Press Releases
UK’s BGC calls for Online Harms Bill to crackdown on black-market unregulated gambling operators endangering children
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.”
game features
Tom Horn Gaming launches Sweet Gold 3000 slot with 3,000x multipliers
Tom Horn Gaming has unveiled Sweet Gold 3000, a new online slot due for general release on 16 June. The company positions the game as a high-volatility title with multipliers up to 3,000x and maximum exposure of 13,900x.
Sweet Gold 3000 runs a 6×5 scatter-pays setup and introduces Tom Horn Gaming’s BlastX
feature alongside its cascade-style Shatter Wins mechanic, where consecutive wins continue through chain reactions. Random Gold Chocolate multiplier symbols can appear during spins with values from 2x to 3,000x, the company said.
The free spins feature is triggered by landing four or more scatter symbols and uses increasing multipliers. During the bonus round, players can unlock an additional five free spins by landing three extra scatters. A Free Spins Booster is also available for 1.5x the total bet, which Tom Horn Gaming says triples the chance of triggering free spins in the base game.
For players seeking direct access to bonus gameplay, the game includes Bonus Buy entry into Free Spins or Super Free Spins modes.
Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming, said: “Sweet Gold 3000 is unlike anything else in our portfolio. We wanted to create a game that feels rebellious, energetic and visually striking while still delivering the high-intensity gameplay players are looking for today. The combination of urban graffiti culture, candy symbolism and huge multiplier potential gives the game a very distinctive personality that stands out instantly in casino lobbies.”
The post Tom Horn Gaming launches Sweet Gold 3000 slot with 3,000x multipliers appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Hacksaw Gaming
Lottomart gets exclusive early access to Hacksaw Gaming’s Nitro Nights in the UK
Lottomart has secured an exclusive early release of Hacksaw Gaming’s new slot, Nitro Nights, giving its UK players access ahead of the title’s wider market launch in two weeks.
The release is the first exclusive early-launch arrangement between Hacksaw Gaming and Lottomart, extending an existing content partnership between the two companies.
Nitro Nights is themed around an underground street-racing setting and carries a maximum win potential of 15,000x, according to the companies. Core mechanics include Burnout Mode, triggered by a Nitro symbol, which converts the symbol into a Wild Nitro symbol and awards Nudges, Wilds and Multipliers. The game also features a Nitrous Bar that can store up to 10 Nudges outside the grid.
The title includes three bonus features, ranging from free spins with progressive multipliers to increased chances of triggering Nitro symbols, alongside a hidden Epic Bonus feature.
Chris Ruddock, Commercial Director at Lottomart, said:
“Having Nitro Nights as our first Hacksaw Gaming exclusive early release is a significant moment for our partnership, and a clear sign of the value Hacksaw places on Lottomart. We’re excited to give our UK players first access to such an innovative and entertaining game.”
Nitro Nights is available now on the Lottomart platform.
The post Lottomart gets exclusive early access to Hacksaw Gaming’s Nitro Nights in the UK appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BetVision
Genius Sports Edge pushes football margins up 17% ahead of the World Cup
Genius Sports Limited has delivered another season of strong results across its football trading services ahead of the World Cup, with Edge driving a 16.6% increase in football margins for sportsbook operators during the 2025/26 domestic season.
Edge, Genius Sports’ automated margin optimisation software, continued to deliver meaningful margin uplift for sportsbooks throughout the campaign. By adjusting each operator’s odds based on liabilities across all market-types on a fixture-level, Edge margins across major competitions saw substantial growth, including the Champions League (+34%), Premier League (+22%), La Liga (+21%), Italy’s Serie A (+17%) and Ligue 1 (+16%).
Official data partnerships continued to underpin market-leading uptime across elite football competitions. The Premier League delivered 98% overall uptime with 158 matches exceeding 99% uptime, providing an average of five minutes and 19 seconds of additional availability per match compared to alternative suppliers. Italy’s Serie A achieved 97% uptime, representing a 3% improvement on the previous season. Ligue 1 also recorded uptime levels above 95%.
Throughout the 2025/26 season, Genius Sports continued to invest heavily in football trading innovation. This included migrating all 89,000 in-play football events to new Monte Carlo simulation models, enhancing Match State data with player-level information and expanding its player proposition market offering.
Genius Sports has further expanded its football offering, delivering player proposition markets including shots, shots on target, score or assist, fouls and goalkeeper saves across pre-match, in-play and betbuilder, with additional markets such as tackles and offsides set to launch before the 2026/27 season. The company also introduced a new stoppage-time predictor designed to deliver sharper pricing during the closing stages of matches, following a season that saw a record 139 injury-time goals scored.
BetVision, Genius Sports’ interactive live streaming solution, continued to demonstrate strong engagement throughout the season. Across key football competitions, BetVision delivered a 22% increase in customer retention compared to standard streaming experiences, including a 53% increase across Brazil’s Serie A, a 35% increase across the Turkish Super Lig and a 20% increase across Italy’s Serie A. Ligue 1 viewers also spent 22% longer watching content through the platform.
As operators prepare for the biggest football betting event in the world, the results highlight how Genius Sports’ football trading service continues to drive profitability, improve market availability and enhance customer engagement.
James McKiernan, Commercial Director at Genius Sports, said: “The 2025/26 season was another year of growth and investment across our football trading and engagement products. Edge delivered significant margin improvements across football, while the expansion of BetVision, official data coverage and advanced modelling helped operators maximise uptime and deepen customer engagement.”
The post Genius Sports Edge pushes football margins up 17% ahead of the World Cup appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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