Latest News
BGC Warns Permanent Industry Damage Following Delay in Casino Reopening
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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Edvardas Sadovskis CPO at ICONIC21
ICONIC21 Lights Up the Night with Las Piggas
Essential content provider launches new title aimed at enhancing engagement, increasing session durations, and generating higher operator revenue with an entertaining theme and captivating gameplay.
The Piggies are hitting The Strip in the newest blockbuster slot game from sought-after iGaming content creator, ICONIC21.
Las Piggas revolves around neon lights, velvet ropes, and three unique pig characters – Elvis Pig, Marilyn Pig, and Cowboy Pig, all of whom aspire to strike it rich in the City of Sin.
Integrating an advanced 6×4 game grid, a 4,096 ways engine, and a vibrant Vegas style, Las Piggas aims to attract both casual gamers and dedicated high stakes players.
In Las Piggas, gamers are taken to the center of the Strip where the piggie heroes are enjoying life to the fullest.
The main gameplay centers on the dual-end Collect system – in contrast to typical collection slots, Las Piggas includes Collect symbols on reels one and six, increasing the chances for players to gather Coin symbols that have Multiplier values reaching 5,000x the wager.
Central to the player experience are the three pig characters – Elvis Pig, Marilyn Pig, and Cowboy Pig, which rest above the reels.
When Pig Coins fall, they are collected by their respective character, activating a perceived ongoing growth mechanism.
When the Bonus Game starts, players receive eight Free Spins with special modifiers depending on the pig that activated the round.
Elvis Pig – Reels two and five become synchronised. With each spin, two, three, or four adjacent reels may also synchronise, allowing massive 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4 Coin symbols to land.
Marilyn Pig – A win Multiplier is awarded with all wins and Coins boosted by 3x.
Cowboy Pig – An additional eight Spins are awarded to the Bonus Game.
To enhance Max Win potential, various features can function together at once, resulting in a Super Bonus where all character skills are engaged simultaneously.
In the Bonus Game, the values of all Coin symbols are accumulated in the Bonus Pot. After the round concludes, a Bonus Spin occurs where a 4×4 Mega Coin symbol displaying the entire Bonus Pot value appears on reels two through five.
To obtain the Bonus Pot, at least one Collect symbol needs to appear on either reel one or reel six. Once collected, the Mega Coin value contributes to the overall win – if the Mega Coin appears on reels one and two, the Bonus Pot value is increased twofold. Oink!
Edvardas Sadovskis, CPO at ICONIC21, said: “Las Piggas is all about player enjoyment and pure entertainment. We wanted to create a game that feels exciting from the very first spin — combining a popular 4,096-ways format with three distinctive bonus experiences, all wrapped in the iconic neon energy of Las Vegas.
The pig characters aren’t just visuals; they each bring their own personality and bonus style, giving players different ways to experience the game every time they trigger a round. Whether it’s the synchronised reels, boosted multipliers, or extended spins, Las Piggas delivers variety, anticipation and big-win potential in a theme that feels instantly recognizable and fun.
At the heart of it, this game was designed to make players smile, stay engaged, and feel the thrill of Vegas with every spin.”
The post ICONIC21 Lights Up the Night with Las Piggas appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
Gaming Realms Makes South African Debut in Partnership with Hollywoodbets
Gaming Realms, a top supplier of mobile-centric gaming content, has expanded its global presence following its entry into South Africa with prominent operator Hollywoodbets.
Gaming Realms’ varied collection of Slingo games is now accessible to local gamers, featuring titles created through the provider’s distinctive IP and brand collaborations, including Slingo Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania, Slingo Sweet Bonanza, and Slingo Xxxtreme.
Hollywoodbets ranks among South Africa’s biggest betting and gaming brands, featuring both physical and online operations, along with a loyal customer base. The collaboration with Gaming Realms was executed via Hollywoodbets’ regional aggregation partner Light & Wonder.
The collaboration signifies Gaming Realms’ initial venture into the African market, following other recent market entries that have greatly expanded the company’s global presence. The firm is currently operational in more than 30 regulated markets and intends to grow further in 2026, including in Africa.
Gareth Scott, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaming Realms, said: “Adding new regulated markets is imperative as we continue to cement our position as a leading supplier of unique and engaging content.
“Entering South Africa together with such a prominent partner as Hollywoodbets is a significant signal of intent and we have great ambitions to make the African region a key focus for Gaming Realms, as it offers great potential and an opportunity to reach completely new audiences.”
Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, said: “Gaming Realms is a provider that truly brings something unique, and we are excited to be the first operator to introduce Slingo and their wider game portfolio to players in South Africa.
“Their Slingo content appeals to a wide player demographic, blending the best from slots and strategy, and we have already seen it really resonate with our customers.”
The post Gaming Realms Makes South African Debut in Partnership with Hollywoodbets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Anthony Dalla-Giacoma
NetBet Greece Bolsters its Game Library with Addition of Swintt as a Provider
NetBet Greece has expanded its online portfolio once again, welcoming leading game developer Swintt to its growing list of software partners. A variety of engaging Swintt titles will now be accessible to players in the Greek market.
Over the years, NetBet has consistently enhanced its iGaming platform, building a diverse games collection through collaborations with some of the most respected providers in the industry. Each partner is carefully selected to ensure players enjoy innovative, high-quality entertainment within a secure and responsible environment.
This latest agreement with Swintt marks another significant step in NetBet’s ongoing strategy to deliver a premium online experience – and keep content fresh and exciting for all customers.
Claudia Georgevici, PR Manager at NetBet, said: “We’re delighted to add Swintt to our portfolio and introduce their games to our players. For those in Greece who haven’t yet discovered Swintt’s content, this is a fantastic opportunity. Partnering with Swintt underlines our commitment to delivering a varied, innovative, and high-quality gaming experience – something our customers have come to expect from us.”
Anthony Dalla-Giacoma, CCO at Swintt, added: “We’re proud to be joining forces with NetBet, a brand that shares our ambition to innovate and raise standards within the iGaming industry. This collaboration also reinforces our shared focus on responsible gaming, while allowing us to bring our diverse range of titles to an even wider audience.”
The post NetBet Greece Bolsters its Game Library with Addition of Swintt as a Provider appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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