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UK: Funding Boost for Nationwide Programme on Gambling and the Criminal Justice System

Published

5 years ago

April 12, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Gambling harms are currently under-recognised across the UK Criminal Justice System (CJS), and support for those affected has been underfunded to date. GamCare will now receive two years’ funding to scale up the delivery of its programme to raise awareness and develop pathways to support people experiencing gambling harms across the CJS.

There are evidenced links between harmful gambling and crime, whether crime is committed to support gambling or to pay off gambling-related debts. Gambling-related offending may include fraud, theft, domestic and financial abuse, and links into wider criminality. However, there is a lack of funding, awareness, training, and pathways to support and treatment for people in the CJS experiencing gambling harms.

GamCare recently delivered a two-year pilot project funded by the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner to introduce screening for gambling harms at key points across the CJS there, and identify the best mechanisms to deliver support for those affected. The charity will now be funded to deliver a larger programme of engagement and awareness raising, designed to raise the profile of gambling and offending, and to improve services for those in contact with the CJS. GamCare has secured funding, approved by the UK Gambling Commission, towards delivery of the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, through a dedicated programme focused on gambling and the criminal justice system.

Recently awarded Organisation of the Year at the Howard League for Penal Reform Community Awards, GamCare is working to raise awareness of gambling harms amongst professionals across the CJS as well as developing and testing interventions that work best for clients across police, prison and probation services. The charity will facilitate thought leadership across the sector, as well as consult on and test new approaches, providing training to staff in all areas so they can best support their service users.

Anna Hemmings, CEO at GamCare, says: “As outlined in our recent submission to the Howard League Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling, our work focuses on a ‘whole systems’ approach – with initiatives to screen people at arrest and the early stages of the CJS, and responding to needs at various stages in their journey, be it through police, prison, or probation services as well as the courts.

Through our work in Hertfordshire, we’ve demonstrated that this work is scalable and can have positive impacts for those harmed by gambling across the CJS. I look forward to seeing this work develop across England, Scotland and Wales, to reduce the impact of gambling harms for individual offenders, victims, and their families.”

Julia Fazackerley, Head of Development at GamCare, says: “Existing data from our Helpline and treatment services shows us that around 5% of referrals across Great Britain are from people in touch with the CJS, but we know that criminality often goes unreported or undisclosed. Our work in this area indicates similar prevalence of gambling harm to recent data from the Forward Trust’s survey of prisoners, and we know that there is both a desire for knowledge and awareness, plus greater support for those experiencing harm.

The next phase of our programme will mean we can continue to provide a proactive and comprehensive programme of training for CJS professionals as well as developing and testing a range of support interventions specifically for this cohort. We will provide strategic direction for specialist gambling support and provide real value to all areas of the CJS.”

Tim Miller, Executive Director for the Gambling Commission, says: “We welcome the extension of this significant project, including the collaborative approach GamCare has taken to support a wide range of organisations working in the criminal justice sector. Together, these programmes of work have the opportunity to make a positive contribution to reducing harms as part of the National Strategy. We are pleased to be able to approve the funding, which was agreed through regulatory settlements.”

ELA Games

ELA Games’ Business Development Team Lead Wins Manager of the Year Award at SBC Awards Europe 2026

Published

14 minutes ago

May 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

ela-games’-business-development-team-lead-wins-manager-of-the-year-award-at-sbc-awards-europe-2026

ELA Games, an innovative casino game studio, has secured a major leadership victory at the SBC Awards Europe on April 30 at the Xara Lodge in Malta. Its Business Development Team Lead Yaroslav Soloshenko has secured the Manager of the Year title at the event.

This recognition showcases the studio’s leading role in the industry and the exceptional internal culture steering the company forward. It amplifies its overall success, revealing how a solid foundation of studio leadership at ELA, along with Yaroslav’s vital contributions, guides the team to its recent achievements and shapes its reputation for excellence.

Earning the trophy places the studio among the biggest names in the space. The ELA Games team stood tall in the company leadership categories alongside Employer of the Year winner Betsson Group, with Yaroslav honoured among some of the best individual leaders in the industry, including Alea’s Alexandre Tomic and Playtech’s Elena Rousseva, who were jointly awarded Leader of the Year. Being recognized shoulder to shoulder with these industry giants comes down to the entire team’s passion for the games they produce, starting from the very top.

The SBC Awards Europe took place on April 30 at the Xara Lodge. Hosted by renowned sports broadcaster Alison Bender, the ceremony celebrated the operators, affiliates, and suppliers setting new standards across the industry.

The post ELA Games’ Business Development Team Lead Wins Manager of the Year Award at SBC Awards Europe 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Ilkka Kosola

Veikkaus Appoints Ilkka Kosola as its New Chief Financial Officer

Published

14 minutes ago

May 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

veikkaus-appoints-ilkka-kosola-as-its-new-chief-financial-officer

Veikkaus has appointed Ilkka Kosola as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a member of the executive management team. He will assume his new role by the end of September 2026.

Kosola will play a significant role in Veikkaus’ ongoing transformation towards the partial multi-license system and the execution of the company’s 2030 strategy. He brings with him extensive experience in demanding financial management positions and a strong track record of leading successful strategic projects and transformations.

“Ilkka’s broad and international experience in leading finance and IT functions, combined with his proven ability to drive change and execute strategic transactions, makes him an excellent fit for Veikkaus as we navigate this period of significant transformation,” said Olli Sarekoski, CEO and President at Veikkaus.

“We are confident that his expertise will be a great asset to our company and our executive management team as we work towards our strategic goals for 2030.”

Kosola joins Veikkaus from his position as Group CFO at Reaktor. He has previously served as Group CFO at Adven Group and has held several senior finance and business control positions at companies such as TietoEvery, Basware and Fortum. His career includes a strong history of successful M&A transactions, financial turnarounds and the development of modern, digitally enabled finance functions. His expertise also includes areas such as artificial intelligence in finance and international board work.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Veikkaus team and to have the opportunity to contribute to the next chapter of this iconic Finnish company,” said Ilkka Kosola.

“Veikkaus is at a pivotal point in its history, and I am eager to apply my experience to support the company’s transformation and the execution of its new strategy in the opening license market.”

The post Veikkaus Appoints Ilkka Kosola as its New Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Acquisitions/Merger

Genius Sports Announces Close of Acquisition of Legend

Published

14 minutes ago

May 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

genius-sports-announces-close-of-acquisition-of-legend

Genius Sports Limited, a global leader in real-time sports data, announced it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Legend, a global, digital sports and gaming media network.

Legend provides a scaled media platform, with world-class marketing technology powering owned and operated digital properties including Covers.com, Casino.org and Casino Guru. In 2025, Legend generated 320 million annual visits from 118 million unique visitors, with more than two-thirds returning on a regular basis.

With the acquisition of Legend, Genius Sports is uniquely positioned as the only company operating two synergistic businesses across official sports data and media and advertising.

“Genius Sports has spent years building the data infrastructure behind modern sport. With Legend, we now extend that into the moment where fans choose to participate and act. This combination not only strengthens our core sports business but also expands our ability to monetize new audiences in iGaming, increasing the economic value of our platform across both verticals and driving significant cash flow,” said Mark Locke, CEO of Genius Sports.

The post Genius Sports Announces Close of Acquisition of Legend appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.