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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.

Alina Avekse Mathiasen

Tequity signs RGS deal with DELULU to power cinematic slot portfolio

Published

36 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

tequity-signs-rgs-deal-with-delulu-to-power-cinematic-slot-portfolio

Tequity, the pioneering iGaming software provider, has entered into a strategic partnership with new slot studio DELULU to provide the infrastructure for its upcoming market debut through its licensed modular Remote Gaming Server (RGS) platform.

The agreement allows DELULU to leverage Tequity’s advanced RGS to deploy titles designed to blend high-end cinematic quality with measurable performance. By utilising Tequity’s streamlined infrastructure, DELULU maintains creative control and rapid development speeds as it prepares to bring its titles to global operators.

DELULU is currently finalising development on its initial portfolio, working closely with aggregators to prepare for a full market release. Every title will feature the studio’s signature bold art direction and character-driven narratives, optimised for the modern player’s appetite for engagement and streamability.

The partnership comes during a period of rapid scaling for Tequity, which now supports 30 RGS clients and over 120 integrations across regulated markets.

The agreement, which follows on from a recent flurry of partnerships with game providers and operators, further cements Tequity’s reputation as the technical partner of choice for studios looking to bypass the friction of traditional game delivery.

Tanja Bergman, Head of Growth – RGS at Tequity, said: “DELULU is a studio that refuses to compromise. Their focus on visuals that catch the eye and math that feels right aligns perfectly with our philosophy of providing technology that does all of the heavy lifting.

“We are excited to provide the stable, high-performance environment they need to turn their creative vision into a market-leading reality.”

Alina Avekse Mathiasen, CPO at DELULU, said: “When building a studio, the crucial difference lies in how complete the platform is. With Tequity, everything from the promo toolkit to the frontend SDK works as one system and this is highly beneficical.

“It allows us to ensure our creative decisions reach the player exactly as intended. Tequity gives us the technical freedom to focus entirely on the game, ensuring our titles hit the market fast, stable, and ready to perform.”

The post Tequity signs RGS deal with DELULU to power cinematic slot portfolio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

bet365

Gaming Corps extends bet365 partnership into Brazil

Published

36 minutes ago

May 18, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

gaming-corps-extends-bet365-partnership-into-brazil

Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden, has extended its partnership with bet365, taking its games live with the operator in Brazil as part of its continued expansion across regulated markets.

The launch builds on Gaming Corps’ existing relationship with bet365 and signals another important step in the studio’s wider Latin American growth strategy. The rollout has been delivered through Gaming Corps’ distribution partnership with Light & Wonder, supporting efficient market access through one of the industry’s most established content networks.

bet365 players in Brazil will gain access to Gaming Corps’ full line up, including Penalty Champion, the instant win game that puts players in a sudden-death penalty shootout where each successful strike increases the potential return. The launch also includes popular franchise titles such as 3 Pigs of Olympus and 3 Pigs of the Caribbean, while Brazilian players can also look forward to Gaming Corps’ three-game football suite arriving in time for the World Cup.

With a portfolio that stretches beyond standard slot content, Gaming Corps has focused on building games with more variety in both format and play style. Alongside proprietary concepts such as Smash4Cash, A-MAZE-CADES and X-MY-WAY, the studio also develops Mine, Table, Multiplier and Plinko games, helping operators introduce a wider mix of experiences for different types of players.

Juha Kauppinen, CEO at Gaming Corps, said: “Extending our partnership with bet365 into Brazil is an exciting development for Gaming Corps and an important next step in how we grow with major operators across regulated markets. bet365 is one of the most recognised names in online gaming and expanding our reach with them into a market like Brazil underlines both the strength of the relationship and the wider appeal of our portfolio.”

A bet365 spokesperson, added: “Gaming Corps has established a clear identity within the market through a mix of creative game concepts and distinctive mechanics. We are delighted to expand our partnership with the studio into Brazil and look forward to making this content available to our players in the market.”

The post Gaming Corps extends bet365 partnership into Brazil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Australia

Regulating the Game Rolls Out Four-Level Partnership Structure Ahead of Sydney 2027 Program

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

regulating-the-game-rolls-out-four-level-partnership-structure-ahead-of-sydney-2027-program

Regulating the Game has announced an updated partnership framework for the 2027 initiative, organized into four levels — Principal Partner, Signature Partners, Pillar Partners, and Activation Partners — aimed at providing sponsors a more defined connection with the conference, the RTG Global Awards, and the delegate experience.

The updated architecture showcases significant involvement in 2026 and mirrors the widened scope of the 2027 program, which encompasses a more extensive conference agenda and the growth of the RTG Global Awards from six to twelve categories.

Regulating the Game 2027 Sydney is scheduled for 8–10 March 2027 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, featuring the RTG Global Awards ceremony on 9 March 2027.

A more distinct connection between partner funding and program worth.Every level is designed to correspond with the delegates’ experience of the program — starting with the conference opening, through Pitch!, the main program, the Global Awards Gala Dinner, and concluding the event. The goal is to minimize overlapping propositions, enhance category positioning, and achieve partnership results that are clear, traceable, and aligned with the program’s core.

• Principal Partner — The lead partner of the Regulating the Game 2027 program, with prominence across the conference, the Global Awards and the delegate journey. Reserved as a singular position.
• Signature Partners — A small group of premium partners aligned with flagship program elements, including Pitch!, the Global Awards Gala Dinner and other headline moments of the 2027 program.
• Pillar Partners — Partners aligned with the core thematic pillars of the Regulating the Game program: regulation and policy, compliance and integrity, safer gambling, and technology and innovation.
• Activation Partners — Partners supporting specific delegate touchpoints and experiences across the program, with visibility tied to defined activations.

A maturing global program

The 2027 program builds on the trajectory established in 2026, which saw strong international participation, the inaugural RTG Global Awards and the Pitch! showcase that brought together established providers and emerging RegTech disruptors. The expanded 2027 awards program — with six new categories including Black Market Disruption Initiative, Sport & Wagering Integrity Initiative, Research Impact, Gambling Harm Prevention Campaign, Compliance Advisory and Distinguished Contribution — broadens the recognition framework across the sector.
“The 2027 architecture reflects the maturity of the Regulating the Game program — a global conference, an expanded awards program and a delegate community that spans regulators, sector leaders, technology and research across multiple jurisdictions,” said Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch and Founder of Regulating the Game.

“Partners increasingly want a clearer line of sight to value, audience and alignment. The four-tier model is designed to provide that — fewer overlapping propositions, clearer category positioning, and partnerships that map to how the program is actually experienced by delegates.”

Partner engagement now open

Partnership conversations for the 2027 program are now open. Organisations interested in any of the four tiers are invited to make contact through Regulating the Game to discuss alignment, availability and entitlements.

Event Details
Regulating the Game 2027 Sydney 8–10 March 2027 Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney, Australia
RTG Global Awards Presentation 9 March 2027

The post Regulating the Game Rolls Out Four-Level Partnership Structure Ahead of Sydney 2027 Program appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.