Latest News
Embracing New Affordability Checks and Supporting Safer Gaming

By Adam Hancox, director of gaming for TransUnion in the UK
The gambling industry is facing major changes, with the UK government review of the 2005 Gambling Act white paper set to be published in the coming weeks and a new customer interaction guidance for remote gambling licensees coming into force in September 2022.
Although these upcoming changes will require adjustments from gaming operators, they can also bring new opportunities. The revised regulation – with precise details still to be revealed – is expected to further support safer gaming initiatives that were introduced by the UK Gambling Commission in 2019. This will also help operators to balance their social responsibilities with the products they provide and protecting vulnerable gamblers.
The time has come for increased protection
Problem gambling is not new, but given wider economic uncertainty and the cost of living crisis, it’s an area that needs increased attention. Recent figures suggest that 1.3% of the population – the equivalent of over 870,000 consumers – could be termed ‘problem gamblers’.[i]
With inflation at its highest rates since March 1991,[ii] over half of UK consumers have reduced their expenditure and intend to decrease it further as the year progresses,[iii] according to TransUnion’s latest Consumer Pulse study.
When these figures are viewed against the backdrop of a clear link between individuals facing financial strain and gambling issues, there is cause for concern. In fact, researchers from the University of Liverpool and the National Centre for Social Research found that people in deprived areas are more likely to use online casinos and place risky long-odds bets.[iv]
The NHS has pledged[v] to open two new clinics exclusively serving gambling addicts this year, on top of longer-term plans to bring the nationwide total to fifteen gambling clinics by 2024.
To support this, the Gambling Commission has shared new customer interaction guidance for remote gambling licensees which outlines how operators must “identify, act and evaluate” when a player may be displaying tell-tale signs of problem gambling.
The new framework is designed to help gambling operators spot signs of harm and subsequently take prompt action. But it is also designed to be reactive so that organisations can support players where harm is already being experienced, in order to reduce or stop gambling. Even at this later stage, intervention is most effective if the harm is identified promptly and responded to quickly.
The gaming sector is waiting to see what the long-awaited review of the 2005 Gaming Act spells for the industry. With publication imminent, it is expected that operators will be obliged to remove features from online games that heighten an at-risk player’s likelihood of engaging in unsustainable activity. Other restrictions could include caps on stakes of between £2 and £5 for online casinos, as well as a ban on free bets and VIP packages for players who incur heavy losses.[vi]
One particularly controversial point appears to be to what extent affordability checks will be ramped up, and whether the white paper will spell out the requirement for checks that oblige players to share personal financial information such as bank statements and payslips.
Increased protection without CX disruption
Any concerns that these changes could dilute customer experience (CX) are misplaced. Gaming operators need to adhere to more stringent regulations but in a way that doesn’t compromise their platform’s player experience – this is key. Using innovative, data-enabled solutions can maintain the smooth experience today’s players expect, whilst also promoting safer gaming through identifying and protecting the vulnerable.
For example, the Gambling Commission’s new customer interaction guidance requires licensees to analyse several factors to determine a player’s affordability credentials, which include spending patterns, time spent gambling and other key indicators. They are then obliged to “take appropriate action in a timely manner” if the risk of harm is identified.
Modern, AI-led solutions can enable gambling companies to assess and evaluate all relevant factors on an always-on basis. For example, TransUnion’s Affordability Solution for Gaming, uses cutting-edge modelling and analytics to help operators protect their business and players while supporting compliance strategies and regulatory requirements. Anti-fraud and identity verification capabilities can significantly amplify player protection, having stopped 300,000 underage gambling applications last year.
By using socio-demographic, behavioural and transactional data – such as playing time, a series of bad debt indicators, deposit and loss amounts, income sustainability indicators, operators that use the solution can assess players’ affordability and vulnerability throughout their journeys, with minimal impact to the gaming experience.
Additionally, there are already solutions in place that can alleviate any concerns around new affordability checks. For example, Open Banking that has had a strong impact on the financial services sector. At its simplest, Open Banking means that consumers can more easily utilise the power of their bank statement information.
For gaming, this could mean affordability and anti-money laundering (AML) assessments no longer require a request for documents that causes friction in the player experience. Instead, players can use a purpose-built screen flow which quickly, but securely, takes them through the consent and authorisation required for Open Banking. What’s more, the solution can be fully embedded into existing interfaces with simple integration meaning players are taken on an unintrusive, friction-right journey to better data sharing.
Gaming operators will need to meet new regulation, whether that be the framework that came into effect for remote licensees in September, or the soon-to-be revealed legislation in the forthcoming white paper.
Rather than interpreting these changes as challenging hurdles, gaming operators have the opportunity to embrace advanced automated solutions that will help meet new regulation with ease – allowing them to demonstrate to their players just how committed they are to protecting their financial wellbeing, as well as their gaming experiences.
[i] Gambling Commission: Andrew Rhodes speaks at Westminster Media Forum 2022, June 2022
[ii] Office for National Statistics: Consumer price inflation, UK, June 2022
[iii] TransUnion’s Consumer Pulse Q2 2022 UK Study, based on a survey of 1,004 UK adults from 20 May–1 June, 2022
[iv] National Centre for Social Research and University of Liverpool: 2022 Patterns of Play Report
[v] NHS England: NHS launches new gambling addiction clinics to meet record demand, February 2022
[vi] Gambling Insider: Gambling Review Whitepaper ‘Due in the Coming Weeks’
Powered by WPeMatico
Latest News
DreamPlay consolidates its status as a global player in the iGaming industry and opens an office and campus in Cyprus

DreamPlay’s ambitions go far beyond simple game development. With a new office in Limassol, the international iGaming solutions provider is expanding its presence in Europe and laying the foundations for a new philosophy of the iGaming business.
The location in Limassol was not chosen by chance – Cyprus has long become the European center of iGaming. It is here that key market players, large operators and financial structures supporting the industry are concentrated. And the high concentration of technology and talented developers allows DreamPlay to form its own ecosystem of talent.
If in the 2010s Cyprus became a hub for classic iGaming operators, today it is a point of attraction for technology companies that are betting on metaverses and the integration of games into a wider digital ecosystem. DreamPlay is one of those shaping this trend.
Google-style campus for game development talents
The DreamPlay office and campus in Limassol are part of the company’s international network of corporate campuses. Similar hubs already operate in Thailand, Bali, Peru, the UAE and Poland. They offer employees comfortable working conditions and the ability to move between locations, accommodation, meals, legal support for stays in different countries. And all this is at the expense of the company. -And the flexible work format and 4-day work week in the company helps DreamPlay talents maintain a healthy work-life balance. It’s all about well-established business processes and taking care of the team.
It’s nice to know that you can come to the country, and there is a Dream Campus where friends, like-minded people and someone who can simply take care of you are waiting for you. They will meet you at the airport, give you a tour, accompany you on medical or legal issues. It’s all part of the team.
“iGaming is an industry of emotions. Therefore, the people who create it should work where they feel best. Therefore, in our campuses we create an environment where the team can feel maximum freedom for creativity, focus on creating new breakthrough products. And not be distracted by everyday issues. And we are sure that this gives us a strategic advantage, because we are sure that our employees have received better conditions than their colleagues in other companies. Comfort, flexibility and freedom are part of our global philosophy of DreamPlay,” shares DreamPlay CEO Alex Tkach.
What does this mean for the market?
Opening a DreamPlay office in Cyprus is a wise decision, as the company is preparing to enter new markets and partner with the largest iGaming players. It is also a signal to the entire market that the company is moving into the league of global players who dictate trends, rather than following them.
If today Cyprus is another platform for international expansion, then tomorrow DreamPlay may turn into one of the first technology companies in iGaming, operating on the principle of large IT holdings.
And this is where the main intrigue lies: will DreamPlay become the one who fundamentally rethinks the very nature of the industry?
The post DreamPlay consolidates its status as a global player in the iGaming industry and opens an office and campus in Cyprus appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
International Game Technology PLC
IGT Wheel of Fortune Video Poker Makes Global Debut at Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas

International Game Technology PLC announced that it recently introduced its much-anticipated Wheel of Fortune Video Poker game in the world’s most prolific video poker market: Las Vegas, Nev. Guests of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino (Downtown Grand) in Downtown Las Vegas became the first players in the world to enjoy legendary IGT multi-hand video poker paired with the puzzle-solving, wheel-spinning fun of Wheel of Fortune via IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Video Poker game.
“Becoming the first casino in the world to offer IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Video Poker was an exciting moment for Downtown Grand and one that generated palpable buzz and significant play on our gaming floor. For decades, our players have enjoyed IGT video poker and Wheel of Fortune slots, so combining the DNA of those two products to create something new is an exciting proposition for our players,” said Rick Coltor, Slots Manager at the Downtown Grand Las Vegas.
“Launching IGT Wheel of Fortune Video Poker in Las Vegas, the world’s largest video poker market, marked another important milestone in the rollout of our expanded Wheel of Fortune games portfolio. Our Wheel of Fortune Video Poker game delivers an ideal blend of proven multi-hand poker, jackpot excitement and the signature elements of Wheel of Fortune games that have propelled the theme’s success for more than 25 years,” said Nick Khin, IGT President, Global Gaming.
IGT’s Wheel of Fortune Video Poker is currently available on the CrystalCurve cabinet. Wheel of Fortune Video Poker incorporates the franchise’s famous puzzle-solving features and the iconic “Wheel Bonus” that has had players chanting “WHEEL-OF-FORTUNE!” for decades. The multi-hand poker game is available in triple-play, five-play and ten-play configurations and can award players 30,000, 50,000 or 100,000 credits, respectively, for a dealt royal flush.
The post IGT Wheel of Fortune Video Poker Makes Global Debut at Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Frank Arthofer
MLB Players Sign Licensing Agreement with PENN Entertainment

MLB Players Inc., a commercial affiliate of the Major League Baseball Players Association, and OneTeam Partners announced they’ve reached a licensing agreement with PENN Entertainment.
The agreement designates PENN’s sports betting platforms – ESPN BET in the U.S. and theScore BET in Canada – as Officially Licensed Sportsbooks of MLBPI.
PENN now has the rights to use MLB player names, images and likenesses on its sports betting platforms, marketing assets and promotional campaigns.
The deal also includes PENN’s retail sportsbook operations (32 retail sportsbooks at its casino properties, including 19 under the ESPN BET brand).
Last fall, FanDuel and MLBPI reached a similar licensing agreement after the MLB players’ union sued FanDuel and Underdog Fantasy in New York Supreme Court, accusing them of using the names and likeness of ballplayers on their players without permission.
”As baseball season gets underway, we’re excited to offer fans an enhanced betting experience that includes player likenesses, expanded wagering options and a more dynamic product. Partnering with MLB Players Inc. strengthens our connection to the league and its star players and creates additional opportunities to engage fans throughout the season,” said Jason Birney, Vice President of Operations at PENN Interactive.
OneTeam Partners specializes in commercializing group licensing rights for professional athlates, and is a joint venture between the NFL Players Association, MLB Players Association, Women’s National Basketball Players Association, MLS Players Association, and U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association.
“By integrating MLB player rights into PENN Entertainment’s platforms, this partnership brings fans closer to the game while unlocking new business opportunities in sports betting. It highlights the growing influence of players in shaping premium, fan-focused betting experiences while enhancing player NIL rights and widening distribution,” said Frank Arthofer, President of OneTeam Partners.
The post MLB Players Sign Licensing Agreement with PENN Entertainment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
AGCO5 days ago
AGCO issues $110,000 in penalties to BetMGM Canada for offering cash to induce new gambling customers
-
BetVictor5 days ago
BetVictor Canada launches Tracy McGrady Safer Gambling campaign
-
Central Europe5 days ago
Digitain Partners with Gamingtec to Expand Presence in Europe
-
Asia5 days ago
Asian Poker Tour Announces Cancellation of APT Manila 2025
-
Compliance Updates5 days ago
EPIC Global Solutions highlighted as a key element in PrizePicks’ iCAP Accreditation
-
Latest News4 days ago
BMM INNOVATION GROUP TO SHOWCASE ITS WORLD-LEADING TESTING SERVICES FOR BRAZIL’S FAST-GROWING GAMING MARKET AT BIS SIGMA AMERICAS SUMMIT APRIL 7–10
-
Africa4 days ago
Play’n GO announces landmark South African partnership with Hollywoodbets
-
Carlos Gomez4 days ago
Estadio Gana Launches in Mexico