Press Releases

UK’s NAO – Gambling regulation: problem gambling and protecting vulnerable people

Published

6 years ago

March 3, 2020

Photo Source: wikimedia.org

The UK Gambling Commission and government need to do more to ensure that regulation can protect gamblers effectively, according to a new NAO report.

There are an estimated 1.8 million ‘at risk’ gamblers and 395,000 ‘problem’ gamblers – including 55,000 children, some of whom are as young as 11.1

Gambling addiction can lead to mental health problems, relationship difficulties, large-scale financial loss and, in some cases, crime or suicide.

The NAO’s report looks at regulation of an industry which now yields over £11.3 billion2 for gambling operators every year. The Gambling Commission3, which regulates the industry, has annual funding of £19 million and almost all of it comes from licence fees paid by gambling operators. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is the government department with overall responsibility for gambling policy and regulation.

The report concludes that while the Commission has improved regulation, there is much more it should do. It has increased enforcement against gambling operators that break rules, for example by revoking licences, and has also strengthened its rule book.4 But it needs to do more to incentivise operators to raise standards and be more systematic and detailed in recording and analysing information about gamblers to plug gaps in its knowledge.

Even if the Commission makes these improvements, it is a small body that is unlikely to be fully effective in regulating a challenging and fast-changing industry within the current system. Gambling regulation does not have features seen in other sectors, such as an ombudsman, and the way it is funded is not flexible meaning the Commission cannot change licence fees to respond to new risks emerging quickly from changes in technology and demand.

The report’s recommendations include that the Commission and DCMS should:

Be more strategic about getting gambling companies to better protect people. This could include incentivising companies to do more to make gambling safer beyond meeting minimum requirements
Ensure gamblers are aware of services to resolve disputes, and review whether these arrangements are working effectively.
Review how regulation is funded so they can keep pace with a fast-changing industry.

“Licensed gambling has grown by 57 per cent – £4.1 billion – over the last decade mainly due to a massive increase in online and smartphone gambling. The risks to gamblers are changing as technologies develop.

“Yet the Gambling Commission is a small regulator in a huge and fast-evolving industry. While the Commission has made improvements, gambling regulation lags behind the industry. The Commission and government need to work together to ensure that regulation keeps pace with the risk to gamblers.” – Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO.

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Ellis Park Stadium signs five-year naming rights deal with 10bet

Published

38 minutes ago

July 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

ellis-park-stadium-signs-five-year-naming-rights-deal-with-10bet

Johannesburg venue rebrands as 10bet Ellis Park under new partnership agreement.

Ellis Park Stadium has signed a five-year naming rights agreement with sportsbook brand 10bet, rebranding the Johannesburg venue as 10bet Ellis Park.

10bet Africa Marketing VP Michelle Colborne said: “We are incredibly proud to announce 10bet as the official naming rights partner of Ellis Park Stadium,” adding, “This is more than a naming rights agreement; it is the start of an exciting journey with a stadium that has played such a powerful role in South African sport.”

Ellis Park Stadium Managing Director Pieter Burger said the deal marks “a fresh and exciting chapter for the stadium,” adding: “We are delighted to welcome 10bet into the Ellis Park family as our official naming rights partner.”

10bet brand ambassador and former Springbok Butch James said: “Ellis Park has always been one of the most iconic stadiums in world rugby, and it’s fantastic to see 10bet committing to such a significant partnership.”

The parties said the partnership will focus on improving the matchday experience and, “in partnership with the relevant stakeholders,” supporting the inner-city project around the stadium precinct.

The post Ellis Park Stadium signs five-year naming rights deal with 10bet appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

PG Soft rolls out Monkey’s Wild Party slot with wild-conversion mechanic

Published

38 minutes ago

July 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

pg-soft-rolls-out-monkey’s-wild-party-slot-with-wild-conversion-mechanic

New 5×5 cascading-reels title adds Wild Mushroom chain reactions, multipliers and a Free Spins feature with a Feature Buy option.

PG Soft has released Monkey’s Wild Party, a new video slot set on a 5×5 grid with cascading reels, increasing multipliers and Wild Mushroom symbols that convert adjacent monkey symbols into wilds.

The title’s core mechanic centres on Wild Mushroom symbols that can appear in any spin. When a Wild Mushroom lands, any Gorilla, Baboon or Marmoset symbol touching it horizontally or vertically transforms into its Wild Monkey equivalent. Additional monkey symbols that land on a Wild Monkey can also convert, creating chain reactions across the grid.

After wins are paid, Wild Monkey symbols that contributed to a win become Wild Mushroom symbols in the next round. PG Soft also says there is a chance for an extra Wild Mushroom symbol to be added to the reels at the end of any spin. In the base game, the multiplier starts at x1 each spin and increases by one after each winning combination, following the payout and cascade.

The Free Spins feature triggers with three Free Spin symbols anywhere on the reels and starts with eight free spins, with two extra spins awarded for each additional Free Spin symbol. The multiplier resets to x1 at the start of the feature and increases by one after every winning cascade. A +1 Spin symbol awards an extra free spin during the feature. Players can also access the feature via a Feature Buy option at the displayed price, with PG Soft stating potential wins of up to x10,000 of the initial bet.

PG Soft’s spokesperson commented: “Monkey’s Wild Party is a riot of colour and mischief, taking players into an enchanted jungle where every spin sparks a fresh wave of wild reactions. The Wild Mushroom mechanic is the key to the game, with the climbing multipliers in Free Spins ensuring rewards build with every spin.”

The post PG Soft rolls out Monkey’s Wild Party slot with wild-conversion mechanic appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Business Development

Soft2Bet hires Ryan Collinge as EVP for business development and partnerships

Published

2 days ago

July 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

soft2bet-hires-ryan-collinge-as-evp-for-business-development-and-partnerships

Collinge joins as Executive Vice President – Group Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, bringing 20+ years across retail and online gaming.

Soft2Bet has appointed Ryan Collinge as Executive Vice President – Group Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, adding him to its senior leadership team.

In the role, Collinge will focus on supporting Soft2Bet’s growth plans and strengthening relationships with operators and entertainment brands, the company said.

Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, said: “Ryan brings the commercial judgement, industry relationships and operational experience needed to support Soft2Bet’s growth. His appointment strengthens our executive team as we expand our work with leading operators and global entertainment brands.”

Soft2Bet said Collinge brings more than 20 years of commercial, product and operational experience across retail and online gaming, including work with private equity-backed start-ups and multinational gaming groups. The company added that his background includes global sales, commercial strategy and business development, along with iGaming content, product development and studio management.

Soft2Bet also pointed to Collinge’s experience in the casino content vertical, which it said will support client needs analysis and solution optimization.

The post Soft2Bet hires Ryan Collinge as EVP for business development and partnerships appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.