Press Releases
UK’s NAO – Gambling regulation: problem gambling and protecting vulnerable people
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.
Asia
PG Soft sponsors Manila’s Waterbomb 2025
PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, is thrilled to sponsor the highly anticipated Waterbomb World Tour 2025 in Manila, taking place on February 22-23, 2025, at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park Luneta.
Known as the “best summer experience,” Waterbomb promises an unforgettable blend of dazzling K-POP performances, vibrant HIP-HOP acts, and explosive sets by Korean DJs, delivering a sensory spectacle like no other.
As part of the sponsorship agreement, PG Soft will gain significant brand exposure, with its logo featured on the Waterbomb Official Poster and Official Homepage ahead of the event. On-site, the brand will be prominently promoted across the venue, including a special Main Artist visit to the VVIP Booth and the hosting of VVIP Tables to elevate attendee experiences.
PG Soft’s spokesperson commented: “PG Soft is excited to be part of this iconic event, blending the worlds of cutting-edge gaming and electrifying live entertainment.”
The post PG Soft sponsors Manila’s Waterbomb 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
NOVOVISION™ casino management solution celebrates fantastic ICE in Barcelona
The year started excellent for the NOVOMATIC systems unit: After successful recent installations with renowned customers in Portugal and the UK, the NOVOVISION™ casino management system celebrated its “best ICE ever” at the new show venue in Barcelona. Perfectly integrated in the comprehensive NOVOMATIC product portfolio, but also as a standalone solution, NOVOVISION™ has become a CMS force to be reckoned with.
Visitor interest was accordingly high at the NOVOVISION™ sector of the NOVOMATIC stand as international operators took a deep dive into the manifold functionalities that combine casino management, efficiency optimization and player satisfaction in one powerful and yet highly scalable CMS solution. The system was presented at ICE in two distinct set-ups, showcasing the different functionalities and choices for club operations and for casino venues. A biometrically supported NOVOVISION™ access installation with elegant flap gates served as a divider between the two demo-venues.
Especially the casino side focused on a high-traffic architecture with options for TITO, Cashless or biometrically supported wallet solutions, highlighting detailed player tracking and attractive loyalty functionalities across a player journey that is highly individualized, appreciative and fully compliant with Responsible Gaming protocols.
A highlight in both demo set-ups was the triple version of a highly accessible new self-service station demonstrating its uses as a loyalty kiosk, as a promotional service point and as a Self-Registration Terminal (SRT), that turns customer registration into an intuitive, fast and secure self-service. The new NOVOVISION™ SRT uses 32” Full HD screen with PCAP touch that serves as an intuitive customer interface with customized language selection and clear menu navigation. It can be equipped with a customized registration set-up according to the individual operator preferences and prevailing regulatory requirements, fully satisfying detailed player tracking or anonymous play environments with a variety of optional components such as OCR document scanner, ID card reader, camera, QR code printer and more.
Another popular product premiere was the NOVOVISION™ panorama picture-in-picture feature that transfers the PTM player interface to the bottom game screen to enhance the usability, along with any other streaming content inserts. But also, the sophisticated NOVOVISION™ tournament solution as well as the latest functionalities for in-depth BI, jackpot management and powerful loyalty features drew large crowds.
Jens Einhaus, Head of Sales and Marketing NBS, says: “I am not exaggerating, when I say that this was the best ICE ever for us. Many factors have added to that. Apart from the excellent new location in Barcelona, the superb venue and well-planned show layout according to industry sectors as well as the new stand, it is definitely our product that is now attracting a lot of attention. And the reason is quite simple: it is an excellent solution for today’s and tomorrow’s CMS requirements. While many legacy casino management systems are approaching end-of-life and lack support for modern loyalty and jackpot programs, NOVOVISION™ has been developed from the ground up, by operators for operators. As a visionary state-of-the-art CMS platform, it is the sustainable and future-proof choice for operators who now need to assess whether their current CMS can comply with the increasingly complex gambling regulations. And, NOVOVISION™ has been designed as a solution.”
The post NOVOVISION™ casino management solution celebrates fantastic ICE in Barcelona appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Angelina Stasiuk Head of Business Line at SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator
SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator Certified in Brazil
SOFTSWISS, a leading iGaming software provider, announced that its Jackpot Aggregator, a comprehensive player engagement solution, has successfully obtained certification for the Brazilian market.
Following its flagship product, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, which was the first to be certified in Brazil, SOFTSWISS has now received approval for its engagement tool, the Jackpot Aggregator, meeting all technical and legal requirements set by Brazilian authorities. Both products – the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator and the SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator – can be used independently or together, significantly enhancing casino KPIs.
With iGaming regulations effective 1 January 2025, companies planning to operate in the country must obtain the certification. The regulation enforces responsible gambling standards, aligning with principles already adopted in many regulated markets.
For operators legally operating in the Brazilian market, the key priority is to engage with players responsibly while delivering a captivating gaming experience using approved, secure, and effective tools.
The SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator provides various flexible jackpot mechanics tailored to enhance user engagement across different player segments. Among its standout features are multi-level prizes, prize drops, branded jackpots, and others.
To maintain this high level of performance, SOFTSWISS strengthened its commitment to the Brazilian market by appointing Rubens Barrichello, the legendary Brazilian Formula 1 driver, as a Non-Executive Director. Additionally, to ensure seamless operations and swift response to ongoing needs, SOFTSWISS has established a dedicated team of local business development managers in Brazil.
Angelina Stasiuk, Head of Business Line at SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator, commented: “We are thrilled to bring the Jackpot Aggregator to the Brazilian market. Brazil is a massive and rapidly growing market, and we already have potential certified clients there who are actively seeking innovative engagement tools. The Jackpot Aggregator is the perfect solution to meet these demands, providing operators with powerful tools to enhance player retention and engagement.”
The Jackpot Aggregator can be seamlessly launched with the Game Aggregator. The SOFTSWISS team will be available to discuss partnerships in Brazil and other markets at the SBC Summit Rio on 25 to 27 February
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds several gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator Certified in Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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