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Regulating the Game (RTG) has announced Evive Australia as the first innovation to take the stage at Pitch! – part of the annual RTG gathering in Sydney in March.

The event will take place at the famous Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2026, as part of the sixth edition of the international regulatory and industry conference.

Evive is an app designed to help people change how they play or seek support for gambling harms. Created by Sam DeMello, a tech specialist drawing on his lived experience of gambling harm, and supported by Jay Robinson, a safer-gambling expert with over two decades of harm-minimisation and prevention experience, Evive Australia aims to deliver personalised tools, resources and pathways for anyone seeking to reduce risk or access help.

“Evive brings together real-world experience, clinical expertise and technology to create an accessible and credible platform for change. Pitch! was conceived to spotlight exactly these kinds of innovations – ideas that challenge convention, improve safeguards and reimagine the future of regulation and industry practice,” said Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch and founder of Regulating the Game.

“Evive isn’t just another app, it’s a bridge between lived experience, behavioral science and practical support. It shows that compliance and compassion can coexist, and when they do, everyone benefits. The app gives regulators and operators confidence in credible harm reduction tools, while giving people a safe, stigma free path to change,” Robinson said.

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Leading international gambling law and regulation conference Regulating the Game (RTG) has issued a call for expressions of interest for the final Conference Chair position of its 2026 edition, to be held from 9 to 11 March 2026 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

Organizers explained that conference chairs will steward a day of the event and play a pivotal role in shaping dialogue, setting the tone and guiding discussions across key themes including safer gambling, compliance, governance, technology, and regulatory and sector transformation.

While some chairs have already been locked in, the final chair will be appointed to bring fresh perspective and balance to the program, ensuring diverse voices and expertise are represented in the conversations that matter most to the sector, they added.

“The caliber of our Conference Chairs underscores the influence and reach of Regulating the Game,” said Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch and founder of RTG.

“This appointment presents an exciting opportunity for a persuasive communicator to help frame critical conversations and contribute to shaping the future of gambling regulation.”

Past chairs of RTG have included IAG’s very own Vice Chairman and CEO Andrew W Scott; Professor of Marketing at the University of Nevada–Las Vegas Dr Maria Royne Stafford; Regional Head of Licensing, Government & Regulatory Affairs – EMEA/APAC at Sportradar Donata Szabo; Executive Director, Alderney Gambling Control Commission Andrew Gellatly; and Chief Commercial Officer at Gaming Laboratories International Ian Hughes, among others.

Next year’s RTG will feature an expanded program of associated events, including the popular Pitch! at the Sydney Opera House  on the evening of 9 March, the first ever RTG Global Awards & Gala Dinner on the evening of 10 March plus 15-minute Industry Spotlight Sessions for established sector leaders, Expert Masterclasses and an expanded exhibition showcase.

Interested candidates for the final Conference Chair role are encouraged to contact the RTG team at [email protected].

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NextBet has announced its official launch, establishing itself as a bold new AV and challenger in the Australian wagering market. Formed to capitalise on the mounting pressure facing undercapitalised operators and an accelerating wave of industry consolidation, NextBet enters the market with the acquisition of well-established operator, CrossBet. This strategic move marks the first step in a bold plan to build Australia’s next dominant Tier Two wagering group under a united brand.

NextBet will be led by, Scott Cross, who will serve as Executive Director. The move is a strategic restructure designed to position the business for its next phase of inorganic expansion.

“The formation of NextBet creates the foundation to scale rapidly through an ambitious M&A strategy, while investing in proprietary capabilities to meet the demands of a changing wagering market,” said Cross.

Strategic Vision: The Path to Tier Two Dominance

NextBet is pursuing an aggressive growth strategy – rolling up undercapitalised lower-tier operators while driving operational efficiency through product, speed of profiling and a differentiated user experience that attracts and retains high-value customers.

To support this next phase of expansion, NextBet is actively seeking strategic investors who share its vision for reshaping the mid-market wagering landscape. Investment will be used to accelerate acquisitions, enhance platform capabilities and solidify NextBet’s position as the go-to consolidator in the Australian market.

The current $419M valuation for PointsBet Holdings Limited confirms that the market rewards scaled, tech-enabled operators with focused execution. NextBet’s model builds on this blueprint, designed to fill the emerging leadership void in the Tier Two segment with an advanced offering custom built for modern wagering dynamics.

NextBet is currently in advanced discussions with several additional acquisition targets and expects to announce further transactions in the coming quarters.

The post NextBet Launches as Acquisition Vehicle (AV) to Consolidate Mid-Market Operators; Announces Flagship Acquisition and Growth Strategy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.