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BGC Warns Permanent Industry Damage Following Delay in Casino Reopening

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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned that the UK Government’s last-minute reversal of plans to allow casinos to reopen on August 1 has dealt a wrecking ball to the industry, from which it may never recover.

The casino sector employs more than 14,000 people across the UK in 125 casinos and a further 4000 in the supply chain. Casinos also paid over £300 million each year in tax before the lockdown.

With casinos across England forced to remain shuttered, the BGC warns that up to 6000 jobs may be permanently lost.

In a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP on July 31, BGC described the decision to keep casinos closed as “highly illogical, inconsistent and deeply damaging to those businesses and the thousands of staff they employ.”

BGC has also rejected the Prime Minister’s categorisation of casinos as “higher risk” during his Downing Street briefing. Casinos have spent weeks and invested millions of pounds to ensure their premises are covid-secure, with measures such as perspex screens, sanitisation equipment and sophisticated track and trace systems, as well as introducing strict social distancing measures and hygiene protocols.

BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “The Government are swinging a wrecking ball right through the middle of our industry and large scale job losses, which ought to be unnecessary and avoidable, now look inevitable unless ministers act fast.”

“Casinos are a small but fundamental part of our leisure, hospitality, entertainment and tourism industry. They employ over 14,000 people across the UK and indirectly support another 4,000 jobs in the supply sector, and last year casinos paid over £5.7 million in tax per week.

“The ongoing cost of remaining in a holding pattern to reopen is clearly not sustainable, with more jobs and livelihoods being put at risk with every last minute change and delay to reopening.

“The Job Retention Scheme has helped but our members will now be forced to pay National Insurance and pension contributions on top of salaries in August while they remain closed. As furlough payments are phased out, there will be no flexibility for casinos to adapt to the new working and leisure environment and I now fear that many thousands of jobs could be lost.

“We made the all necessary preparations for safe reopening and we were given the green light by Public Health England on the basis of the significant investment made by operators, and having been told by the Government themselves that casinos posed a ‘negligible’ risk compared with the tens of thousands of other places that they have been reopened.”

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Contributors Program

Gamblers Connect adds Xessable CEO Vladimir Mihailovski as 2026 contributor

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He becomes the sixth contributor announced this year and will cover software engineering, AI and product development in iGaming.

Gamblers Connect has added Vladimir Mihailovski, CEO and Founder of Xessable, to its Contributors Program as its sixth contributor of 2026.

The B2B iGaming media platform said it plans to appoint 12 contributors this year, announcing one each month. Mihailovski will contribute content focused on software engineering, AI and product development within iGaming.

Mihailovski is an engineer-turned-founder with more than 15 years’ experience in software architecture and has led Xessable since it launched in 2017. Xessable operates between Utrecht and Skopje and provides dedicated engineering teams that integrate with operators’ and suppliers’ product organisations.

According to Gamblers Connect, Mihailovski’s articles will cover software development, applying AI within product teams, scaling engineering organisations and the impact of technical decision-making on long-term product development.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “Software underpins every part of the iGaming industry, yet engineering perspectives are often underrepresented in industry discussion. Vladimir brings extensive experience in software architecture, AI and engineering leadership, and we’re pleased to welcome him to the Contributors Program. His articles will provide readers with practical insights into software development, AI implementation and organisational growth.”

The post Gamblers Connect adds Xessable CEO Vladimir Mihailovski as 2026 contributor appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Compliance

Xpoint rolls out pattern-analysis engine to flag coordinated bonus abuse

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Xpoint has launched a proprietary pattern-analysis engine aimed at helping betting and gaming operators detect coordinated fraud, including organized bonus abuse and location spoofing. The company announced the product on 6th July 2026 and said it is currently rolling out with partners in North America.

Xpoint said the engine is designed to catch groups that cycle the same devices, accounts, and locations to farm sign-up bonuses and exploit promotions. Unlike conventional geolocation checks that assess each login in isolation, the new engine analyzes historical location activity to identify patterns that emerge over time.

As an example, Xpoint said the engine can flag groups of users that repeatedly appear together across locations, particularly where some members have previously been linked to location spoofing—signals the company associates with coordinated bonus-abuse rings. Xpoint added that the analysis runs in the background against historical data and is intended to avoid adding friction to the player journey.

The launch follows a new investment round earlier this year, which Xpoint said was dedicated to accelerating growth and supporting further product enhancement.

Manu Gambhir, CEO of Xpoint, said: “Attempts to defraud operators are becoming ever more coordinated and advanced, so operators need the best possible tools to spot areas of concern early.

“Our pattern-analysis engine examines historical data to uncover unusual patterns an operator needs to be aware of, without in any way adding friction to the player journey. It further underlines our commitment to innovative, adaptable compliance solutions for operators.”

The post Xpoint rolls out pattern-analysis engine to flag coordinated bonus abuse appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Fan Engagement

Midnite extends Southampton FC sponsorship through 2026/27 and rolls out ‘2UP’ fan prize

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Midnite has renewed its partnership with Southampton FC for the 2026/27 season, continuing as the club’s Official Training Kit partner and back-of-shirt sponsor.

The company said the extension builds on its first season with the club in 2025/26, when it ran supporter activations including “Midnite Express” away travel, a commemorative tifo marking the 50-year anniversary of Southampton’s FA Cup success, and hospitality giveaways via its “Ticket Treats” campaign.

For 2026/27, Midnite is introducing a season-long fan initiative called “2UP”. Under the format, if Southampton go two goals up in any home league match, one fan wins the 2UP prize pot. Midnite said the pot increases by £1,000 each week a jackpot is not won, and noted Southampton held a two-goal home lead on six occasions last season.

Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer of Southampton Football Club said:

“We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Midnite after a successful first season together.

“They’ve consistently looked for new and engaging ways to reward our supporters, whether through unique matchday experiences, away travel or fan competitions, and we’re excited to see that continue this season.

“The launch of 2UP is another fantastic example of that commitment and we look forward to seeing Saints fans enjoying the campaign throughout the 2026/27 season.”

Andrew Mook, Midnite‘s Head of Brand Marketing, added:

“We’re excited to be Southampton’s Official Training Kit partner for a second year.

“During the 2025/26 campaign, Midnite worked closely with the club to create experiences that reward Saints supporters. From helping fans travel in style on the Midnite Express and commissioning the club’s commemorative FA Cup tifo, to providing hospitality experiences through Ticket Treats, our aim has always been to add something extra for Saints fans.

“With that said, we are pleased to introduce ‘2UP’ where one lucky fan will win prize money if Southampton take a two-goal lead in any home league fixture, with £1,000 being added to the pot after each game at St Mary’s.

“With Southampton taking a two-goal lead at home six times last season, we’re looking forward to seeing a number of Saints fans rewarded through ‘2UP’ during the campaign.”

The post Midnite extends Southampton FC sponsorship through 2026/27 and rolls out ‘2UP’ fan prize appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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