UK and US registered charity BetBlocker, that provides free, anonymous to use blocking software, announces today the launch of the service in the Catalan language.

After being selected as Charity Partner for ICE London 2024, BetBlocker took the cash donation that Clarion Gaming arranged and invested that to ensure that BetBlocker could support the 4 million Catalan as a first language speakers for the launch of ICE Barcelona.

Founder and Trustee for BetBlocker, Duncan Garvie, had this to say about the launch of the BetBlocker app in Catalan: “After the extremely generous support of Clarion Gaming when they selected us as their Charity Partner in 2024, it seemed only appropriate to invest the funding we received to work in a way that recognised the support we’d been given.

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With ICE moving to Barcelona this year, it seems like the perfect reason to expand our support to the Catalan language. Giving back to the community that support the ICE conference for the coming years and helping to draw attention to the sector leading support that Clarion Gaming gives to socially responsible projects like BetBlocker.”

Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) has announced its pioneering social sweepstakes casino platform SweepX is now live with new partner Primero under the goldrushcity.com brand, with GiG’s revolutionary technology marking another significant strategic milestone , powering into the sweepstakes and social casino vertical for the first time, underscoring its commitment to fueling growth in new and emerging markets for it’s partners.

Tailored to meet the growing demand in the US sweepstakes market, SweepX offers a dual-wallet system, prize-redemption management, and GiG’s advanced AI-assisted content management technology, giving operators a significant edge. This revolutionary solution has been crafted to drive growth and boost player engagement across social sweepstakes gaming. SweepX delivers a comprehensive turnkey solution for social casinos, combining market-leading front-end capabilities with a bespoke CMS and tailored content integrations. Designed to empower operators to accelerate online growth, SweepX offers unparalleled speed to market.

Now live, SweepX seamlessly integrates GiG’s proven iGaming platform—operational across the US, Europe, and Latin America—with a custom-built sweepstakes front-end, an AI-enhanced gamification layer, and one of the largest sweepstakes casino content libraries in the industry.

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This launch marks another milestone in GiG’s transformative year, showcasing its exceptional delivery pace. With 13 brands launched, including several migrations, GiG continues to set the standard for operational excellence.

The sweepstakes gaming sector saw tremendous growth in 2023 and continues to rise, with the market valued at $5.6 billion. Projections estimate the sector will grow at a +43% CAGR, reaching $11.4 billion by 2025, according to E&K data.

Richard Carter, Chief Executive Officer at GiG said; “The launch of SweepX marks a pivotal leap forward for GiG, strategically leveraging our pioneering technology within online social casino gaming and positioning us with a leading position in the market. The overwhelmingly positive reaction to SweepX since its announcement in May this year has strengthened our belief in its potential to revolutionise the Social Sweepstakes Casino market, with an emphasis on providing the most entertaining and safe environments for players and operators alike, further fueling our ambitious strategic plans for growth.”

Barry Rutherford, Chief Executive Officer at Primero, added; “GiG’s world-class platform provides us with the ability to deliver a richer variety of content and an unrivaled player experience. Its flexibility and innovation ensure that we can adapt to the ever-evolving demands of the market while offering seamless performance and engagement for our players. By combining GiG’s cutting-edge technology with our unique and highly effective player acquisition strategy, we’re setting a new benchmark for excellence in the US market. Furthermore, this partnership positions us ideally to scale and succeed in iGaming markets worldwide, leveraging GiG’s expertise to deliver an exceptional end-to-end gaming experience across all touchpoints.“

PA Media Group today announces the appointment of Josh Sparke from 1 March 2025, as Managing Director of Podium, its sports and betting data business.

Podium is a trusted market leader in providing sports data, content, and technology. Podium, until recently known as PA Betting Services, was rebranded to reflect its growth and evolution in the racing and betting sector. The business delivers global coverage through a unified distribution network, serving sportsbooks, rightsholders, affiliates, media, and technology platforms.

Gareth Bramall, Chief Strategy Officer at PA Media Group, commented: “Following a rigorous selection process with exceptional candidates, Josh stood out. He brings extensive industry experience, passion for sport and has a clear vision of growth for Podium”.

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Sparke has a wealth of knowledge of the industry having worked with leading brands such as Betmakers and Livescore. His strong relationships with sports and racing rightsholders as well as an entrepreneurial mindset will enhance Podium’s position in the market. Sparke takes over from Eugene Delaney, who will remain as an advisor to the business.

Sparke said ‘PA Media Group has a proud and reputable history and has been at the heart of racing for over 40 years. I’m fortunate to be inheriting a strong team from Eugene and I’m joining Podium at an exciting time, following its acquisition of iRace and significant investments in product and technology. We have a strong foundation for innovation, partnerships, and sustainable growth in the UK and internationally. I look forward to making Podium a global leader in racing and sports betting content”