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BGC Calls for Urgent Reform as Business Rates Accelerate High Street Losses
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has issued a warning that the Government’s “unfair” business rates are fueling a high street exodus. According to the industry body, these rising costs are forcing betting shops and other businesses to close, ultimately threatening local employment, stifling investment and draining vital tax revenue from local councils.
The Growing Call for Business Rate Reform
This warning arrives as the debate over the future of Britain’s high streets intensifies. Ministers recently signaled a U-turn on planned business rates hikes for pubs—a move that recognised the extreme pressures facing “bricks-and-mortar” businesses. However, the BGC argues that this “common-sense approach” must be extended to the entire high street.
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: “Britain’s high streets are already under intense pressure, and an outdated and unfair business rates system is only accelerating their decline. Betting shops are closing not because communities don’t value them, but because the costs of running physical premises continue to rise.
“Ministers were right to recognise these pressures when it comes to pubs, and the same common-sense approach must now be applied across the high street. Without urgent reform, we risk losing thousands more local jobs, investment and vital footfall, while handing a growing advantage to the harmful gambling black market.”
Betting Shop Closures: By the Numbers
Official figures highlight the severity of the decline in the retail betting sector:
• 30% Decrease: The number of betting shops has fallen by nearly a third since 2019.
• Store Count: Locations dropped from 8304 in 2019 to 5825 in March 2025.
• Job Losses: This contraction has already resulted in over 10,000 job losses.
While betting shops did not face a direct tax increase in recent budgets, many operators manage both online and retail estates from a single balance sheet. Higher online gambling taxes inevitably impact the viability of physical shops, affecting staffing levels and long-term investment.
The Economic Impact on Local Communities
Despite the closures, the sector remains a pillar of the local economy. Currently, licensed betting shops:
• Support approximately 42,000 jobs.
• Contribute nearly £1 billion annually in direct tax.
• Generate £60 million per year in business rates for local authorities.
Furthermore, research by ESA Retail found that 89% of betting shop customers visit other nearby businesses during their trip, driving the “secondary spend” that keeps town centers alive.
The Risk of the Gambling Black Market
Beyond economics, the BGC warns of a social risk. Licensed shops are tightly regulated with strict age verification and safer gambling tools. Problem gambling rates in the UK remain low, at approximately 0.4% of the adult population, according to NHS surveys.
However, pushing customers away from regulated high street shops risks driving them towards the harmful illegal black market. These unlicensed operators offer no consumer protections, contribute nothing to the Treasury and provide no funding for problem gambling treatment or British sport.
The post BGC Calls for Urgent Reform as Business Rates Accelerate High Street Losses appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Company plans to roll out SOCCERBET with LALIGA archive footage on its own platform in Italian retail after the World Cup.
Highlight Games Limited said its proprietary platform has passed Italy’s ADM collaudo process, the technical certification required for gaming platforms. The company announced the approval on 14 July 2026 from London.
Following the conclusion of the World Cup, Highlight said it will launch its Spanish SOCCERBET product featuring archive LALIGA footage on its own platform across Italian retail channels. The company added that operators will transfer to Highlight’s platform over the months that follow.
The supplier said the certification allows it to deliver its content via its own “zero-cost streaming technology” in Italy and gives it control over its product roadmap in what it called its most important market.
Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘This is a huge moment for Highlight as we bring our video-based technology stack to the Italian market and join a select few who are able to offer an officially ADM certified platform. Italy is where SOCCERBET has proven itself time and again and passing the ADM collaudo means we can now deliver that content on our own platform, with our zero-cost streaming solution, exactly as it was designed to be experienced.
‘Owning the technology end to end means we control our own roadmap, resulting in faster launches, smoother integrations for our operator partners and a richer experience for players. Our products consistently perform at the top of the market wherever they are live, and with our platform now officially certified in Italy, we have everything in place to build on that momentum.’
The post Highlight Games’ platform clears Italy’s ADM collaudo certification appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The 10-week phased event runs Daily Heats through September 6, with raffles awarding more than $100,000 in $109 tickets each week.
PokerStars is allocating more than $800,000 worth of $109 Daily Heat (Phase 1) tickets through its “Ticket Machine” promotion ahead of the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary Finals (Phase 2) on Sunday, September 6.
The Sunday Million 20th Anniversary is being run as a 10-week phased tournament, with Daily Heats running now through September 6. Players who advance from a $109 Daily Heat carry their stack into the Finals, with PokerStars noting that only one stack may be carried through to Phase 2.
To enter the Ticket Machine, players must opt in to the “Ticket Machine” ICE Challenge and complete weekly poker challenges. Each completed challenge adds entries to a Saturday raffle, with PokerStars saying more than $100,000 in $109 Daily Heat tickets will be awarded each week. Players can complete each challenge up to four times, for a maximum of 24 raffle entries per week.
PokerStars said that, after the first two weeks of Daily Heats, 270 players from more than 40 countries have already qualified for the Finals, including 50 who qualified into Phase 1 via satellites. Brazil and Ukraine lead the qualifiers list with 33 players each, according to the operator.
The operator has set a $5 million guarantee for the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary. Additional qualification routes include satellites starting at $0.55, special edition Spin & Go’s from $0.75, and “Wildcard Wins”, described by PokerStars as a new leaderboard promotion running until July 19. PokerStars also said players redeeming a $530 Bronze Pass will receive “25% extra value in the bundle” for a limited time, including an additional $109 Sunday Million 20th Anniversary ticket and $23.50 in tournament tickets.
The post PokerStars puts $800,000 in Sunday Million Anniversary tickets into Ticket Machine appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Kickoff Roulette Ronaldinho launches with a Gold Number mechanic and English/Portuguese language support.
CreedRoomz has named former football star Ronaldinho as brand ambassador for its new live casino game show, Kickoff Roulette Ronaldinho. The supplier said the title is now available for integration by B2B partners.
The company positions the product as a roulette-led live game show built around a football theme, running from a virtual studio. According to CreedRoomz, the game includes a “Gold Number Mechanic” where randomized lucky numbers can add multipliers from x50 to x700.
When asked about the crossover between football and casino entertainment, Ronaldinho said: “The fact that football is a global passion also helps, so I believe everyone will like “Kickoff Roulette Ronaldinho” for that reason.. and for the innovation of everything that is happening.”
CreedRoomz said the game is available in English and Portuguese, framing Portuguese language support as relevant for operators targeting Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking audiences. Armen Mnaskanian, Head of Sales Department at Creedroomz, said: “Bringing Ronaldinho into the CreedRoomz family represents a massive leap forward for live casino entertainment. Football and iGaming both thrive on passion and excitement. By fusing Ronaldinho’s legendary star power with powerhouse monetization mechanics, we are giving our partners the ultimate competitive edge and a next-generation casino offering.”
The post CreedRoomz signs Ronaldinho to front new Kickoff Roulette live game show appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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