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Gambling Business Group Appoints Steve Sharp as Chairman

Published

5 years ago

January 25, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

British cross-sector organisation Gambling Business Group has appointed Steve Sharp, an executive with Gauselmann Group’s UK arm, as its new chairman.

Steve is having 40 years of experience in the gambling industry. He has gained an unrivalled breadth of experience representing high profile organisations including Global Draw/SG, Inspired Gaming Group, Stanleybet Group and Leisure Link.

Peter Hannibal, chief executive of Gambling Business Group, said: “With over four decades in UK gambling and from humble beginnings as a Service Engineer, through to clocking up some 13-years working with SG Gaming – formerly Global Draw – Steve has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience touching most, if not all gambling products and services. That same breadth of insight and knowledge also underpins his current role working across the Gauselmann UK owned brands active across the AGC, Bingo and Pub sectors.

The industry is facing arguably its most challenging year on record for both consumer-facing brands and the business supply chain which has been largely overlooked by the government support measures during Covid. Added to this we have what is the increasingly toxic negative narrative being driven by groups lobbying against the industry and of course the government’s review of the 2005 Gambling Act which itself represents a once in a generation opportunity to bring gambling up to speed with other sectors in the entertainment and retail space.

There has never been a more crucial time for the Gambling Business Group to ensure that members’ interests are represented through evidence-based arguments and a compelling vision for the future. I welcome Steve to the role of GBG Chair and the opportunity to draw on his cross-sector experience as we navigate these unprecedented challenges.”

Steve Sharp said: “The Gambling Business Group has recorded some notable achievements since its formation seven years ago and it has done so by bringing a strategic approach to the development of the industry and also to its engagement with government.

I am honoured to be named as GBG Chairman and I look forward to bringing my hands-on, 40+ year career experience including my current role with Gauselmann UK to the task. The Review of Gambling is a seminal opportunity which we cannot waste. It provides a chance to re-set the gambling entertainment proposition that we are able to provide consumers set against a robust commitment to safe gambling which is at the heart of everything GBG members do.”

BVGroup

BVGroup community jackpot pays nearly £1m across 501 UK players

Published

59 minutes ago

June 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

bvgroup-community-jackpot-pays-nearly-1m-across-501-uk-players

BVGroup’s opt-in Epic Community Jackpot has paid out nearly £1 million to 501 customers across its UK iGaming brands, following a drop on June 30, 2026. ThrillTech, which supplied the jackpot technology, said the payout is the first UK “Community Jackpot” of its kind.

The main winner, playing on BetVictor’s online casino, received £488,035.59. BVGroup said 500 additional players across BetVictor, Heart Bingo, Smooth Spins, Betano, Parimatch and TalkSPORTBET each received £976.07 from the same prize pool.

According to the companies, the jackpot was configured to allocate 50% of the total prize to the main winner and distribute the remaining 50% across contributing players, using ThrillTech’s ThrillPots engine. Peter Mareš, Chief Technical Officer at ThrillTech, said: “This is the first community jackpot of its kind in the UK, enabling operators to reward hundreds or even thousands of players with a single jackpot instead of just one. Distributing these payouts at scale requires absolute precision. Our robust technology effortlessly handles the complex mathematics and has advanced protocols in place to ensure that all payouts are delivered exactly as intended.”

The companies also pointed to a previous payout on BetVictor’s “The Jackpots” product last month, when a single BVGroup player won £1,531,130, also powered by ThrillPots. Side bet, opt-in jackpot prize pools are player funded and sit on top of base casino games or sports wagering activity, with this implementation designed to distribute a single drop across a wider pool of contributors.

The post BVGroup community jackpot pays nearly £1m across 501 UK players appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Africa

Booming Games renews Hollywoodbets Durban July activation partnership

Published

59 minutes ago

June 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-renews-hollywoodbets-durban-july-activation-partnership

Provider plans on-site game demos and a new Golden Gallop release on Hollywoodbets later this year.

Booming Games has renewed its activation partnership with Hollywoodbets for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, returning for a second year at the event at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse.

The company said it will run a cowboy-themed stand aligned with the event’s “Country Allure” theme, offering demo versions of games and a branded “Spin and Win” wheel for prizes. Booming Games added that Founder Max Niehusen, Vice President of Product Moritz Blume, and Head of Africa Solomon Godwin will attend.

Ahead of the event, Booming Games said it has been running a nationwide giveaway offering prizes including VIP experiences at the Hollywoodbets Durban July and a soccer shirt signed by Ronaldinho.

The companies also pointed to a broader commercial pipeline, with Booming Games stating that new releases are set to go live on the Hollywoodbets platform later this year. One of those is Golden Gallop Hold and Win Extreme 10,000, which Booming Games described as the latest entry in its Golden Gallop series, featuring a 5×3 grid, 25 fixed paylines, a maximum win potential of 12,000x, and bonus features.

Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Hollywoodbets for the Hollywoodbets Durban July again this year, and the launch of the latest game in the Golden Gallop series is the perfect way to celebrate. This year’s event also marks two years since we launched in South Africa, one of the world’s fastest growing and most exciting casino gaming markets.”

Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, said: “Booming Games is a key partner for Hollywoodbets, and we are pleased to be building on last year’s collaboration at the Hollywoodbets Durban July. In a crowded market, the quality of Booming Games’ offering and customer-focused approach to game development provides the foundations for a long and fruitful partnership, which we hope will remain strong for many years to come.”

The post Booming Games renews Hollywoodbets Durban July activation partnership appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BetMGM

Gaming Realms launches Marilyn Monroe Slingo with BetMGM

Published

59 minutes ago

June 30, 2026

Wladimir P.

gaming-realms-launches-marilyn-monroe-slingo-with-betmgm

Gaming Realms has partnered with BetMGM to launch Marilyn Monroe Slingo, an exclusive Slingo title for the operator. The companies announced the release on 30 June 2026.

According to Gaming Realms, the game combines its Slingo mechanic—blending slots-style reels with a bingo grid—with Marilyn Monroe-themed visuals tied to celebrations marking the centennial of the star’s birth.

Ian Robson, Commercial Account Management Lead at Gaming Realms, said: “We are thrilled to further strengthen our partnership with BetMGM through the launch of Marilyn Monroe Slingo. Working closely with BetMGM, we’ve created a bespoke title that captures the glamour and excitement associated with Marilyn Monroe while delivering the engaging gameplay that Slingo fans know and love.

“We look forward to seeing players enjoy this release and the unique blend of entertainment and Slingo action it offers.”

Rob Passerino, BetMGM’s Director of Gaming, said: “Partnering with Gaming Realms allows us to combine an iconic figure with the proven, popular Slingo format. Bespoke games like this are central to how BetMGM differentiates and we are confident our players will love celebrating Marilyn Monroe’s centenary with this new release.”

The post Gaming Realms launches Marilyn Monroe Slingo with BetMGM appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.