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UKGC: More than football – A Deep Dive into Euro 2024 Betting

Published

1 year ago

September 27, 2024

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Following on from this summer’s UEFA European Football Championship, Commission Research and Statistics Analyst Robyn Brummitt and Research and Impact Manager Caleb Adegbola discuss the impact of the tournament on consumer gambling behaviour.

“The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship (Euros) was a landmark event, not only for football fans but also for the gambling industry. This tournament provided us with a unique opportunity to explore the impact of the Euros on consumer behaviour, particularly following England’s impressive run to the final.

“Given that major football tournaments featuring the home nations occur only every two years, we partnered with our Consumer Voice research provider, Yonder, to explore betting behaviours, motivations, and the impact of promotional offers and advertising during this year’s Euros tournament. This research builds on our previous studies into gambling attitudes during major football events like the World Cup.”

What did Yonder do?

“Using Yonder’s omnibus survey (opens in new tab), we employed cross-sectional tracking to ask a series of questions to a total of 6,237 people across three waves, with just over 2,000 respondents participating in each. The first wave was conducted a week before the tournament started, wave 2 fieldwork was conducted between the group stage and the knockout stages, and wave 3 was a week after the tournament had concluded. Participants shared their insights on various topics, including their betting activity and intentions, awareness of advertising, use of promotional offers, gambling motivations, and even how England’s run to the final influenced their behaviour.

“Betting behaviour: The rise of the young female bettor?

Interestingly, our findings revealed a notable increase in the proportion of female respondents who reported betting on the Euros, which significantly outpaced the rate of increase among male respondents. Pre-tournament (20.8 percent male, 6.6 percent female) and mid-tournament (27.0 percent male, 9.6 percent female) ratios were similar, with males approximately three times more likely to report participation – but that was closer to two times (27.3 percent, 13.3 percent) more likely in the post-tournament wave.”

“When considering age, there was a marked increase in the proportion of those aged 18 to 24 who reported betting on the Euros in wave 3 (14 percent at wave 1, 36 percent at wave 3) compared to older groups, for whom the increase in participation was far more modest.

“As with previous research, (such as the aforementioned project into World Cup gambling attitudes), the most common motivations for gambling were to win money, make the game more interesting or because of a promotional offer and/or free bet. There was evidence of a change in motivations during the tournament due to the success of the English team, with a significant increase in the third wave in the proportion of respondents reporting that they had bet because England or the country they support were playing. (21 percent at wave one, 23 percent at wave two, 36 percent at wave three in which), particularly amongst the 18 to 24 year old group.”

What drives betting?

“Overall, respondents said that advertising had a limited impact on their gambling engagement. Less than 10 percent of those who intended to or had bet on the Euros reported doing so because they saw an advert, and most people who reported betting on the Euros spent the amount they anticipated (67 percent), 15 percent reported spending less than expected (a decrease from wave 2), and just 10 percent reported spending more than they had planned. In their comments, many respondents indicated they had set a fixed budget and felt in control of their spending.

“When it comes to promotions, free bets were reported to be the most popular, with three out of four respondents that had engaged in offers utilising free bets.

“Looking at intentions for future sporting events, a significant proportion of those that bet on the Euros stated they also plan to bet on other upcoming sporting events like the World Cup in 2026 (67 percent), the Premier League (52 percent) and Olympics (22 percent). However, this did not increase from wave 1 to 3, suggesting that the Euros may not have enticed respondents to gamble on other sporting events.”

The post UKGC: More than football – A Deep Dive into Euro 2024 Betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming

Published

8 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

betmgm-and-fashiontv-gaming-group-bring-luxury-lifestyle-to-north-american-igaming

BetMGM, a leading iGaming and sports betting operator, has officially partnered with FashionTV Gaming Group to launch a curated portfolio of luxury-branded games. This strategic collaboration marks the entry of FashionTV’s iconic aesthetic into the North American iGaming market, exclusively through BetMGM’s platforms.

The partnership merges FashionTV’s global prestige in the worlds of fashion and high-society entertainment with BetMGM’s award-winning digital casino infrastructure.

Immersive Luxury Table Games

The initial rollout features two high-gloss table games designed to provide players with an “immersive, lifestyle-driven” experience that mirrors the sophistication of the FashionTV brand.

FashionTV Blackjack: A premium take on the casino classic, featuring refined visual assets and high-end production values.
FashionTV Roulette: A sleek, stylized version of the iconic wheel, bringing a “fashion-forward” energy to every spin.

The titles are currently live in Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, with a wider rollout planned for all jurisdictions where BetMGM Casino is active.

Strategic Vision and 2026 Roadmap

For BetMGM, the partnership is part of a broader “branded content” strategy that includes previous successes with major TV and movie franchises.

“At BetMGM, we have redefined what it means to deliver entertainment in iGaming,” said Oliver Bartlett, VP of Gaming at BetMGM. “By partnering with FashionTV Gaming Group, we’re creating experiences that go beyond gameplay and connect players to the brands they love.”

Moshe Cohen, Founder & President of FashionTV Gaming Group, added: “BetMGM’s leadership and scale make them the perfect partner to transform our vision into a North American success story.”

Looking ahead, BetMGM has confirmed that additional FashionTV-branded titles—including slots and potentially live dealer variants—will be released throughout 2026 as part of an expanding content pipeline.

The post BetMGM and FashionTV Gaming Group Bring Luxury Lifestyle to North American iGaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brazil Betting Law

2026 iGaming Regulatory Roadmap: Key Compliance Deadlines

Published

11 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

2026-igaming-regulatory-roadmap:-key-compliance-deadlines

As the industry gathers for ICE Barcelona 2026, the regulatory landscape has shifted into a high-execution phase. The following roadmap outlines the critical compliance dates for three of the most influential markets currently undergoing major transitions: the United Kingdom, Brazil, and the Philippines.

Date	Jurisdiction	Regulatory Milestone	Action Required for Operators/Suppliers
Jan 19, 2026	United Kingdom	LCCP Social Responsibility Code 5.1.1 Update	Ban on Mixed-Product Incentives: Offers like “Bet £10, get 20 free spins” are now prohibited. Wagering Caps: Bonus wagering is capped at a maximum of 10x.
Jan 19-21, 2026	Global / EMEA	ICE Barcelona 2026	Flagship event for showcasing 2026 compliance technology and real-time auditing solutions.
Mar 19, 2026	United Kingdom	LCCP Condition 15.2.1 Reporting	Key Event Reporting: Threshold for reporting operator status/shareholder changes raised from 3% to 5%. All loans must be reported regardless of written agreements.
Mar 31, 2026	Philippines	PAGCOR B2B Accreditation Deadline	Final Compliance Date: All B2B providers (studios, aggregators, affiliates) must be accredited. Unaccredited foreign content will be blocked from licensed platforms.
Apr 6, 2026	United Kingdom	DMCC Act 2024 Alignment	Fair & Transparent Terms: Consumer Protection regulations replaced by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. Terms must align with new definitions of “misleading actions.”
June 30, 2026	United Kingdom	RTS 12 (Financial Limits)	Technical changes to Remote Technical Standards (RTS) regarding how customers set and view financial limits on their accounts.
H2 2026	Brazil	Betting Deposit Tax Vote	Proposed 15% tax on gambling deposits is expected to return to the Senate for a final vote after being pushed back in late 2025.

Regional Deep Dive: Strategic Compliance

1. United Kingdom: The “Safety & Simplicity” Era

The UKGC’s January 19th update is the most immediate challenge for marketing teams. By decoupling sports betting from casino bonuses, the regulator aims to reduce “cross-product friction” that could lead to unintended gambling harm.

Strategy: Pivot toward product-specific loyalty programs (e.g., “Bet £10 on Football, Get a £5 Free Bet”) to maintain compliance while driving retention.

2. Brazil: Sustaining the .bet.br Ecosystem

Following the January 1, 2025 launch of the regulated market, 2026 is about operational maturity. The focus has shifted to the mandatory use of the .bet.br domain and rigorous AML/KYC reporting to the Secretariat of Awards and Betting (SPA).

Strategy: Ensure all advertising features the mandatory license logo and that all protagonists in marketing materials are visibly over 21 years of age.

3. Philippines: The B2B Supply Chain Lockdown

PAGCOR’s new framework is a move to professionalize the region, mirroring the supplier-licensing models seen in Ontario and Malta.

Strategy: Foreign studios that missed the December 2025 “early bird” three-year accreditation window must expedite their applications before March 31st to avoid a total blackout on Filipino-facing sites.

The post 2026 iGaming Regulatory Roadmap: Key Compliance Deadlines appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI in Gambling

2026 iGaming Outlook: Regulation, AI Personalization, and the Return of “Originals”

Published

11 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

2026-igaming-outlook:-regulation,-ai-personalization,-and-the-return-of-“originals”

The iGaming industry has officially entered a new era of discipline. As we move through the first quarter of 2026, the “wild west” growth of previous years has been replaced by a focus on sustainability, hyper-localization, and AI-driven player protection. From the finalization of the PROGA framework in India to the massive turnover records set by World Pool, the market is no longer just growing—it is maturing.

The Rise of “Explainable AI” in Player Retention

In 2026, AI has moved beyond simple game recommendations. Leading operators are now utilizing “Explainable AI” (XAI) to bridge the gap between engagement and compliance. Unlike traditional “black box” algorithms, XAI allows operators to understand why a player is being flagged for risky behavior or why a specific loyalty nudge was triggered.

This transparency is critical for maintaining trust in highly regulated markets like the UK and Ontario, where the UKGC’s 2026 Social Responsibility updates now demand more rigorous evidence of proactive player interaction.

“Originals” and the Rebirth of Video Poker

While high-volatility slots like Joker’s Jewels Hold & Spin continue to dominate headlines, a significant shift is occurring in the “non-slots” vertical.

The PowerPoker Revolution: Strategic partnerships, such as the recent QTech Games and Speedy Tomatoes deal, are revitalizing video poker. By adding features like “Swap-A-Card,” these games are capturing high-value player segments who prioritize skill and strategy.
Branded Originals: Platforms like MINT are proving that “Originals” (Mines, Crash, and Plinko) are no longer secondary products. Fully brandable house games are now a core foundation for crypto-first and Web3 operators, driving session frequency through provably fair mechanics.

Brazil and Ontario: The Battle for Market Supremacy

The geographic focus for 2026 remains firmly on Brazil and Ontario.

Brazil’s Advertising Evolution: With the newly regulated market in full swing, groups like Esportes Gaming Brasil joining IAB Brasil signal a shift toward responsible communication. Advertising is now a tool for helping consumers identify licensed platforms, moving away from aggressive acquisition tactics.
Ontario’s Content War: The region has become North America’s most dynamic hub. Agreements like the Peter & Sons and Casino Time deal highlight the demand for “indie-inspired” content that stands out in a saturated market.

Conclusion: The “Champion Mindset” for 2026

Success this year isn’t about volume; it’s about coherence. As highlighted by GR8 Tech’s “Champions Club” initiative for ICE Barcelona, the operators winning in 2026 are those who treat technology as a performance ecosystem. By aligning real-time data with compliant storytelling, brands are finding that “trust” is the most valuable currency in the modern iGaming world.

The post 2026 iGaming Outlook: Regulation, AI Personalization, and the Return of “Originals” appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.