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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.

10p jackpot bet

10p Jackpot Bet Delivers £1.7m Win on BetVictor

Published

21 minutes ago

March 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

10p-jackpot-bet-delivers-1.7m-win-on-betvictor

A BetVictor customer has turned a 10p jackpot side bet into a life-changing £1,744,000 win after landing the top-tier Epic jackpot prize on the slot game Magnificent Power Spartan.

The extraordinary win occurred last Friday via The Jackpots — an exclusive in-house jackpots product available across the portfolio of gaming brands operated by BVGroup. The feature allows any qualifying spin to trigger one of four progressive jackpot tiers, including the headline Epic prize.

On this occasion, a single 10p side bet instantly transformed into a seven-figure payout.

The winning BetVictor customer, based in Scotland and choosing to remain anonymous, successfully triggered the Epic jackpot — the largest prize available — demonstrating that every qualifying spin carries the potential to unlock a substantial reward.

Eoin Ryan, Director of Sportsbook & eGaming at BVGroup, commented:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to congratulate our first newly created millionaire. This life-changing win perfectly demonstrates how The Jackpots are designed to work, where any spin can trigger any jackpot, including the Epic pot. We’re excited to deliver many more unforgettable moments for our customers over the remainder of the year.”

The win has been fully verified, with the payout processed in line with standard casino verification and payment procedures.

This milestone highlights the continued appeal of progressive jackpot mechanics and reinforces BetVictor’s commitment to delivering high-impact gaming experiences across its platform.

The post 10p Jackpot Bet Delivers £1.7m Win on BetVictor appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Bloko Padel Tour 2026

Blokotech finalises Gold Plus Sponsor portfolio for Bloko Padel Tour 2026

Published

21 minutes ago

March 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

blokotech-finalises-gold-plus-sponsor-portfolio-for-bloko-padel-tour-2026

Blokotech, a leading innovator in iGaming software solutions, has officially completed its Gold Plus Sponsor portfolio for the inaugural Bloko Padel Tour 2026, finalising the premium partner lineup ahead of the tour’s international debut.

The milestone reflects strong industry endorsement for the new sport-driven networking concept. Confirmed Gold Plus Sponsors include Clutch, Felina, Scoreconnect, The Power Plugin, and most recently, Belatra Games.

As the final premium sponsor, Belatra Games will benefit from prominent brand exposure throughout the tournament. The company, which operates its Latin American headquarters in Buenos Aires, will receive visibility across official event branding and publications, as well as customised branded padel rackets and exclusive gifts presented to tournament winners.

Launched in collaboration with SiGMA, the Bloko Padel Tour blends competitive sport, high-level networking, and the global iGaming community across four international destinations in 2026. The tour will open in Buenos Aires before heading to Malta, Miami, and concluding with a Grand Finale in Rome during SiGMA World.

The partnership further reinforces the tour’s strong Latin American dimension. Belatra Games’ long-standing presence in the region — anchored by its Buenos Aires headquarters — makes its involvement particularly aligned with the Argentina opening leg.

Blokotech Co-Founder and CEO Salvatore Messina commented:

“We’re delighted to finalise our Gold Plus Sponsor portfolio for the Bloko Padel Tour 2026. The strength and diversity of partners supporting this initiative demonstrates the appetite for meaningful industry connection beyond traditional conference settings. We’re proud to see such strong backing as we prepare to launch in Buenos Aires.”

With its premium sponsor lineup now complete, the Bloko Padel Tour 2026 is positioned to deliver a unique blend of competition, collaboration, and commercial opportunity across key global iGaming hubs.

The post Blokotech finalises Gold Plus Sponsor portfolio for Bloko Padel Tour 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

iGaming

Soft2Bet Powers NEXT Summit: New York as Headline Partner for Third Consecutive Year

Published

21 minutes ago

March 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

soft2bet-powers-next-summit:-new-york-as-headline-partner-for-third-consecutive-year

New York has firmly established itself as the definitive US-focused iGaming and sports betting event on the East Coast. As one of the first major industry gatherings of the year, NEXT Summit: New York brings together senior leaders shaping the future of regulated gambling across North America and beyond.

Now entering its third year, the Soft2Bet – NEXT collaboration has evolved into a long-term strategic alliance, reflecting shared growth, stability, and a joint commitment to advancing meaningful industry dialogue. What began as headline sponsorship has matured into an ongoing partnership that has consistently elevated the Summit’s seniority, relevance, and commercial impact.

NEXT Summit: New York 2026 is expected to welcome more than 1,500 industry professionals, with a highly curated audience dominated by C-level executives, founders, and directors. The agenda will focus on regulation, market entry, M&A, player engagement, brand trust, and long-term value creation in regulated markets.

As Headline Partner, Soft2Bet’s collaboration with NEXT.io is designed to foster a collaborative environment for sharing market intelligence and strengthening professional ties across the iGaming ecosystem.

Senior Soft2Bet executives will play an active role in the programme:

Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, will deliver a keynote session, drawing on over two decades of experience across regulated markets, international expansion, and commercial transformation.
David Yatom Hay, General Counsel at Soft2Bet, will join a panel discussion exploring the evolving dynamics of player engagement, offering a legal and regulatory perspective on one of the industry’s most commercially critical challenges.

Pierre Lindh, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NEXT.io, said:

“Reaching a third year with Soft2Bet as our Partner says a lot about the strength and stability of this relationship. We’ve grown together, we’ve scaled together, and we share the same belief that meaningful industry progress comes from collaboration, not just visibility. Soft2Bet consistently shows up with insight, ambition, and a genuine commitment to moving the industry forward, which is exactly what NEXT Summit: New York stands for.”

Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, added:

“Our partnership with NEXT.io is built on alignment, not just sponsorship. We share a belief that sustainable growth in regulated markets comes from open dialogue, transparency, and collaboration across the ecosystem. Supporting NEXT Summit: New York for a third consecutive year reflects our commitment to contributing to the industry’s long-term development — bringing operators, suppliers, and regulators into the same room to exchange insight and raise standards together.”

Soft2Bet is widely recognised for its innovative iGaming product development, including its proprietary Motivational Engineering Gaming Application (MEGA), and its expanding footprint across regulated global markets. The continued headline partnership reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to North America and its active role in shaping the industry’s most important strategic conversations.

NEXT Summit: New York 2026 will also feature a dedicated side event, NEXT Focus: Emerging Verticals, alongside an expanded programme designed to maximise senior-level networking, deal-making, and knowledge exchange.

The post Soft2Bet Powers NEXT Summit: New York as Headline Partner for Third Consecutive Year appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.