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Casinos in England to Reopen on August 1

Published

6 years ago

July 20, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed that casinos in England can re-open on 1 August after more than four months in lockdown. The PM’s decision has been welcomed by the industry standards body the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) as a major boost for the tourism and hospitality sector.

The trade body has urged the devolved administrations to “show their hands” and end the uncertainty for the 2000 employees who work in Scottish and Welsh casinos who still have no end to lockdown.

Casinos in England employ more than 12,000 people and contribute nearly £300 million in tax to the Exchequer. Casinos also play a vital role in the tourism economy contributing nearly £4 million a week.

The betting and gaming industry – which employs over 70,000 people across the U.K. and contributes over £3 billion a year to the Treasury – has introduced a range of strict COVID safety measures which have already seen betting shops and bingo halls re-open and now casinos in England will follow soon.

Betting and Gaming Council Chief Executive Michael Dugher said:

“After four long months of lockdown, it’s fantastic to see casinos will reopen safely for business again on 1 August. I am delighted that they can now play their part in supporting the recovery of the tourism and hospitality sector.

“BGC casino members went the extra mile to meet strict COVID guidelines some weeks ago but were left in the dark as to when they would be allowed to reopen. I’d like to thank DCMS Secretary of State Oliver Dowden, Minister Nigel Huddleston and the many cross-party MPs who supported us and worked hard to secure a reopening date.

“Britain’s casinos employ thousands of people and pay millions in tax, and they were one of the few remaining leisure and hospitality businesses to remain closed.

“The uncertainty has been awful for the 12,000 people who work in casinos in England and we now call on Scottish and Welsh governments to follow suit and permit casinos to reopen without delay. The devolved administrations owe it to the 2,000 employees who work in Scottish and Welsh casinos to end this uncertainty and help them return to work.”

Betnacional

Playson strengthens Brazilian presence with Betnacional partnership

Published

35 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

playson-strengthens-brazilian-presence-with-betnacional-partnership

Playson, the established digital entertainment supplier, has strengthened its presence in Brazil after going live with leading local operator Betnacional, marking another key milestone in its Latin American growth strategy.

Owned by Flutter, Betnacional is a prominent sportsbook and casino brand focused on the Brazilian market, known for its strong local reach and expanding player base. Through the partnership, Betnacional’s customers now gain access to a selection of Playson’s top-performing titles, including 4 Pots Riches and Diamonds Power—both featuring the popular Hold and Win mechanic—as well as Sugar Teddy x1000, all recognised for their engaging gameplay and proven success in regulated markets.

The agreement highlights Playson’s ongoing strategy of collaborating with trusted, high-impact operators in key growth regions. Brazil continues to be a major focus for the supplier, driven by rising demand for high-quality, mobile-optimised content tailored to local player preferences.

This latest deal further strengthens Playson’s foothold in the country, where it is rapidly expanding its network of operator partners and solidifying its role as a key content provider in the region.

“Partnering with Betnacional is an important milestone for us in Brazil,” said Cristhian Zito, Head of LatAm at Playson.
“As a highly respected local brand with a deep understanding of its audience, we are confident our content will resonate strongly with its players. This launch reinforces our position in the market and our commitment to delivering engaging, high-performing games across Latin America.”

Frederico Cunha, Head of Comercial at Betnacional, added: “We are delighted to welcome Playson’s portfolio to our platform. Their games are known for their quality, strong mechanics, and consistent performance, making them a valuable addition to our offering. We look forward to working closely together to enhance the entertainment experience for our players.”

The post Playson strengthens Brazilian presence with Betnacional partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Jelli Express

ALL ABOARD! PRAGMATIC PLAY GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH JELLY EXPRESS

Published

35 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

all-aboard!-pragmatic-play-goes-full-steam-ahead-with-jelly-express

Pragmatic Play, a leading iGaming content provider, has rolled out Jelly Express, a vibrant new slot where a gummy bear conductor leads a locomotive through a colourful candy-coated world.

Set across 6×5 reels, the game delivers a lively experience filled with rewarding mechanics. Players can win by landing 8 to 12+ matching symbols anywhere on the grid, with base game payouts reaching up to 50x. Adding extra sweetness, candy train wilds boost wins with multipliers of up to 100x.

The excitement ramps up when three coin scatter symbols trigger the bonus round, offering players a choice between six different feature options. Each option provides a unique mix of free spins (up to 25) and wild multipliers (up to 100x), while a mystery pick adds an extra layer of unpredictability.

During the feature, landing an additional scatter can activate Super Free Spins, where wild multipliers are collected by the candy train above the reels. This cumulative multiplier is then applied to future wins involving wilds, unlocking a maximum win potential of up to 5,000x.

In selected markets, players can also take advantage of special bet options, including increased chances of triggering free spins, guaranteed wilds on every spin, or enhanced win potential with minimum 10x wild multipliers that stack during tumbles.

Jelly Express is the latest addition to Pragmatic Play’s growing portfolio.

The post ALL ABOARD! PRAGMATIC PLAY GOES FULL STEAM AHEAD WITH JELLY EXPRESS appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Gambling in the USA

RubyPlay expands US footprint with West Virginia launch

Published

35 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

rubyplay-expands-us-footprint-with-west-virginia-launch

RubyPlay, a studio-driven content ecosystem, has further strengthened its position in the regulated US iGaming market with its official launch in West Virginia, marking its third state entry.

The expansion brings RubyPlay’s distinctive portfolio of premium titles to the Mountain State, giving leading US operators access to high-performing games such as Vegas No Limit Wins SE, Mad Hit® Diamonds, and Mad Hit® Devil.

Operators in West Virginia will benefit from RubyPlay’s flexible content platform, built on shared technology, infrastructure, and distribution capabilities designed to meet individual partner requirements.

At the core of the offering is RubyPlay’s studio-based ecosystem, which includes market-specific studios like xSlots. These studios deliver localised content, bespoke game development, and faster time to market, helping operators create more tailored player experiences.

The move continues RubyPlay’s steady expansion across the US, following successful entries into New Jersey and Delaware. As the company builds momentum in regulated markets, the US remains a central pillar of its growth strategy, with plans to enter Pennsylvania in the near future.

“Our launch in West Virginia reflects RubyPlay’s ongoing commitment to expanding across regulated US markets,” said Dima Reiderman, Chief Commercial Officer at RubyPlay.
“Each new state allows us to strengthen our commercial presence while building valuable partnerships with leading operators.

“Through our studio-driven model, we enable operators to deliver content that aligns closely with their strategy and audience, creating more relevant and differentiated player experiences.”

The post RubyPlay expands US footprint with West Virginia launch appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.