Latest News

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.

3 Pigs of Independence Hog & Win

Gaming Corps launches 3 Pigs of Independence Hog & Win

Published

40 minutes ago

July 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

gaming-corps-launches-3-pigs-of-independence-hog-&-win

New 3 Pigs slot uses a 3×5, 243-ways setup with a Hold & Win-style bonus and a stated 5,000x max win.

Gaming Corps has launched 3 Pigs of Independence Hog & Win, a new title in its 3 Pigs slot series. The Sweden-based, publicly listed developer said the game is themed around US Independence Day.

The game runs on a 3×5 grid with 243 ways to win. Gaming Corps said it is built around “Hog & Win”, its pig-themed take on Hold & Win, where Prize Coins worth 1x to 5x the total bet can land in the base game and be collected via Collector Vaults.

According to the studio, the Bonus Hog & Win Game is triggered by collecting red, white and blue Pig Coins, with a stated top prize of 5,000x the total bet. In the bonus, the Red Pig “Grow” upgrade can add rows to increase the grid up to five symbols high, the White Pig “Boost” applies multipliers up to 10x, and the Blue Pig “Extra” adds respins. The Liberty Pig can also appear and reveal as one of the three Pig Coins.

The game also includes four collectable Banknote Prizes—Hamilton, Oinkrew, Grunt and Benji—which fill progress bars toward larger rewards, Gaming Corps said. A “Lose to Win” mechanic can also trigger on losing spins to reshape the grid into a win or send players into the Hog & Win feature.

Viacheslav Pechernyi, Product Owner at Gaming Corps, said: “The 3 Pigs have become real characters for us, and half the fun is deciding where they turn up next. An American Independence theme was the perfect fit for their loudest, brightest adventure yet.

“Beneath the celebration there is a genuinely rewarding game, with the Hog & Win feature, the grid-growing upgrades and the Banknote Prizes giving players plenty to chase. It is bold, good fun, and we think it will go down well wherever the 3 Pigs have found a following.”

The post Gaming Corps launches 3 Pigs of Independence Hog & Win appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Astana

Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027

Published

40 minutes ago

July 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

astana-to-host-iesf-world-esports-championship-2027

IESF signs host agreement with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation in Astana.

Astana has been confirmed as the host city for the IESF World Esports Championship 2027 (WEC27), following a host agreement signing ceremony involving the International Esports Federation (IESF), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation.

IESF said the event is expected to draw participation across more than 150 IESF Member Federations through the qualifiers, with national teams competing via IESF-recognized national member structures.

“WEC27 will be more than a championship. It will be a global celebration of nations, athletes, and the future of esports,” said Vlad Marinescu, President of IESF. “For every player, there is no greater honor than competing under their national flag and officially representing their nation on the world stage. That is what makes the World Esports Championship so powerful and so unique. In 2027, Astana will welcome the world and proudly stand as the Esports Capital in the World of Esports, uniting our Member Federations, athletes, fans, and communities. Kazakhstan has shown remarkable vision, ambition, and commitment, and we are confident that WEC27 will deliver an unforgettable championship and a lasting legacy for the global esports family.”

Yerbol Myrzabosynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said: “We are honored that the International Esports Federation has entrusted Kazakhstan with hosting the World Esports Championship 2027. This reflects the confidence in our country’s ability to deliver an event of the highest international standard. Hosting WEC27 reinforces our commitment to advancing esports and creating new opportunities for young people through sport, technology, education, and international cooperation. We look forward to welcoming the World of Esports to Astana and showcasing Kazakhstan as a destination capable of delivering world-class international events.”

Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qazaq Cybersport Federation, added: “We sincerely thank the International Esports Federation for the trust and confidence placed in Kazakhstan to host the World Esports Championship 2027. This is a historic milestone for our esports community and a testament to the progress we have achieved together with our partners. Alongside IESF, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and our national stakeholders, we are committed to delivering an outstanding championship for athletes, fans, and the World of Esports. WEC27 will inspire future generations, accelerate the growth of esports in Kazakhstan, and strengthen our country’s position as a leading esports and digital innovation hub.”

IESF said more details, including schedule, qualification pathway, venues, official titles, ticketing, and the event program, will be announced in the coming months via its official channels.

The post Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

QTech expands crash and fast games lineup with XUP Studio content

Published

2 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

qtech-expands-crash-and-fast-games-lineup-with-xup-studio-content

QTech has signed a new content agreement with XUP Studio to add more crash and fast games to its aggregation platform, extending its catalogue for operators across emerging markets including Latin America and Africa.

XUP Studio was founded in 2025 and is focused on crash and fast games. The studio said it is building new mechanics rather than relying on reskins. It currently has three games live, including Pingwin and Pigaboom, with four more in development and a further three planned for 2026.

Philip Doftvik, QTech’s CEO, said: “XUP Studio’s initial launch of some jaw-dropping crash and fast games is premised on clever mechanics, easily intelligible gameplay, high payouts and colourful graphics. This kind of content is well-suited to LatAm and African markets, which directly tracks our ongoing expansion throughout these territories. After such a dazzling beginning, we can’t wait to see what’s next from this rising star.”

Nikoloz Kadjaev, Co-Founder of XUP Studio, added: “Our idea was to build new mechanics in the fast and crash game segments. With the market flooded by reskins, XUP’s vision has always been to create something truly unique – not just visually, but mechanically as well. Emboldened by the breakout success of Pigaboom, our team will continue building games with mechanics that stand apart from everything else on the market. Having such a strong in-house think-tank enables us to carefully craft each product to a high standard. We are in no rush, never compromising on quality for faster delivery. In short, we don’t copy – we create something fresh that we would love to play ourselves.

“Partnering with QTech represents an ideal opportunity for us to strengthen our product distribution across emerging markets and deliver our fantastic crash games to more and more top-tier operators, unlocking untapped jurisdictions from Asia, through Africa and Eastern Europe, and on to Latin America for diversified growth.”

The post QTech expands crash and fast games lineup with XUP Studio content appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.