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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.

Alex Baliukonis Game Producer at BGaming

Snap Up Big Wins in BGaming’s Shark & Spark Hold & Win

Published

19 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

snap-up-big-wins-in-bgaming’s-shark-&-spark-hold-&-win

BGaming, a leading provider of iGaming content, has unveiled its latest online slot, *Shark & Spark Hold & Win*, showcasing an engaging character-driven design alongside an innovative twist on the popular Hold and Win mechanics. This new release introduces a playful bonus mode and aims to deliver a fresh gaming experience.

Set in an underwater world, the game immerses players in a vibrant 5×6 grid teeming with colorful marine life and led by a charming baby shark. Far more companion than predator, this animated character reacts to in-game events and serves as the protagonist of the highlight feature: the Sharks & Ladders bonus game.

*Shark & Spark Hold & Win* employs a pay-anywhere mechanic and incorporates a Cascading Wins feature, which boosts winning opportunities. Throughout gameplay, Pearl symbols may appear, offering prizes or multipliers that can be collected with each spin, enhancing earnings.

Landing four or more Scatter symbols in a single spin activates one of two distinct bonus rounds, chosen at random. The first is the Coin Respin feature, a classic Hold & Win-style bonus. In this mode, Coin symbols drop onto an empty grid, stick to the reels, and reset the spin counter with each appearance. When spins are exhausted, the total value of all Coins and multipliers are added up and awarded to the player.

The second bonus is Sharks & Ladders, inspired by the iconic Snakes & Ladders board game. Here, players control the shark as it moves across the board, collecting multipliers and leveraging shortcuts along the way. Reaching the final space unlocks a spin on the Wheel of Fortune, with potential prizes ranging from 100x to an impressive 5,000x bet multiplier.

Adding to its appeal, the game features medium-high volatility with a generous RTP of 97%. For those who prefer immediate action, players can also utilize the Buy Bonus feature to instantly trigger either of the bonus rounds.

With its vibrant visuals, engaging gameplay, and the incorporation of a unique board-game-inspired bonus mode, *Shark & Spark Hold & Win* is expected to attract both new players and experienced enthusiasts. Its innovative features and charismatic shark character also make it particularly appealing for streaming audiences and ideal for enhancing player retention.

Alex Baliukonis, Game Producer at BGaming, shared his excitement about the new release: “Designing *Shark & Spark Hold & Win* has been an incredible journey for our team. The Snakes & Ladders-inspired concept brings something completely fresh to our portfolio, and we believe its dynamic features will resonate with a wide audience. The central shark character adds charm and personality to the game, allowing us to unleash our creativity. We’ve seen great success with other character-led games, and we’re confident this release will capture players’ hearts just as effectively.”

With its captivating theme and engaging mechanics, *Shark & Spark Hold & Win* stands poised to make waves in the iGaming industry.

The post Snap Up Big Wins in BGaming’s Shark & Spark Hold & Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

Esports Foundation books Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for Esports World Cup 2026

Published

19 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-books-paris-expo-porte-de-versailles-for-esports-world-cup-2026

The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed Paris Expo Porte de Versailles as the venue for Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled to run in Paris, France, from July 06 through August 23.

EF said tickets for all 25 competitions will go on sale from Friday, May 29, 2026, via esportsworldcup.com/tickets. The organiser said the venue will host competition arenas, broadcast operations, and fan activations across the seven-week programme.

According to EF, more than 2,000 players from over 200 Clubs and more than 100 countries will compete for a $75 million prize pool as part of the event’s cross-game Club Championship. The tournament lineup spans major competitive genres, including first-person shooters, strategy, sports, MOBAs, battle royales, fighting games, racing games, and Chess.

EF also outlined ticketing tiers, including Regular Tournament Passes, Premium Tournament Passes (with fast-track entry and a limited-edition goodie bag), Daily Regular Tournament Passes, and tiered Final Day seating zones (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) for select championship matches across VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Counter-Strike 2.

The published schedule lists Week 1 events including VALORANT (July 9–12), ALGS Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs (Apex Legends) (July 7–11), Dota 2 (July 7–12), and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (July 8–11), with Counter-Strike 2 closing out Week 7 from August 19–23 alongside Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship, Trackmania, and CROSSFIRE.

The post Esports Foundation books Paris Expo Porte de Versailles for Esports World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Africa

Bede Gaming’s Latest Sunbet Expansion Delivers iGaming Platform to Namibia

Published

19 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

bede-gaming’s-latest-sunbet-expansion-delivers-igaming-platform-to-namibia

Launch adds sports, slots and live casino, with integrations including Kambi and Evolution.

Sunbet, the digital gaming arm of Sun International, has launched in Namibia using an “internationally configurable” platform supplied by Bede Gaming. The rollout marks Sunbet’s latest African market expansion with the technology partner.

Bede said the Namibia deployment mirrors Sunbet’s other African markets, covering sports, slots and live casino. The platform includes integrations with Kambi, Evolution, Habenero and Pariplay.

Operationally, Bede said Sunbet will also use its partnership with Xtremepush to access CRM tooling aimed at supporting acquisition and retention.

Bede and Sunbet have worked together since 2017. Bede said that after slot regulation changed in South Africa in 2022, Sunbet expanded its digital product line-up, followed by a Botswana launch in 2024. Bede cited H2 2025 Botswana results of 189% growth in registrations, 239% growth in unique players, and increases of 370% in total wagering and 350% in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR).

Kirsty Stewart, Chief Legal & Client Success Officer at Bede, said: “It’s been wonderful to continue fostering our ongoing partnership with Sunbet, including the delivery of their two global expansions over these last couple of years. There’s a lot to be proud of within this customer relationship, and we’re looking forward to building on the outstanding performance we’ve witnessed so far. I’m eager to continue offering a strong foundation, exceptional service and powerful integration suite for Sun’s future growth.”

Simon Gregory, Chief Executive Officer at Sunbet, said: “Sun International is a well respected and trusted brand in Africa, so Sunbet’s intention was always to leverage this good will by expanding into other African markets. We experienced significant success after our debut in Botswana, so rolling out Sunbet to the Namibian market was the natural next step for us, especially given that Namibia is one of South Africa’s strongest trading partners.

“We are equally confident that with Bede, we have the right partner to achieve our regional expansion strategy. Their platform offers the digital flexibility and stability we need to efficiently enter new markets while living up to Sunbet’s promise to deliver a high-quality experience for players.

“We look forward to building a strong presence in Namibia and bringing the same trusted Sunbet experience that customers have come to expect across our other markets.”

The post Bede Gaming’s Latest Sunbet Expansion Delivers iGaming Platform to Namibia appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.