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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.

Booming Games

Booming Games launches Greedy for Gold: Hold and Win, second in series

Published

7 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-launches-greedy-for-gold:-hold-and-win,-second-in-series

Irish-themed slot runs a 5×3 layout with 20 fixed paylines and lists a 2,000x max win, plus Hold and Win and bonus buy options.

Booming Games has launched Greedy for Gold: Hold and Win, the second game in its Greedy for Gold series. The supplier said the slot uses a 5×3 grid with 20 fixed paylines and offers a maximum win potential of 2,000x.

The Irish-themed title includes Pot of Gold and Lucky Hat mechanics, plus Free Spins with Jumbo symbols and a Hold and Win feature. In the base game, Booming Games said the Pot of Gold feature collects non-triggering coins and can award Hold and Win on any spin, while Lucky Hat collects Scatter symbols for a chance to trigger Free Spins. Three, four or five Scatter symbols award 10, 15 and 20 Free Spins respectively.

During Free Spins, Jumbo symbols appear across reels 2-4, the company said. Jumbo Scatter symbols award an extra three spins, while Jumbo Value symbols trigger the Hold and Win feature. Value symbols range from 1x to 100x the bet amount, and filling the grid awards the Grand Bonus worth 1000x the bet amount.

Booming Games said Hold and Win starts with three respins, with Scatter symbols held in place and additional symbols resetting the respin counter to three. Players can also purchase a Mystery Bonus for 75x the bet amount or a Super Bonus for 100x, while a Boost+ side bet increases the bet amount by 25% and increases the chance of triggering bonus features with Bonus Buy.

Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games, said: “While we have a dedicated pipeline of releases around St Patrick’s Day, our Irish themed games are popular with players all year round. With a number of innovative bonus features, the game demonstrates our commitment to delivering premium gaming experiences, and we’re confident that players will enjoy this latest addition to our collection.”

The post Booming Games launches Greedy for Gold: Hold and Win, second in series appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

4 Pots Riches: Super Wheel

Playson adds Super Wheel mechanic to 4 Pots Riches slot series

Published

7 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

playson-adds-super-wheel-mechanic-to-4-pots-riches-slot-series

4 Pots Riches: Super Wheel introduces a wheel-trigger tied to Bonus and Mega Bonus modes, with up to 10,000x payouts.

Playson has released 4 Pots Riches: Super Wheel, adding a new “Super Wheel” mechanic to its 4 Pots Riches slot line-up.

The Super Wheel feature triggers when a Super Wheel Symbol is present on the reels at the moment either the Bonus Game with Pot Features or the Mega Bonus Game starts. Playson said the wheel then spins to award either a Jackpot Coin, a Clover Coin, or a coin with a value of up to 10x.

In the Bonus Game, Clover Coins are collected by coloured pots above the reels and can trigger one of three pot features: Multi (adds multipliers of up to 5x), Collect (collects symbol values on the reels into the coin value, including multipliers), and Mystery (awards a Mini, Minor or Major Jackpot, or a random value of up to 75x the total bet). The Mega Bonus Game is played on an expanded 5×5 field and is accessed via a Mega Clover Coin in the main game, increasing the chance to land additional Clover Coins and features.

Playson also said a Golden Pot feature can randomly trigger during the Bonus or Mega Bonus Game, transforming into a violet, blue or red Clover Coin to activate or enhance features. Jackpot Coins can also appear, awarding Mini, Minor or Major wins worth 15x, 30x or 100x. Filling all 15 cells in the Bonus Game or all 25 cells in the Mega Bonus Game awards 3,000x and 10,000x wins respectively.

Anton Ivannikov, CPO at Playson, said: “4 Pots Riches: Super Wheel reflects our commitment to evolving successful game concepts with fresh mechanics that enhance engagement and excitement. The new Super Wheel feature adds an extra layer of anticipation to the bonus experience while complementing the proven appeal of our Pot Features.

“Combined with the Mega Bonus Game and Golden Pot enhancements, the release delivers a compelling blend of familiar mechanics and new opportunities. We believe it will resonate strongly with players and further strengthen the popularity of our 4 Pots series.”

The post Playson adds Super Wheel mechanic to 4 Pots Riches slot series appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Altenar

Altenar and Greentube Announce Strategic Sportsbook Partnership

Published

7 minutes ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

altenar-and-greentube-announce-strategic-sportsbook-partnership

Leading sportsbook provider joins forces with one of the industry’s most established gaming content and technology brands

18 June, 2026

Altenar, the leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has announced a strategic partnership with Greentube, the Digital Gaming and Entertainment Division of NOVOMATIC, in a deal that will further strengthen both companies’ offerings across key regulated European markets.

The agreement will see Greentube integrate Altenar’s sportsbook technology, enabling the company to enhance its sports betting proposition with a scalable, feature-rich solution designed to maximise player engagement and operational performance.

Altenar delivers a fully managed and highly configurable sports betting platform, offering comprehensive pre-match and live betting coverage, advanced risk management, personalised promotional tools, and a flexible framework tailored to the needs of operators in regulated jurisdictions worldwide.

By combining Greentube’s extensive market presence and digital expertise with Altenar’s sportsbook capabilities, the collaboration aims to create new opportunities for growth while providing players with a seamless and engaging betting experience.

Charlie Williams, Commercial Director at Altenar, said:

“We are delighted to partner with Greentube, a company that has built an outstanding reputation for innovation, quality and excellence across the global gaming industry.

“At Altenar, we pride ourselves on delivering a sportsbook solution that combines flexibility, reliability and localisation, enabling operators to create unique experiences for their players while remaining competitive in increasingly demanding markets such as Spain and the UK.

We look forward to working closely with the Greentube team and supporting their continued growth.”

Ronald van den Brink, Chief Commercial Officer at Greentube, added:

“Partnering with Altenar reflects our commitment to evolving our product suite in line with the demands of regulated markets. Our players expect a broad, high-quality entertainment experience, and sports betting is an increasingly important part of that.

Altenar has a strong record in delivering sportsbook solutions that perform across diverse jurisdictions, and by bringing that capability together with our content portfolio and technology platform, we’re well placed to offer something compelling in markets where the bar for quality continues to rise.”

The collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities for growth while delivering enhanced value to operators and players alike.

About Altenar
Founded in 2011, Altenar is a leading turnkey sportsbook provider committed to meeting the unique needs of its clients. Renowned for its flexibility and customer-centric approach, Altenar specialises in customising solutions to new markets, audiences and requirements. With a focus on building enduring partnerships, Altenar aims to be the most partner-oriented iGaming software provider in the industry.

www.altenar.com

About Greentube

Step inside the “Home of Games” with Greentube, delivering safe and secure casino entertainment to players around the world. As the NOVOMATIC Digital Gaming and Entertainment division, Greentube offers a diversified portfolio of Video Slots, Table Games, AWP Reloaded Slots, Server-Based Gaming, Social Casino Gaming, Video Bingo and more. Greentube’s omnichannel technology is at the forefront of gaming innovation and converges online, mobile and land-based gaming.

The post Altenar and Greentube Announce Strategic Sportsbook Partnership appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.