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.”
FairPlay Sports Media
FairPlay Sports Media Launches ‘Customer Insights’, Delivering Objective Truth on Bettor Sentiment
FairPlay Sports Media (FPSM), a leading sports media and BetTech network, has unveiled FairPlay Customer Insights, a continuously updated commercial decision-making engine built exclusively for UK betting operators.
Powered by a verified panel of over 1,000 active UK bettors, the self-serve dashboard gives operators instant, objective visibility into brand perception, product feature popularity, and competitive performance.
“A major challenge operators face today is understanding exactly why bettors switch apps,” said Jerome Underhill, Chief Operating Officer at FairPlay Sports Media. “Traditional market research is often too slow, expensive, and disconnected from day-to-day commercial decisions. FairPlay Customer Insights was built as a real-time decision-making engine, providing product teams with clarity on how core features—like their Bet Builder—compare to the competition, while helping media teams pinpoint the triggers that convert transient bonus users into loyal, long-term players.”
The platform updates quarterly to track trends over time and includes ‘flash research’ capabilities, enabling operators to submit custom queries to the panel ahead of major events such as the upcoming World Cup. This feature helps operators de-risk campaign planning with actionable insights.
FairPlay is currently onboarding a select group of operators for a 30-day Phase 1 Proof of Concept, offering company-wide access to validate the platform’s intelligence against operational challenges.
The post FairPlay Sports Media Launches ‘Customer Insights’, Delivering Objective Truth on Bettor Sentiment appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BMM
BMM INNOVATION GROUP BRINGS COMPLIANCE, CYBERSECURITY, AND TRAINING EXPERTISE TO TRIBAL LEADERS AT IGA 2026 NEXT WEEK
BMM Innovation Group (“BMM”, “BIG Group”, or “BIG”), a global technology company providing compliance testing, cybersecurity, and training solutions for the regulated global gaming industry, today announced its support and participation in the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) March 30-April 2 at the San Diego Convention Center. Through its three powerhouse brands, BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training®, BIG continues its long-standing commitment to serving Tribal regulators, suppliers, and operators across North America.
The BMM Innovation Group is a show sponsor, reinforcing its visible and ongoing investment in the Tribal gaming community. The Company is also sending representatives from BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training to meet with Tribal leaders and industry partners throughout the event.
BMM Chief Government and Regulatory Officer Travis Foley said, “Tribal gaming has always been central to BMM’s story. We are honored to support the Indian Gaming Association and to continue working alongside Tribal suppliers, regulators, and operators to strengthen compliance, protect players, and support sustainable growth across Indian Country.”
During the conference, BIG experts will contribute to several important educational sessions designed to help Tribal gaming organizations strengthen operations, security, responsible gaming, and HR:
- Peter Nikiper, Director-Technical Compliance, will deliver Level III Commissioner Training on Network Risk Assessment, helping regulators better understand today’s evolving technology risks.
- Heather Lee, Senior Director of Sales at BIG Cyber, will moderate the panel Cyber Defense Fundamentals: Protecting the Gaming Enterprise, focused on practical strategies to strengthen cybersecurity readiness.
- Wendy Anderson, CEO of RG24seven Virtual Training, will speak on the responsible gaming panel, Innovate. Protect. Heal: The Future of Tribal Problem Gambling Prevention Begins Here, and will also moderate the HR-focused session, Workforce Sustainability: Building Talent Pipelines That Actually Hold.
Through BMM Testlabs, BIG Cyber, and RG24seven Virtual Training, BMM Innovation Group offers Tribal gaming organizations a complete suite of services, including product testing and certification, cybersecurity protection, and compliance-grade virtual training designed specifically for gaming employees.
Register to Attend IGA
To register for FREE access to the IGA exhibit halls courtesy of the BMM Innovation Group, click here.
The post BMM INNOVATION GROUP BRINGS COMPLIANCE, CYBERSECURITY, AND TRAINING EXPERTISE TO TRIBAL LEADERS AT IGA 2026 NEXT WEEK appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Strive Gaming, the modern multi-state, multi-tenanted platform provider built specifically for the North American market, has announced a new partnership with leading online casino operator PlayStar.
Under the agreement, Strive will provide its market-leading PAM technology, supporting PlayStar’s continued growth across North America. PlayStar will migrate its New Jersey operations from its current player account management (PAM) provider onto the Strive platform, followed by launches in additional regulated jurisdictions including Ontario and Alberta in Canada.
PlayStar selected Strive following a detailed evaluation process as it looked for a platform partner capable of supporting its long-term ambitions across North America. Strive’s singular focus on the U.S. market, combined with the strength and scalability of its technology, made it stand out as the clear partner of choice.
Max Meltzer, CEO at Strive Gaming, said:
“PlayStar is a highly ambitious operator with a clear vision for building one of the leading casino brands in North America. They were looking for a platform partner that understands the realities of operating in the U.S. and Canada and can support them as they scale across multiple regulated markets.
“Our focus on North America, combined with the strength and flexibility of our platform, made this a natural fit. Both companies are on strong growth journeys and share similar ambitions for the region, so we’re excited to support PlayStar as they continue to expand.”
PlayStar Casino has quickly established itself as one of the success stories of the regulated North American casino market. The company has successfully built meaningful market share and a strong player following. Partnering with Strive marks the next stage in its growth strategy as it looks to expand further across North America.
Fredrik Liljewall, CEO at PlayStar, added:
“As we continue to scale our presence across North America, selecting a platform partner with a strong regional focus and the ability to support our long-term ambitions was critical.
“Strive’s technology, deep understanding of the North American market, and collaborative mindset made them the clear partner for PlayStar. We look forward to working closely together as we migrate our New Jersey operations and expand into additional jurisdictions, including Canada.”
This partnership marks another important milestone for Strive Gaming, which now supports more B2B PAM customers in the U.S. than any other platform provider. The addition of PlayStar further strengthens Strive’s growing portfolio of operators and reinforces its position as a supplier of choice for ambitious brands looking to launch and scale in the North American market.
The post Strive Gaming partners with New Jersey’s award-winning PlayStar Casino appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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