Latest News
GambleAware Research Finds People from West Midlands up to 25% More Likely to Experience Gambling Harm Compared to National Average
A recent research conducted by GambleAware has shed light on the West Midlands region, revealing that it faces a higher risk of problem gambling compared to the rest of the country.
GambleAware’s latest report highlights the West Midlands as the region most exposed to gambling harms. According to the research, approximately 168,000 adults in the West Midlands, equivalent to 3.9% of the local population, are experiencing problem gambling. This figure is 25% higher than the national average, indicating a significant concern within the region.
The data serves as a wake-up call, emphasising the urgent need for proactive measures and support systems to address problem gambling in the West Midlands. By shining a light on this issue, GambleAware aims to encourage public discourse and reduce the stigma associated with problem gambling.
Stigma plays a significant role in preventing individuals from seeking help for problem gambling. GambleAware’s research reveals that 75% of those experiencing problem gambling do not feel comfortable discussing their struggles with family and friends. Moreover, feedback suggests that three in five individuals often choose not to engage with those facing gambling harms due to the associated stigma.
Dr. Joanne Lloyd, an Associate Professor and gambling harms expert at the University of Wolverhampton, emphasises the impact of stigma on seeking treatment. She states, “Stigma is a massive issue in relation to gambling harms as it is one of the biggest barriers to people seeking treatment.” Dr. Lloyd underscores the importance of understanding and addressing stigma to facilitate individuals’ access to the help they need.
Recognising the significance of stigma in preventing individuals from seeking support, GambleAware has launched a comprehensive stigma campaign. This campaign aims to encourage people to open up about their experiences with gambling and to seek the free help and support available.
The initiative has garnered support from various stakeholders, including Andrew Rhodes, the Chief Executive Officer of the UK Gambling Commission. He commends the GambleAware stigma campaign, stating, “Acknowledging the courage it takes to initiate conversations about gambling, any efforts to dismantle barriers to addressing gambling harms are truly appreciated.”
GambleAware emphasises the importance of ensuring that individuals impacted by problem gambling in the West Midlands and across Great Britain are aware of the wide range of support services available to them. By increasing awareness and reducing stigma, they aim to create an environment where people feel safe to come forward and seek help.
Zoe Osmond, the Chief Executive of GambleAware, emphasises this point, stating, “This is why our stigma campaign is working to encourage people to open up about their experiences of gambling and seek the free help and support that is available.” Osmond recognises the vital role of support services in assisting individuals affected by problem gambling.
The government is also taking steps to protect those at risk of gambling harm in the West Midlands and throughout the country. Stuart Andrew, the Minister for Gambling, recognises the role of stigma as a barrier to seeking help. He highlights the benefits of opening up about gambling struggles and the importance of informing others when facing difficulties.
The government’s commitment to addressing problem gambling is evident in their gambling white paper, which includes measures to tackle gambling harms. Recent initiatives, such as stake limits for online slot games, demonstrate their determination to protect vulnerable individuals.
ELA Games
Glory & Honour Await the Strongest Gladiators in ELA Games’ Newest Game, Roman Fortune
Reading Time: 2 minutes
All reels lead to Rome in ELA Games’ newest atmospheric and bold slot.
ELA Games creates an immersive adventure in its latest title, Roman Fortune. Players battle for glory and honour in the heart of ancient Rome, where every spin carries the might of an empire.
Roman Fortune takes place in a roaring Colosseum under Caesar’s watchful eye, where fortunes wait for the victors. Designed with ELA Games’ signature visual richness and refined gameplay, this new title balances entertaining gaming experiences with operator-focused value, building on previous successes, such as Piñatas Festival.
Caesar’s Riches: Features that Favour the Brave
Roman Fortune offers several features that build excitement and depth for the player, ensuring action on every spin.
- Scatter Symbols: Collect Scatters to earn Free Spins — the more you collect, the greater the prize.
- Caesar Wilds: At any moment, a Caesar Wild may appear to spread wealth across the reels or even trigger the Hold & Win Bonus.
- Hold & Win Bonus: In this feature, players encounter Red, Blue, and Green Coins, each with their own imperial strengths. Red Coins multiply prizes, Blue Coins unlock Jackpots, and Green Coins collect all visible values for greater wins.
Gladiators can activate all of these features at once, where glory and honour will rain down on the victor.
An Experience Built for Impact
Just like the actual intense clashes that occurred in the Colosseum in ancient Rome, Roman Fortune is crafted for players who enjoy an atmospheric experience with excitement, tension, and memorable moments.
The game’s 95.99% RTP and high volatility ensure that even the base game has plenty of action. Roman Fortune embodies ELA Games’ game creation philosophy, where creativity and strategic development work together to deliver a product that delivers sustained engagement and strong performance for its partners
Marharyta Yerina, Managing Director of ELA Games, commented on the release, “Roman Fortune is a visually forward title that captivates players’ imaginations with thrilling battles in an ancient arena. Every detail exists to create a world players can step into and instantly feel connected to. The game’s bold theme, supported by strategic mechanics and layers of atmosphere, shows what our team does best: creating experiences players enjoy while providing value for our partners.”
Enter the Arena For Eternal Glory
Step into the Colosseum and fight for your place in history.
The post Glory & Honour Await the Strongest Gladiators in ELA Games’ Newest Game, Roman Fortune appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Dinos Doxiadis Head of Sportsbook Business at GR8 Tech
GR8 Tech Expands Virtual Sports Portfolio with New Basketball Offering, Deepens Localization Strategy
Reading Time: 2 minutes
GR8 Tech has expanded the virtual sports lineup within its ULTIM8 Sportsbook with a new range of virtual basketball, continuing a year of investment in the category that has already seen the addition of virtual horse racing and virtual cricket roulette—a unique format blending casino mechanics with the sport of cricket.
The expansion builds on GR8 Tech’s established strength in cricket, where the company developed one of the industry’s most comprehensive betting lines. Virtual cricket was designed to fill gaps between real-world tournaments, giving operators a way to maintain player engagement year-round—a model now being applied to basketball for markets where the sport dominates.
This content independence stems directly from GR8 Tech’s in-house trading capabilities.
“One of the things that GR8 Tech stands out for is the quality of the trading and the fact that we perform extremely well in very difficult environments, like Asia,” said Dinos Doxiadis, Head of Sportsbook Business at GR8 Tech. “Even our clients’ players in these challenging markets don’t behave like typical players in ‘easier’ regions such as Latin America, we still manage to achieve some of the highest margins there.”
That trading foundation enables GR8 Tech to build and localize content for specific markets rather than relying solely on third-party providers.
“We already have a very strong sportsbook, and now we’re scaling our processes and output capabilities to take it even further,” Doxiadis explains. “We’re improving the product and creating the conditions to localize very quickly and offer a truly localized experience across the world.”
GR8 Tech is also investing in infrastructure to give operators greater control over how they deploy this content.
“The goal is to put even more power into the hands of our operators so they can tailor the product exactly as they want. As we move forward with new data and content agreements, they’ll gain an even greater ability to adapt the sportsbook to their specific needs—on top of what they can already do today.”
Personalization is central to that roadmap. “We have delivered quite a few recommendation models, and right now we can serve custom content on a user level, and we will continue working in this direction,” said Doxiadis. “We have a very good infrastructure and baseline to invest in.”
The post GR8 Tech Expands Virtual Sports Portfolio with New Basketball Offering, Deepens Localization Strategy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gaming
Make-A-Wish® and Lords Mobile Unite This Thanksgiving Season to Bring Hope to Children Through Mobile Charity Event
Reading Time: 2 minutes
From November 26-30, Lords Mobile players worldwide can help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses through a global in-game charity challenge.
Make-A-Wish®, the world’s leading wish-granting organization, is delighted to announce a special collaboration with IGG, the global developer and publisher of hit mobile titles.
This Thanksgiving season, the two organizations are coming together to transform the spirit of gratitude into global impact through a community charity challenge inside Lords Mobile.
From November 26 to 30, 2025, players from around the world will unite across their respective Kingdoms to combine play with purpose. By completing five days of in-game quests and collecting 30 event points, players can unlock the exclusive “Wish Upon a Star” Decoration – a special symbol of hope within the Lords Mobile world.
Once 50,000 players across the global server have claimed the Wish Upon a Star Decoration, IGG will donate $50,000 USD to Make-A-Wish to help grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The donation will support wishes in the USA, Indonesia, Brazil, Germany, Singapore, and Korea.
Players who wish to enhance their event experience can also purchase four in-game packs priced at USD 4.99 or above to unlock premium rewards such as Mystic Carpets, Royal Coins, and more.
April Stallings, Charitable Gaming and Creators Community Manager at Make-A-Wish International said:
“Thanksgiving is a time for reflection, generosity, and connection. We’re deeply grateful to IGG and the global Lords Mobile community for harnessing their passion for play to help make life-changing wishes come true. Together, we’re turning the power of gaming into the power of hope.”
As players unite to achieve their community goals, Make-A-Wish will highlight real wish stories from participating countries, connecting the in-game achievements to the life-changing impact they help create.
Together, IGG and Make-A-Wish are showing the power of the gaming community to make a difference.
The post Make-A-Wish® and Lords Mobile Unite This Thanksgiving Season to Bring Hope to Children Through Mobile Charity Event appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
BGaming6 days agoWeek 47/2025 slot games releases
-
Australia6 days agoVGCCC: EGM Application Improvements Consultation
-
Anthony Dalla-Giacoma7 days agoSwintt serve up a new holiday slot with all the trimmings in Extra Win X Thanksgiving
-
Balkans6 days agoEGT to reveal advanced Supreme cabinets and multigame mixes at BEGE Expo 2025
-
8MBets6 days agoHimalayan Harmony Group Unveils Partnership with Some of Nepal’s Most Trusted Online Casino Brands
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago“Get Your Life Back, Stop Gambling” Campaign Wins Bronze Effie Worldwide Award
-
Latest News7 days agoThe Golden Boomerang League winners, sports traffic tournament from Boomerang Partners shared their impressions
-
Latest News7 days agoWinSpirit Launches “Wish Express” — A Holiday Campaign Bringing Back the Magic of Dreams



