Latest News
BGC: Two Thirds of Punters Fear Tax Hikes Would Force Customers to the Illegal Gambling Black Market
A new YouGov survey for standards body the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) found 65% of regular punters agreed increased taxes, “would make customers turn to unregulated betting sites that don’t have to pay any tax at all.”
The Government is now consulting on a major change to the way betting and gaming is taxed online, sparking fears it will make betting on sports like racing and football, more expensive.
Sporting betting and online gaming is currently taxed at different rates, but last month the Treasury launched a new consultation titled The Tax Treatment of Remote Gambling, proposing a single new tax.
The BGC has already warned any further tax increases on members would hit punter’s pockets, and hammer horseracing’s fragile finances.
BGC CEO Grainne Hurst said: “This shocking statistic proves what’s at stake if the Government forces through a self-defeating tax hike on ordinary punters.
“It’s clear it will not raise more tax, it simply risks forcing huge numbers of customers out of the regulated market, with its world leading standards on player safety, into the arms of the growing, illegal, unregulated and unsafe gambling black market online.
“Any tax rises would make a mockery of the Government’s growth strategy and be catastrophic for horseracing, which is already facing a bleak financial outlook.
“This is a wake up call for Government, punters have been loud and clear, hit them with further taxes and they will walk away from sports like racing, straight to the black market, triggering a spiral of decline.”
The YouGov survey asked punters, “imagine that betting on sports events like horseracing became more expensive because the government increased the amount of tax that betting companies have to pay.
“How likely or unlikely do you think it is, if at all, that this would make customers turn to unregulated betting sites that don’t have to pay any tax at all?”
Of those who consider themselves regular punters, 65% said it would, in a shock warning to Government. Meanwhile, just 23% of punters said such a tax hike would be unlikely to have an impact on customers drifting to the black market.
A recent study commissioned by the BGC found 1.5m Brits stake up to £4.3bn on the growing gambling black market annually.
This growing, unsafe, illegal gambling black market does not contribute to sport, does not pay tax and targets customers who are vulnerable to harm, including the self-excluded.
Meanwhile, BGC members support 109,000 jobs, generate £6.8bn for the economy while raising £4bn in taxes.
They also help fund horseracing to the tune of £350m a year through sponsorship, media rights and the Levy, while contributing £40m for the English Football League and its clubs, plus millions more for rugby league, darts and snooker.
Each month in Britain around 22.5m adults have a bet and the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
The post BGC: Two Thirds of Punters Fear Tax Hikes Would Force Customers to the Illegal Gambling Black Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BOYLE Sports
BOYLE Sports deploys automated acca technology as bookmakers accelerate shift to pre-configured betting
BOYLE Sports has become the latest major bookmaker to deploy automated accumulator technology, following a new two-year agreement with Checkd Dev that will see the operator roll out pre-configured, one-click acca products across football and horse racing.
The partnership sees BOYLE Sports integrate Checkd Dev’s Automated Betting System (ABS) into its sportsbook, enabling the automated creation and presentation of pre-match football and UK and Irish horse racing accumulator bets. The deployment forms part of a broader update to BOYLE Sports’ betting proposition, aimed at delivering scalable, consistent acca products while retaining full control over pricing and risk.
Through the integration, BOYLE Sports has launched two carousels containing packaged accumulator bets, generated using predefined logic and historical performance data. All pricing remains aligned with BOYLE Sports’ internal trading models, with probabilities informed by historic form rather than external odds feeds.
From an operational standpoint, ABS provides BOYLE Sports’ trading team with backend tooling to automate bet creation, updates, and settlement, significantly reducing manual intervention while supporting a consistent pre-match offering across key markets. The solution also integrates BOYLE Sports’ existing Acca Boost mechanics, available to customers from launch.
ABS is built on Checkd Dev’s proprietary BRUNO platform and has evolved over a two-year development cycle. Initially designed as a statistics-led conversion tool, the system has expanded into a fully automated betting solution in response to growing operator demand for scalable, pre-configured wagering products within regulated markets. The product is integrated with the operator’s front end and bet slip, resulting in a frictionless experience for end users.
The BOYLE Sports deployment follows a series of recent commercial agreements for Checkd Dev, including partnerships with Betfred, William Hill, and OpenBet. Collectively, these integrations reflect a wider trend among established bookmakers toward automation-led betting products designed to improve efficiency, consistency, and user experience across football betting.
Adam Matues, Head of Sportsbook at BOYLE Sports, commented: “Pre-configured accas continue to play an important role in how customers engage with football and racing, but they need to be delivered in a way that is both scalable and commercially robust. Checkd Dev’s automated approach allows us to expand our acca offering efficiently, while maintaining full control over pricing, performance, and risk.”
Andrew Grimshaw, Commercial Director at Checkd Dev, added: “We’re seeing increasing demand from tier-one and tier-two operators for automated betting products that enhance UX while remaining fully aligned with existing trading frameworks. BOYLE Sports’ decision to deploy our ABS reflects that shift, and we’re looking forward to supporting the team on both sports as the product scales over the coming seasons.”
The post BOYLE Sports deploys automated acca technology as bookmakers accelerate shift to pre-configured betting appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Knockout Poker League
Stretch Network Announces the Return of the Knockout Poker League with a €910,000 Prize Pool
Stretch Network is bringing back the Knockout Poker League (KPL), offering players an expanded schedule and a wide variety of tournaments designed to drive engagement. Following the strong performance and positive feedback from last year’s edition, the series features popular knockout formats to keep players active throughout the campaign.
The Knockout Poker League series will run across two separate seasons:
- Season 1: February 6 – March 1
- Season 2: March 13 – April 5
Tournament details
- Total guarantee: Over €910,000
- Leaderboards: Two tournament leaderboards with a combined prize pool of €10,000
Headliners
- Two Main Events with €50,000 prize pools each
- Two Mini Main Events with €8,000 prize pools each
- Two Omaha Main Events with €5,000 prize pools each
- Daily headliners with guarantees of up to €20,000
- Mystery Bounty and Mini Mystery Bounty tournaments, combining PKO and Mystery Bounty mechanics familiar to players
- Weekend Centroll tournaments with a €0.01 buy-in and a €2,000 guarantee, offering near-freeroll accessibility
With the latest platform releases and updates now live, KPL provides players with the opportunity to enjoy their favorite poker formats within a structured, long-running series. Stretch Network expects that this combination of proven formats and solid guarantees will support sustained engagement across its partner network.
The post Stretch Network Announces the Return of the Knockout Poker League with a €910,000 Prize Pool appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Carl Gatt Baldacchino Head of Account Management SlotMatrix
SlotMatrix Unleashes Fiesta-Fueled Thrills with Muertos Fortune
SlotMatrix, the leading global casino content aggregator, has incorporated Muertos Fortune into its unique collection, a vibrant slot drawing inspiration from the lively energy and festivities of Day of the Dead customs.
Muertos Fortune welcomes players to a vibrant realm filled with music and color, where each spin leads to grander moments and more exciting rewards.
The Money Collector function centers on the Muertos symbol that shows up on reel five, serving as the chief collector by retrieving cash values from piñata prizes positioned throughout the reels to enhance winnings and enable extra rewards.
A significant feature of the gameplay is its Perceived Persistence mechanic, enabling piñata rewards that fall uncollected to fill the giant skull above the reels.
As the skull fills up, it explodes, activating the Free Spins feature filled with Muertos’ collections, greater piñata values, and opportunities for several retriggers, transforming growing excitement into massive payout possibilities.
Muertos Fortune can only be accessed via SlotMatrix and is upgraded by EveryMatrix’s sophisticated gamification features, such as free spins, tournaments, and leaderboards. It can additionally be combined with EngageSuite, the all-in-one player loyalty solution.
Carl Gatt Baldacchino, Head of Account Management, SlotMatrix, said: “Muertos Fortune is all about the renowned Mexican tradition. It’s a vibrant, high-energy title that fits perfectly in our growing portfolio.”
The post SlotMatrix Unleashes Fiesta-Fueled Thrills with Muertos Fortune appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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