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.

casino games

Tequity Publishing launches Mirror Image Gaming’s K-Pop Drop with Stake exclusivity

Published

5 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

tequity-publishing-launches-mirror-image-gaming’s-k-pop-drop-with-stake-exclusivity

Tequity Publishing has launched K-Pop Drop, a Burst Game from Mirror Image Gaming, with an exclusive first release on Stake. The game went live on 11th May 2026 and will be available only on Stake initially, before expanding to Tequity’s wider operator network the following week.

According to the companies, K-Pop Drop is an anime-inspired Burst Game featuring escalating multipliers and interactive mechanics. The title includes potential multipliers of up to 5000x and follows a character called Sakura as she progresses through gameplay features including boosts, landing zones, bonus triggers, and hazards.

“K-Pop Drop immediately stood out to us as the type of modern, high-energy content we believe is becoming increasingly important within the market,” said Dominic Sawyer, VP Growth at Tequity. “Players today are looking for more interactive, entertaining experiences that feel highly engaging from the first second of gameplay. Mirror Image Gaming has done a fantastic job creating a game with real personality and strong replayability, and we’re excited to launch it first with Stake before rolling it out across the wider network.”

Mirror Image Gaming CEO Gray Wagner said the Stake launch is intended to broaden the game’s reach. “We wanted K-Pop Drop to feel fast, unpredictable, energetic, and memorable – something that instantly stands out both visually and through gameplay,” said Wagner. “Working with Tequity Publishing and launching first with Stake gives the game an incredibly strong platform from day one, and we’re excited to see players experience it.”

Tequity said K-Pop Drop will become available to its wider operator network from the week commencing 18th May.

The post Tequity Publishing launches Mirror Image Gaming’s K-Pop Drop with Stake exclusivity appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

iGaming

SkillOnNet launches MegawaysCasino in .com markets under MGA licence

Published

5 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

skillonnet-launches-megawayscasino-in.com-markets-under-mga-licence

SkillOnNet has launched MegawaysCasino across multiple international .com markets under its Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence, the company said.

The expansion follows a relaunch of MegawaysCasino in the UK in March under the SkillOnNet umbrella, which the company described as a strong performer.

MegawaysCasino is built around the Megaways slot mechanic, a variable reel system originally developed by Big Time Gaming that can offer up to 117,649 ways to win, according to the release. SkillOnNet said the platform includes more than 8,000 games spanning slots, crash games, table games and live casino.

Giordana Anticoli Kalifa, Country Manager at SkillOnNet, said: “MegawaysCasino has performed exceptionally well in the UK, and it quickly became clear that there was strong demand for this experience in other regulated markets. With Megaways already hugely popular worldwide, expanding under our MGA licence allows us to bring this iconic product to even more players in a safe and fully compliant way. This is just the beginning of our global journey.”

The post SkillOnNet launches MegawaysCasino in .com markets under MGA licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

711

Bragg Expands Partnership with 711 in Belgium

Published

5 minutes ago

May 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

bragg-expands-partnership-with-711-in-belgium

Bragg Gaming Group has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to expand its partnership with leading operator 711 in the Belgian market. This agreement paves the way for the upcoming launch of 711’s new online sportsbook, following 711’s successful acquisition of an F+ license from the Belgian Gaming Commission.

The new sportsbook offering, powered by Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook, will be seamlessly integrated into Bragg’s robust Player Account Management (PAM) technology platform. This expansion builds upon the strong existing relationship between Bragg and 711 in Belgium, where 711 successfully operates an online casino under a B+ license since December 2025.

As part of a unified user experience, players visiting 711.be will soon be greeted with a streamlined portal allowing them to choose between the casino and the soon- to-be-launched sportsbook platforms. The go-live is strategically scheduled to occur ahead of the upcoming 2026 World Cup, providing Belgian sports fans with a premium betting destination just in time for the world’s biggest football event.

Following the successful deployment of Bragg’s award-winning Fuze player engagement toolset for 711’s Dutch operations, this expansion also marks the introduction of the toolset to 711’s Belgian sports vertical. In addition to a deep integration with Kambi’s sportsbook technology, Fuze will provide a suite of engagement features, such as real-time tournaments and quests. These features and promotional tools will be implemented and utilized strictly in accordance with the Belgian regulatory and compliance framework, ensuring that all player retention and engagement initiatives align with local requirements.

Matevž Mazij, CEO of Bragg Gaming Group, said: “We are thrilled to have finalized this agreement to further strengthen our global relationship with 711. By supporting their entry into the Belgian sports betting market with our flexible PAM platform, Kambi’s world-class sportsbook, and our proprietary Fuze engagement tools, we are providing 711 with a powerful, comprehensive solution to compete at the highest level. We look forward to going live just in time for the excitement of the World Cup.”

Gilles De Backer, COO at 711, said: “Signing this agreement to expand our Belgian footprint with the upcoming launch of 711sports.be is a pivotal moment for our brand. Having already seen great success with our casino offering via Bragg’s platform, it was a natural choice to extend our partnership for the sportsbook.

“The addition of Kambi’s leading sportsbook technology and Bragg’s Fuze tools ensures that 711 will be well positioned to execute its core identity and strategy in the Belgian sports betting market by aiming to provide the best user experience, competitive odds, and strong player-focused features. The launch is also perfectly positioned for the increased sportsbook momentum we expect during the World Cup.”

The post Bragg Expands Partnership with 711 in Belgium appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.