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NICE Recommends Healthcare Professionals Ask People About Gambling at Health Checks and GP Appointments
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that general practitioners (GPs) in the UK to ask patients about their gambling habits during health checks and appointments.
The recommendation is included in the first clinical guideline on gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management.
“Gambling-related harms” is the term used to describe the negative impacts of gambling on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and society. These harms affect people’s finances, relationships and health (particularly mental health).
The new guideline advises healthcare professionals and social service workers to ask about gambling in various situations. This includes appointments related to depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or potential addictions such as alcohol or drug dependence. These groups may be at higher risk of gambling-related harm. NICE recommends identifying these risks as early as possible.
People may also be at increased risk of gambling-related harm for several other reasons, including if they are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Taking medication that may affect impulse control, experiencing safeguarding issues or violence or a family history of gambling that harms could also increase a person’s level of risk.
People should be encouraged to assess the severity of their gambling-related harms by completing a questionnaire available on the NHS website. This is based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), a standardised measure for at-risk behaviour. A score of 8 or above indicates that they should seek support and treatment from a specialist gambling treatment service, while those with lower scores may also benefit from available support.
Healthcare professionals and social care practitioners must recognise and take action to ensure that stigma, shame and fear of disclosure does not prevent people experiencing gambling-related harms from seeking and accessing support and treatment.
It recommends using a tailored approach to meet the needs of each person, which could include providing them with access to vocation-specific services, such as veterans’ groups, or that take account of their ethnic background and religion. Treatments for gambling-related harms should also be provided in separate locations from services for alcohol or substance dependence.
The guidance recommends healthcare professionals consider involving a partner, family member or other person close to the person experiencing gambling-related harms in their treatment, if that is what they both want.
Gambling related harm has a devastating impact on those who experience it, and the people close to them. The useful and usable guideline will help healthcare professionals and others to identify those needing help earlier and ensure they get the treatment and support they need.
National Clinical Director for Primary Care, Dr Claire Fuller, said: “We welcome NICE’s decision as gambling can have a massive impact on people’s lives and the lives of the people that care for them, and as healthcare professionals, we need the right tools to help tackle gambling-related harms.
“Over the past few years, the NHS has made significant progress in expanding treatment for gambling addiction with the rollout of 15 specialist clinics across the country. So, if you’re worried about your gambling, there is support available, and you can directly refer yourself to your local NHS gambling clinic.”
Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross said: “We welcome this guidance from NICE on identifying, assessing, and managing gambling-related harms, which will support those experiencing harmful gambling to get access to the right support.
“We know that clinical treatment is not necessarily right for everyone, but it is important that there is a full spectrum of support as we strengthen treatment options.
“The Government’s plans to introduce a statutory levy, which will generate £100 million each year, will provide the investment needed to further expand the support and treatment on offer for those in need.”
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain (2023), which collects data from 20,000 respondents each year, reported that 2.5% of the survey population aged 18 years and older living in Great Britain participate in “problem gambling” (defined as a PGSI score of 8 or more), with an additional 12% of the survey population participating in gambling with an elevated risk of harm (PGSI score 1 to 7). Overall, 2.8% of participants who had gambled in the past 12 months reported experiencing at least one severe consequence, such as the breakdown of a relationship. Rates were higher among male participants and were also higher among younger adults (those aged 18 to 34) than older adults (those aged 55 and over).
NHS England has opened 15 gambling clinics across the country since 2019 – seven of which opened in 2024. These clinics are expected to see 3000 people a year. All specialist clinics are fully NHS-commissioned and funded.
As set out in government’s response to the consultation on the structure, distribution and governance of the statutory levy on gambling operators, published in November 2024, the new statutory levy will provide a significant increase in investment for support and treatment services for gambling-related harm.
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OddsMatrix, EveryMatrix’s sportsbook and odds feed business, has further enhanced its premium sports content offering by partnering with micro-markets provider Kero Gaming.
The collaboration will see OddsMatrix integrate Kero’s suite of traditional and contextual football led micro markets into its sportsbook and feed coverage, with basketball, baseball, and American football to follow later this year.
These rapid micro-markets will broaden OddsMatrix’s coverage of 170,000+ monthly live betting events and 650+ bet types across its ‘always-on’ sportsbook.
Kero content will supplement OddsMatrix’s existing multi-sport Fast Markets product offering sportsbook and odds feed customers real-time, instant betting options across a variety of individual game moments.
By blending its proprietary Fast Markets with Kero’s micro-betting output, OddsMatrix will further empower its growing, global tier-1 client base with a differentiated and dynamic live betting offering.
Tor Skeie, CEO, OddsMatrix, said: “Integrating with Kero Gaming adds another layer to our comprehensive premium sportsbook and feed coverage.
“Kero have been fundamental figures in the growth of micro-betting and we are thrilled to integrate their content into our ‘always-on’ sportsbook.
“We’re passionate about empowering our loyal customers with technology, tools and content that enable them to differentiate, and this partnership will help support that goal.”
Tomash Devenishek, CEO, Kero Gaming, said: “Collaborating with EveryMatrix is a natural fit for Kero, as both companies share a commitment to delivering best-in-class solutions for operators and bettors alike.
“This partnership enables us to integrate our cutting-edge micro-betting technology with EveryMatrix’s powerful platform, creating new opportunities for engagement and excitement.”
The post OddsMatrix grows micro-market coverage with Kero Gaming integration appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Rapidly Expanding Content provider takes players on a trip to Wonderland in Alice WonderLuck
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming is thrilled to announce the launch of Alice WonderLuck. Inspired by the whimsical world of Lewis Caroll’s iconic novel, Alice Wonderluck invites players to conjure up some magic on the reels.
Alice WonderLuck plunges players into a vibrant reimagining of Wonderland, where a series of familiar characters are given a fresh, digital makeover. The classic tale’s creative and slightly off-kilter atmosphere has been brought to life perfectly with an enchanting soundtrack.
Adding to the slot’s immersive experience, Alice is positioned by the reels and will react to in-game events. She is on hand to support players whenever they need it, helping to drive engagement and keep them in the thick of the action.
The fantastical world of Alice in Wonderland is renowned for its mystery and surprises, and BGaming has tapped into this with the game’s Mystery Symbol feature. The symbols can land during any base game spin, heightening anticipation and creating suspense. They can also turn into Golden Mystery symbols, triggering the Coin feature with different multipliers and Collect symbols.
At the start of the Free Spins round, players enter the Choose Card round. Here, they encounter 16 face-down cards and can turn a select number over to uncover additional features, including extra spins, low Mystery symbols, high Wilds, or multipliers.
Alice WonderLuck emphasizes player choice, offering two differently priced bonus buy features for an improved entertainment experience. For 100x their stake, players can trigger the spins with at least three extra features, and for 250x, they will be triggered with five.
Players who enjoy high stakes will also love the optional Try Your Luck game before the Free Spins game.
While many of these gameplay features may appear familiar, the beauty of Alice WonderLuck is that it provides a new perspective on them.
If the captivating gameplay isn’t enough to lure players down the rabbit hole, then the game’s powerful math model will be. Alice WonderLuck conjures up a maximum win of 10,000x of the stake and an attractive 97.00% RTP.
Yulia Aliakseyeva, Chief Product Officer at BGaming, said: “We are all huge fans of Alice in Wonderland at BGaming and have wanted to create a slot around the theme for a long time.
The magical world of the story lends itself perfectly to online slots, and it has allowed our team to get creative with the gameplay. We’ve blended familiar features with a fresh perspective, creating an enchanting game with some brilliant winning potential.”
The post Dive Into the Rabbit Hole with BGaming’s Alice WonderLuck appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Step onto the Court with “Hoop Champion” A Revolutionary Basketball-Themed Game from Gaming Corps
Gaming Corps introduces a brand new, innovative mechanic X-MY-WAY™ in the adrenaline-fueled Hoop Champion
Gaming Corps, a publicly listed game studio based in Sweden, is proud to announce the release of Hoop Champion. This new game also marks the debut of the innovative new X-MY-WAY™ mechanic.
Get ready for an action-packed gaming journey like no other as Gaming Corps invites players to step into the vibrant world of basketball with Hoop Champion, a revolutionary new game. Crafted for casino lovers and online gamers, this title fuses thrilling basketball action with unmatched gambling mechanics, providing a truly distinctive and exciting gameplay experience.
Hoop Champion isn’t just another game, it’s a next-level experience that puts players on the court where every move counts.
Hoop Champion allows players to take charge of their gameplay through the innovative “X-MY-WAY” mechanic. They can select their strategy, whether opting for safe midrange shots or daring high-reward three-pointers for a chance at substantial payouts. Each position on the court brings its challenges, offering different payout opportunities that keep the game engaging, similar to a real basketball experience.
With the possibility of a 1,000x multiplier, players can aim for impressive rewards. The decision lies with them: they can choose to go for the 25x multiplier right away or take a more cautious approach with smaller multipliers like 1.1x. Players have control over how their multiplier grows with just a few clicks, deciding when to cash out or continue for that big 1000x win. This adaptability and personalisation ensure that the experience fits their strategy and risk tolerance, allowing them to play at their own pace.
Connor Blinman, Head of Games at Gaming Corps said: “Hoop Champion is our fresh take on a game blending skill and decision-making with good old-fashioned luck.
“This revolutionary mix allows players to feel more involved in the gameplay, making every decision impactful and we can’t wait to see how players respond to this fantastic new title from our superb games team.”
The post Step onto the Court with “Hoop Champion” A Revolutionary Basketball-Themed Game from Gaming Corps appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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