LATEST NEWS

Keep up to date with all of our latest news and updates

Refreshing our brand: Introducing Community Care Gaming

Incorporating and leading a start-up is not only the best job in the world, but it is also a journey of reflection, self-discovery and learning. When we incorporated ESG Gaming in 2021 we believed our not-for-profit organisation would be focused on working collaboratively with the gaming, gambling and tech spaces to develop and write Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reports for those businesses.
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Be The Change: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit

Powered by Women in Esports and supported by Sunderland City Council, Be The Change summit returns to Sundland City Hall on Thursday 21 November. Building upon on success of the 2023 Summit, Be the Change is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at advancing diversity, equity and inclusivity not only in the esports industry, but in society as a whole.  
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Web Summit: Lisbon

We are making our third trip this year to both the beautify City of Lisbon and the MEO Arena on Sunday 10 November as part of the ALPHA Start Up programme at the Web Summit. As many will know, this show will bring together 70,000+ people, and the companies redefining the tech industry.
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Being Accelerated

Those who kindly follow the work of ESG Gaming will know we were humbly accepted on to the British Esports / Sunderland Software City accelerator programme.  Over the space of what was essentially just a couple of months, a small, disparate team of individual entrepreneurs from across the world came together in Sunderland. Armed with experience, passion and enthusiasm, we all signed up to a shared learning experience that in many ways became the ultimate 360 peer programme.
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British Esports Accelerator

What a superb week in Sunderland again this week, as our journey on the accelerator programme continues.

What a superb week in Sunderland again this week, as our journey on the accelerator programme continues. As somebody who really enjoys continuous learning and this type of work, for me, it was excellent week.
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ESI Lisbon: Thank you

ESI Lisbon was our fifth ESI event and undoubtedly our most successful. 

ESG Gaming was fortunate to be the not-for-profit partner of this event in the beautiful city of Lisbon. For the second year running, we worked alongside the gracious ESI team to support and donate the prize funds for the Film Festival. 
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Launching ESG Gaming’s Third Annual Review

ESG Gaming was incorporated as a not-for-profit, regulated Community Interest Company with no shareholding in August 2021. Reaching our first year in a solid financial position, having a sense of and starting to build our MVP, and knowing where and how we would measure our social impact were important milestones. Therefore, it is incredibly humbling to be at the end of year three, building upon those initial milestones to reach this point in ourjourney.
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British Esports Accelerator – initial reflection

British Esports, in partnership with Sunderland Software City (SSC), has announced that 14 startups have been accepted onto a new esports accelerator programme designed to drive the growth of the gaming sector. Supported by Sunderland City Council, British Esports and tech sector support organisation Sunderland Software City, collectively they have designed the programme to present a unique opportunity for budding companies in esports to benefit from leading industry experts.
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ESG Gaming founder Lee Willows to debate relationship between esports and gambling at ESI Lisbon

Lee Willows, founder of the not for profit, award-winning ESG Gaming, will be part of the Esports Betting and Gambling panel being held as part of the ESI Lisbon festival

(MEO Arena Lisbon 23rd - 25th September 2024)
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ESG Gaming to join the Esports Accelerator Programme

We are delighted to announce that ESG Gaming has been shortlisted to join the British Esports Accelerator Programme. This program, a collaboration between British Esports, Sunderland City Council, and Sunderland Software City, is a significant opportunity for entrepreneurs and change-makers in the esports sector. It offers a platform to learn from top industry professionals, participate in tailored workshops, receive one-to-one mentoring, and connect to an investment network. 
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ESG Gaming 
Planning for 2025

Building Better, not bigger was the theme for ESG Gaming's 2024 Away Day which was kindly hosted by our longstanding partner Mishcon de Reya LLP.  The day allowed the team to reflect on the collective achievements made in 2023/24 and plan our strategy to December 2025.
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ESG Gaming & VIVERSE participates in Eirmersive’s
OUTWARD event

ESG Gaming and VIVERSE were proud to participate in OUTWARD, an event hosted by Eirmersive on September 11 th , 2024, at the O’Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, Dublin. The event, which was attended by Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders to highlight the achievements of Ireland’s
growing immersive technology sector.
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ESG Gaming: Breaking the stigma of ageing, loneliness, and social isolation

Ahead of ESI Events’ flagship conference ESI Lisbon (September 23rd-25th), ‘Looking at Lisbon’ takes a look at some of those behind the sessions. This article provides some background into the works and mission of ESG Gaming, and, namely, how gaming and esports can help to tackle loneliness, social isolation and reduce risk factors for dementia for the 50-year-plus population.
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Initial literature review into unregulated and unlicensed gambling on the Dark Web

This literature review introduces the unregulated and unlicensed gambling ecosystem on the Dark Web. It is the first of two reports that I hope to publish over the next few months. Conducted over a two-week period, this initial desktop literature review aims to (i) shed light on the challenges of researching the Dark Web and (ii) provide an overview of gambling within the Dark Web, based on existing literature. 
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Influencer-led gambling in gaming on Twitch, Kick and YouTube

In recent years, there has been a rapidity of gaming and gambling combinations most commonly noticed in Twitch, YouTube and Kick streaming platforms. Influencers, with their considerable and active follower base, play a crucial role in transforming the landscape of gambling-related content in the gaming community.
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ESG Gaming 
in a nutshell

Distilling the work of a start-up organisation into an easy-to-read and pictorial one or two-pager PDF can be difficult. This is especially true for an organisation like ESG Gaming, which is delivering a couple of different social projects and research in sectors that see themselves very differently.
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A case for community action: esports, older players, mental health, and social isolation.

Independently commissioned by the International Esports Federation (IESF); Esports Insider and ESG Gaming were humbled to be selected to write a cross-sectional, qualitative industry report of the literature that covers the topics of esports, older players, mental health, and social isolation.
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Q1: Reporting progress

ESG Gaming has committed to and is modelling absolute transparency for our not-for-profit start-up organisation. On our website, you'll find information such as our governance documentation, board meeting papers, organisational policies, organisational risk assessments and our register of interests, to name a few shared documents.
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ESG Gaming shortlisted for South East UK StartUp Award 2024

Humbly, ESG Gaming has been named a finalist ahead of the South East final of the StartUp Awards.

The UK StartUp Awards was launched to recognise the booming start-up scene across the UK, which has accelerated over the last few years. Over 900,000 new businesses were
founded in the UK in 2023 alone.
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ESI Next Gen: Cheng Kar Shun Digital Hub at Jesus College, University of Oxford

ESG Gaming are once again humbled to be invited by the lovely team from Esports Insider, to be their Not for Profit partner at the upcoming ESI Next Gen event. 

This is a perfect venue for those working in, studying or simply interested in integrating video games and esports in education, both curricular and extra-curricular. 
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Player Protection: Esports 

I was humbled to be invited to the Betting on Esports Conference last week, part of the Clarion Gaming ICE Show at the London ExCel.

As always, I enjoy Clarion Gaming events and have attended ICE for ten years as a delegate, speaker and exhibitioner
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ESG Gaming wins Best Product award at the world’s largest EdTech Show.

What a way to start 2024 with a surprise win for ESG Gaming at Bett, the world’s largest EdTech Show. Winning Best Product!

‘This award means so much and is only possible due to the purposeful collaboration we have assembled. Therefore, a win for ESG Gaming is a win for our consumers and everybody who is supporting our journey’.
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Can esports and the metaverse improve health outcomes for those aged 50 years and over?

According to several research papers, the answer is a resounding yes.

ESG Gaming, an award-winning, regulated, not-for-profit community interest company, is founded on the lived experience of poor mental health and addiction by its founder, Lee Willows.
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ESG Gaming to showcase metaverse at four Global Tech Shows

ESG Gaming is kickstarting 2024 by showcasing its initial metaverse at four global tech shows. THE DOME by ESG Gaming is powered by VIVERSE by Business, the multi-award winning platform.
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ESG Gaming Joins Ukie

The Board from Ukie (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment) have approved ESG Gaming's application to become a Partner Member as of January 2024.
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ESG Gaming appoints Director of Education

In establishing ESG Gaming, we needed to find a colleague to develop and lead our education and quality-assurance strategy. As a start-up organisation, this is a hands-on role while we build our
financial resilience and capability.
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Sweet Cabin & ESG Gaming bring smiles to ESI London.

The countdown to ESI London at BOXPARK has now started, and we are delighted to announce that Sweet Cabin and ESG Gaming have teamed together to spread some smiles at the event.
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Personal Lived Experience stories to be showcased at BAFTA 

Sometimes in life, moments stop you in your tracks and cause you to pause, think and reflect. Last weekend was one of those moments for me as I, along with my fellow judges, viewed the moving, yet inspiring long list of ten films
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ESG Gaming: Renews registration with Fundraising Regulator

ESG Gaming has renewed its registration with the Fundraising Regulator for a second year. There have been no public complaints brought against ESG Gaming since its incorporation and original registration with the Fundraising Regulator.
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Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

In early 2023, ESG Gaming signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant. This is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. 
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A decade worth of lived experience reflections.
Blog four of four: Transparency & Innovation

In his final blog for August, Lee shares some reflections on transparency within the third sector and what the evolution of technology and the blurring of the lines between gambling and gaming might mean for consumers seeking information and support.
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A decade worth of lived experience reflections.
Blog three of four: Lived Experience

Our founder shares some reflections on Lived Experience in his most recent blog
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ESG Gaming: Annual General Meeting outcome

ESG Gaming held its AGM today (Monday 21 August), and the board discussed and approved our year-end accounts, Directors Report and CIC 34 Report to the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies.
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ESG Gaming: GambleAware Stabilisation Fund

ESG Gaming has made an application to the recently announced Stabilisation Fund, which GambleAware is administrating.
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A decade worth of lived experience reflections.
Blog two of four: Funding and those who enable it.

This blog covers Our founders reflections on funding and some top-level hopes for the statutory levy.
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A decade worth of lived experience reflections.
Blog one of four: Did anybody say this is easy?

Reflecting on a decade in the gambling support sector, our founder has committed to four refection blog pieces in August.
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ESG Gaming: Annual General Meeting 

ESG Gaming has given notice for its second Annual General Meeting which will take place on Monday 21 August.
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ESG Gaming powered by VIVERSE for Business 

Building upon our academic literacy review, research and Theory of Change around the potential social impact of Web3, ESG Gaming are broadening our partnership portfolio to include HTC VIVE and VIVERSE for Business.
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ESG Gaming partners with Esports Insider (ESI)

Leading global B2B esports and media company Esports Insider (ESI) has announced the first esports & gaming short film festival, taking place as part of their flagship event ESI London on Friday 20th October.
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MERKUR UK: Championing innovation around safer gambling

MERKUR UK has shown an unstinting commitment to safer gambling with its 360 Program which is regarded as being an exempla of best practice by a range of stakeholders.
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MDRx support ESG Gaming 

MDRx, is part of the Mishcon de Reya LLP Group, a technology consultancy specialising in building emerging tech strategies and products.
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UK Gambling Commission: Regulatory Settlement

ESG Gaming and our partners have been awarded a regulatory settlement from the Gambling Commission to undertake a twelve-month collaborative research project.
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ESG Gaming achieves Investors in People Accreditation

The foundations at ESG Gaming were further bolstered this week as it was confirmed that we have met the Investors in People standard.
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Ensuring the proposed Statutory Levy is meaningful and impactful

The inclusion of a statutory levy within the Gambling White Paper is a commitment that is very precious and comes with great responsibility,  both with the commissioner/s and the organisations to provide their services.
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ESG Gaming achieves Pride 365 Certification

ESG Gaming continues to learn and place down essential foundations as a start-up not-for-profit organisation. We are moving to the stage of employing colleagues and want to ensure we provide an inclusive, supportive, transparent and exemplary working environment.
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ESG Gaming signs and commits to the Armed Forces Covenant 

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly
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Gambling White Paper: A Framework to Innovate and drive more significant Social impact

ESG Gaming welcomes the publication of the Gambling White Paper and the Gambling Commissions’ Advice to Government
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ESG Gaming joins Ecologi

We do a lot of travelling at ESG Gaming and we have been trying to find a simple, but impactful way to become climate positive.
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ESG Gaming registered with Fundraising Regulator

From an ESG Gaming perspective maintaining purposeful and transparent governance has been very important to us since our incorporation. Here are a few examples of how we model transparent governance:
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ESG Gaming becomes registered with UKRLP

ESG Gaming has been working alongside Bournemouth University for the past eight month to test and consider Theory of Change for Web3 platforms
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ESG Gaming joins the Metaverse Standards Forum and Crypto UK

ESG Gaming continues to have a laser focus on our vision ‘To ensure that consumers worldwide possess the skills, knowledge, resilience, and tools to engage with digital entertainment in a safe, responsible, positive, and inclusive manner’.
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Another purposeful 
ICE Show

This week saw my sixth annual pilgrimage to the ICE London Show at ExCeL London. As usual it was almost overwhelming with in the region of 40,000 people, over 600 exhibitors and an estimated 3,000 product launches.
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ESG Gaming at ICE Esports Arena for 2023

I am very much looking forward to seeing friends and colleagues at ICE 2023. This will be my sixth ICE show having unfortunately missed last year’s show due to Covid
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ESG Gaming to debut tech inequality documentary

The Esports Arena at ICE London will celebrate a first on Wednesday 8th February when it hosts the premiere of Ironclad; a short documentary style film produced by ESG Gaming and supported by Ambassadeurs Group
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EAG 2023 Show at the London ExCel

It was nice to be back at an in-person show again, following a year of both establishing the foundations for ESG Gaming and completing year-one of my MBA. EAG provided the perfect opportunity to catch up
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2022: A year of transition and continued learning

Before we launch into 2023 full of enthusiasm, optimism and a renewed sense of vigour, I always like to look back and reflect on the year that was 2022
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ESG Gaming to outline future customer trends in gambling and gaming

Lee Willows, founder of ESG Gaming will be using January’s edition of EAG to update the industry on the research-led approach being deployed to understand future customer trends in gambling and gaming.
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ESG Gaming registered with Fundraising Regulator

ESG Gaming as a regulated Community Interest Company is delighted to report that our application to join the Fundraising Regulator has been approved.
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ESG Gaming becomes registered with UKRLP

ESG Gaming is proudly registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers, meaning that we are officially recognised by the UK government.
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ESG Gaming to hold first AGM

ESG Gaming has held it first AGM as a newly incorporated Community Interest Company. The AGM gave the opportunity for the Non-Executive Directors to scrutinise our activities and impact as noted in the Statutory CIC34 Report and reflect on our first year.
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ESG Gaming Publish 2023 Enabling Plan and Year One Annual Review

ESG Gaming has published its 2023 Enabling Plan and our Year One Annual Review. Download your copies and read more here.
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How you can help?

Our Vision is underpinned by our Values which are about being Gracious, Authentic, Humble and Determined.  Like many of you we are committed to continue to work collaboratively in this space, something many of us have done now for several years.
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Support ESG

Diversify your LCCP RET contributions to include ESG Gaming. Support with trade show and event merchandise. Employee-led volunteering opportunities.
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We're hiring!

ESG Gaming is a trading name of ESG Corporate Community Interest Company, which is a not-for profit, registered and regulated Community Interest Company (CIC). We are right at the very start of our journey as a start-up, and we are seeking up to six talented non-executive directors to join us
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Accredited Living Wage and 4 Day Week Employer

ESG Gaming has today been accepted as an accredited Living Wage Employer by the Living Wage Foundation.
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ESG Gaming:
LCCP RET List

ESG Gaming is to be included on the LCCP RET list for annual contributions as required by LCCP SR code 3.1.1. This follows the application we made in November 2021 to undertake work to contribute to the national strategy to reduce gambling harms.
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ESG Corporate Community Interest Company Joins Social Enterprise UK

ESG Corporate Community Interest Company has been accepted for membership of Social Enterprise UK; the UK body for social enterprise - business with a social or environmental mission.
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ESG Corporate Accepted on the CIC Register

On the 05 November 2021, our application to change the legal structure of ESG Corporate Ltd to a Community Interest Company (CIC) was accepted by the CIC regulator. We have also changed our legal name to ESG Corporate Community Interest Company.
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ESG Gaming will continue my journey of learning

Lee Willows’ decision to step down as CEO of YGAM, the charity that he founded, took some of the gambling industry by surprise. In his first interview since stepping back he reflects on the journey he ended with YGAM and the one he is embarking with ESG Gaming.
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