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BGC Members Make Record Horserace Betting Levy Contribution

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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.

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Groove says its aggregator library passes 20,000 casino games

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Groove says it has surpassed 20,000 casino titles on its aggregation platform, up from 15,000 games two years ago. The company said the library now includes content from more than 150 providers and is available to partners worldwide through a single API.

According to Groove, the portfolio spans slots, instant wins, table games, crash games, live dealer and arcade-style content, alongside “emerging verticals including sweepstakes and crypto-native content.” The company said the catalogue is delivered through “one API, one back office, one pipeline,” and positioned the milestone as a curated expansion rather than a volume play.

Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, said: “Twenty thousand games is a number. What matters is what sits behind it…She added: “We don’t add studios for the sake of volume. We add them because they bring something distinctive: a mechanical innovation, a visual language, a player-engagement hook that our operators can’t get elsewhere. Our partners trust us to curate, not just collect. That trust is why we keep growing, and why the quality curve keeps rising alongside the quantity curve.”

Groove pointed to recent integrations including KingMidas Games (150+ mobile-first titles), Urgent Games and Bryogames, which it said offers “proprietary mathematics with real-time RTP customisation.” For operators, Groove said the full library is accessible via Groove Command, its centralised back-office product, with tools including content matching, regional segmentation and automated tournaments.

Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “The aggregation space is crowded with platforms that offer ‘access’ and little else,” adding: “Twenty thousand games through a single API is not just scale. It is a statement.” Meltzer also claimed Groove’s “technology stack with predictive auto-scaling, atomic transactions, real-time compliance mesh” supports execution “across fragmented regulatory landscapes with precision.”

The post Groove says its aggregator library passes 20,000 casino games appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Mega Casino launches Bragg Gaming slot 10 Hot Diamond Desire as exclusive

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Mega Casino has launched 10 Hot Diamond Desire, a new online slot developed by Bragg Gaming, as an exclusive title available only to Mega Casino players.

According to the companies, the release is intended to strengthen Mega Casino’s exclusive content line-up in the UK online casino market. Bragg Gaming said the game was created by its in-house development team and combines classic slot features with modern mechanics and a diamond-themed design.

The exclusive launch also extends the commercial relationship between the supplier and operator. Mega Casino already offers Bragg Gaming titles including Down The Chimney and Sevens & Suns.

Dom Aldworth, Head of Brand Marketing at Kinetic Digital said:

“Exclusive content remains a key pillar of our strategy and 10 Hot Diamond Desire is a great example of the kind of launch we want to bring to Mega Casino players. The game delivers a compelling experience while giving customers access to something genuinely unique. We’re pleased to be working with Bragg Gaming on this exclusive release and look forward to expanding our portfolio of exclusive content even further in the future.”

The post Mega Casino launches Bragg Gaming slot 10 Hot Diamond Desire as exclusive appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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OS Studios names Ishaan Arya country manager to lead India expansion

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OS Studios has appointed Ishaan Arya as Country Manager for India, tasking him with leading the agency’s expansion across newly established hubs in Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai. The appointment was announced on 25 June, 2026 in Bengaluru.

OS Studios, a Project Worldwide agency, said it recently entered the Indian market and will deploy its ‘Fan Z’ approach for brands looking to engage with gaming, esports and live events audiences in South Asia. The company said the expansion will leverage the infrastructure and production capabilities of sister agency George P. Johnson (GPJ) India.

“The future of gaming will be shaped by the communities that care about it most, and few markets embody that more than India,” said John Higgins, CEO of OS Studios. “To build something meaningful, you have to be part of the culture, not looking in from the outside. Ishaan understands that better than anyone. He’s exactly the kind of leader we want building the future of OS Studios in India.”

In the role, Arya will oversee operations, drive strategic brand partnerships, and scale local capabilities, according to the company. “Brands are investing heavily in Indian gaming, but true fan experience is too often an afterthought,” said Rasheed Sait, Chief Growth Officer for India and South Asia at Project Worldwide. “Alongside GPJ India’s experiential footprint, OS Studios will set a new standard for fan engagement in the region.”

Arya previously co-founded The Esports Club and most recently served as Vice President of Partnerships at Nodwin Gaming, where he led Comic Con India. “A massive gap remains between brand intent and authentic community engagement in India,” said Arya. “I’m thrilled to leverage Project Worldwide and GPJ India’s operational strength to build culture-defining experiences for brands and fans alike.”

The post OS Studios names Ishaan Arya country manager to lead India expansion appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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