Latest News
National Lottery Heritage Fund Supports Dean Heritage Centre
A collaborative project involving University of Gloucestershire, the Dean Heritage Centre and local volunteers and schools to establish a unique literary collection, has been awarded £133,8867 by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The literary papers of past Forest of Dean writers will be conserved and made available to researchers, schools and the public.
The new project will bring together a unique collection of material spanning more than 200 years, some written in local dialect, that reflects the landscape, people and places of the Forest of Dean.
The Forest of Dean Writers Collection will complement Dean Heritage Centre’s archive of British television playwright Dennis Potter (1935-1994), which was also the product of previous work with the University.
The two-year-long project will see the original handwritten manuscripts, including poems, novels, play scripts, notebooks, drawings and photographs held by descendants from all over the UK and the US, become part of the Forest community museum’s permanent collection.
Specialists from University of Gloucestershire will work with museum staff and local volunteers to research and catalogue the more than 400 unique items making up the new collection, while a series of events and exhibitions will showcase the fascinating new material.
Schools will have access to the collection’s literary, historical and dramatic content, to give their cross-curriculum work a local flavour and raise literary aspirations.
Unique Material
Among the unique material making up the new collection are previously unknown poems by “Forest Poetess” Catherine Drew (1784-1867); work by poet, biographer and literary editor Leonard Clark OBE (1905-1981); books once belonging to war-poet FW Harvey (1888-1957; a never-before seen novel by Valerie Grosvenor Myer (1935-2007) better known as an academic and biographer; a memoir by former collier and farmer Fred Boughton (1897-1985) written in Forest dialect with parallel “Queen’s English” translation.
Many of the papers were discovered by Dr Jason Griffiths and Dr Roger Deeks during their research for the University’s “Reading the Forest” project that was launched in 2015 to engage the public with the work, life stories and achievements of writers and poets from the Forest.
Dr Jason Griffiths said: “We’re so thrilled to hear we’ve received this support from the Heritage Fund. Thanks to The National Lottery players, more people will learn about the Forest of Dean’s rich and distinctive literary heritage.
“The work of these authors is of intense local interest, but it is also part of a much wider national body of work that captures the rich texture of this country’s fascinating places and people.”
Dr Roger Deeks said: “The literary heritage of the Forest of Dean is an important part of its wider cultural heritage. Many of these writers overcame economic hardship and class prejudice to achieve what they did. The story of their lives and careers will inspire young Foresters.”
Creative Talent
Dean Heritage Centre manager, Mark George, said: “This new collection plays an important part in our plans to diversify the museum’s displays and the new stories we tell about the Forest’s history. It will bring new visitors to the Centre too.”
Nicola Wynn, head of collections at Dean Heritage Centre, said: “This is fantastic news. I am so looking forward to working with this new collection. Alongside our existing Dennis Potter archive, this new material demonstrates the incredible depth of creative talent that has come out of the Forest of Dean over the years.
“Engaging young people with this work could create a whole new generation of Forest writers and poets.”
John O’Reilly
John O’Reilly Joins UK Tote Group Board as Non-Executive Director
The UK Tote Group has announced the appointment of John O’Reilly as a non-executive director of its Board, effective from 1 May 2026.
John has over 35 years’ experience in the horseracing, betting and gaming sectors, having most recently served as CEO of the Rank Group PLC – the UK’s largest casino and bingo operator. He was formerly a non-executive director of William Hill plc and, between 2011 and 2015, Managing Director of Coral’s digital business. Prior to joining Gala Coral, John was an executive director on the board of Ladbrokes Plc. He has served as a non-executive director of Telecity Group Plc and Chair of the digital design and development business Grand Parade Ltd. He currently serves as Chair of Weatherbys and a trustee of the New Bridge Foundation, alongside his new position as a UK Tote Group board member from next month.
John Williamson, Chairman of the UK Tote Group, said: “We are pleased to welcome John to the UK Tote Group Board. As one of the most experienced and respected leaders in the betting industry, John will provide valuable support to the Tote team, particularly in relation to product development and customer experience. We are delighted to have John join the team, alongside Andrew Weir who joined the UK Tote Group board earlier this month.”
John O’Reilly said: “Like so many people deeply involved in gambling and horseracing, I have had many connections with, and fond memories of the Tote over the years. While the Tote has a century of history, I believe it has a very valuable role to play in the future of horseracing, both in the UK and Ireland and around the globe. The Tote has an impressive story to tell of innovation and growth in recent years, and through further enhancements to the pool product, alongside developing deepening international partnerships, I believe the Tote has its best days ahead of it. I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the UK Tote Group board and to support the Tote’s future success.”
The post John O’Reilly Joins UK Tote Group Board as Non-Executive Director appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
Reflex Gaming Releases “Piggies Prize Party”
Reflex Gaming, the UK’s largest independently owned omni-channel game supplier, has released its latest video slot “Piggies Prize Party”.
Powered by Yggdrasil, this vibrant video slot reimagines the arcade hit into a highly engaging digital experience designed to drive repeat play with broad player appeal.
Bursting with character and colour, Piggies Prize Party centres around a cheerful piggy bank party theme, combining low-to-medium volatility with frequent wins and smooth, accessible gameplay. Built on a familiar 5×3 reel layout with 25 paylines, the game delivers constant activity on the reels, while layering in a series of feature-driven moments that keep players firmly engaged from spin to spin.
At the heart of the game are four distinct Piggy Bank features, each linked to coloured coins that build anticipation in the base game before unlocking their full potential. Red Coins feed into Red Free Spins, where collected spins accumulate before being awarded in a burst of action. Green coins trigger Elimination Free Spins, stripping symbols from the reels to improve win potential and reshape gameplay. Blue coins power Prize Pot Free Spins, introducing increasing pots that enhance reward opportunities while maintaining a clear and familiar flow.
Adding another dimension, Yellow coins build towards the Wheel feature, where collected Piggies are transformed into a fortune wheel spin offering a mix of multipliers, Free Spins combinations or both. Designed to create standout moments, the Wheel cannot be triggered alongside Free Spins, ensuring each feature lands with its own distinct impact.
For players looking to accelerate the action, Bonus Buy options provide direct access to the Fortune Wheel, with Standard, Mystery and Super Free Spins configurations available depending on player preference and jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Golden Bet can be activated to increase the stake by 50%, boosting the chances of triggering one or more features while keeping all wins aligned to the base game paytable.
Mat Ingram, CPO at Reflex Gaming, said: “Piggies Prize Party has already proven itself as a standout performer on the land-based side, so we’re excited to bring it online.
“The different piggy bank mechanics give the game real variety, while the Wheel adds those big, memorable moments. It’s fun, it’s engaging and it’s built to keep players coming back.”
The launch of Piggies Prize Party further strengthens Reflex Gaming’s omni-channel strategy, delivering consistent, high-performing experiences across both land-based and online environments through its continued partnership with Yggdrasil.
The post Reflex Gaming Releases “Piggies Prize Party” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BetConstruct
BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026
The deal includes a fee waiver across its core suite plus setup and third-party integration discounts for the first three months.
BetConstruct AI has launched a World Cup 2026-focused commercial offer that waives fees for operators across its sportsbook and other core products for three months.
Under the terms published in the release, the company is offering “Complete fee waiver for the first 3 months across Sportsbook, CreedRoomz, Popok, Pascal, Choice, Virtual Sports, and Poker Network,” alongside a “SETUP DISCOUNT (50%)” for “all global market entry setups.” It is also applying a “3RD PARTY INTEGRATION (51%)” discount to “all 3rd Party Game Providers for the first 3 months.”
BetConstruct AI also included two complimentary add-ons it said would be available at “€0 cost” to partners. “Powerfull (Pre-Tournament)” is scheduled to run “8–10 weeks before kickoff” and is positioned around “weekly turnover challenges,” with prizes including “Free Bets (€1–€1,000) or a World Cup Final ticket,” which the company said are “100% funded by BetConstruct AI.”
The second product, “Bet on League (In-Tournament),” is described as an iFrame-based tournament hub that “requires no UI rebuilds,” with features including “an integrated module resembling a prediction market and personalized bet suggestions driven by AI.”
The company framed the campaign around operators preparing for what it called “the highest-concentration betting opportunity of the next four years,” referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
More data as follows:
- BetConstruct: https://www.betconstruct.com/ Official company site for product and commercial context referenced in the offer.
- FIFA World Cup 2026: https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canada-mexico-usa2026 Authoritative tournament reference to support the timing and context of the World Cup 2026 campaign.
- BetConstruct AI: https://www.betconstruct.com/ Use for verification of the ‘BetConstruct AI’ naming and related product descriptions if published on the company domain.
The post BetConstruct AI offers operators three months free sportsbook access ahead of World Cup 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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