Connect with us

Latest News

BGC Members Make Record Horserace Betting Levy Contribution

Published

on

bgc-members-make-record-horserace-betting-levy-contribution
Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

Betting and Gaming Council members are expected to contribute a record £105m in levy payments to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for last year, new figures reveal.

The figure, provided by the independent Horserace Betting Levy Board, is an increase of £5m on the previous year.

As a result of this record additional funding from bookmakers, the HBLB announced an increase of £3.2m in its prize money contribution for 2024 versus 2023, from £67.3m to £70.5m.

It is the third year in a row that Levy contributions have increased, from £97m in 2021/22, to £100m in 2022/2023 and now £105m in 2023/2024.

According to the Horserace Betting Levy Board, the £105m total is derived from the receipt of provisional end of year submissions from most Levy-paying bookmakers.

Michael Dugher, Betting and Gaming Council CEO and Acting Chair, said: “This record contribution to the Levy is extremely welcome news and demonstrates once again the enduring, mission critical support regulated betting provides British horseracing.

“Despite a double digit decline in horserace betting turnover over the past five years – and a double digit decline in racecourse attendances – this shows that levy contributions and prize money are both up, and it once again provides a timely reminder that racing could not survive without the record financial support that is flowing from betting.

“Our members remain committed to the long-term success of horseracing, and the huge economic contribution it makes across the country, especially in rural communities.

“Attention must now turn to how we challenge vested interests, introduce real change and reform the sport, ensuring we reverse the current decline and provide racing with a genuinely long term sustainable future.”

Horseracing is the second biggest spectator sport in the UK, second only to football, with around five million people attending approximately 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.

However, the sport has been in decline in recent years. In 2007, 17% of the population enjoyed horserace betting the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018, while racecourse attendances have dropped by 14% since 2019.

Meanwhile, horserace betting turnover for April to December 2023 is down 17% vs the average for the same period across the last five years.

The BGC has made significant efforts to lessen the impacts on racing as a result of the Government’s White Paper on gambling reforms, particularly on the issue of affordability.

Earlier this month the BGC announced a new voluntary industry Code on Customer Checks which raises standards, while reducing the need for requests for private financial documents.

Developed jointly with the Gambling Commission and backed by Government, this Code will operate as a voluntary interim scheme – bringing consistency across the regulated sector for operators who adopt it – until the frictionless financial risk assessments set out in the Government’s White Paper can be developed, tested and implemented.

While this Code delivers progress on resolving the issue of intrusive document checks, it does not offer a complete solution. So, the BGC and GC are now actively working on a new Code on Anti-Money Laundering checks, which also trigger requests for documents.

The BGC is currently working with the British Horseracing Authority and government to resolve a settlement on a new voluntary Levy to support horseracing.

It is estimated BGC members contribute around £350m a year to British horseracing in Levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.

Meanwhile the wider regulated betting and gaming sector supports 110,000 jobs, generates £4.2bn in tax and contributes £7.1bn to the economy.

Each month around 22.5m adults in Britain enjoy a bet, whether it’s buying a lottery ticket, having a game of bingo, visiting a casino, playing online or having a wager on football, horseracing and other sports.

The most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.

The post BGC Members Make Record Horserace Betting Levy Contribution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Emerging Markets

QTech Games integrates Blue Tower Games content for emerging markets

Published

on

qtech-games-integrates-blue-tower-games-content-for-emerging-markets

QTech Games has signed a content partnership with Blue Tower Games, adding the supplier’s catalogue to QTech’s aggregation platform for clients in emerging markets. The agreement was announced on 8 June 2026.

QTech said the integration gives operators access to Blue Tower Games content across multiple formats, including slots as well as instant win, bingo, table and crash-style games.

Titles cited in the rollout include crash-mechanics games positioned around sports, such as Cricket Showdown and Knockout King, plus mini games and game show-style releases including Sorcerer’s Spin. More traditional content referenced includes slots Western Gold Rush and Vikings Hunt For Wealth, bingo title Casino War, instant win game Hi-Lo, and table games including Baccarat and Teen Patti.

Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “Blue Tower’s sprawling range of trending games captures the current zeitgeist perfectly. Theirs is a growing and constantly innovating library, delivering consistent support to the growth of our broad gaming-vertical spread, courtesy of some quality graphics, gameplay and unique features. Like us, they understand that diverse and localised solutions represent the pathway to success.

“Together, we can continue to raise the bar and shape a localised experience for global players. We can’t wait to witness how these games perform across a range of untapped markets which, in many cases, represent new territory for Blue Tower.”

Param Patel, COO at Blue Tower Games, added: “At Blue Tower, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence, consistently testing the limits of game design with unique mechanics, adaptive layouts, and dynamic features that keep players coming back for more. Our dedicated team combines creative vision with technical expertise to craft games that not only look and sound incredible but also offer compelling and rewarding gameplay. With a focus on innovation and a deep understanding of player preferences, Blue Tower Games continues to lead the industry, creating unforgettable experiences that resonate with players across the planet.

“This deal with QTech greatly improves our product distribution across emerging territories, delivering our fantastic games to a range of untapped operators. Powered by the fine-tuned recommendation algorithms of QTech’s game lobby, which cut through the white noise of competing releases and match the right game to the right audience, we look forward to seeing how our titles capture the imaginations of a swathe of new players across emerging markets.”

The post QTech Games integrates Blue Tower Games content for emerging markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Affiliates

Digicode brings Diger Suite iGaming ecosystem to SBC Summit Americas 2026

Published

on

digicode-brings-diger-suite-igaming-ecosystem-to-sbc-summit-americas-2026

Digicode will attend SBC Summit Americas 2026 on June 9–11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, where it plans to present its Diger Suite iGaming technology ecosystem.

The company positions Diger Suite as a modular stack aimed at operators managing multi-jurisdiction expansion, including platform operations, payments, compliance, affiliates and player engagement. Digicode said the product is designed to support “more control and flexibility” as operators modernize legacy infrastructure.

Digicode said the Diger Suite includes DigerRGS (remote game server), DigerPAM (player account management), DigerPay (payment orchestration), DigerClick (affiliate management), and DigerCompanion, described as an AI-powered operational assistant for automating support processes and routine tasks.

During the event, Digicode said its team will discuss platform ownership, operational scalability, and approaches to reduce reliance on rigid SaaS and revenue-share models, alongside demos of the suite.

“SBC Summit Americas brings together organizations that are actively navigating the realities of multi-market growth,” said Elkhan Shabanov, CEO Americas at Digicode. “As operators expand across jurisdictions, the need for flexible, ownership-driven technology becomes increasingly important. Through the Diger Suite, we help businesses gain greater control over their platforms, streamline operations, and build foundations that support sustainable long-term growth.”

The post Digicode brings Diger Suite iGaming ecosystem to SBC Summit Americas 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Jackpot

Winaday Casino turns 18 with new Alona’s Wild Realm slot and June promos

Published

on

winaday-casino-turns-18-with-new-alona’s-wild-realm-slot-and-june-promos

WinadayCasino.eu is marking its 18th birthday with a month-long promotion schedule through June, led by the launch of a new slot title, Alona’s Wild Realm, and a set of daily bonus offers.

The new game, Alona’s Wild Realm, is described by the operator as a 5×4, 28-payline video slot with a $0.28–$44.80 bet range. Winaday says the title includes Colossal symbols, Wilds, and a Free Spins Bonus round that triggers with 3–5 BONUS symbols for up to 30 free spins, with 3×3 Colossal symbols and “all wins DOUBLED.”

Winaday also highlighted a late-May jackpot payout: player BIGMIKE888 won $97,146 on Gods Of Egypt. The operator said the game has been “long retired from most casinos but still paying at Winaday.”

For June 8–14, Winaday’s published “Birthday Bonus Bash” includes: 50 free spins (code “MAGIC,” 1x per day, 33x wagering, valid on Alona’s Wild Realm); a 135% match for VIPs and 90% for all players on deposits $15–$300 (code “FRIENDSHIP,” 1x per day, 35x wagering, valid on Alona’s Wild Realm); and a 125% match on deposits $100–$400 plus a 95% match on $25–$99 (code “ADVENTURE,” redeem 2x per day, 27x wagering, valid on all Slotland Ent. slots & keno).

The operator said the broader June calendar also includes free chips on Winaday Originals (early June), weekly VIP free spins on Buffalo Wild Wins, Cowboys vs Aliens, Four Leaf Fever, and 7Heaven (mid-June), and a late-June “grand finale” with free spins on Diamond Riches 2 and travel-themed slot bonuses.

The post Winaday Casino turns 18 with new Alona’s Wild Realm slot and June promos appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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