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PlayOJO Launches Latest Campaign to Raise Awareness of the Signs of Problem Gambling

Published

5 years ago

November 23, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

PlayOJO, the fair online casino powered by SkillOnNet, announces its latest campaign in partnership with Gemma Collins to encourage responsible gambling.

The TOWIE star and online Casino have partnered on a spoof fragrance launch to highlight that problem gambling is the ‘addiction with no smell’ and to help people recognise some of the early signs that someone they love, may be developing an issue.

The fragrance itself was named Compulsion, to hint at the behaviours that are often displayed by those who are struggling, such as lying about their finances and exhibiting extreme mood swings.

To raise awareness of the hard-to-spot, tell-tale early signs of potential gambling issues, PlayOJO and Gambling organisation, Breakeven have developed a new acronym to help concerned players, or those close to someone whom they suspect might be hiding an issue.

The SMELL acronym is designed to encapsulate the five signs of gambling issues that might be easiest to spot and are:

S – Sleep – is your loved one struggling to sleep at night?
M – Money – is your loved one inexplicably losing money or struggling financially?
E – Extreme – is your loved one exhibiting extreme mood swings?
L – Losing – is your loved one losing interest in the pursuits they have historically enjoyed?
L – Lying – have you caught out your loved one for not telling the truth recently?

Peter Bennett, Head of Marketing at PlayOJO, comments, ‘Our business is built upon the principle of fairness and transparency. We are committed to doing what we can to provide people with the information they need to help identify potential problem behaviours, and offer access to those in need of help to ensure Play Ojo is a safe place for people t have fun and gamble responsibly.

As part of the campaign we have launched a dedicated hub offering expert guidance and insight from our partners at Breakeven which is an extension of our ongoing strategy and commitment to providing advice and support aound the clock.

Our hope is that by working with Gemma and Breakeven, we will raise awareness of this issue and help encourage people to access support services if they spot the signs highlighted by the Compulsion campaign in themselves or a loved one.”

As part of the campaign, Gemma carried out an interview with Ian Semel, CEO of Breakeven, a charity that offers free counselling to individuals who are struggling with gambling behaviours issues, to better understand the early signs and minimise gambling related harm, as well as educating on strategies that can be deployed to overcome it.

asia-pacific

Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026

Published

4 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

groove-shortlisted-for-best-aggregator-at-sigma-asia-awards-2026

Groove has been named a finalist for Best Aggregator 2026 at the SiGMA Asia Awards, with the ceremony scheduled for 2 June 2026 at the SMX Convention Centre Manila during the SiGMA Asia Summit.

The shortlist was announced by Global Gaming Insider, according to the company. Groove said its platform aggregates more than 15,000 games from over 150 providers via a single API.

Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, said: “This shortlist is external recognition of a truth we already feel internally: Groove is moving at a different pace. Asia is not a single market, it is a collection of distinct regulatory environments, player behaviours, and partnership opportunities”

Campo added: “Our platform is built to respect that complexity, not smooth it over. Being named a finalist for Best Aggregator tells us that our approach; deep integration, localised content strategies, and commercial precision; is resonating with the operators who matter most in this region. We are not just bringing games to Asia. We are bringing a roadmap for sustainable growth.”

Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded. Differentiation is everything. This nomination confirms that our vision, transforming aggregation from a commodity into a strategic growth discipline, is taking hold.” He added: “Operators across Asia are no longer asking for just volume or speed. They are asking for structural resilience, data intelligence, and a partner who can execute across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision. Groove delivers that. To be recognised alongside the best in Asia is a privilege, but the real work continues in Manila and beyond. We are here to win, not just awards, but the trust of the operators who build their businesses on our platform.”

The post Groove shortlisted for Best Aggregator at SiGMA Asia Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

data providers

DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026

Published

4 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

data.bet-reports-168%-turnover-growth-from-virtual-content-in-q1-2025–q1-2026

DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.

The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.

Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.

DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.

“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.

The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

content studios

155.io makes fintech debut with Coverd partnership

Published

4 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

155.io-makes-fintech-debut-with-coverd-partnership

155.io has signed a partnership with US-based fintech platform Coverd, marking the content studio’s first move into fintech. The deal was announced Thursday 21st May 2026.

Under the agreement, 155.io’s real-world games will be integrated into Coverd’s platform. Coverd said the integration is designed to turn everyday transactions into interactive experiences where users can win the chance to have purchases covered through 155.io gameplay.

Sam Jones, Founder & CEO of 155.io, said: “This partnership gives us the opportunity to bring our content to a completely new audience. We share a philosophy with Coverd around disrupting and modernising industries through more interactive experiences. They understand that younger audiences expect entertainment and engagement across every digital touchpoint, including finance, which is exactly how we think about design.”

Albert Wang, Coverd co-founder, added: “Today’s consumer is actively embracing gamified products across every category, so there’s no reason personal finance should stay in the stone age. We’re excited to work with 155.io to make financial experiences more interactive and give everyone a chance to live big by winning back their purchases. 155.io’s next-gen content fits perfectly with what we’re building at Coverd.”

155.io said the integration will bring its interactive content—built around live-action footage and real-time mechanics—to Coverd users. The studio’s portfolio includes Rush Hour from its CCTV Game library, alongside Ducks.io and Snow Run.