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Heading to the races? You might need your payslips

Published

3 years ago

March 13, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

With the biggest week of UK racing taking place at Cheltenham this week, many occasional bettors are likely to be preparing to have one of their first flutters of the year.

Event organiser The Jockey Club reported a whopping 280,000 racegoers over the four-day event last year and OpenBet, the platform that took bets for leading bookies such as William Hill, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, SkyBet and Betfair, processed bets worth more than half a billion pounds.

But leading gambling licensing law firm Poppleston Allen has warned that punters might be asked for more than just money when they go to place their bets this year, thanks to the increasing trend among bookmakers to carry out affordability checks on their customers.

“Since last year’s major racing events took place, we’ve seen a rise in bookmakers undertaking affordability checks and asking players to provide documentation such as payslips and bank statements to prove they can afford to gamble,” said Felix Faulkner, solicitor at Poppleston Allen.

“A recent study of more than 1,000 bettors carried out by YouGov for sports betting community OLBG found that 22% had been asked for payslips, bank statements or similar documents by at least one bookmaker[i].

“If a betting establishment asks a customer for financial information and they are unable or unwilling to provide it, the company is well within its rights to refuse to take their bet. Bookmakers have a legal responsibility under their operating licence conditions to minimise the risk of customers experiencing gambling harm. If they have concerns a customer might be trying to bet more than they can afford, it is advisable they refuse the bet.”

Gambling companies are regulated by the Gambling Commission, which provides guidance that suggests that they should consider customers’ affordability when interacting with customers. However, the guidance does not set limits or thresholds at which gambling companies need to ask for proof customers can afford their gambling.

There have been credible rumours that the forthcoming government White Paper on gambling reform will propose mandatory limits, but the publication of this has been repeatedly delayed due to changes in government departments.

Faulkner said: “There is an element of uncertainty in the market at present. The current Gambling Commission guidance[ii] for premises-based operators, which applies to on-course bookmakers, states that Commission research found some operators had set ‘inappropriately high’ thresholds in the past.

“However, at present there are no hard and fast rules on what is an appropriate level that should prompt bookmakers to ask customers for proof their gambling is affordable to them. This has resulted in gambling companies setting their own rules on when it is appropriate to carry out financial checks on customers and this has led to some differences between bookmakers.

“It remains to be seen how the various on-course bookmakers will interpret the guidance this year. In practice it can be difficult for them to work out who can afford what if there is a race starting in one minute and there are 20 people waving money at them to put a bet on, however compliance with licence conditions is mandatory and operators should always act responsibly.”

1X2 Network

1X2 Network launches in Finland via Veikkaus deal

Published

20 minutes ago

May 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

1x2-network-launches-in-finland-via-veikkaus-deal

Initial rollout brings 10 slots from Iron Dog Studio and Prospect Gaming to the state-owned operator, via Light & Wonder.

1X2 Network has entered the Finnish market after signing a content partnership with Veikkaus, Finland’s state-owned gaming operator.

Under the agreement, a selection of titles from 1X2 Network studios Iron Dog Studio and Prospect Gaming will go live for Finnish players for the first time. The initial rollout includes 10 games, with named titles including 3 HOT CHILLI PEPPERS, 3 PORKY BANKS HOLD and WIN EXTRA, BURN IN HELL, and PIÑATA GO GO.

1X2 Network said the integration was enabled through its collaboration with Light & Wonder, which is supplying the route to market for the content.

Kevin Reid, Chief Executive Officer at 1X2 Network said: “We are delighted to partner with Veikkaus and bring our games to players in Finland. Veikkaus has built a strong reputation as a trusted and responsible operator, and this launch represents an exciting opportunity for us to introduce titles from our flagship studios, Iron Dog Studio and Prospect Gaming to a brand-new audience.”

Riikka Seppänen, VP, iCasino at Veikkaus said: “We are pleased to welcome content from 1X2 Network to our platform. Their games offer engaging gameplay and popular features that we believe will resonate well with our players while supporting our commitment to delivering high quality and responsible entertainment.”

The post 1X2 Network launches in Finland via Veikkaus deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Digital Wallets

Neosurf reorganises operations as it targets Europe and the Americas expansion

Published

20 minutes ago

May 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

neosurf-reorganises-operations-as-it-targets-europe-and-the-americas-expansion

Neosurf has reorganised its operations as it prepares to scale products and expand across Europe and the Americas, the cash-to-digital payments provider said.

The company said the updated structure is intended to better support the rollout of “new market-ready products” and help it deliver its payment solutions “on a wider scale.” Neosurf did not disclose what specific organisational changes were made or whether the move affects headcount.

Neosurf also positioned the reorganisation as a way to improve agility in response to future regulatory changes, saying the company aims to remain flexible operationally and technologically as it moves into its “next major phase of its evolution.”

Andrea McGeachin, Global CEO at Neosurf, said: “As we continue to grow our new digital wallet products across Europe and the Americas, it’s important that our organisation evolves alongside our ambitions. Our new structure ensures that we’re built for agility, resilience, and long-term success, and we remain committed to our mission of bridging the gap between cash and digital payments with an optimised foundation that’s built to proactively anticipate and adapt to future regulatory change.”

Neosurf said it will share further updates on its plans “shortly.”

The post Neosurf reorganises operations as it targets Europe and the Americas expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

appointments

GameOn appoints Fana Colette as Senior Social Media Manager

Published

20 minutes ago

May 11, 2026

Wladimir P.

gameon-appoints-fana-colette-as-senior-social-media-manager

GameOn has appointed Fana Colette as Senior Social Media Manager, as the B2B marketing agency expands its social media service capabilities.

Colette joins from Gambling.com Group, where GameOn said she helped grow social pages to “tens of thousands of followers,” combining creative storytelling with commercial objectives.

GameOn positioned the hire as a response to increasing demand for social media strategy across iGaming operators, suppliers and affiliates looking to differentiate in a crowded market. The company said Colette will add senior oversight to structured, audience-focused content planning.

In the role, Colette will work with GameOn’s existing clients and lead social media strategy for new accounts, according to the company.

Lizzie Thomas, Head of Social Media at GameOn, said: “Bringing Fana on board allows us to support the growing demand for sophisticated, senior-led social strategies.

“Her experience in building social profiles from the ground up and developing content that resonates with audiences aligns perfectly with how we approach social at GameOn.”

Fana Colette, Senior Social Media Manager at GameOn, added: “I’m excited to be joining GameOn at such a dynamic time for the business.

“Social media is such an important part of how brands build visibility, trust and engagement, and I’m looking forward to helping clients create content that is both strategically grounded and creatively strong.

“GameOn has a clear understanding of the iGaming space, and I’m excited to contribute to that with thoughtful, audience-focused social work.”

The post GameOn appoints Fana Colette as Senior Social Media Manager appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.