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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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Alternative Payment Methods
Paysafe expands Tebex checkout integration to add cards and more APMs
Tebex connects to the Paysafe API, extending beyond PaysafeCard to card processing and alternative payment methods including Openbucks in the US.
Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE) has expanded its partnership with video game monetization platform Tebex, adding card payments and additional alternative payment methods (APMs) through a single integration to the Paysafe API. The update was announced July 7, 2026 in London.
Tebex has integrated the Paysafe Gateway to support credit and debit card processing alongside APMs. Tebex said its checkout has offered Paysafe’s prepaid eCash product PaysafeCard since 2016, and the new API integration connects Tebex to a broader set of Paysafe payment products.
The integration also links Tebex to Paysafe’s branded APMs. Tebex Checkout is already live with Openbucks, which enables US gamers to pay online with cash using third-party gift cards purchased in-store at “67K+ locations,” or via Openbucks’ Obucks digital card sold through authorized online resellers.
Zak Cutler, President of Global Gaming at Paysafe, said: “We’re delighted to broaden our partnership with Tebex. In a highly competitive market, video game creatives need to satisfy gamers’ increasingly diverse transactional expectations. By connecting the Tebex Checkout to an exhaustive range of payment options, including recognizable brands like our Openbucks solution, the Paysafe Gateway will give Tebex and its customers an edge when it comes to streamlining, simplifying and ultimately optimizing the monetization of gaming.”
Liam Wiltshire, Vice President and GM of Tebex, commented: “At Tebex, we know payments are more than a transaction. They’re a critical part of how studios build relationships with their players and grow their games. Acting as an extension of the studio, our role is to remove the complexity of global payments, compliance, and support so teams can focus on creating amazing experiences. Expanding our partnership with Paysafe allows Tebex to offer greater choice and flexibility at checkout, helping our partners reach more players, reduce friction, and unlock new opportunities for growth.”
The post Paysafe expands Tebex checkout integration to add cards and more APMs appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
Paysafe strengthens Tebex’s payment offering for video gaming industry
Expanded partnership sees video gaming monetization platform Tebex integrate to Paysafe API for card payments and multiple alternative payment methods
Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), a global payments platform, today announced its expanded partnership with Tebex, the game monetization extension and growth platform for game servers and game studios. Tebex, which acts as an extension of a gaming studio, has integrated the Paysafe Gateway into its platform to enable video game merchants to provide their customers with true optionality when they transact – from card payments to alternative payment methods (APMs).
The Tebex Checkout has featured Paysafe’s flagship prepaid eCash solution PaysafeCard since 2016, and now, through a single, streamlined integration with the Paysafe API, it is connected to the company’s complete range of payment solutions. This includes seamless credit card and debit card payments, with all transactions processed in seconds by Paysafe.
The Gateway also connects Tebex to Paysafe’s suite of branded APMs, with the Tebex Checkout already live with the company’s Openbucks solution. Boasting strong brand recognition in the American video gaming community, this APM allows US gamers to pay online with cash using third-party gift cards, which can be bought in-store at 67K+ locations, or Openbucks’ own Obucks digital card, available for purchase online via authorized resellers.
With Openbucks and future Paysafe-powered solutions, Tebex continues to expand its network of local and alternative payment methods, enabling studios to reach players in more markets with payment options that reflect regional preferences and improve conversion rates with a seamless player experience.
Zak Cutler, President of Global Gaming at Paysafe, said: “We’re delighted to broaden our partnership with Tebex. In a highly competitive market, video game creatives need to satisfy gamers’ increasingly diverse transactional expectations. By connecting the Tebex Checkout to an exhaustive range of payment options, including recognizable brands like our Openbucks solution, the Paysafe Gateway will give Tebex and its customers an edge when it comes to streamlining, simplifying and ultimately optimizing the monetization of gaming.”
Liam Wiltshire, Vice President and GM of Tebex, commented: “At Tebex, we know payments are more than a transaction. They’re a critical part of how studios build relationships with their players and grow their games. Acting as an extension of the studio, our role is to remove the complexity of global payments, compliance, and support so teams can focus on creating amazing experiences. Expanding our partnership with Paysafe allows Tebex to offer greater choice and flexibility at checkout, helping our partners reach more players, reduce friction, and unlock new opportunities for growth.”
The post Paysafe strengthens Tebex’s payment offering for video gaming industry appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
casino games
F*Bastards says it now distributes content via 400+ operators worldwide
F*Bastards says its casino content is now available through more than 400 operators worldwide, marking a distribution milestone for the iGaming supplier as it continues to expand its portfolio and partner network.
In a company statement outlining its background, Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas said the team’s earlier attempt to build a game studio fell short due to positioning rather than production capability. “Looking back, we realised we weren’t missing talent. We were missing identity. We could build games, but we hadn’t built something people could remember. That lesson became the starting point for everything F*Bastards would later become.” says Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas.
The company said it intentionally built its brand around differentiation, including the decision to use the name F*Bastards despite the expectation it would split opinion among potential partners. The founders described early progress as incremental, driven by game releases, industry events, operator feedback and relationship-building, rather than a single breakout moment.
F*Bastards also pointed to a fundraising milestone in 2026, saying it secured its first seven-figure investment. The company positioned the round as validation of execution rather than an early-stage concept.
“From day one, the goal wasn’t to become the biggest supplier. It was to build something people would remember. We’ve come a long way, but in many ways, it still feels like we’re only getting started” says Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas.
The post F*Bastards says it now distributes content via 400+ operators worldwide appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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