Connect with us

Latest News

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

Published

on

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.”

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Brook Bakery

MIDNITE PARADES GIANT CHIP BUTTY AHEAD OF STEEL CITY DERBY

Published

on

midnite-parades-giant-chip-butty-ahead-of-steel-city-derby

Midnite, principal partners of Sheffield United, unveiled a giant chip butty ahead of the Steel City derby against Sheffield Wednesday. The display coincided with the Blades’ 2-1 victory, which relegated their city rivals.

To celebrate the club’s iconic chip butty anthem, Midnite collaborated with Brook Bakery to create the oversized butty, which was showcased on the touchline prior to kick-off. In addition, hundreds of chip butties will be donated to local homeless charities and food banks across Sheffield in the coming weeks.

Andrew Mook, Head of Brand at Midnite, said: “We wanted to give something back to Sheffield United fans in a way that is synonymous with the club. The chip butty anthem is instantly recognisable as being something unique to Sheffield United, and by creating a giant chip butty, we wanted to have some fun, while ultimately delivering a strong message.

“Midnite is dedicated to offering value to Sheffield United fans. We aren’t just here to use the club and stick our logo on the shirt. We want to become a part of the club, and our initiatives and activations have all been designed to bring fans closer to the clubs they love.

“It has been great to work alongside local Sheffield businesses to create the chip butty, and then to help give back to the community foodbank and charities.”

Throughout the season, Midnite has supported fans by covering travel for away matches, providing complimentary haircuts to celebrate the new year, and unveiling a 50-square-metre mural honoring Chris Wilder opposite Bramall Lane.

The post MIDNITE PARADES GIANT CHIP BUTTY AHEAD OF STEEL CITY DERBY appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Stakelogic goes live with Spanish entertainment giant Luckia

Published

on

stakelogic-goes-live-with-spanish-entertainment-giant-luckia

Stakelogic has partnered with Luckia to expand its presence in the regulated online market of Spain.

Through the agreement, a selection of Stakelogic’s slot portfolio will be integrated into Luckia’s online platform via the Light & Wonder aggregation system. The rollout includes both classic and modern video slots featuring a wide range of themes and gameplay styles designed to appeal to diverse player preferences.

Founded in 1972, Luckia has evolved from a traditional slot machine operator into a multi-channel entertainment provider offering sports betting, casino games, bingo, and slots across online and retail channels, supported by more than 2,500 employees.

Roberto Navarrete, Senior Account Manager at Stakelogic, said: “Luckia is one of Spain’s most prominent and long-standing gaming and entertainment groups, with a significant retail heritage and a growing digital presence. Partnering with a brand of this scale and reputation is a major step for Stakelogic in the Spanish market. We are excited to bring our slot portfolio to Luckia’s platform and are confident their players will enjoy the variety, quality and gameplay depth our titles are known for.”

Eloy Fernandez, Head of Product Team at Luckia, added: “Adding Stakelogic’s content allows us to further diversify the entertainment we offer online, with games that combine distinctive design and well-balanced gameplay. Strengthening our slot portfolio in this way is an important part of ensuring our digital platform continues to evolve in line with player expectations and market trends.”

The post Stakelogic goes live with Spanish entertainment giant Luckia appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Baltics

HIPTHER Baltics Launches in Vilnius with Agenda Revealing Lithuania’s 2026 Regulatory Reset

Published

on

hipther-baltics-launches-in-vilnius-with-agenda-revealing-lithuania’s-2026-regulatory-reset

A new Baltic-focused conference era begins on 21 April 2026, uniting iGaming, fintech, compliance, and innovation leaders in Lithuania’s digital-first capital

HIPTHER officially announces the agenda for HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026, the inaugural event of its newly launched Baltic conference series, taking place 21 April 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius City Centre.

Marking the evolution of the landmark MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit, the new HIPTHER Baltics format introduces targeted, country-focused gatherings designed to deliver deeper regulatory insight, stronger regional dialogue, and practical strategic value for decision-makers operating across gaming, fintech, and digital innovation.

At the heart of the Vilnius edition lies a defining theme: Lithuania’s Great Regulatory Reset — a decisive transition toward stricter supervision, strengthened compliance frameworks, and sustainable, quality-driven growth across financial services and iGaming.

Lithuania 2026: From Easy-Access Hub to Compliance-Driven Ecosystem

As Lithuania sharpens oversight across banking, fintech, blockchain, and gaming, the conference agenda explores four structural shifts shaping the market:

  • Banking: Cyber-resilience stress testing, the rise of specialised institutions, and a pivot toward sustainable profitability
  • Fintech: Account-to-account dominance, international B2B expansion, and the emergence of agentic AI beyond chatbot automation
  • Blockchain: Post-MiCA enforcement, strengthened AML leadership requirements, and institutional tokenisation of real-world assets
  • iGaming: Advertising restrictions, ISP blocking acceleration, and intensified identity and source-of-funds compliance

Together, these forces signal a new operational reality for regulated digital industries in the Baltics.

Agenda Highlights Across Two Strategic Stages

Stage 1 — Strategy, Compliance & Banking

Key discussions will include:

  • Regulators’ Panel: Bank of Lithuania and FNTT on MiCA transition and new iGaming ISP-blocking protocols
  • Banking Transformation: How credit unions and specialised banks challenge Nordic incumbents
  • Post-MiCA Survival: Maintaining VASP licensing under 2026 regulatory structures
  • iGaming Advertising Ban: Operator strategies in a zero-marketing environment
  • AML 2.0: Implementing enhanced source-of-wealth requirements for high-stakes players
  • Cross-Industry Debate: Can tokenisation solve transparency challenges between blockchain and iGaming?

Stage 2 — Innovation, Blockchain & iGaming Tech

  • Agentic AI in Fintech: From conversational tools to autonomous financial advisors
  • Tokenising the Real World: Real-estate and debt instruments on-chain in the Baltics
  • Next-Generation Payments: A2A integration across gaming and retail ecosystems
  • Digital Euro & CBDCs: Technical readiness for the European Central Bank’s 2026 roadmap

A Boutique Summit Built for Decision-Makers

HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 will gather 100+ senior attendees, 30+ expert speakers, and 15+ key industry topics in a one-day, high-impact format combining:

  • High-level regulatory and industry panels
  • Curated networking among operators, fintech leaders, regulators, legal experts, and investors
  • A premium, centrally located boutique conference environment

The event is designed for iGaming operators, fintech and payment providers, compliance professionals, regulators, affiliates, startups, and regional investors seeking actionable intelligence in a rapidly tightening regulatory landscape.

From MARE BALTICUM Legacy to HIPTHER Baltics Future

Reflecting on the transition, Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated:

Lithuania is entering one of the most defining regulatory transitions in its modern digital economy. With HIPTHER Baltics in Vilnius, we are creating a focused platform where regulators, financial institutions, fintech innovators, and iGaming leaders can engage in honest, high-level dialogue about what sustainable growth truly means in 2026 and beyond.

With HIPTHER Baltics launching in Vilnius, the Baltic region enters a new phase of dialogue — closer to local markets, deeper in expertise, and stronger in cross-industry collaboration.

The journey begins in Vilnius on 21 April 2026.

The post HIPTHER Baltics Launches in Vilnius with Agenda Revealing Lithuania’s 2026 Regulatory Reset appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania