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Casino Guru’s complaint data reveals scope of UK players gambling at unlicensed websites

Published

5 years ago

February 24, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Gambling Commission’s recent calls for evidence and views from the industry and the public regarding upcoming changes to Great Britain’s gambling regulation has seen a number of professionals emphasize the potential rise of black-market gambling as a consequence of tightening regulations.

These claims have been largely backed up by a PwC report, which estimates the number of UK online gamblers using unlicensed operators to have more than doubled from 2018 to 2020, from c.210,000 to c.460,000 gamblers.

Later on, UK gambling firms have been accused of exaggerating the scale of black-market gambling in an attempt to influence the GC’s decision to introduce tougher regulations. The GC’s chief executive Neil McArthur commented that the report delivered by PwC is not consistent with their intelligence picture and lacked any evidence to show an increase in illicit betting. He added that GC’s own evidence suggests that the impact may be being exaggerated.

Simon Vincze, Casino Guru’s Responsible Gambling Projects Manager, has been keeping up with the heated discussion taking place in British media and looked into their data on player complaints to get an idea about the scope of the issue: “I understand the need for regulation in the gambling market and its usefulness in keeping children and vulnerable players safe. It’s something I deeply believe in and work towards in my position as well. However, it didn’t seem right to me to just disregard the negative effects of tightening regulations altogether.”

Casino Guru operates a casino dispute mediation service, in which players can complain about any online casino if they feel to have been mistreated, regardless of its license, and get assisted for free. After looking into their data, Simon discovered 666 complaints submitted by players from the UK, of which 145 is about casinos with a license from GC and 521 is about casinos without it. This means that 78% of all complaints submitted by UK players have been about operators without a GC license.

“Of course, this doesn’t mean that 78% of UK players gamble at foreign websites. Because of the generally lower quality of service and reputation of these operators, it can be expected that these players will run into issues more often, resulting in a higher proportion of players submitting public complaints. However, it is also a clear sign that there are UK players gambling at casinos without a GC license, and that there is quite a lot of them,” Simon commented on this data.

He also compared the British situation to what has happened in Sweden: “When gambling regulations get more restrictive, an increased proportion of players usually start looking for unlicensed operators to avoid those regulations. Sweden is a great example of this, where 40% of casino players and 34% of sports betters gamble on unlicensed websites or would consider doing so in future, according to a study published back in April 2020. Taking a look at Google search data, there has been a major increase in Swedish players actively looking for unlicensed casinos since introducing the country’s gambling regulations with a strong focus on player safety.”

“With tighter regulations being introduced in Great Britain, the GC should be aware of the possibility of an increasing number of British punters actively looking for unlicensed sites in attempts to avoid the strict regulations. These players then gamble on foreign websites without the strict limits present at UK-licensed ones, ending up more susceptible to problematic gambling habits as a result of lower responsible gambling standards of some foreign operators, on top of other negative qualities that can be present at these websites.”

Data from the PwC report suggests that 4,5% of UK players gamble at foreign websites, while 78% of all complaints submitted to Casino Guru by UK players are related to these foreign websites.

Simon commented: “Combining this data would suggest that 4,5% of players are responsible for 78% of all casino complaints, which would signify a huge imbalance. Of course, the numbers are based on different data and there may be other factors in play, but I think that the imbalance is there, and has to do with the fact that players gambling on foreign websites simply run into issues more often. These can range from unclear bonus terms and bad implementation of responsible gambling features all the way to unscrupulous casinos outright scamming players.”

“If an increasing number of players leave the regulated market and go for foreign alternatives, they may be subject to a higher risk of developing problem gambling and losing money to foreign websites, some of which can have unscrupulous tendencies. This seems like a good enough reason to seriously consider the risk of rising use of black-market gambling websites by UK players,” he added.

While the GC is examining evidence presented by stakeholders and working towards updated gambling regulation, it remains to be seen how the situation ends up being handled and what new rules get implemented. Only time will tell whether tighter regulation really does increase the use of black-market sites or not, and whether the benefits will outweigh possible drawbacks.

ELA Games

ELA Games Unveils Tea Party of Fortune — A Magical Multiplier Experience

Published

6 minutes ago

February 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

ela-games-unveils-tea-party-of-fortune-—-a-magical-multiplier-experience

The newest release from the studio offers a multi-faceted Hold & Win experience wrapped in a charming fairytale theme.

ELA Games has officially launched its newest slot, Tea Party of Fortune. Now accessible throughout the studio’s complete partner network, this story-driven title welcomes players into a Secret Garden where engaging mechanics blend with a beloved fairytale theme.

The studio is building a name for itself by creating games centered around a cohesive narrative, and Tea Party of Fortune aligns with that goal. Brought to existence by a delightfully quirky ensemble, featuring the Mad Hatter and the Red Queen, the game creates a richly layered ambiance resonating with the sounds of chiming china and intrigued laughter.

The game exemplifies ELA Games’ skill in merging high-quality art with clever game design. The core game is notable for its progression system, the Overflowing Teacup, which enables players to see the path to the bonus round with every spin.

The visual appeal embodies the enchantment of a traditional storybook, while the gameplay provides action rich in features. The title focuses on an engaging Hold & Win Bonus Game, crafted to provide greater complexity than typical games in this favored genre.

During this round, uniquely colored tea-coins activate the cup’s enchantment, enabling several features to trigger in one spin:

● Grid Expansion: The Curious Growth coin expands the reel set from 5×3 to 5×5.
● Win Boosting: Mad Multipliers increase the value of existing prizes.
● Bonus Round Extension: The Extra Respin coin prolongs the bonus round.

Game Stats:
● Reels: 5×3 (Expands to 5×5)
● Paylines: 10
● RTP: 93.75% / 95.73%
● Volatility: Mid (3/5)
● Max Win: x5,000 (€250,000)
● Buy Bonus: Yes

The post ELA Games Unveils Tea Party of Fortune — A Magical Multiplier Experience appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

3 Oaks Gaming

3 Oaks Gaming Partners with Superbet Group to Drive International Expansion

Published

6 minutes ago

February 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

3-oaks-gaming-partners-with-superbet-group-to-drive-international-expansion

3 Oaks Gaming, a prominent iGaming content distributor, has greatly expanded its global presence by debuting its portfolio with Superbet Group, a top operator in Europe and South America.

The deal allows the operator group’s leading Superbet brand in Brazil and Romania to access 3 Oaks Gaming’s entire range of top-performing slot games, featuring recent successes like Coin Volcano 2, Maya Lock, and Magic Clovers.

Mirroring 3 Oaks Gaming’s expanding global strategy, the collaboration showcases the distributor’s capacity to provide its celebrated content concurrently in various regulated markets.

Superbet has positioned itself as a significant player in both regions, integrating a vast retail network with a robust online presence to gain a reputation for providing top-notch and responsible betting and gaming experiences.

The collaboration bolsters 3 Oaks Gaming’s dedication to teaming up with reputable, established operators that align with its emphasis on quality, compliance, and engaging local players.

Iulian Nedelcu, Account Manager at 3 Oaks Gaming said: “Partnering with Superbet marks another exciting step in our international growth journey. As one of the most recognisable brands in Romania and Brazil, Superbet provides an excellent platform to showcase our portfolio to an even wider audience in two key regulated regions.

“We are confident our games will resonate strongly with their player base and look forward to a successful collaboration across both markets.”

Raluca Varzaru, Senior Gaming Performance Executive at Superbet said: “At Superbet, we are constantly looking to enrich our casino offering with quality content that entertains and engages players. 3 Oaks Gaming’s portfolio brings proven performance and diversity to our platforms, supporting our vision to provide a first-class gaming experience in every market we operate in.

“We are delighted to welcome their titles to our casino and look forward to seeing the positive response from our players.”

The post 3 Oaks Gaming Partners with Superbet Group to Drive International Expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Booming Games

Treasure Hunt Revival — Booming Games Launches Gold Gold Gold Hold and Win

Published

1 hour ago

February 12, 2026

Wladimir P.

treasure-hunt-revival-—-booming-games-launches-gold-gold-gold-hold-and-win

Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has introduced Gold Gold Gold Hold and Win today. The game features a 5×3 layout with 25 paylines, offering significant risks with a top payout of 2,000 times the wager. Offering instant cash prizes at the end of each spin, Gold Gold Gold Hold and Win delivers an exceptional experience for players in search of high-stakes excitement.

The game includes a variety of bonus features. Landing six or more coin symbols activates the Hold and Win bonus, initiating a high-stakes re-spin round. Beginning with three re-spins, each additional coin resets the re-spin total, continuing the round. The opportunity to win immediate cash rewards, including Mini, Major, or Grand bonuses that can reach up to 1000 times the total wager, significantly enhances the thrill of the game.

In addition, players who hit three Scatter symbols will receive eight Free Spins. From this point onward, only premium symbols show up on the reels, including Wilds, Bells, Stars, Gold Bars, and Clovers. Featuring only high-paying symbols, each spin is designed to enhance the likelihood of securing significant combinations, and Free Spins can be retriggered, generating payout possibilities with every spin.

Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “The treasure hunt is on. With a golden chance to strike it rich, Gold Gold Gold Hold and Win is our latest must-play slot. With thrilling bonus features that keep the action going, players can enjoy the potential to unlock massive returns and feel that they are always one spin away from striking gold.”

The post Treasure Hunt Revival — Booming Games Launches Gold Gold Gold Hold and Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.