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New Research Shows Public Want National Lottery to Do More to Help People Experiencing Gambling Harms
GambleAware has published a new research which shows that three in four members of the public want the National Lottery to do more to help people experiencing gambling harms. The charity is urging the National Lottery provider, Allwyn UK, to direct people to help and support available. Unlike other charity lotteries the National Lottery does not currently signpost to support on its advertising.
The research is based on figures from GambleAware’s forthcoming Annual Treatment and Support Survey 2024, a nationally representative online survey of almost 18,000 adults over the age of 18, conducted by YouGov. It found that the majority of the public (84%) agree that the National Lottery is a form of gambling, with almost half (46%) disagreeing that the National Lottery products are harmless. The research also found that almost three quarters (74%) of the public agree that the National Lottery should signpost people to support for gambling harm on its products. Similar research in 2023 also found that almost seven in 10 (69%) of the public also agree that National Lottery adverts should sign post to GambleAware “like other gambling adverts do”.
GambleAware is calling on the National Lottery to signpost people to gambling support services on its advertising as well as products such as tickets, scratchcards, and online instant win games. Unlike other charity lotteries, the National Lottery does not currently signpost to support on its advertising, making it an outlier in this respect.
The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee also recommended in 2022 that the National Lottery should signpost to gambling support services, such as GambleAware, but this has not been implemented.
National Lottery products are used by millions of people each week and reach far more people experiencing gambling harms than any other gambling brand. Previous research from GambleAware found there could be up to 600,000 people experiencing “problem gambling” who take part in the National Lottery draw.
“When I gave up gambling and self-excluded myself from places I could gamble, the one thing I couldn’t bar myself from was playing the lottery in shops. When I got a craving in my early recovery, I bought £450 worth of scratch cards.
“I later moved on to buying online scratch cards, which look like fruit machines and make sounds. There was a big jackpot where you could win a million pounds so I was really lured into those and was spending a lot. I know other people experiencing gambling harm who have had similar experiences with the National Lottery, so putting information on tickets and scratch cards about where people can get support would help so much,” a woman with lived experience of gambling harm said.
“I registered on the National Lottery app, and I got a bit of a habit with the instant scratch cards on there because they make it so easy for you to play… it did lead me into financial difficulty; I wasn’t able to buy food for about a week because I’d spent the food shopping money on scratch cards,” a respondent to GambleAware’s Annual Treatment and Support Survey said.
The National Lottery’s reach amongst those experiencing gambling harm means it has a critical role to play in preventing and reducing gambling harm. This alongside its popularity and public trust in its brand, means that measures taken by the National Lottery operator to improve signposting across its products and advertising could have a substantial positive impact.
Andy Boucher, GambleAware Chair of Trustees, said: “We recognise the great work the National Lottery has done supporting a range of worthy causes over many years. In the public’s mind, it is there to do good in the community, and so we believe it is also the right thing for it to look after the people who play the National Lottery. Allwyn, the National Lottery’s current operator, has previously stated that ‘player safety is our top priority’ and it must live up to those words and play a critical role in protecting people from gambling harms, which are a serious public health issue that can drive societal inequalities, worsen mental health issues, and increase pressure on our over-burdened health system.
“This is why we are calling for clearer signposting on the National Lottery’s products and advertising. The signposting we want to see is already a minimum standard across other charity lotteries, and we believe that it is only right that the National Lottery adopts them, as an organisation whose purpose is to benefit good causes and have a positive effect on society.”
Ian Semel, CEO of one of the National Gambling Support Network treatment providers, Breakeven, said: “At Breakeven we have over 20 years’ experience of delivering help and support to anyone affected by gambling-related harms. We are proud to be an integral member of the National Gambling Support Network and offer services across the East of England, and Kent and Sussex in the South East of England, with instant access to treatment and support without any waiting times.
“Around 11% of clients who came to us for support in 2024 disclosed that the National Lottery or scratch cards were causing them gambling harm. Therefore we have joined the call for the National Lottery to signpost to support services like us as it is crucial for people to be able to access support as soon as they recognise they may be starting to experience gambling harms.”
The post New Research Shows Public Want National Lottery to Do More to Help People Experiencing Gambling Harms appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Inferno Mayhem
PG Soft cranks up the volume with electrifying Inferno Mayhem slot
PG Soft, the acclaimed mobile game developer, has turned up the heat with Inferno Mayhem, a 5×5 video slot that fuses rock concert intensity with thrilling gameplay. The story unfolds as players step back into the spotlight after Lennox, the king of the stage, mysteriously vanished mid-performance, leaving fans craving a show-stopping experience.
Gameplay and Features
Inferno Mayhem combines collapsing reels, respins, and Wild symbols with multipliers up to x500, immersing players in a roaring rock show atmosphere. Every spin builds toward a mosh pit crescendo, keeping adrenaline levels high.
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Respin Feature: Wild symbols can appear on any spin, sometimes carrying multipliers from x2 to x500. When Wilds land, wins are multiplied by the combined total of all multipliers, and a free respin is awarded. Locked Wilds during respins dramatically increase winning potential.
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Free Spins Feature: Triggered by Scatters:
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3 Scatters = 10 free spins
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4 Scatters = 12 free spins
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5 Scatters = 15 free spins
Wild symbols that appear during free spins remain locked until the round ends, boosting chances of epic wins.
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Super Feature Buy: For players seeking maximum thrill, this option ensures all Wild symbols carry multipliers between x2 and x500 throughout free spins.
With a maximum win of x25,000 the bet and high session volatility, Inferno Mayhem delivers an electrifying, headbanging experience.
PG Soft commented:
“With Inferno Mayhem, we wanted to capture the adrenaline of a live rock show and bring it to the reels. From the heavy-hitting Respin Feature to the power-packed Free Spins, this hit title has been crafted to get players headbanging while the guitars shred alongside the action.”
Inferno Mayhem exemplifies PG Soft’s signature approach of combining cinematic themes, innovative mechanics, and high-stakes excitement for mobile players.
The post PG Soft cranks up the volume with electrifying Inferno Mayhem slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Celtic Coins
Spinomenal expands Hold & Hit 3×3 series with Celtic Coins
Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has launched its newest release, Celtic Coins – Hold & Hit 3×3, expanding its popular Hold & Hit 3×3 series with a charming Irish twist.
Set against a lush emerald backdrop with a golden border, the game pairs a light-hearted, Irish-inspired soundtrack with a visually engaging 3×3 reel layout. Players encounter a golden Pot of Gold Wild, substituting for all symbols except the Bonus and Bonus Collect. The Bonus symbol appears on reels one and three, while the Bonus Collect is exclusive to reel two.
Landing a Bonus Collect alongside one or more Bonus symbols triggers the Bonus Game, where the triggering symbols remain locked in place. Players fill empty spots and can earn multipliers ranging from x1 to x15 of the total bet. Jackpots include the Mini (x25), Minor (x50), Major (x150), and Grand Jackpot (x1000), with the chance to win up to x5000 the total bet for hitting the maximum. Every Bonus or Bonus Collect symbol refreshes the spin counter to three, keeping the excitement high.
Additionally, the Bonus Blast Feature can activate randomly during the base game, adding more Bonus and Bonus Collect symbols to help trigger the Bonus Game.
Omer Henya, Co-CEO of Spinomenal, said:
“Celtic Coins – Hold & Hit 3×3 is another classy addition to our growing Hold & Hit 3×3 series. The coin-locking feature is on the money and makes for an incredibly exciting reel experience that is perfectly complemented by the jackpots and multipliers on offer.”
The launch reinforces Spinomenal’s commitment to innovative, feature-packed slots that combine visually rich themes with rewarding gameplay mechanics.
The post Spinomenal expands Hold & Hit 3×3 series with Celtic Coins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Betting.za.com
Betting.za.com supports amendments strengthening South Africa’s voluntary exclusion system and compliance requirements
Betting.za.com, a leading South African information site for online betting and gambling, has welcomed the publication of draft amendments to the National Gambling Regulations, 2004 in Government Gazette No. 54106, issued under Government Notice R. 7113 by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
The proposed changes focus on improving the administration and enforcement of South Africa’s Voluntary Exclusion Programme through the National Register of Excluded Persons, alongside updates to technical rules for gambling machine re-certification.
“Stronger, clearer processes around voluntary exclusion are an essential part of player protection,” said Dennis Kumar, lead betting expert at Betting.za.com. “Anything that makes it easier to self-exclude, harder to bypass, and clearer for licensed operators to implement should be supported — because gambling should always remain safe, controlled, and within limits.”
Key Amendments Proposed in the Gazette
1. Clearer Registration for Voluntary Exclusion
Players wishing to self-exclude must submit a notice to the National Gambling Board (NGB) using Form NGB 1/1, in hard copy or electronically, including a recent passport-sized photo or digital image meeting minimum specifications.
2. Defined Timelines for Handling Notices
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Operators must forward exclusion notices to the Board on the day they receive them.
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The Board must process the notice within five days (excluding weekends/public holidays) and share it with license holders and provincial authorities.
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Operators must implement administrative procedures within five days after receipt.
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Exclusion takes effect 10 days after submission to the Board.
3. Strengthened Internal Controls
License holders must submit internal control measures to provincial authorities within 90 days of the regulations taking effect, ensuring effective enforcement in gambling venues. Provincial authorities then report both internal controls and provincial registers to the Board.
4. Updated Gambling Machine Re-certification Rules
The amendments revise timing for technical re-certification of gambling machines and devices, including a 24-month window in certain circumstances.
5. Updated Forms
Forms NGB 1/1 and NGB 1/2 have been revised and included in the Gazette annexure.
What This Means for Players
Voluntary exclusion provides a formal “opt-out” mechanism for anyone wanting to limit their gambling activity. Once registered:
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Players are excluded from designated gambling areas nationally
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Names are added to the National Register of Excluded Persons
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Gambling while excluded may result in forfeited winnings, remitted to the Board
The updated forms also reference support services, including the National Responsible Gambling Programme (NRGP) toll-free helpline: 0800 006 008, and an SMS/WhatsApp line.
Implications for Operators and Regulators
The draft regulations emphasize speed, consistency, and accountability:
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Operators must escalate notices same-day to the Board
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The Board has five days to capture and distribute the notice
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Operators have five days to implement administrative processes
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Mandatory submission of internal control measures ensures auditability and compliance
Betting.za.com: Championing Safer, Transparent Gambling
Betting.za.com provides independent, plain-language guidance on betting and online casino topics, focusing on licensed operators and player protection.
“Our mission is to be South Africa’s most reliable source for betting and casino information,” said Kumar. “This includes making regulatory updates easy to understand, highlighting practical tools like voluntary exclusion, and ensuring players know where to get help if gambling stops being fun.”
About Betting.za.com
Betting.za.com is South Africa’s trusted destination for expert betting and casino information. Led by Dennis Kumar, the platform publishes independent reviews, guides, and industry updates to help players make informed, safe choices.
Responsible gambling support: NRGP toll-free helpline 0800 006 008
The post Betting.za.com supports amendments strengthening South Africa’s voluntary exclusion system and compliance requirements appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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