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Two in Three People Experiencing Gambling Problems Keep Issue Hidden
As many as 2 in 3 adults (64%) in Great Britain who have experienced any gambling problem have kept their experience hidden, new research from GambleAware has revealed. With almost 2 in 5 (39%) of those who hadn’t opened up stating feelings of stigma such as shame, guilt and fear of judgement represent key barriers to reaching out for support – the charity is issuing a call to end damaging stigma and encourage those who may be experiencing gambling harms to “open-up about gambling”.
Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware, said: “It’s alarming to see the number of people who are struggling in isolation. As a hidden addiction, gambling harms can be incredibly hard to spot from the outside. It is therefore critical that people impacted are aware of the wide range of support services available, and that they feel safe to come forward. Anyone can be impacted by gambling harms, but the first step is to open up and have that first conversation, ideally as early as possible.”
The campaign launch comes as research also suggests that most of the public believe certain gambling products, such as instant win games, are addictive, indicating how gambling harm can affect anyone and the importance of building empathy for those experiencing harm. Specifically, over seven in ten (71%) respondents said they believe instant win games are very or fairly addictive, followed by 64% for scratch cards and 62% for casino games.
Noteworthy football commentator Clive Tyldesley said: “I think that since I’ve started to work with charities and meet and talk with both people who gambled which were in recovery and bereaved family members, the thing that has struck me is how normal and unremarkable their backgrounds invariably are. Harmful gambling really can affect anyone and very often those suffering show no outward signs of their issues. It’s a silent, invisible problem because too often the gamblers disappear into their own feelings of embarrassment and guilt. They think they’re to blame when they are not, they think they’re alone when many others are wrestling with the same issues. Getting them to open up and talk is half the battle to beating the problem, either with people close to them or via the professional support the GambleAware website offers. The first conversation is maybe the most difficult but it’s the most soothing and the most important too.”
Professor Dame Clare Gerada said: “When I opened the doors of the nation’s first Primary Care Gambling Service a few short years ago, I was a relative newcomer to the challenges surrounding gambling. However, since then, my eyes have been thoroughly opened.
“Gambling is an addiction which can only be described as ‘uniquely’ awful: the ruin it wreaks on people’s lives can be complete and multi-layered; the collateral damage is also considerable as families and loved ones suffer alongside. Its inherently hidden nature means that, at the moment, people have to see their lives collapse around them before they get the help they desperately need. It doesn’t need to be like this. There is an incredible breadth of support service, from how to deal with debt, to how to stop gambling completely which people can access for free through the National Gambling Support Network, and I urge anyone concerned about their gambling to do so.”
Positively, the research also supports the benefits of opening up, as three out of four (76%) who had talked about their problems stated they felt better after speaking to someone. With gambling harms often manifesting as intrinsically “hidden” and isolating, GambleAware is aiming to bring to the surface the power of conversations and provide reassurance that help is never far.
The campaign has been developed in close collaboration with the gambling harms lived experienced community, and is supported by a range of expert and influential voices including ex-Love Islander Scott Thomas, who has previously experienced gambling harms.
Scott Thomas, Entrepreneur and Presenter, said: “It’s an incredibly scary thing to first tell someone that you’ve got a gambling problem. Many people assume it’s just because you can’t handle your money, but it needs to be viewed as seriously as any other mental health condition. I was terrified when I first opened up about the problems I had been having but, once I did, I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I no longer had to hide. I want the same to happen for anyone out there who feels like they might be struggling on their own.”
There is a vast range of resources available and anyone who is worried that gambling might be affecting themselves or someone they love are encouraged to use the self-assessment tool to get free and confidential support tailored to them and their specific needs.
Elissa Hubbard, who has lived experience of gambling harms, said: “Every day was full of anxiety – trying to keep my gambling a secret, whilst finding opportunities to do it more. People think you can ‘just stop’, but you can’t… it’s so easy to be dismissed, and I didn’t want anyone to think bad of me. Finding help changed everything. I discovered that by keeping quiet, it helps no one, and when you start to talk about it, people start to understand you.”
GambleAware has also created tools to help users calculate the time and money spent gambling, served with recommendations in line with the internationally proven Lower Risk Gambling Guidelines. These are expected to become available from early December as part of a soft launch on the GambleAware website.
Dr Ellie Cannon, medical expert and commentator, said: “Gambling harms – or the negative consequences of gambling – are a complex issue that goes far beyond just financial challenges. It can lead to poor mental health, physical health, and relationships break down. They way these issues manifest will vary from person to person, but being aware and recognising the early warning signs of spending increasing amounts of time, money and hiding your gambling can help get people to a better place, sooner.”
Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew said: “Too often we see the devastating impacts of harmful gambling, and our white paper outlines a host of new measures we’re implementing to protect those most at risk. A key element of our plans is the introduction of a statutory levy on gambling companies to raise sufficient, sustainable and trusted funding for research, prevention and treatment of gambling related harm. Stigma is the biggest barrier preventing people from seeking help, and I welcome GambleAware’s vital campaign which is raising awareness of the issue and helping people get the support they need.”
MGA Games, a prominent Spanish firm specializing in content creation for international casino operators, will debut Poseidon’s Orb on January 28, its latest video slot for the .com markets. This title encourages players to join an explorer on an epic quest to find the legendary city of Atlantis.
The game is a Video Slot with 5 reels and 3 rows, offering 10 paylines, and includes Wild and Scatter symbols that activate Free Spins. A remarkable aspect is the Sticky Wilds mechanic in the Free Spins round—an inventive element that boosts thrill and raises winning possibilities. It additionally includes an optional purchase of Free Spins, adjustable for each operator.
The theme of Poseidon’s Orb, drawn from global myths and legends, aims to attract a diverse audience of players. Its stunning visuals and film-inspired score further guarantee an engaging experience brimming with thrills and rewards.
Classified under popular themes like “Adventure,” “Mythology,” “Treasures,” and “Fantasy,” this latest MGA Games Video Slot serves as a valuable enhancement to any operator’s collection, improving player retention and profits, while the Free Spins purchase feature offers an extra revenue opportunity.
The post MGA Games Launches Poseidon’s Orb Slot Featuring Sticky Wilds and Free Spins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andrew Cochrane CCO at Soft2Bet
Soft2Bet Secures Two Top Honors at International Gaming and Global Gaming Events, ICE Barcelona 2026
Soft2Bet, a prominent provider of iGaming platforms and solutions, received two accolades at the International Gaming Awards and Global Gaming Awards, claiming Platform Provider of the Year 2026 at the Global Gaming Awards EMEA and Innovator of the Year at The International Gaming Awards 2026.
The acknowledgment stems from a solid track record of performance in both product and core platform functions, with Soft2Bet dedicated to creating innovative solutions that provide partners with wider options, increased scale, and enhanced operational control in casino and sportsbook, alongside significant localization possibilities and flexible gamification choices.
In the past year, Soft2Bet has bolstered its platform ecosystem by incorporating over 9,500 new casino titles and improving essential platform features to ensure consistent large-scale performance, maintaining over 1 million pre-match events and 800,000 live events each year.
Fueled by the acclaimed product MEGA (Motivational Engineering Gaming Application), Soft2Bet’s API-driven, independent offering provides a data-centric gamification layer that facilitates exceptionally tailored and localized player experiences. Through modular mechanics and instant optimization, MEGA aids partners in enhancing engagement, retention, and acquisition in both casino and sportsbook sectors.
Innovation also encompassed new brand experiences, such as the newly introduced in-platform MEGA 11 (football manager) gamification engine for Soft2Bet’s premier brands, Betinia and CampoBet, after the recent selection of Diego Simeone as the ambassador for both brands. Like iconic football managers in reality, players advance from Beginner to Legend by managing star teams and engaging in direct matchups in fantasy games, earning localized rewards and tailored experiences.
Andrew Cochrane, CCO at Soft2Bet, said: “These awards reflect the commitment and dedication of our entire team. This year, we will continue to focus on delivering high quality products. Because we know exactly how to establish high-performance brands from the start, this year is all about delivering the kind of cutting-edge solutions that keep our partners ahead of the curve in a crowded iGaming landscape”
These two awards mark a strong start to 2026 and reflect Soft2Bet’s progress over the past year, from platform expansion and product growth to a stronger gamification offering. As a market leader, Soft2Bet is committed to redefining the industry standard by delivering high-impact, player-centric innovations that drive engagement and set new benchmarks for the global gaming ecosystem.
The post Soft2Bet Secures Two Top Honors at International Gaming and Global Gaming Events, ICE Barcelona 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has signed its latest supplier partnership with global B2B content developer and provider Yoriginal Games, enabling its platform customers to access the supplier’s expansive slots catalogue.
Yoriginal’s popular titles are crafted for the new wave in igaming: short-session players, mobile-first users, and operators who want real GGR performance. These eclectic games are also recognised for their player-retention features and sticky mechanics, and draw from Yoriginal Games’ deeper well of crash, scratch, slot and more traditional table-games content.
These games are light and lightning-fast to load, providing a ready solution to overcoming local obstacles to engagement in emerging markets, like Africa and LatAm, such as handset quality limitations, restricted access to fast networks, and high data costs.
This breakthrough announcement with QTech now affords the supplier unprecedented international reach across more emerging markets. In turn, incorporating this ever-evolving production line emphasizes QTech Games’ diverse range of gaming options, providing a definitive one-stop shop, which has fast become the “go-to” solution for worldwide operators across developing territories.
As the fastest-growing aggregator over the past few years, QTech’s platform offers the most expansive gaming portfolio around, localised for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.
QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re committed to rolling out more and more high-class content and product innovation that drives revenue for our partners. So, this deal with Yoriginal Games extends our impressive sequential pipeline for 2026 – and showcases our flexible array of content which solves for fine-grained, local requirements in countries where light, rapid-load games are a must. Their games are sleek and modern in design, backed by robust analytics to drive higher engagement and prolonged dwell-time.”
Kirill Bykov, CEO at Yoriginal Games, added: “At Yoriginal Games, we specialize in fast-paced, original casino games that bring instant excitement and big wins, crash, mines, dice, limbo, plinko, keno, blackjack, roulette and more. And while we’ve initially specialised in fast games, we also offer our premium aggregator partners, like QTech, access to our signature YOpen RGS program for developers, whereby QTech can benefit from even more of our partner slots content this year, above all in the domain of localised games.
“QTech’s platform is a gateway to global audiences, and we can’t wait to see how our highly engaging games perform across a largely greenfield landscape of emerging markets for Yoriginal.”
The post QTech Games rolls out more fast-paced content from Yoriginal Games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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