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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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Zingo Bingo Launches “Your Era” – A Social-First Nostalgia Series for 2026
Zingo Bingo has officially unveiled Your Era, a new short-form social media content series celebrating iconic throwbacks, shared nostalgia and the cultural moments that defined generations. The series launches in February 2026 and will roll out weekly across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
Designed to strengthen Zingo Bingo’s identity as a home of nostalgic fun, Your Era focuses on authentic conversation rather than traditional promotional content. The format highlights music, fashion, technology and pop culture milestones that shaped each guest’s personal journey.
Kerry Katona and Pat Sharp Headline Series One
The first confirmed guests include Kerry Katona, singer and media personality best known from Atomic Kitten, and Pat Sharp, the iconic radio and TV presenter associated with classic UK entertainment shows. Additional celebrity names will be revealed throughout the year.
Each episode features five themed nostalgia segments crafted to spark memories, conversation and emotional connections among viewers.
What to Expect from “Your Era”
Every guest takes part in recurring throwback features designed to boost engagement and relatability:
- The Memory Bag – Guests reveal five nostalgic items and share the stories behind them
- Flashback Files – A rapid-fire interview covering music, fashion, tech and cultural trends
- Mixtape Memories – Guests curate throwback tracks for the official Your Era playlist
- Taste of the Past – Sampling retro sweets and snacks while rating nostalgia levels
- Yesterday’s News – A humorous headline-guessing game using real throwback media stories
The series aims to tap into the growing popularity of nostalgia-driven digital content while positioning Zingo Bingo as a community-led entertainment brand.
Built by Kinetic Digital and Blueprintx
Your Era has been developed by Zingo Bingo’s operators, Kinetic Digital, in collaboration with long-term creative partner Blueprintx. Blueprintx has previously supported digital and television campaigns for Kinetic Digital brands including Prime Casino and Slingo.
The production strategy prioritises shareable, short-form content optimised for social discovery and influencer amplification, with episodes distributed across dedicated platform pages as well as guest channels.
A Strategic Play for Community Engagement
Jack Watson, Brand Manager at Zingo Bingo, said the series reflects the brand’s commitment to fun, familiarity and connection.
“Your Era is about celebrating the music we replayed, the fads we cringe at and the memories that still make us smile. It’s designed to bring people together through shared nostalgia while reminding audiences that bingo is about enjoying those moments collectively.”
Series one will feature six guests throughout 2026, with new weekly segments designed to drive audience engagement and repeat viewership.
The post Zingo Bingo Launches “Your Era” Nostalgia Series Featuring Kerry Katona and Pat Sharp appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
app launch Feb 2026
Vibra Solutions Powers Betxico Mobile App Launch in Mexico — Scalable iGaming Platform
Vibra Solutions, the LatAm-focused iGaming technology company, today announced the launch of Betxico’s new mobile app, strengthening Vibra’s presence in Mexico and accelerating Betxico’s rapid growth as one of the country’s fastest-expanding online betting and digital casino operators.
Built for scale and local market needs, the Betxico mobile app represents the latest milestone in a strategic partnership that prioritizes performance, regulatory compliance and user experience. The platform delivers robust support for high concurrent users and real-time transactions, making it well suited to Mexico’s dynamic mobile-first audience.
Fast, local, and scalable technology
Vibra Solutions and Betxico co-developed a scalable technical architecture designed to:
- Support large volumes of simultaneous users and real-time wagering activity
- Ensure low-latency, secure transactions across sportsbook and casino verticals
- Provide localized features and compliance-ready workflows for Mexico’s regulated market
- Enable rapid updates and continuous product innovation through an agile integration model
These technical strengths help Betxico quickly roll out competitive features while reducing time-to-market and operational friction for both mobile and web channels.
Partnership built on growth and trust
“Seeing Betxico establish itself in such a competitive market is extremely rewarding,” said Werter Luna, CEO of Vibra Solutions. “Their high standards and sustained trust have driven product evolution at every stage.”
Francisco Salazar, CCO of Betxico, added: “We’re proud of our progress in Mexico. Having Vibra Solutions as our technology partner was fundamental — allowing us to move forward with confidence and a strong focus on the user.”
Why this matters for Mexico and LatAm
The Betxico app launch underscores Vibra Solutions’ strategy to deliver regulated-market expertise across Latin America by combining localised product design with enterprise-grade platform engineering. For operators and partners, the app demonstrates how technology-led partnerships can accelerate growth while prioritizing player safety, compliance and seamless UX.
Operators, affiliates and players can expect ongoing feature rollouts and performance optimizations as Betxico scales its footprint in Mexico’s competitive iGaming market.
The post Vibra Solutions Powers Betxico Mobile App Launch in Mexico — Scalable iGaming Platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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ACR POKER LAUNCHES LARGEST PHIL’S THRILL EVER – AN XXL EDITION WITH $1.5 MILLION GUARANTEED
Aspiring high-stakes players can advance through the ‘Road to the Big One’ satellites and earn their ticket into one of the biggest weekly events on the ACR Poker schedule
ACR Poker is taking its popular weekly high-stakes tournament to another level with Phil’s Thrill XXL, featuring a massive $1.5 million guaranteed prize pool and taking place on Sunday, March 1st. And now with the ‘Road to the Big One’, players of all levels have the opportunity to compete in the $10,300 buy-in showdown, starting from just $95.
The Road to the Big One begins with Beast Satellites, where players can buy-in for $95 on Sunday, February 15th or 22nd at 5:05pm ET. Both satellites guarantee 50 tickets to the next stage, the Mega Satellites, which take place on Sunday, February 22nd and March 1st at 11:05am ET. Players also have the option to buy-in directly to the Mega Satellites for $1,050, with each guaranteeing 20 seats into Phil’s Thrill XXL event, starting Sunday, March 1st at 2:30pm ET.
“Playing Phil’s Thrill is always a highlight for me. The mix of elite competition and atmosphere is unlike any other tournament,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “I love how the Road to the Big One gives every player the chance to start small, earn their way into one of the biggest tournaments on the schedule, and battle for massive prizes alongside some of the best players in the game. That journey is what makes it so exciting.”
Designed to deliver the excitement and intensity of high-stakes poker, Phil’s Thrill unites poker’s elite and fearless competitors eager to battle for massive prize pools every week, including ACR Pros Chris Moneymaker and Chris Moorman.
The inaugural event on July 6th last year attracted 46 players for a $460,000 prize pool. Momentum quickly followed, with the August 17th Phil’s Thrill tournament setting a record of 79 entries and a massive $790,000 prize pool. Last Sunday’s 62-entry event generated a $620,000 prize pool, with ACR Poker CEO Phil Nagy finishing in 12th place and ‘FASTPLAYFAST’ claiming the crown, bragging rights, and $173,600.
Poker fans can also get front-row access to Phil’s Thrill action through ACR Poker’s live stream on Twitch, hosted by ACR Pro Rob Kuhn, who welcomes big-name guests every week such as Dylan Linde, Lewis Spencer, and Martin Zamani, among others.
For further details on the ‘Road to the Big One’ Phil’s Thrill XXL, visit ACRPoker.eu.
The post ACR POKER LAUNCHES LARGEST PHIL’S THRILL EVER – AN XXL EDITION WITH $1.5 MILLION GUARANTEED appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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