Press Releases

UK’s BGC calls for Online Harms Bill to crackdown on black-market unregulated gambling operators endangering children

Published

6 years ago

February 12, 2020

Standards body BGC Calls for government to use Online Harms Bill to crackdown on unregulated gambling operators

Analysis conducted for the new standards body, the Betting and Gaming Council which represents UK regulated operators, reveals consumers are exposed to large numbers of unlicensed operators (38%) through search results for key gambling terms on major search engines.

4 in 10 search results for key gambling terms on major search engines are unlicensed black-market operators
Danger that children are accessing illegal websites with no strict ID and age verification measures unlike U.K. licensed operators.
27 million visits from UK IP addresses to black—market gambling sites
Estimated 200,000 people in U.K. have used illegal gambling sites in past 12 months

The BGC calls on the government to ensure that the Online Harms Bill, soon to be introduced in parliament, includes action to crack down on platforms who profit from unregulated, black market gambling operators.

There is a particular danger that children are accessing these websites where there are no strict ID and age verification measures deployed by U.K. licensed operators. New strict age verification procedures introduced in May 2019 for UK licensed operators require full verification of name, age and address before anyone can open an online account or place a bet.

The regulatory Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (formerly RGSB) warned in 2018 that internet service providers, app stores, search engine companies, and other relevant providers should be vigilant to the possibility of third party use of their products to provide illegal gambling to children and young people, and should be proactive in preventing it.

The sizeable proportion of gamblers using unlicensed operators reveals that the size of the active ‘black market’ in the UK today is worth around £1.4bn in stakes.

Web traffic statistics suggest that there are 27 million visits from UK IP addresses. Some unlicensed websites block customers from the U.K. but many of those can be circumvented using VPNs (Virtual Private Networks).

Michael Dugher, Chief Executive of the BGC, said: “Search platforms are promoting black-market gambling operators for profit, putting the British consumers, including children, at risk. None of the UK’s strict licensed safeguards are in place on these illegal sites.

“Regulated bookies and online operators have a strict zero tolerance approach to underage gambling, yet unlicensed operators are free to prey on vulnerable consumers.

“We welcome the Government’s Online Harms Bill. But it also provides the Government with a chance to clamp down on the black-market and help protect punters who want a flutter in a safe environment.”

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Pascal Gaming signs Ronaldinho for football-themed crash and slot titles

Published

8 minutes ago

May 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

pascal-gaming-signs-ronaldinho-for-football-themed-crash-and-slot-titles

First release is Avinho R10, followed by June launch Fortune Ronaldinho as the studio lines up more titles ahead of the World Cup season.

Pascal Gaming has partnered with Brazilian football player Ronaldinho to launch a dedicated portfolio of games inspired by the athlete, the company said on 26 May, 2026.

The planned pipeline includes crash games, slots and additional titles set to roll out through the year. Pascal Gaming said the initiative is aimed at both Brazil and international markets, and will be supported by tournaments, promotional activity and special events tied to the Ronaldinho-branded portfolio.

The first game confirmed is Avinho R10, described as a crash-style title featuring Ronaldinho “above Brazil” in an aviation-themed experience. A second game, Fortune Ronaldinho, is scheduled for release in June and is positioned as a slot-inspired title.

“Ronaldinho is one of the most recognisable and loved football personalities in the world, so for us this collaboration is much more than a game launch. It is a global entertainment project that combines football culture, emotionally engaging gameplay and strong promotional activities ahead of the World Cup,” said Armen Mnaskanian, Head of Sales at SoftConstruct Gaming Content.

Pascal Gaming said it has been expanding its crash game portfolio during 2026 and investing in localised, character-driven content across Latin America, Africa and Asia. The company added that more Ronaldinho-themed titles and marketing campaigns will be revealed in the coming months.

The post Pascal Gaming signs Ronaldinho for football-themed crash and slot titles appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Belgium

PokerStars Open Namur returns May 27 with €1m guaranteed Main Event

Published

8 minutes ago

May 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

pokerstars-open-namur-returns-may-27-with-e1m-guaranteed-main-event

Belgium stop at Circus Casino Resort Namur runs May 27–June 7 and adds PokerStars Live League points toward a €157,500 credit pool.

PokerStars will bring PokerStars Open Namur back to Circus Casino Resort Namur from May 27 to June 7, with the festival returning one day after the operator’s May 26 announcement.

The stop follows a 2025 edition PokerStars said was record-breaking for Belgium, including 1,571 entries in the Main Event and what it called the largest live tournament prize pool in Belgian poker history.

This year’s schedule is headlined by the €1,100 PokerStars Open Main Event, which carries a €1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. Other listed highlights include the €400 PokerStars Open Cup (May 27-31), €3,300 Super High Roller (June 1-2), €2,200 High Roller (June 5-6), and €800 Mystery Bounty (June 6-7).

“Last year’s turnout reinforced Namur’s place as one of the most exciting live poker stops in Europe,” said Cedric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars. “What makes the event special isn’t just the size of the fields, it’s the atmosphere around the entire festival.”

PokerStars also positioned Namur as a scoring stop in the PokerStars Live League, which awards points across High, Medium and Low leaderboard tiers. PokerStars said players are competing for a share of €157,500 in PokerStars LIVE event credit, with the top 30 players in each tier qualifying for a €100,000 freeroll at the first European Poker Tour festival of 2027.

The post PokerStars Open Namur returns May 27 with €1m guaranteed Main Event appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETER

BETER to make US exhibition debut at SBC Summit Americas 2026

Published

9 hours ago

May 26, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

beter-to-make-us-exhibition-debut-at-sbc-summit-americas-2026

BETER, one of the award-winning providers of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports betting content, will exhibit at SBC Summit Americas for the first time.

The company will be attending at Stand 813, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion across the United States.

SBC Summit Americas 2026 takes place from June 9–11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bringing together more than 10,000 industry professionals and over 400 exhibitors.

BETER will be welcoming delegates interested in enhancing their sportsbook offerings with fast-paced content and cutting-edge solutions at Stand 813.

Since entering the regulated US market in 2025, BETER has secured regulatory approvals and licenses in nine states, including Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Illinois, and Kentucky.

BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide, offering up to 50 markets per event and an average operator margin of 7.5%+.

Its esports portfolio includes the ESportsBattle product featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis. Its sports portfolio features the Setka Cup table tennis content and the BSKT Cup basketball league.

In addition, BETER provides its Esports Odds Feed, offering market-leading odds with the highest uptime across 450+ tournaments globally, covering more than 40,000 pre-match and live events annually, all powered by a team of in-house expert traders.

All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, and sports federations.

The company’s rapid impact across the US market, alongside the strong performance of its products and the quality of its data, has earned it two nominations at the prestigious SBC Awards Americas 2026 – Rising Star in Sports Betting and Live Gaming & Betting Product.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “We have made significant progress in establishing BETER as a trusted provider in the United States over the past 12 months.

Our participation in this exhibition marks an important milestone as we make our official debut in the region, showcasing the strength and scalability of products that are already proven globally.

“We are excited to present our full product suite to a US audience for the first time and warmly invite all attendees to visit us at Stand 813 to meet the team and explore partnership opportunities.”

Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, added: “Our presence at SBC Summit Americas reflects the strong momentum behind our content and solutions, as well as the growing demand from operators for high-performance esports and sports betting products.

“As we expand further across regulated US markets, we see significant opportunities to deepen partnerships and drive innovation in fast-betting experiences. We look forward to connecting with both existing partners and new ones at our stand.”

“Book a meeting with BETER team”, says the company.

The post BETER to make US exhibition debut at SBC Summit Americas 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.