Press Releases
Employees facing increased financial stress in week before payday
fastPAYE finds that almost 78% of UK workers are living payday to payday; anxiety likely to affect staff performance in the gaming sector
Almost half of UK workers who get paid monthly experience heightened money-related worries in the run up to payday, according to research by fastPAYE, the flexible wage application for the modern workforce.
Of those surveyed by the company, which launched a revolutionary wage management system last month that enables betting and casino businesses to pay staff wages on demand, 46% said that their financial concerns increased in the week before receiving their monthly wage packet.
This stress can lead to reliance on high interest credit options to tide workers over, with most people turning to credit cards to see them through the prolonged pay period. More than half of respondents admitted to using one often and at least 20% of those turn to plastic every month.
Overdrafts also provide a fallback with 40% going into the red as payday approaches, while a fifth of employees which took part in the research resort to costly payday loans that can have significant financial consequences.
Credit acquired is most spent on groceries according to the survey, shortly followed by bills, leisure activities and house repairs as workers living payday to payday struggle to cover unexpected costs when they arise.
Backed by sister company ShopWorks, a staff management system provider to some of the biggest gaming and betting brands including Betfred, PaddyPower, Gauselmann, Novomatic, Mecca and Grosvenor, fastPAYE’s research emphasises the impact of the four to five-week pay gap can have on employee financial wellbeing.
Commenting on the findings, Ian Hogg, chairman of fastPAYE, said: “The number of people going through financial anxiety because of the outdated monthly wage system often relied on by the gaming sector is concerning, especially considering that with new technology this stress can be lessened.
“Whether you’re a casino and betting company or a large retailer, if a staff member has money-related worries it is likely to affect their performance in the workplace. But by giving employees early access to a proportion of their earned wages, businesses can give workers greater control over their finances and in turn help to harness a happier workforce.”
fastPAYE launched in January this year to provide a cost-efficient, flexible alternative to the outdated monthly wage system. The application enables businesses to offer salary drawdowns based on completed shifts before payday, and since the fastPAYE model isn’t a loan, it charges no interest.
The company has a strong heritage in the gaming sector through ShopWorks, which has years of experience working in the industry, together with the technical expertise and understanding to address operators’ staff recruitment and retention challenges.
Benedict McDonagh Director of In-House Studios at Entain
Steampunk Treasures emerges as biggest hit of 2025 for Entain’s flagship in-house studio
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Entain is celebrating the runaway success of Steampunk Treasures, the latest release from its flagship in-house studio, CR Games, which has instantly become the studio’s top-performing game of the year.
Entain has two in-house studios – CR Games and Vertical Games – which develop unique and exclusive games for players. Steampunk Treasures has joined the ranks of other successful in-house launches including Big Banker X, Lock O’ The Irish, and Rich Sharky, and by player numbers alone, the game is Entain’s fifth most successful launch of the year in the UK so far.
The game has also seen outstanding performance across key brands, including Sportingbet, Betboo Brazil, and bwin.com, where stakes were 145% higher than average during its first week. UK brands also saw strong results, with Coral (+69%), Ladbrokes (+34%), and Foxy (+20%) all reporting positive above-average engagement.
The game’s visual style builds on the classic fishing theme, widely regarded as the most popular in the UK. It draws inspiration from the intricate world of steampunk, combining brass, gears, and adventure with modern slot Cash Collect mechanics.
“Steampunk Treasures is a fantastic example of what our in-house studios can achieve,” said Craig Turner, Head of Studio at Entain. “The game’s unique aesthetic and engaging Cash Collect mechanic have resonated with players across markets, and its early success reinforces our commitment to delivering exclusive, high-quality content to our customers around the world.”
“Our studios are central to Entain’s ability to create content that truly connects with our customers,” said Benedict McDonagh, Director of In-House Studios at Entain. “By combining creative innovation with deep market insight, we’re able to deliver exclusive games that consistently outperform expectations, and Steampunk Treasures is a brilliant example of that success.”
The post Steampunk Treasures emerges as biggest hit of 2025 for Entain’s flagship in-house studio appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bet It Drives
Champions Don’t Park: Bet It Drives Podcast by GR8 Tech Returns with Rasmus Sojmark as the First Guest
Reading Time: 2 minutes
iGaming’s favorite moving talk show is back, and it’s shifting into high gear. Season 2 of Bet It Drives, powered by GR8 Tech, swaps London’s skyline for Lisbon’s sunlit streets, bringing a faster, sharper, and more vibrant on-the-move format to Portugal’s capital.
“London taught us how to swap a studio for the street and unlock honesty in motion. Now Lisbon turns up the volume, and the conversations keep pace. Season Two of Bet It Drives continues to capture what GR8 Tech stands for—performance, innovation, and the relentless drive to be better. Every guest brings a new perspective that keeps the industry—and us—moving forward,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech and Bet It Drives host.
The season opens with Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC and Sport Global Group. Rasmus has been in betting and gaming for 20 years and is regarded as one of the sector’s leading networkers and business facilitators. He grew SBC from London meetups into a global conference portfolio (SBC Summit Global/Americas/Rio/Malta) and the SBC Awards, while building a B2B media network publishing 100+ stories daily (SBC News, CasinoBeats, SlotBeats, SBC Americas, SBC Noticias, Lottery Daily, Payment Expert).
During the ride, Rasmus opens up about:
- How the Legends charity match came together alongside SBC Summit Lisbon, assembling Portugal icons Figo, Pepe, Deco, and Nani, and targeting €1M for charities
- Why he moved from EveryMatrix to SBC
- How iGaming awards are decided—from thousands of entries to shortlists, with 8–10 independent judges and the politics that follow
- The song that is SBC and the music that uplifts
- The wildest recent headline he published
- “Network or no-work”: paid headlines, new award categories, and what gets a “maybe” vs. a hard “no”
- A candid confession on perfectionism, avoiding the limelight unless prepared, and leadership shaped by his military service
- His champion rule: “Never give up. Be relentless. Be consistent in your goals.”
Watch or listen to Season 2 Episode 1 on:
The momentum continues with upcoming episodes featuring Tiago Pereira, Kyrylo Korobka, and Kelly Kehn. Each brings a unique perspective from the intersection of gaming, innovation, and leadership.
The next chapter of iGaming is written by champions who play by the Rulebook, so meet GR8 Tech at booth 5028-2 at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome, November 3–6. Discover how the Heavyweight Rulebook can help operators scale, localize, and dominate with confidence.
The post Champions Don’t Park: Bet It Drives Podcast by GR8 Tech Returns with Rasmus Sojmark as the First Guest appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
The post Player protection focus for ITL at London’s Autumn Coin-op Show (ACOS) appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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