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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.

Gamblers Connect

NuxGame & Gamblers Connect Enter a New Partnership

Published

4 hours ago

December 8, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

Gamblers Connect is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with NuxGame, a premier B2B software provider specialising in API-first, modular iGaming solutions.

This collaboration is designed to significantly enhance NuxGame’s brand visibility and solidify its authority across the critical regulated and emerging markets our operator network serves. NuxGame, which has been successfully developing and expanding operator projects since 2018, offers comprehensive Turnkey Casino and Sportsbook Platforms.

The company’s technical strength is unmatched, featuring a massive aggregated content library of over 16,500 games from more than 130 studios, alongside advanced, market-specific tools like its Telegram Casino Software and specialised Sweepstakes Casino Platform.

Gamblers Connect will showcase how NuxGame’s modular, API-first architecture allows clients to quickly launch a fully branded platform, easily scale into complex verticals like crypto, and benefit from full compliance support, including their Romanian Class II B2B Licence and GLI-19 Certification.

By offering transparency around risk management and a comprehensive support system, Gamblers Connect will de-risk the initial onboarding process for operators.

This strategic alliance underscores NuxGame’s commitment to delivering technical excellence and our dedication to providing our audience with trusted, high-value industry partners.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “Our partnership will leverage Gamblers Connect’s high-authority platform to connect NuxGame directly with decision-makers seeking fast, scalable, and compliant software solutions. Our cooperation will focus on delivering expert content and deep technical insights into the platform’s core advantages.”

The post NuxGame & Gamblers Connect Enter a New Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025

Soft2Bet Nominated for Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025

Published

5 hours ago

December 8, 2025

George Miller

soft2bet-nominated-for-best-solutions-for-igaming-industry-in-romania-2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Soft2Bet, a leading provider of iGaming turnkey solutions, has been nominated for Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 by Romania Gaming Celebration 11 – Casino Inside Gala Awards. The nomination highlights Soft2Bet’s continued investment in the country and its ability to deliver highly localised and high-performing solutions for local operators and players, powered by its proprietary gamification engine, MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application).

This nomination is the latest in a series of achievements in the Romanian market, highlighting Soft2Bet’s data-driven iGaming solutions for player retention. Previously, the company was honoured as the Best iGaming Solutions Provider in Romania at the 12th Reunion of Gambling Professionals. Furthermore, its local brand, Don.ro, secured the title of Best New Launch of 2024 at the same event, and in the process showcased how its approach to creating compelling brands specifically tailored for Romanian players is highly successful.

Don.ro has rapidly established itself as one of Romania’s most recognisable online entertainment platforms. Its success is built on a highly intuitive user experience (UX), a comprehensive range of casino and sportsbook options, and strategic, locally focused marketing campaigns. In addition, Don.ro has strengthened its brand appeal and established strong trust with Romanian players thanks to its partnership with the CFR Cluj 1907 football club, in the process contributing to local sports.

Don.ro uses Soft2Bet’s advanced MEGA technology to boost player engagement with missions, challenges and personalised rewards. This proprietary technology also ensures responsible gaming. MEGA allows operators to customise player experiences, rewards and activation triggers to fit local market needs. These features increase engagement, retention and long-term value for both casino and sports betting platforms.

Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet, stated: “Being nominated in the Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 category is a clear recognition of all the work our teams have accomplished with Don.ro and confirmation of the success in Romania. Our focus is on building locally relevant experiences, powered by MEGA and supported by strong compliance and design standards. We are proud of what we are achieving in Romania and remain committed to bringing quality iCasino engagement tactics and long-term strategies to our players.”

The post Soft2Bet Nominated for Best Solutions for iGaming Industry in Romania 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Eastern Europe

HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE IN ROMANIA WITH FORTUNA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Published

5 hours ago

December 8, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that its flagship soccer products are now live online in Romania with the Fortuna Entertainment Group.

Highlight’s premium SOCCERBET games which feature genuine archive footage from some of the biggest leagues and teams in football are now available to Fortuna’s online customers in Romania via its Casa Pariurilor and Fortuna Romania brands. Available iterations of the product include Italian Football featuring Serie A, Spanish Football featuring LaLiga and English Football featuring English Premier League teams.

Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: ‘I’m delighted to see our SOCCERBET portfolio go live with FEG in Romania. This launch represents another significant milestone in our expansion across regulated European markets, and we look forward to building on our partnership with Fortuna and bringing even more compelling content to its customers in the months ahead.’

Erik Klems, Group RNG Product Manager, Fortuna Entertainment Group added: ‘We are excited to introduce Highlight Games’ SOCCERBET products to our Romanian customers. The combination of authentic archive football footage and innovative gameplay brings something genuinely fresh to the market and perfectly complements our existing portfolio. At FEG, we are committed to offering players the best and most engaging experiences available, and this partnership with Highlight Games supports that mission. We anticipate a strong reaction from players and see great potential for continued collaboration.’

The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES LIVE IN ROMANIA WITH FORTUNA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.