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UK’s NAO – Gambling regulation: problem gambling and protecting vulnerable people

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The UK Gambling Commission and government need to do more to ensure that regulation can protect gamblers effectively, according to a new NAO report.

There are an estimated 1.8 million ‘at risk’ gamblers and 395,000 ‘problem’ gamblers – including 55,000 children, some of whom are as young as 11.1

Gambling addiction can lead to mental health problems, relationship difficulties, large-scale financial loss and, in some cases, crime or suicide.

The NAO’s report looks at regulation of an industry which now yields over £11.3 billion2 for gambling operators every year. The Gambling Commission3, which regulates the industry, has annual funding of £19 million and almost all of it comes from licence fees paid by gambling operators. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) is the government department with overall responsibility for gambling policy and regulation.

The report concludes that while the Commission has improved regulation, there is much more it should do. It has increased enforcement against gambling operators that break rules, for example by revoking licences, and has also strengthened its rule book.4 But it needs to do more to incentivise operators to raise standards and be more systematic and detailed in recording and analysing information about gamblers to plug gaps in its knowledge.

Even if the Commission makes these improvements, it is a small body that is unlikely to be fully effective in regulating a challenging and fast-changing industry within the current system. Gambling regulation does not have features seen in other sectors, such as an ombudsman, and the way it is funded is not flexible meaning the Commission cannot change licence fees to respond to new risks emerging quickly from changes in technology and demand.

The report’s recommendations include that the Commission and DCMS should:

Be more strategic about getting gambling companies to better protect people. This could include incentivising companies to do more to make gambling safer beyond meeting minimum requirements
Ensure gamblers are aware of services to resolve disputes, and review whether these arrangements are working effectively.
Review how regulation is funded so they can keep pace with a fast-changing industry.

“Licensed gambling has grown by 57 per cent – £4.1 billion – over the last decade mainly due to a massive increase in online and smartphone gambling. The risks to gamblers are changing as technologies develop.

“Yet the Gambling Commission is a small regulator in a huge and fast-evolving industry. While the Commission has made improvements, gambling regulation lags behind the industry. The Commission and government need to work together to ensure that regulation keeps pace with the risk to gamblers.” – Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO.

Aurora Armaro Senior Client Success Manager at Yggdrasil

Yggdrasil expands presence in Brazil with three commercial deals

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Yggdrasil has significantly expanded its footprint in Brazil after partnering with three leading operators in the regulated market as it looks to carve a dominant market position in the country.

F12, Blaze, and Novibet customers now have access to more than 400 of Yggdrasil’s proven, high-performing titles, strengthening their casino offerings with premium content that has resonated with players globally and within Latin American. Included in the titles available in Brazil are Buffalo Freedom, MexoMax2, 4 Wolves of Fortune, among others.

The launches rapidly accelerate Yggdrasil’s growth strategy in the country, as it looks to establish itself as a leading supplier in the regulated Brazilian iGaming market. Alongside its award-winning in-house content, Yggdrasil will also deploy games created through its YGG Masters program, as well as its new technology service Game in a BoxTM, an all-in-one slot development platform streamlining the entire game creation process.

This triple rollout marks a major milestone for Yggdrasil in Brazil, coming one year after the country’s iGaming regulation took effect. The market continues to demonstrate strong growth and maturity, and Yggdrasil is now live with more than 14 operators across the country, with additional partnerships planned in the coming months.

Aurora Armaro, Senior Client Success Manager at Yggdrasil, said: “For us at Yggdrasil, adding three major iGaming operators in Brazil of the calibre of F12, Blaze, and Novibet to our network is key to strengthening our presence in the country and bringing our core and YGG Masters portfolio to even more players.

“It also highlights our speed to market, as we’ve scaled rapidly across 14 operators in the market, with parallel deals occurring in Italy recently as we continue to enjoy commercial growth in regulated markets.”

The post Yggdrasil expands presence in Brazil with three commercial deals appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Ashley McCulloch

Evoplay appoints Ashley McCulloch as Vice President North America

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has appointed Ashley McCulloch as Vice President North America, reinforcing its strategic focus on expanding across the US and Canada.

McCulloch brings more than 15 years of experience spanning land-based, VLT and online gaming. She has held senior commercial roles at IGT and Light & Wonder and most recently served as Director of Account Management North America at Inspired Gaming Group, where she was responsible for leading strategic account growth and supporting new market entry initiatives.

Alongside commercial achievements, McCulloch is also a board member for Women in Sports and Events, a member of the Global Gaming Women, and was named in the Emerging Leaders in Gaming 40 Under 40 in 2024, reflecting her leadership within the industry.

At Evoplay, McCulloch will drive partnerships, regulatory licensing, product rollout and wider business development initiatives as the provider accelerates its expansion into the North American market.

Evoplay has already established a strong foothold in the region, going live in Ontario through partnerships with leading operators in the province, including BetMGM and Caesars Entertainment.

In November 2025, Evoplay took a significant first step into the United States by entering the lottery market in Washington DC, creating a bridge into the US online gaming ecosystem.

With McCulloch’s appointment, the company plans to build on this momentum and further expand across regulated US states.

 

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: “North America represents one of the most exciting growth opportunities for Evoplay, and Ashley McCulloch’s appointment is a major step forward in realising our ambitions in the region.

“Her extensive experience across land-based and online gaming, combined with her track record in commercial strategy, makes her the ideal person to lead our efforts as we scale.”

 

Ashley McCulloch, Vice President North America at Evoplay, added: “I’m very excited to be joining the Evoplay team at such a pivotal moment in its growth journey.

“The studio has built a strong reputation for high-quality content, and I look forward to developing partnerships and driving sustainable growth across North America.”

The post Evoplay appoints Ashley McCulloch as Vice President North America appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Codere Online

RubyPlay and Codere Online join forces to elevate gaming offering in Mexico

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Leading Mexican operator leverages provider’s content ecosystem to diversify casino offering

RubyPlay, a studio-based content ecosystem, has strengthened its presence in Mexico through a new partnership with Codere Online, one of the leading digital sports betting and casino operators in the country.

The deal has seen Codere Online integrate a broad selection of RubyPlay’s most popular titles, including player favourites such as J Mania® Loco Habanero, Grand Express Diamond Class, and Zeus Rush Fever® Deluxe SE.

The partnership also includes content incorporated from Koala Games, one of the fast-growing studios within RubyPlay’s ecosystem, including popular hits Voltage Blitz® Rapid and Voltage Blitz® Vortex, while providing Codere Online with access to additional content from across RubyPlay’s wider studio network as further titles are introduced.

This collaboration reinforces RubyPlay’s expansion across the LATAM region, where its content is strongly performing with multiple leading brands. At the core of this growth is RubyPlay’s multi-layered content ecosystem, which is benefitting operators of all sizes with a greater variety of games. The model enhances RubyPlay’s ability to develop tailored, relevant content while leveraging a unified distribution network.

This approach enables faster delivery cycles, greater portfolio diversity, and improved responsiveness to both operator requirements and evolving player preferences.

The NASDAQ-listed operator has established itself as a leader across its core Spanish-speaking markets, including Mexico. Through this latest partnership, RubyPlay’s portfolio will reach an even broader audience in Mexico, the second-largest market in Latin America, supporting Codere Online’s ongoing commitment to delivering a high-quality and engaging online casino experience for players in the region.

Dima Reiderman, CCO at RubyPlay, said: “Partnering with Codere Online represents a significant milestone in our expansion across Mexico and the wider LATAM region. The operator’s strong brand recognition and vast customer base make them an ideal partner to reach even more players within the region.

“Through our studio-based ecosystem, including Koala Games and Mad Hat Games, we can leverage additional market-focused content to support Codere Online’s evolving strategy in Mexico and the wider LATAM region.”

Sarit Adania, Head of Casino Product at Codere Online added: “RubyPlay’s consistently high-performing titles through its impressive content ecosystem will become a significant addition to our online casino offering in Mexico.

“By integrating content from both RubyPlay and Koala Games, we are seamlessly diversifying our games portfolio and continuing to deliver the engaging, premium experiences our players expect.”

The post RubyPlay and Codere Online join forces to elevate gaming offering in Mexico appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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