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Casino Guru’s complaint data reveals scope of UK players gambling at unlicensed websites
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.
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Slotegrator’s One-Click Casino, a preconfigured, ready-to-run iGaming business solution, now offers the fastest time to market in iGaming, with new projects ready to launch in as little as five business days*. The company will demo the new solution at stand S44 at iGB L!VE on July 1-2.
Slotegrator’s One-Click Casino, a preconfigured turnkey online casino platform, is now the fastest solution available to operators looking to start an iGaming project. One-Click Casino cuts the launch timeline for new projects to as short as five business days* with the use of backoffice presets. A demo of the new solution will be available at iGB L!VE on July 1-2, at the company’s stand, S44.
New operators choose turnkey solutions in order to accelerate their launch; however, the client is still responsible for configuring many aspects of the platform. The new One-Click Casino shortens the timeline even further with preconfigured projects featuring unique frontends based on player preferences in different markets and regions, making for a faster and more cost-effective launch.
One-Click Casino has presets for bonus systems, payment service providers, anti-fraud triggers, game content, and more, though the frontend is still customizable. The launch timeframe assumes the operator is already licensed. License acquisition can extend the timeline, but Slotegrator also offers license acquisition services.
“One-Click Casino removes many of the barriers that operators face when starting a new online casino,” says Maksym Shtun, product owner at Slotegrator. “Speed and flexibility are everything in iGaming. By preconfiguring so much of the backend, we’ve made it faster and easier than ever for new operators to start their project.”
An extensive launch timeline can sink a project, as every day that passes without generating revenue is a drain on investment. Operators can easily spend substantial sums before the first bet has even been placed, due to the costs associated with license acquisition, platform setup, developing a team, and integrating games and payment systems.
One-Click Casino has four types of available bonuses, with thumbnails, amounts, and wagering, as well as a Wheel of Fortune and cashback, including preset percentage and activation triggers. Multi-level loyalty programs are also available, as well as game categorization, such as new, top, and bonus-eligible games.
The solution’s preconfigured anti-fraud system includes behavior and IP analysis, as well as automatic multi-accounting checks at registration. Bonus preconfigurations include bonus group limits based on player profiles, mandatory verification before bonuses are awarded.
As an added bonus, the solution includes a preconfigured Telegram bot, to run an alternate frontend through the popular encrypted messenger app.
One-Click Casino is ideal for entrepreneurs who are looking to launch a new iGaming project but are put off by the costs, technical complexity, and launch timeline, such as operators of crypto or Web3 projects who’ve built a community but need a way to monetize it.
*Final timeline depends on client’s technical readiness, chosen market of operation, and licensing status.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.
The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.
The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.
Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.
The post New Slotegrator solution offers fastest time to market in iGaming appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Leading sportsbook provider Altenar will attend iGB L!VE London 2026 to meet with industry stakeholders and discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping one of the world’s most mature and competitive regulated gambling jurisdictions.
According to the latest data published by the UK Gambling Commission, online real-event betting generated £530 million in Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) during Q4 2025, underlining the scale of the UK’s regulated sports betting sector and the ongoing demand for high-performance sportsbook products.
Against this backdrop, operators are under increasing pressure to differentiate their offering, maximise player lifetime value, and remain fully compliant with evolving regulatory requirements.
Altenar’s sportsbook is designed to address these challenges through flexible technology, advanced trading capabilities, localisation tools, and a comprehensive suite of engagement and retention features.
The platform enables operators to launch and scale efficiently while delivering tailored betting experiences that resonate with UK audiences.
Giannis Papakonstantinou, Account Management Director at Altenar, said:
“The challenge in the UK is no longer simply entering the market. Operators need to acquire players efficiently, retain them for longer, and remain fully compliant in an increasingly demanding regulatory environment. Our role is to provide the technology, flexibility, and operational expertise that help partners achieve exactly that.
“Every operator faces different challenges, whether that’s managing multiple brands, improving sportsbook engagement, or creating stronger connections between casino and sports betting. At Altenar, we work closely with our partners to deliver solutions that support sustainable growth and long-term success.”
Altenar recently published a case study with L&L Europe, a UK-focused multi-brand operator, demonstrating how a scalable sportsbook strategy helped support rapid growth across its portfolio.
Altenar’s sales, account management, and senior leadership teams will be available at the expo. Attendees are invited to book a meeting with the Altenar team and visit stand P65 to discuss how operators can strengthen their position in today’s highly competitive UK market.
The post Altenar to Showcase UK-Focused Sportsbook Solutions at iGB L!VE London 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
UK slots casino provider Spin Genie has published an analysis of its 10 biggest progressive jackpot wins, with Fluffy Favourites the most frequent franchise in the list, according to the operator.
Spin Genie said players landed “tens of thousands of euros” across the 10 results, with the largest recorded progressive jackpot in the dataset reaching €13,447. The operator added that Fluffy Favourites accounted for multiple entries and was responsible for the biggest jackpot amount.
The analysis points to a concentration of top payouts among familiar brands. Spin Genie said many of its biggest jackpots were won on long-established slot titles and recognisable franchises, despite the steady flow of new game launches.
Dom Aldworth, Head of Brand Marketing at Kinetic Digital, said:
“Jackpot games continue to be among the most exciting experiences available to online casino players, and it’s fascinating to see which titles have delivered the biggest wins over time.
“What stands out from the data is the continued success of some of the industry’s most recognisable slot franchises. While players are always eager to explore new releases, many of the biggest jackpots are still being won on games that have built strong reputations over many years. It highlights the lasting appeal of these titles and the excitement that progressive jackpots continue to generate.”
The post Spin Genie says Fluffy Favourites leads its biggest jackpot wins appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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