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Four in 10 frequent gamblers bet more now than before the Covid-19 pandemic

Published

4 years ago

November 1, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

For Safer Gambling Awareness Week, 1 – 7 November, NerdWallet research finds:

38% of Brits who gamble at least once a month gamble more now than pre-pandemic
63% of Brits who gamble every day are now gambling more than pre-pandemic, the highest of any category
43% of British gamblers wish they could reduce the amount they gamble, but 42% of people don’t know how to do so
42% think that marketing from gambling companies should be banned

New research from independent price comparison website NerdWallet, has discovered that 38% of frequent gamblers – classed here as gambling at least once a month – are gambling more than they did prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

And the more frequently respondents gambled, the more likely they were to have seen their gambling habits increase – 63% of those Brits who gamble every day said they are gambling more than they did pre-Covid.

The easing of lockdown hasn’t necessarily caused gambling to revert to its pre-pandemic levels, either. Nearly 62% said their gambling had remained the same since lockdown ended, while almost 12% saw their gambling increase once restrictions were lifted.

At the same time, 43% of all survey respondents said they wanted to reduce the amount they gamble – rising to 57% for those who gamble every day. However, 42% of Brits didn’t know how they could do so.

“With a lack of distraction over the tough months of lockdown, it appears that people have found it much harder to manage their gambling. And the habits developed during the last 18 or so months have been difficult to unwind even as the UK opens up,” said Connor Campbell, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet.

“It speaks to the ongoing importance of Safer Gambling Awareness Week that so many wish to reduce their gambling, but either don’t know how to use the tools out there to help them, or are completely unaware of them. This is especially true at a time when households will be feeling financial pressures from all directions, be it climbing energy costs, rising food prices, or the impending increase in national insurance.”

The desire for greater awareness and support around the issue is echoed by the survey’s respondents, 63% of whom felt more could be done to help promote safer gambling and its related tools, such as self-exclusion and gambling site blockers.

It may also be on gambling companies themselves to do more to combat the issue. As gambling ads become harder to avoid, especially if you are a fan of live sport, 53% of Brits felt gambling companies were too aggressive in their marketing. Almost half (47%) of those polled claimed such promotions made it harder for them to manage their gambling and keep it under control.

This led to 42% of British gamblers saying that they believed marketing from gambling companies, including advertising, sponsorships, and celebrity endorsements, should be banned outright.

NerdWallet has information on managing gambling debt here.

BC.GAME

BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO

Published

15 minutes ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

BC.Game, a leading global crypto-focused online gaming platform, has announced the appointment of Kar Kheng Giam (“KK”) as its new Chief Executive Officer. Giam brings over 30 years of international leadership experience across gaming, technology, and consumer industries.

Before joining BC.Game, KK served as Vice President International at Coyote Bioscience, leading global expansion initiatives. He also co-founded Topgame and Tinymobi, developing successful mobile social and casino-style games. Earlier in his career, KK held executive positions including CEO roles at multiple organizations and regional leadership at Nabisco Asia.

In his role as CEO, KK will oversee BC.Game’s strategic direction, operational leadership, and financial performance, with a focus on scaling globally, expanding into regulated markets, and driving innovation in crypto gaming.

“BC.Game has built a strong global community by combining cutting-edge technology with engaging entertainment experiences,” KK stated. “With the rising adoption of crypto in online gaming, our focus will be on enhancing the platform, building trust, and strengthening our presence in licensed markets.”

BC.Game currently holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions, including Anjouan, Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, and Tanzania, as part of its long-term strategy to expand into fully regulated markets worldwide. This appointment aligns with the company’s ambitions to grow its global footprint and strengthen compliance while delivering innovative gaming experiences.

The post BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

2025 financial results

ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth

Published

1 hour ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

ZEAL Network SE, Germany’s leading online lottery provider, closed 2025 with another year of robust double-digit growth.

Despite a weaker jackpot environment, the company significantly strengthened its core lottery business, accelerated diversification, and expanded its customer base—setting a solid foundation for long-term scalability.

The group delivered 16% revenue growth, reaching €218.5 million, while EBITDA rose 11% to €68.8 million. EBIT also climbed 12% to €60.1 million year over year. These results reinforce ZEAL’s strategic focus on building a multi-pillar digital entertainment ecosystem.

“At every level, our results confirm that our strategy works,” said Dr. Stefan Tweraser, CEO of ZEAL Network SE. “Expanding scalable products alongside our strong core lottery business increases resilience and positions us for ambitious future growth.”

CFO Andrea Behrendt highlighted continued investment in reducing jackpot dependence: “Our efforts create a sustainable and profitable growth structure.”

Core Lottery Business Continues to Lead Growth

ZEAL’s primary lottery brokerage remains its strongest revenue driver. Even with softer jackpot cycles:

Monthly active users climbed 8% to a record 1.558 million.
Lottery billings reached €1.1 billion, up 2%.
Gross margin increased to 17.7%.
Lottery-specific revenue surged 16% to €195.3 million.

These gains underline the brand’s ability to attract and retain large numbers of customers independent of jackpot volatility.

Dream House Raffle Becomes a Major Growth Pillar

The Traumhausverlosung (Dream House Raffle)—launched in 2024—has rapidly evolved into a strong secondary revenue stream. With guaranteed winners and high-appeal prize structures, the charity lottery generated:

€38.9 million in billings across four draws in 2025.

This success demonstrates the value of proprietary lottery products that complement ZEAL’s core business and enhance market differentiation.

Games Segment Accelerates With Expanded Portfolio

ZEAL also posted substantial growth in its digital Games division. The company extended its catalog to 650+ games, adding 400 new titles and strengthening collaborations with leading game developers.

As a result:

Games revenue increased 46%, reaching €14.4 million.
Active user numbers rose sharply.
Player protection remained a top priority, supported by AI-driven safeguards.

Customer Base Expansion Remains a Strategic Priority

ZEAL made targeted investments to grow its user base, acquiring 1.171 million new customers in 2025. As expected with aggressive acquisition:

Customer acquisition cost (CPL) increased to €46.47.
Marketing spending rose 20% to €68.6 million.

This investment is key to sustaining ZEAL’s long-term market position and unlocking additional cross-sell opportunities in games and charity lotteries.

2026 Outlook: Continued Growth and Diversification

Looking ahead to 2026, ZEAL aims to expand its German market leadership and scale its charitable lotteries freiheit+ and Traumhausverlosung, while continuing to strengthen its Games offering.

Forecasts for 2026 include:

Revenue between €250–260 million
EBITDA between €70–75 million

These projections already factor in increased investment to accelerate diversification and future-proof the business.

The post ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

Published

6 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

winspirit-wins-best-online-casino-in-cee-at-the-gamingtech-cee-awards-2026

Online casino brand WinSpirit has been announced as the winner in the Best Online Casino in CEE category at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 — a respected industry event celebrating excellence across the iGaming sector.

Since launching in mid-2022, WinSpirit has rapidly gained recognition for its dynamic approach to product development, creative marketing, and a genuine player-first philosophy. The brand stands out by successfully combining innovative features, high-quality entertainment, and strong focus on player experience.

Over the past year, WinSpirit has demonstrated impressive growth across key metrics, significantly expanding its loyal player base, VIP segment, and overall betting activity. The brand has also introduced unique interactive formats, enhanced its loyalty system with the real-time Gift Shop, and continued to invest in smart personalisation across the platform.

This award adds to WinSpirit’s growing list of international recognitions. The brand also maintains excellent player ratings across major review platforms, consistently receiving high marks for service quality and user experience.

With this latest victory, WinSpirit continues to solidify its reputation as one of the most dynamic and player-oriented online casinos in the industry — combining rapid growth with innovation and a clear focus on player satisfaction.

The post WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.