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.”
Latest News
Strive Gaming partners with New Jersey’s award-winning PlayStar Casino
Strive Gaming, the modern multi-state, multi-tenanted platform provider built specifically for the North American market, has announced a new partnership with leading online casino operator PlayStar.
Under the agreement, Strive will provide its market-leading PAM technology, supporting PlayStar’s continued growth across North America. PlayStar will migrate its New Jersey operations from its current player account management (PAM) provider onto the Strive platform, followed by launches in additional regulated jurisdictions including Ontario and Alberta in Canada.
PlayStar selected Strive following a detailed evaluation process as it looked for a platform partner capable of supporting its long-term ambitions across North America. Strive’s singular focus on the U.S. market, combined with the strength and scalability of its technology, made it stand out as the clear partner of choice.
Max Meltzer, CEO at Strive Gaming, said:
“PlayStar is a highly ambitious operator with a clear vision for building one of the leading casino brands in North America. They were looking for a platform partner that understands the realities of operating in the U.S. and Canada and can support them as they scale across multiple regulated markets.
“Our focus on North America, combined with the strength and flexibility of our platform, made this a natural fit. Both companies are on strong growth journeys and share similar ambitions for the region, so we’re excited to support PlayStar as they continue to expand.”
PlayStar Casino has quickly established itself as one of the success stories of the regulated North American casino market. The company has successfully built meaningful market share and a strong player following. Partnering with Strive marks the next stage in its growth strategy as it looks to expand further across North America.
Fredrik Liljewall, CEO at PlayStar, added:
“As we continue to scale our presence across North America, selecting a platform partner with a strong regional focus and the ability to support our long-term ambitions was critical.
“Strive’s technology, deep understanding of the North American market, and collaborative mindset made them the clear partner for PlayStar. We look forward to working closely together as we migrate our New Jersey operations and expand into additional jurisdictions, including Canada.”
This partnership marks another important milestone for Strive Gaming, which now supports more B2B PAM customers in the U.S. than any other platform provider. The addition of PlayStar further strengthens Strive’s growing portfolio of operators and reinforces its position as a supplier of choice for ambitious brands looking to launch and scale in the North American market.
The post Strive Gaming partners with New Jersey’s award-winning PlayStar Casino appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Compliance Updates
Playtech Enters Connecticut iGaming Market
Playtech has expanded into Connecticut, marking its entry into the sixth regulated iGaming state, continuing the company’s strong upward trajectory in the US.
Having been granted an Online Gaming Service Provider licence by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, expansion into the state further accelerates Playtech’s U.S. growth, strengthening multi‑state partnerships with licensed operators in the process.
After launching in Delaware late last year, this latest step reflects Playtech’s commitment to scaling in all regulated markets as demand continues to build across the US’ iGaming landscape.
With this launch, players in Connecticut will now have access to Playtech’s portfolio of high-quality award-winning iGaming content, including a combination of bespoke and exclusive titles that have deeply resonated with audiences in other regulated U.S. markets.
Jonathan Doubilet, General Manager, USA at Playtech, said: “We are thrilled to expand our presence into a sixth U.S. state. Connecticut is a well-established iGaming market with a vast player-base that we anticipate will engage strongly with our first-class offering. It’s a source of pride that our most valued partners continue to place trust in us to reach the high standards the U.S. iGaming market demands.”
The post Playtech Enters Connecticut iGaming Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Digitain
Digitain Nominated for iGaming Platform Provider Category at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026
Digitain has announced that it has been shortlisted in the iGaming Platform Provider category at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026, one of the industry’s most recognised platforms that celebrates excellence, innovation and impact.
Set against the backdrop of Rome, the IGA brings together industry leaders for a dedicated evening focused in performance, progress and partnership. The event praises platforms and product innovations, payment solutions, marketing and data intelligence, as well as compliance and certification.
Tying all of the above is Digitain’s platform, with a nomination that reinforces a clear direction: building technology that delivers tangible operator value. Designed to achieve clarity, speed and results, it includes a rich portfolio of products and services that cater the most demanding operator needs, both excelling and setting new standards in the iGaming industry.
“For us, this nomination is another step forward in strengthening our position as a trusted partner for ambitious operators, with a platform that performs where it matters most,” the Company said.
The post Digitain Nominated for iGaming Platform Provider Category at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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