collaborative work. Highlights include the discussion group on International Women’s Day and the São João Festival, which took place to further integrate the teams.

In June, the company also launched the Responsible Gaming Program: Learning to Protect, aimed at training on Responsible Gaming. The initiative was attended by the Brazilian Company for Supporting Compulsive Gamblers (EBAC) and the Institute for Supporting Gamblers (IAA). The project reinforces the company’s commitment to ongoing development and responsibility in the sector in which it operates.

In the area of compliance, in addition to hiring the new compliance manager Ana Carolina Maçães, the company launched the Ethics Channel and also launched its Code of Ethics and Conduct in June. To complement these actions, the launch of the Support Channel, aimed at providing emotional support to employees, is scheduled for this month. Operating 24 hours a day and being attended by trained psychologists, the channel will be an important tool for support and active listening, in line with NR-1.

These initiatives reinforce the group’s mission: “To offer exceptional experiences, combining fun, safety and excellence in service. We grow by investing in the development of our team, driven by energy, intelligence and integrity to generate lasting value for our customers,” concludes the executive.

Esportes Gaming Brasil

Esportes Gaming Brasil is one of the leading groups in the betting sector in the country, with 100% national operations and an official license granted by the Ministry of Finance, through SPA/MF. The authorization covers its two brands: Esportes da Sorte and Onabet, which operate throughout Brazil.

A leader in innovation and a defender of market regulation, the group’s pillars are its commitment to responsible gaming and continuous investment in control technologies and user well-being.

With hundreds of jobs created, its operations go beyond betting: it supports projects in the areas of sports and culture, such as the Corinthians, Ceará, Ferroviária and Náutico clubs, in addition to high-profile initiatives such as ‘Galo da Madrugada’, ‘Carnaval do Recife e Olinda’ and the Parintins Festival.

Onabet, in turn, expands the group’s digital reach with creative campaigns and partnerships with influencers, strengthening the connection with the public on online platforms.

Source: GMB

The Westbury High School esports team recently placed third at the Empire State Scholastic Esports Federation (ESSEF) championship and invitational, hosted at Syracuse University’s gaming and esports center.

“This event was an incredible opportunity for our scholars to showcase their talents and represent Westbury on the state level,” said Westbury High School esports club advisor Michael Fodera. “Esports continues to provide a dynamic platform that fosters healthy competition, collaboration, critical thinking, and hard work.”

The Westbury High School esports competitors participated in several weeks of regular season play, after which they qualified for the championship. The scholars then competed in the semifinals for Super Smash Bros. in the 3v3 team division, earning medals as they captured third place.

“Team members Olson Benjamin, Edwin Mendoza Ceron, Matthew Flores, David Franco, and Jahsiah Santana demonstrated remarkable skill, teamwork, and perseverance throughout the tournament,” said Fodera.

ESSEF is the largest middle and high school esports league in New York. The organization was founded by educators to foster the growth of scholastic esports throughout the state.

Live Nation today announced a 10-year naming rights partnership with Veikkaus, Finland’s state-owned gaming operator, for Helsinki Halli. The venue will be renamed Veikkaus Arena, marking a new chapter for the iconic Finnish arena. The partnership follows the announcement earlier this year that Live Nation signed a 20-year long-term lease to operate the venue.

Veikkaus Arena, which will reopen this September, has a capacity of up to 15,500 and has been a central hub for concerts, sports, and cultural events in Finland. Closed since 2020, with limited reopening in 2021, the venue’s absence has left a significant gap in the Finnish live market. When operational, the arena contributed over €100 million annually to Helsinki’s local economy.

“Veikkaus offers gambling and entertainment services with a focus on player well-being. Their upcoming naming partnership reflects their commitment to supporting live events and enriching the cultural landscape of Helsinki,” according to the press release announcing the new naming rights partner.

Live Nation identifies “significant momentum for live music across Europe, positioning Veikkaus Arena as a premier destination for global tours and brand partnerships in the Nordic live entertainment market.”

Live Nation also announced that it will continue its collaboration with long-time venue partner Hartwall, focusing on food and beverage offerings. Veikkaus Arena will be opening in September 2025, with announcements on shows and events expected soon. Discussions are also underway to explore the arena’s potential sporting uses.

Comments:

Therese Liljedahl, Live Nation SVP international partnerships: “This partnership is a key milestone in bringing Veikkaus Arena back to the forefront of international live entertainment. Veikkaus’s strong Finnish heritage and leadership in the local market puts them centre stage in this exciting moment for Finland’s live music landscape, helping to elevate the fan experience and support the region’s growth.”

Tom Lynch, Live Nation president of venues EMEA: “Reopening the arena and partnering with Veikkaus represents a pivotal moment for the venue landscape in the Nordic region. Veikkaus Arena is poised to attract top-tier international tours, further cementing the strength of Finland’s live music scene.”

Olli Sarekoski, CEO of Veikkaus: “The arena is the heart of our capital city and a hub for high-quality events. It is important that as many people as possible get to enjoy the arena’s diverse offering of culture, sports, and entertainment. Veikkaus wants to actively promote and enable those experiences together with Live Nation.”

Reija Laaksonen, Veikkaus Director of Human Resources and Communications: “We want to be strongly involved in the everyday lives of Finns through entertainment, sports, culture, and related events. The arena is an excellent place to offer these experiences to customers in our nation’s capital. In cooperation with the arena, we are enabling world-class live entertainment for people in Helsinki.”

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At Bowling Green Independent School District in Kentucky, high school students can take a class in which they repair HP Chromebooks as part of the school’s computer science pathway. There’s a room in the high school dedicated to the repairs, which gives students and their teacher everything they need, says Digital Learning Coach Megan Marcum.

The student team uses Incident IQ to field and track repairs, explains Technology Director William King. This gives teachers visibility and helps the IT department manage their fleet of devices, from deployment to end of life.

The district has seen only benefits from its student repair team. It has extended the life of its Chromebooks, expedited repair turnaround times, given students real-world skills and experience, and even hired a full-time employee who formerly worked as a student on the repair team.

LEARN MORE: Manage your fleet of K–12 devices with help from the experts at CDW.

Aristocrat Gaming has been awarded an exclusive land-based license to develop and launch MONOPOLY-themed slot games for casinos worldwide, marking a significant milestone for both the gaming company and the iconic board game brand. This new partnership with Hasbro, which was secured after a competitive RFP process, ensures that Aristocrat will create a series of MONOPOLY slots starting in early 2026, bringing fresh and innovative content to casino floors globally.

A Landmark Collaboration with Hasbro

The collaboration between Aristocrat Gaming and Hasbro is a testament to the growing influence of brand-driven gaming. Craig Toner, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming, expressed his excitement over the new partnership, stating in a press release, “To be selected as Hasbro’s land-based slots partner – after a highly competitive process – is a proud milestone for Aristocrat Gaming. Our commitment to innovation and bold creativity sets us apart, and we’re excited to reimagine MONOPOLY slot games for today’s players around the globe.”

Hasbro’s selection of Aristocrat as the ideal partner for this new chapter in the MONOPOLY gaming experience was not an arbitrary choice. Claire Hunter Gregson, Director of Gaming Relationships at Hasbro, explained, “It was evident through our selection process that Aristocrat Gaming was the natural fit for the next evolution of the Monopoly brand in the gaming category. We can’t wait for Monopoly fans to experience all new premium gaming content on casino floors.”

This partnership signals the beginning of a new era for the MONOPOLY brand in land-based gaming, reimagining the beloved board game for adult audiences in dynamic, interactive slot formats.

Expanding Hasbro’s Casino Licensing Strategy

The partnership between Aristocrat and Hasbro is part of a broader strategy by Hasbro to expand its reach in the casino gaming sector. According to Hasbro, the game company has signed several multi-year deals with prominent gaming providers, including Evolution, Galaxy Gaming, and Bally’s. These partnerships will see the launch of various Hasbro-branded gaming experiences, including MONOPOLY, Dungeons and Dragons, and YAHTZEE, across multiple platforms, from online casinos to physical gaming floors.

Hasbro’s approach to licensing is centered on innovation and meeting players wherever they engage with their favorite brands. “We’re all about play – and that means meeting our fans wherever they are, from the game table to the casino floor,” Gregson said, emphasizing the company’s strategy to bring its iconic intellectual properties to new, exciting formats.

The First MONOPOLY Slot Titles Set for 2026

The first of the MONOPOLY slot titles, developed under this new partnership, will be unveiled in early 2026. The launch will introduce a fresh take on the classic game, incorporating innovative features and premium content that will appeal to both traditional slot players and MONOPOLY fans.

This collaboration also includes a variety of other exciting partnerships. For example, Galaxy Gaming will develop table games based on Hasbro’s intellectual properties, including MONOPOLY and YAHTZEE. These games will offer casino players the chance to engage with their favorite Hasbro titles in new ways, further expanding the reach of the brand.

Hasbro’s “Playing to Win” strategy, launched earlier in 2025, focuses on innovation and strategic partnerships that will bring their most popular brands to life across a variety of gambling formats. The brand’s expansion into the casino sector, particularly through collaborations with gaming giants like Aristocrat and Galaxy Gaming, reflects Hasbro’s commitment to reimagining its properties for a new generation of players.

The new MONOPOLY slot games are expected to set a new standard in the casino industry, blending the excitement of classic gaming with the thrill of modern slot gameplay. As more of Hasbro’s iconic brands are integrated into casino offerings, fans will have even more opportunities to experience their favorite games in exciting new ways.