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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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Habanero launches Nuwa Deluxe slot with variable paylines and two-tier free spins

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Habanero has launched Nuwa Deluxe, a 5×3 slot themed around Chinese mythology. The game introduces a variable payline system and a progression-style Free Games feature that can unlock a second-tier bonus, according to the supplier.

In the base game, paylines can upgrade at random on any spin, moving from 28 to 38, 58 or 88 active lines. The title also includes expanding Wilds that cover the entire first and third reels.

During Free Games, players collect five element symbols. Completing the set during the round unlocks Super Free Games, where full-reel Wilds are guaranteed on two reels on every spin.

Habanero said Nuwa Deluxe supports its Jackpot Race™ and Buy Feature. The launch follows recent releases Steampunk Plinko and Raiden Shogun.

Toni Karapetrov, Head of Corporate Communications at Habanero, commented: “Nuwa Deluxe is an exciting new release that boasts a variable payline system to keep engagement high at the base game, while the element collection mechanic in free spins gives players something to work towards beyond simply triggering the bonus.

“The Super Free Games tier is where the action really kicks in with guaranteed full-reel Wilds on every spin. It is another strong addition to our portfolio and one we expect to have a genuine impact with players.”

The post Habanero launches Nuwa Deluxe slot with variable paylines and two-tier free spins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BetVictor Launches 100/1 England World Cup Offer

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BVGroup’s flagship brand, BetVictor, has launched a new World Cup promotion offering new customers an enhanced 100/1 odds on England to win this summer’s tournament, as excitement continues to build ahead of football’s biggest stage.

The enhanced price forms part of BetVictor’s wider World Cup campaign, with the brand set to roll out a range of offers, odds boosts and engagement activations throughout the tournament.

With England widely viewed as one of the strongest teams heading into the competition, BetVictor’s latest campaign is designed to tap into growing excitement around the Three Lions and the return of international football’s biggest stage.

The campaign is being supported by a bespoke TV advert, alongside radio and OOH activity, as BetVictor continues to expand its football-focused marketing around major sporting events.

BetVictor spokesman Sam Boswell said: “We know everyone’s favourite thing when having a flutter is getting a bit of value, which is exactly why we’re offering new customers 100/1 on England to finally bring football home this summer. It’s a huge price for what we hope could be a massive moment for the Three Lions and their fans. All our existing players will also get to join in the fun with exciting Super Boosts and Odds Boost tokens throughout the tournament which promises to be bigger and better than any World Cup we have seen before.”

The enhanced 100/1 offer is available for a limited period via the BetVictor app and website.

The post BetVictor Launches 100/1 England World Cup Offer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Yaspa hires Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales

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Yaspa has appointed US fintech and gaming executive Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales, as the company pushes further into North America. The company said Fears will be based in its Atlanta office and will lead strategic commercial growth across the region.

Yaspa said Fears will focus on working with gaming operators to modernise payment experiences using real-time bank payments and transaction intelligence, and will work with its US and global commercial leadership teams to scale partnerships and adoption.

Fears brings more than 18 years of experience across payments, fintech, SaaS, and AML compliance in the gaming sector, according to Yaspa. His previous roles include senior positions at Kinectify, First Data Corporation, Glory Global Solutions, DiTronics Financial Services, NEXGEN Technology, and CASINOMONEY. Yaspa also noted he is a United States Air Force veteran.

James Neville, CEO of Yaspa, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Justin to the team as we accelerate our footprint in the US market. His deep operational understanding of gaming-focused financial infrastructure, compliance technologies, and enterprise sales leadership makes him an incredible asset. Justin’s appointment further strengthens our local team and underscores our commitment to helping North American operators lower costs, reduce fraud, and elevate the player experience through open banking.”

Fears said: “I’m excited to join Yaspa at such an important stage in the company’s growth journey. The combination of open banking, innovative payment solutions, and intelligent transaction data represents a significant opportunity within the US iGaming market, particularly as operators continue to prioritise player experience, fraud reduction, and payment efficiency. Yaspa has built an innovative platform uniquely positioned to support the evolving needs of regulated operators, and I look forward to helping expand the company’s presence and strategic partnerships across the US.”

Yaspa said it was named winner of the Real-Time Payments Innovation award at the 2025 Payments Awards and was included in the CB Insights Top 100 Fintechs list in the past 12 months. The company also referenced a $12m investment round in July led by Discerning Capital, and said it has opened a new Atlanta office and a tech hub in Leeds, UK, in August 2025.

The post Yaspa hires Justin Fears as US Director, Enterprise Sales appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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