Latest News
Betting and Gaming Council Appoints Grainne Hurst as New Chief Executive Officer
The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has appointed Grainne Hurst as its new CEO.
Grainne brings an unparalleled wealth of experience in the regulated betting and gaming sector, joining from global betting brand Entain, where she spent nearly 10 years, including as the firm’s Group Corporate Affairs Director.
The appointment, first announced in April, came as part of a wider restructuring of the BGC’s senior leadership, with former BGC CEO Michael Dugher becoming Chair.
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 where she currently oversees the charity’s expansion to the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
In her first comments as CEO, Grainne committed to delivering the White Paper, ensuring the sector can move to a new era of stability and growth, with a renewed focus on improving diversity.
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: “I’m absolutely delighted to get started as CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, the industry champion for so many iconic brands, at home in the UK and around the world.
“This is a crucial time for the BGC’s diverse and growing membership, which supports 110,000 jobs, and caters to millions of customers who enjoy a bet each month in the UK.
“There is a huge amount of work ahead of us, not least delivering and implementing the outstanding proposals outlined in last year’s White Paper, many of which our members called for.
“That includes a statutory levy to address problem gambling and related harms, an Ombudsman for improved consumer redress, online financial risk checks carefully targeted on those at risk, new stake limits for online slots, a Sports Sponsorship Code, plus mission critical modernisation proposals for the land-based casino sector.
“While achieving regulatory certainty after a period of so much change is top of my priority list, it is important for our industry to focus on stability, growth and diversity across the sector. That work must be underpinned by strong data and guided throughout by the voice of the everyday consumer.
“My huge thanks go to Michael Dugher for his amazing work so far getting the BGC to where it is today, I’m really looking forward to working alongside Michael in his new role as BGC Chair.
“I would also like to thank all of the BGC’s members for their support and, alongside the excellent BGC team, I look forward to championing our world class members, on hard-pressed high streets, in the land-based sector and online.
“Our members are rightly proud of their vital role in the UK entertainment industry, and the significant part they play supporting the local and national economies through tax and high value jobs.
“Millions of us enjoy a bet, in bookmakers, in casinos and online and I look forward to championing everything our members do, for their customers, communities and the country.”
BGC Chair Michael Dugher added: “On behalf of the entire BGC membership, I’d like to warmly welcome Grainne as she officially starts as CEO.
“She brings years of experience and knowledge in the regulated industry, together with a bold vision and strategy to refresh and reset the organisation going forward.
“I look forward to working with Grainne in my new role as Chair, and the rest of the outstanding BGC team, as we continue to represent thousands of workers and millions of customers, as well as delivering on our mission to raise standards in safer gambling.”
The post Betting and Gaming Council Appoints Grainne Hurst as New Chief Executive Officer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ai game recommendations
Vegangster Integrates ZingBrain AI for Smart Game Recommendations Across Operator Lobbies
Vegangster has integrated ZingBrain AI‘s smart lobby personalisation into its platform, adding a new layer of game discovery for players across Vegangster-powered brands.
Casino lobbies now feature AI-driven recommendation sections tailored to each player’s preferences, much like those on Spotify or Netflix. Players see personalised rows such as “Picked for You”, “Because You Like…” and “Try Other Games With Similar Mechanics”, which point them to relevant titles. These recommendations can also be presented directly in Vegangster’s own Scroll & Play feed, giving each player a personalised discovery experience in a well-known format.
According to ZingBrain AI’s published results, smart lobby personalisation delivers a 5–15% uplift in GGR and turnover, 10–15% more games played, and a 5–10% increase in player active days, while cutting time spent on lobby management by 80%.
Michael Oziransky, Chief Product Officer at Vegangster, commented:
“ZingBrain works hand in hand with our own Scroll & Play feed: the engine decides which games are right for each player, and Scroll & Play puts them in front of them as gameplay clips they can watch and jump straight into.”
In practice, this changes how the lobby works for both sides. A player who keeps coming back to crash games sees fresh titles with similar mechanics instead of the same generic top grid, and players returning after a break land in a lobby built around what they already love. Operators, meanwhile, stop curating lobby positions by hand: a new game release reaches the players most likely to enjoy it from day one, without competing for a banner slot.
Another application of the engine is provider cost optimisation. Operators set priority levels for individual providers and games based on deals, campaigns, or new launches, and ZingBrain applies those priorities to personalised recommendations. In A/B tests across four brands, this redirected up to 20% of turnover and GGR to more profitable titles, with no drop in player performance.
The integration is now available to all Vegangster operator clients.
About Vegangster
Vegangster provides a full iGaming platform built for speed, scale, and operator control. Its turnkey, white-label, and sweepstakes solutions bring casino and sportsbook content, payments, CRM, compliance, and social features together in one mobile-first system. With Vegangster, operators can launch quickly and grow with confidence.
About ZingBrain AI
ZingBrain AI is an easy-to-integrate AI performance platform for the iGaming industry, providing smart lobby personalisation, player analytics, and churn and GGR predictions for online casinos and sportsbooks. The company is ISO 27001 certified and works with 60 live brands worldwide.
The post Vegangster Integrates ZingBrain AI for Smart Game Recommendations Across Operator Lobbies appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BC.GAME
BC.GAME names Guillermo Ochoa brand ambassador for Mexico push
BC.GAME has signed Mexican footballer Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa as a brand ambassador to support its growth strategy in Mexico through BCGAME.mx.
The company said Ochoa will front football-led brand activity, including local promotions and fan engagement campaigns designed for Mexican audiences. BC.GAME positioned the partnership as part of its continued investment in what it described as the regulated Mexican market.
Kar Kheng Giam, CEO of BC.GAME, said: “Mexico is an important market for BC.GAME, and localisation is central to how we build meaningful relationships with users.
“Guillermo Ochoa is more than an outstanding goalkeeper. He is a figure who genuinely connects with Mexican football fans across generations, and that makes him an ideal ambassador for BCGAME.mx.
“As we continue to invest in our platform for the Mexican market, we want to work with partners who understand the culture, passion and community around football. Ochoa’s profile, professionalism and connection with fans make him a natural fit for BC.GAME.”
Ochoa said: “I am very happy to partner with BC.GAME at such a special time for Mexican football.
“Football has always been about passion, community and shared experiences. I look forward to working with BC.GAME and BCGAME.mx to connect with fans in new ways.”
BC.GAME said the agreement comes during a “landmark summer” for football across Mexico, the United States and Canada, and described the signing as part of a broader sports entertainment strategy spanning football, esports and entertainment partnerships. The company also said responsible gaming remains an important part of its platform experience in markets where it is permitted to operate.
The post BC.GAME names Guillermo Ochoa brand ambassador for Mexico push appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
Tom Horn Gaming ships Royal Ruby FeatureStorm slot worldwide on 14 July 2026
New Hold & Win title adds a collection meter, Bonus Buy options, and max win of 13,920x on a 5×3, 9-payline setup.
Tom Horn Gaming will launch Royal Ruby FeatureStorm worldwide on 14 July 2026, adding a new Hold & Win slot to its portfolio.
The game runs on a 5×3 reel layout with nine paylines and is positioned as a high-volatility release. Tom Horn Gaming said the title offers a maximum win potential of up to 13,920x the stake and is built around its Hold & Win FeatureStorm mechanic.
In the base game, a collection meter above the reels fills as Ruby symbols land. According to the company, completing the meter can trigger one of seven bonus combinations that include collectors, multipliers and jackpots, while landing three Ruby symbols triggers the Hold & Win Bonus Game immediately.
During the bonus, Ruby symbols convert into locked Value Coins on a 5×3 grid, with three respins awarded and the counter resetting when new symbols land. Tom Horn Gaming said Collector, Multiplier and Jackpot symbols can interact during the feature, and the game includes two Bonus Buy options: 50x total bet for direct access to the Hold & Win bonus, or a 120x option that “guarantees all three special symbols are active from the outset.”
Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming, said: “Royal Ruby FeatureStorm builds on the enduring appeal of Hold & Win gameplay while introducing a collection mechanic that keeps players engaged throughout every session. Combined with rewarding bonus interactions and strong win potential, the game delivers an experience that resonates with players while offering operators a valuable addition to their content portfolios.”
The post Tom Horn Gaming ships Royal Ruby FeatureStorm slot worldwide on 14 July 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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