Latest News

GamCare Provides Report on its Services During Lockdown

Published

6 years ago

October 23, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Responsible gambling charity GamCare has provided a report on its services during lockdown. The report also highlights how COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people experiencing gambling harms.

The National Gambling Helpline During Lockdown report shows that despite lockdown exacerbating existing anxieties surrounding finances and isolation amongst gamblers, their ability to seek help was limited as they struggled for privacy.

Privacy concerns also drove a switch to more live chats than phone calls, as this channel can offer more discretion if families or housemates are in close proximity – many people contacting the Helpline have not yet spoken to their loved ones about what they are going through and want to know how to broach the subject.

Engagement with online group chatrooms increased. Anxieties about COVID were key themes of online conversations, alongside gambling-related issues. Staff on the Helpline flagged increased concern around domestic abuse being experienced by callers.

At the start of lockdown, there was a significant minority of calls asking for self-exclusion via GAMSTOP– highlighting that callers were seeking to gamble again despite previously removing the temptation. This trend has since abated. The report also mentions that, although existing engagement with GamCare treatment services remained high, the number of people beginning treatment during this period was lower than the previous year.

Research from the Gambling Commission, published alongside the report, shows the although overall gambling participation has dropped nationally, 18-34-year-olds and the most “engaged gamblers” have both reported increased time or money spent on gambling, plus using online gambling products they had not tried before.

Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive of GamCare, says:

“There is no doubt that the pandemic has impacted people’s help seeking, particularly in the initial phase of the pandemic when our daily lives were immeasurably changed. Our service users are speaking to us about increasing anxiety, isolation and money worries.

As we now look at further lockdowns across various areas, we need to be aware of the impact and risks for gamblers experiencing harm. We need to be more vocal about encouraging people to seek help despite the external pressures, and to remind people that we’re here to help as we did in the summer with our #ReadyToTalk campaign.

There is no doubt that gamblers and their loved ones will continue to need support, perhaps increasingly so. GamCare is doing all it can to be flexible and tailor its services to meet those complex and changing needs during the pandemic and beyond. From the very first contact you have with us, we can make a difference – if you’re worried about your gambling or anyone else’s, talk to us now.”

Germany

PopOK Gaming signs strategic cooperation with Tipico for Germany

Published

41 minutes ago

May 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

popok-gaming-signs-strategic-cooperation-with-tipico-for-germany

Deal aims to expand Tipico’s casino content lineup with PopOK Gaming’s portfolio in one of Europe’s most regulated markets.

PopOK Gaming has announced a strategic cooperation with Tipico in Germany, with the companies planning to broaden Tipico’s casino content offering for players in the market.

The companies positioned the agreement as a move to expand PopOK Gaming’s reach in Germany while adding to Tipico’s portfolio. No launch timeline, game list, or commercial terms were disclosed.

Karen Gulkanyan, CEO of PopOK Gaming, said: “We don’t treat partnerships as boxes to tick. Working with Tipico is important to us because of who they are in the German market and the standards they operate by. Germany is not an easy environment, and that’s exactly why this cooperation matters. It reflects years of steady work behind the scenes and marks a point where PopOK Gaming is ready to operate alongside the most established names in Europe.”

The announcement frames Germany as a highly structured and demanding gaming jurisdiction, with Tipico bringing local market experience and operational scale and PopOK Gaming supplying game development capabilities. The companies said the cooperation is intended to support further growth and partnerships across regulated European markets.

The post PopOK Gaming signs strategic cooperation with Tipico for Germany appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Asia

S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule

Published

2 hours ago

May 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

s8ul-streamer-payal-dhare-and-ownd!-launch-gamer-curated-fashion-capsule

S8UL gaming creator and streamer Payal Dhare has partnered with OWND!, the Gen Z-focused fashion brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, to launch a gaming-inspired fashion capsule called ‘Gamer Drop’. The companies describe it as India’s first female gamer-curated capsule. The collection will be available on OWND!’s website and in the brand’s stores across India.

According to the press release, ‘Gamer Drop’ includes menswear and womenswear pieces built around gaming culture and streetwear, positioned as a creator-led collection rather than conventional creator merchandise. The campaign leans on the growing overlap between gaming culture, creator communities, and youth fashion.

Marco Agnolin, Chief Executive Officer, OWND!. said, “We see gaming today as a powerful cultural force that is shaping how young consumers express themselves, communicate, and engage with fashion. As one of India’s biggest gamers, Payal Dhare represents this new generation perfectly through her authenticity, confidence, and deep connection with the gaming community. Her influence extends far beyond gaming content, making her an ideal face for our gaming collection. Through this collaboration, we aim to celebrate individuality and connect with India’s digitally native youth in a way that feels relevant, inclusive, and culture-driven.”

Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming said, “Gaming today has become a culture and a form of self-expression for millions of young people across the country. That’s what makes this collaboration with OWND! so exciting for me. With this curation, I wanted to create something that genuinely reflects my vibe and the energy of my community. It’s stylish, comfortable, expressive – and made for people who want to own who they are.”

The release also points to India’s expanding creator economy. Citing a Boston Consulting Group report, it says India has nearly 2 to 2.5 million creators, with more than 60% of consumers exposed to creator-led content and over 30% of shoppers influenced by creators in purchase decisions.

The post S8UL streamer Payal Dhare and OWND! launch gamer-curated fashion capsule appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETBY

BETBY Announces Strategic Partnership with Vibra Gaming

Published

4 hours ago

May 25, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

betby-announces-strategic-partnership-with-vibra-gaming

BETBY, the leading B2B sportsbook supplier, has announced a new strategic partnership with Vibra Gaming. The agreement will see BETBY deliver its full sportsbook solution to Vibra Gaming, further accelerating its expansion across the LatAm region.

Through this collaboration, Vibra Gaming will integrate BETBY’s complete sportsbook offering covering more than 500,000 monthly events, including its advanced AI-powered tools, AI Labs, and proprietary esports feed, Betby.Games. Delivered via a single, seamless API integration, the solution enables Vibra Gaming to incorporate a fully scalable sportsbook directly into its platform, allowing its operator partners to roll out sports betting efficiently while reducing technical complexity and accelerating time-to-market.

The integration addresses key challenges associated with launching a sportsbook, particularly the technical demands and resource requirements involved. By leveraging BETBY’s solution, Vibra Gaming can extend its platform capabilities without adding significant development overhead, while enabling its partners to introduce sports betting as part of a broader, multi-vertical offering.

A key component of the agreement is the inclusion of Betby.Games, BETBY’s award-winning esports feed, which aligns closely with Vibra Gaming’s localized approach. The portfolio features hyper-localized, industry-first titles such as eVaquejada and eFootVolley, designed specifically to resonate with Latin American audiences, further strengthening engagement across the region.

The partnership comes as BETBY continues to reinforce its position in Latin America, a strategic market where the provider has been actively investing and expanding its footprint. With operational licenses in Brazil and Peru, and a growing network of regional partners, this collaboration marks an important step in BETBY’s long-term growth strategy across LatAm.

Stefanos Karakidis, Business Development Director at BETBY, said: “This partnership is a natural fit for both sides. Vibra Gaming has built a platform that reflects the expectations of Latin American operators, and that creates the ideal environment for our sportsbook to deliver value. Besides that, what makes this collaboration particularly strong is how seamlessly our solution integrates into Vibra’s ecosystem, enabling their casino operator partners to expand into sports betting in a fast, efficient, and scalable way.”

Werter Luna, CEO at Vibra Gaming, said: “At Vibra Gaming, our priority is to provide our partners with flexible, locally relevant solutions that help them grow. Integrating BETBY’s sportsbook allows us to expand our platform with a best-in-class sports betting offering that matches our standards in terms of performance and adaptability. We’re particularly excited about the potential of combining their technology and esports content with our localized approach to further enhance the player experience across Latin America.”

The post BETBY Announces Strategic Partnership with Vibra Gaming appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.