Connect with us

Latest News

BGC Announces Grainne Hurst as its New Chief Executive Officer

Published

on

bgc-announces-grainne-hurst-as-its-new-chief-executive-officer
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The UK’s Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has announced Grainne Hurst as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Grainne brings an unparalleled wealth of experience in the regulated betting and gaming sector, joining from global betting brand Entain, where she is currently Group Corporate Affairs Director.

The appointment comes as part of a wider restructuring of the BGC’s senior leadership, as current BGC CEO Michael Dugher moves to become Chair, replacing outgoing Chairman Brigid Simmonds OBE.

Grainne has held a number of senior roles in the land-based and online sectors, and brings a passion for increasing the number of high profile women in the industry, establishing the international arm of Global Gaming Women, where she is a board member, and oversaw the charity’s expansion to the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Over almost a decade with Entain, Grainne has led the company’s activities and relationships with government and the public sector and successfully spearheaded the company’s rebrand from GVC to Entain.

She is also a board member of the Entain Foundation and created and delivered Entain’s multi-award-winning global safer gambling strategy, Changing for the Bettor.

She was previously a special advisor to the UK government and studied at King’s College London and Queen Mary University in London.

Grainne Hurst said: “I am delighted to be joining the BGC at such a crucial time for its members and the millions of customers they serve. I am very grateful to Michael Dugher for everything he has done in establishing the BGC and I look forward to working closely with him to move it forward. My focus will always be on ensuring that we have a well regulated industry which protects customers and looks after their interests. The betting industry in the UK has world leading businesses and iconic brands and I will work hard to ensure they remain so. There is much to be done and I look forward to getting started.”

BGC CEO Michael Dugher added: “Grainne’s appointment is excellent news for BGC and our members. She won a very tough, external recruitment process and clearly demonstrated that she has not only mission critical knowledge and experience in the regulated industry – both online and in the land based sector – but also a strong vision for continued change and improvement at the BGC. Driving further progress on safer gambling, whilst ensuring that the tens of thousands of people who work in the industry continue to have their voices heard, will remain at the heart of everything we do.

“Grainne’s wealth of experience, impressive leadership qualities, formidable campaigning skills and acumen will be essential in working with all of our members to take the BGC to the next level. She is someone who is rightly widely respected across the industry and, as I step back to become Chair of the BGC, I am confident she will work well with our talented staff to make a decisive impact as our new CEO.”

The post BGC Announces Grainne Hurst as its New Chief Executive Officer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

External Lottery Manager

Sterling Lotteries selects Yaspa as its primary open banking payments partner

Published

on

sterling-lotteries-selects-yaspa-as-its-primary-open-banking-payments-partner

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Yaspa, the award-winning Pay by Bank fintech, today announced a new partnership with Sterling Lotteries, the UK’s market-leading External Lottery Manager (ELM). Sterling has selected Yaspa as its primary open banking payments provider for prize-led fundraising, enabling faster, safer, and more efficient supporter payments across its charity lottery programmes.

Sterling powers weekly lotteries and raffles for 800+ UK charities, from local organisations to national causes. By integrating Yaspa, Sterling can offer a streamlined Pay by Bank experience that confirms entries in real-time, reduces processing costs, and strengthens fraud protection, thereby freeing up more funds for impact.

Yaspa’s Head of Commercial, Amie Kadhim, said: “Sterling sets a high bar for reliability, security, and supporter experience. We’re proud to power their next chapter with instant bank payments that help charities move faster, enhance engagement, and achieve more with every donation.”

The partnership aligns with Sterling’s ongoing modernisation of the charity lottery model, bringing the convenience supporters expect, while improving cashflow and operational efficiency for fundraising teams. Entry confirmation is immediate and funds settle instantly, helping charities plan with confidence and reduce admin overheads.

Richard Dixon, Managing Director at Sterling, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Yaspa to deliver an open banking solution that represents a true sector-first innovation. From the outset, it was clear that Yaspa shares Sterling’s vision for using technology to drive meaningful change in the charity lottery space. Open banking has transformed retail and financial services and now we’re bringing that same innovation to fundraising. It’s faster, more secure, and significantly more cost-effective for charities. By harnessing open banking, we offer charities a bold, efficient, and future-proof way to engage supporters, especially digital-first donors who expect a seamless experience.”

Key benefits for Sterling and its charity partners include:

  • Instant payment settlement and immediate entry confirmation

  • Lower processing costs compared with traditional methods i.e. debit and credit cards

  • Reduced fraud and chargeback risk, utilising bank-grade security

  • A smoother, mobile-first, user journey for supporters

The post Sterling Lotteries selects Yaspa as its primary open banking payments partner appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Latest News

RocketPlay wins Best Customer Service at European iGaming Excellence Awards

Published

on

RocketPlay Casino has been awarded Best Customer Service at the European iGaming Excellence Awards 2025 — a widely respected industry award celebrating excellence and innovation worldwide.

For RocketPlay, this award marks a major milestone — proof that genuine care, innovation, and consistent performance are noticed and appreciated by the iGaming industry.

“Our goal has always been simple — to create a service that players can rely on,” said Alex Martin, PR Manager at RocketPlay. “Winning this award highlights that our focus on trust, speed, and human connection truly makes a difference.”

This recognition also reflects the daily work of RocketPlay’s 24/7 multilingual support team, which delivers help within seconds and reaches 90%+ one-touch resolution. The casino maintains a CSAT score above 90%, and over half of all inquiries are now handled through AI-powered chat while keeping the tone personal and friendly.

The brand continues to strengthen its reputation across the community, holding top ratings such as 9.8/10 on CasinoGuru, 9.1/10 on AskGamblers, 4.4/5 on Trustpilot, and 4.3/5 on LCB.

RocketPlay remains committed to pushing standards higher — ensuring every player receives fast assistance, transparent communication. We thank the award organizers and the jury for this meaningful recognition.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Boomerang Partners celebrated Golden Boomerang League winners and engaged booth guests with a gift auction at SiGMA Europe 2025

Published

on

Boomerang Partners, an affiliate marketing agency and an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan, participated in SiGMA Europe 2025 in Rome from November 4th to 6th, 2025. The company’s booth generated heightened interest among conference participants throughout the event. It was designed in the signature ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept, effectively connecting sports and modern technologies. The booth was divided into several themed zones dedicated to football, tennis, basketball, and boxing, as well as locations for sports-related activities.

One of the main highlights of Boomerang Partners’ participation in the Rome event was the announcement of the Golden Boomerang League winners. This sports traffic tournament took place from September 1st to October 31st. It involved current and new Boomerang Partners’ affiliate partners. 68 teams, which generated 20+ sports FTDs for brands from Boomerang Partners’ client portfolio over the two-month tournament period, made it to the final draw. On November 4th, the company determined the winners using certified randomization tools. The winners became:

  • QQMedia (prize — direct access to the annual Golden Boomerang Awards tournament)
  • Apex Media (AC Milan Experience package, including paid flight, accommodation, and attendance at an AC Milan home match at San Siro Stadium in Milan)
  • Luis Xavier (AC Milan Experience package, including paid flight, accommodation, and an AC Milan home match attendance).

The CEO of QQMedia commented: “Those who know me understand that I work with some of the largest operators in the industry, but Boomerang Partners will always hold a special place in my heart. What they are building is truly impressive, and I am proud to be part of this journey, witnessing how Boomerang Partners is steadily evolving from an underdog into a true power player.

A big thank you also goes to their entire team, especially the affiliate department, and in particular to Lilli, whose outstanding work, constant availability, and solution-oriented approach deserve special recognition.

The next goal is of course to win the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026, and we will give it our all to make that happen.”

Boomerang Partners’ booth guests could play ping-pong with promoters, who were actually professional players in disguise, as well as participate in Soccer Penalty Shootout, bowling, volleyball, tennis, and badminton using Nintendo Switch Sports. For participation and wins, they received chips of various denominations. Chips could also be earned by completing tasks on the Wheel of Fortune, ordering drinks at the bar, and even finding them in the open areas of the SiGMA Rome venue. On November 5th, Boomerang Partners hosted a gift auction at their booth, with chips as a currency. These prizes were raffled off:

  • Luka Modrić (AC Milan) signed jersey
  • iPhone 17 Pro Max
  • Ray-Ban | Meta Wayfarer smart glasses
  • Apple AirPods Pro 3

Those participants who failed to win the auction were in for a surprise. The next day, November 6th, a gift shop with items of varying prices opened at the Boomerang Partners booth. Booth guests could exchange chips for these gifts, which included, for example, AC Milan t-shirts, electric air pumps, instant photo printers, and other prizes.

Anton Eshtokin, Chief Marketing Officer at Boomerang Partners, commented: “Continuing the development of the ‘Boomerang Arena’ concept, we tried to bring numerous sports elements and meanings into the booth atmosphere, thus once again revealing our sports DNA and strategic vector. We traditionally applied the formula that connects business solutions, entertainment, and marketing activities.

We strive to make our booth a place that attracts partners and media, putting considerable effort into preparation, and believe that we have managed to solve the set tasks. We are already preparing for iGB Affiliate in Barcelona and invite you to visit our booth in advance.”

Boomerang Partners are ending 2025 on a major note, but they’re not saying goodbye for long. Stay tuned.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is the Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards — a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. The agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The agency’s client portfolio contains 13+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across 40+ markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania