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.”
Andy Phillips SportingRisk.com CBDO
Sporting Risk Rolls Out In-Play Pre-Canned Multis for Personalized BetBuilder Options
The post Sporting Risk Rolls Out In-Play Pre-Canned Multis for Personalized BetBuilder Options appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
4ThePlayer
4ThePlayer teams up with Entain for UK retail launch of player-favourite slots
feature. 3 Lucky Leprechauns has also emerged as a favorite among players, providing regular features and a vibrant, approachable experience that easily adapts to retail gaming.Chris Ash, Founder and Managing Director at 4ThePlayer, said: “Partnering with Entain to bring multiple 4ThePlayer titles into their UK retail estate is a key part of our retail strategy. 4 Fantastic Fish and 3 Lucky Leprechauns have both performed strongly online, particularly in the UK, making them a natural starting point for this exciting new project.”
Matt Stadius, Director of Retail Gaming at Entain, added: “4ThePlayer has built a strong reputation for creating engaging, player-focused content, and we’re pleased to be bringing titles such as 4 Fantastic Fish and 3 Lucky Leprechauns into our UK retail estate. Both games have already proven their appeal online, making them a good fit for our shop customers.”
The post 4ThePlayer teams up with Entain for UK retail launch of player-favourite slots appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Conferences
ICE Barcelona 2026 — Where the Next Gaming Revolution Begins
The launch: Two truly revolutionary games
Prepare to witness the huge reveal the industry will be talking about for years. For the first time, GoldenRace will unveil two groundbreaking, revolutionary games designed to capture new demographics, boost engagement across all channels, and deliver unprecedented revenue growth.
These games are set to be the new undisputed champions of the betting world. You must be at Stand 4D25 to be among the first to see them in action!
New RaceDay: Race it all!
What if your players could bet on all races at the same time? Introducing RaceDay, a brand-new multi-race product for retail and mobile that transforms engagement by allowing players to bet on up to six races of your choice, simultaneously, offering higher odds and increased betting volume.
You decide which of GoldenRace’s top-quality races—including Horses (in different formats), Greyhounds, Motorbikes, Karts and Trotting—are available.
- More bets: Players can now bet on up to six races concurrently, maximising their opportunities and increasing betting volume on your platform.
- New RaceDay market: Innovative combination bets across different competitions in one view help boost the odds and lead to more significant wins.
- Increased appeal: RaceDay delivers a premium user experience with live video, real-time scores, upcoming events, and a unique, customisable design.
- Anywhere reliability: Thanks to low-bandwidth optimisation, RaceDay offers seamless performance on both mobile and retail platforms.
New solutions: Supercharge your retail betting business!
- Non-stop action: Rotating Display
Say goodbye to static screens! Our brand-new Rotating Display feature is a game-changer for your brick-and-mortar business. It allows you to create a continuous, high-octane stream of content right on your shop screens, cycling through your favourite GoldenRace V5 products. Why you’ll love it: Save hardware, save money, and boost bets by keeping the content fresh and dynamic.
- Fast Ticket Checker: Eliminate waits, elevate winnings!
Our new Fast Ticket Checker feature brings instant clarity to your retail betting experience, allowing players to instantly know the status of their betting slips using their own mobile device via a QR code scan. The winning play: Solve congestion by freeing up cashiers to focus on sales while providing players with instant, real-time status updates directly from the server.
- Enhanced Jackpot Viewer
Our upgraded solution provides unparalleled flexibility for showcasing your biggest prizes. Boost capacity by displaying 3-4 Jackpots simultaneously and ensure seamless branding with new background colour configurations in the back office. This gives you complete control to present a professional, high-impact, and fully branded Jackpot experience.
A world of opportunity awaits at Stand 4D25
The post ICE Barcelona 2026 — Where the Next Gaming Revolution Begins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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