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GambleAware Publishes Details of Donations Received in 2023/24

Published

2 years ago

June 4, 2024

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GambleAware, the leading commissioner of programmes focused on gambling harms in Great Britain, has published the details of donations it received in the 2023/24 financial year.

The charity received £49.5 million in voluntary industry donations over the year. Of this, 94% of the voluntary donations came from the largest four gambling operators in Great Britain, who donated a total of £46.6 million. This represents an increase of £3.1m from the previous year’s contributions of £43.5m from these operators.

Voluntary donations are essential for GambleAware’s continuing commissioning work. The charity believes the gambling industry should be held accountable to contribute financially to the vital services that prevent gambling harms, which is why it has consistently advocated for a statutory levy. Until the implementation of the statutory levy, gambling operator funding remains the primary source of funding for research, prevention and treatment. Despite the donations received, as an independent charity, GambleAware has an extremely robust system of governance processes in place, works to hold the gambling industry to account, and the gambling industry has absolutely no input, influence or authority over any of its activity.

GambleAware’s work includes commissioning the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN), which provides free, confidential treatment across Great Britain, as well as the National Gambling Helpline which takes around 52,000 calls and online chats a year. Funding is also used to enable GambleAware to commission research and evaluation to increase knowledge and understanding of the prevention of gambling harm, as well as reducing stigma associated with gambling harm, for public health campaigns, and for providing support, advice, and tools to help people make informed decisions about gambling.

The voluntary donations received in 2023/24 mark the last year of a four year commitment made in 2020 by the largest four operators to gradually increase the percentage of Gross Gambling Yield (GGY) donated as RET from 0.25% in 2019/20 to 1% in 2023/24.

There remains uncertainty of funding for the current financial year 2024/25 while the sector awaits clarity on the process and timing around implementation of the statutory levy. GambleAware continues to work with the Gambling Commission and the Department for Culture Media and Sport during this transition period.

Zoë Osmond, GambleAware Chief Executive, said: “While we await the implementation of the new statutory levy, donations from the voluntary funding system are key to ensure GambleAware can continue to deliver the essential gambling harm prevention and treatment programmes we commission.

“For many years we have been calling for the introduction of a statutory levy on the gambling industry and we are pleased the Government has committed to delivering this as part of the Gambling White Paper. However, during the transition period it is vital that steps continue to be taken to ensure there is no disruption to existing services and provisions in the wider system as they adapt to the new levy funding model.”

As well as voluntary donations received, the Gambling Commission also allocated £33.5 million of regulatory settlement funds to GambleAware during the last financial year. These are managed as a restricted fund to be allocated to playing a part in stabilising the wider system of gambling harm prevention, support, and treatment during the transition period from a voluntary to a statutory levy system. The regulatory settlement funds were allocated to GambleAware by the Gambling Commission in accordance with its Statement of Principles for determining financial penalties.

The post GambleAware Publishes Details of Donations Received in 2023/24 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

2025 financial results

ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth

Published

13 minutes ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

ZEAL Network SE, Germany’s leading online lottery provider, closed 2025 with another year of robust double-digit growth.

Despite a weaker jackpot environment, the company significantly strengthened its core lottery business, accelerated diversification, and expanded its customer base—setting a solid foundation for long-term scalability.

The group delivered 16% revenue growth, reaching €218.5 million, while EBITDA rose 11% to €68.8 million. EBIT also climbed 12% to €60.1 million year over year. These results reinforce ZEAL’s strategic focus on building a multi-pillar digital entertainment ecosystem.

“At every level, our results confirm that our strategy works,” said Dr. Stefan Tweraser, CEO of ZEAL Network SE. “Expanding scalable products alongside our strong core lottery business increases resilience and positions us for ambitious future growth.”

CFO Andrea Behrendt highlighted continued investment in reducing jackpot dependence: “Our efforts create a sustainable and profitable growth structure.”

Core Lottery Business Continues to Lead Growth

ZEAL’s primary lottery brokerage remains its strongest revenue driver. Even with softer jackpot cycles:

Monthly active users climbed 8% to a record 1.558 million.
Lottery billings reached €1.1 billion, up 2%.
Gross margin increased to 17.7%.
Lottery-specific revenue surged 16% to €195.3 million.

These gains underline the brand’s ability to attract and retain large numbers of customers independent of jackpot volatility.

Dream House Raffle Becomes a Major Growth Pillar

The Traumhausverlosung (Dream House Raffle)—launched in 2024—has rapidly evolved into a strong secondary revenue stream. With guaranteed winners and high-appeal prize structures, the charity lottery generated:

€38.9 million in billings across four draws in 2025.

This success demonstrates the value of proprietary lottery products that complement ZEAL’s core business and enhance market differentiation.

Games Segment Accelerates With Expanded Portfolio

ZEAL also posted substantial growth in its digital Games division. The company extended its catalog to 650+ games, adding 400 new titles and strengthening collaborations with leading game developers.

As a result:

Games revenue increased 46%, reaching €14.4 million.
Active user numbers rose sharply.
Player protection remained a top priority, supported by AI-driven safeguards.

Customer Base Expansion Remains a Strategic Priority

ZEAL made targeted investments to grow its user base, acquiring 1.171 million new customers in 2025. As expected with aggressive acquisition:

Customer acquisition cost (CPL) increased to €46.47.
Marketing spending rose 20% to €68.6 million.

This investment is key to sustaining ZEAL’s long-term market position and unlocking additional cross-sell opportunities in games and charity lotteries.

2026 Outlook: Continued Growth and Diversification

Looking ahead to 2026, ZEAL aims to expand its German market leadership and scale its charitable lotteries freiheit+ and Traumhausverlosung, while continuing to strengthen its Games offering.

Forecasts for 2026 include:

Revenue between €250–260 million
EBITDA between €70–75 million

These projections already factor in increased investment to accelerate diversification and future-proof the business.

The post ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

Published

5 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

winspirit-wins-best-online-casino-in-cee-at-the-gamingtech-cee-awards-2026

Online casino brand WinSpirit has been announced as the winner in the Best Online Casino in CEE category at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 — a respected industry event celebrating excellence across the iGaming sector.

Since launching in mid-2022, WinSpirit has rapidly gained recognition for its dynamic approach to product development, creative marketing, and a genuine player-first philosophy. The brand stands out by successfully combining innovative features, high-quality entertainment, and strong focus on player experience.

Over the past year, WinSpirit has demonstrated impressive growth across key metrics, significantly expanding its loyal player base, VIP segment, and overall betting activity. The brand has also introduced unique interactive formats, enhanced its loyalty system with the real-time Gift Shop, and continued to invest in smart personalisation across the platform.

This award adds to WinSpirit’s growing list of international recognitions. The brand also maintains excellent player ratings across major review platforms, consistently receiving high marks for service quality and user experience.

With this latest victory, WinSpirit continues to solidify its reputation as one of the most dynamic and player-oriented online casinos in the industry — combining rapid growth with innovation and a clear focus on player satisfaction.

The post WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Denmark

Stake.dk Offers Money Back on Denmark’s World Cup Playoff Match Against North Macedonia

Published

5 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Stake.dk, Denmark’s leading online casino and sportsbook, today announces the launch of an exclusive campaign in connection with Denmark’s decisive World Cup playoff match against North Macedonia on March 26, 2026 in Parken.

Stake Sportsbook offers Danish football enthusiasts a unique opportunity to support the national team without risk: Players can place a single bet on Denmark to win on the 1×2 market before the match starts, and if Denmark does not win in regular time, the player will get their stake back in cash – up to DKK 1,000.

The campaign is created to celebrate one of the most important moments in Danish football in 2026. With a direct entry ticket to the World Cup at stake, the atmosphere is high, and Stake.dk wants to give its customers the opportunity to experience the match with full support and minimal risk.

To qualify for the promotion, players must place a single bet of at least DKK 25 on the 1×2 market with Denmark as the winner before the scheduled match kick-off. The offer only applies to the first qualifying bet per player, and the refund will be paid as pure cash directly to the player’s Stake account within 48 hours if Denmark does not win in regular time.

Denmark will meet North Macedonia on Thursday, March 26 at 20:45 CET in Parken as part of the World Cup playoff.

The campaign emphasizes Stake.dk’s dedication to delivering relevant and engaging experiences to its Danish customers in connection with major sporting events.

The promotion is available to all Stake customers with an active betting account at stake.dk. Full list of terms and conditions is available on the promotion page.

About Stake

Stake is the world’s most popular online casino and sportsbook. Founded in 2017, Stake attracts over 80 million monthly visitors – more than any other iGaming platform – and handles over 100 billion bets per year. Stake is recognized for its innovation in crypto gaming, as well as its growing expansion into regulated local currency markets in Italy, Denmark, Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Stake also has an impressive portfolio of global sponsorships, including Canadian superstar Drake, X Games, Everton Football Club and UFC.