Press Releases

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

Published

6 years ago

March 3, 2020

Photo Source: wikimedia.org

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.

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Pascal Gaming signs Ronaldinho for football-themed crash and slot titles

Published

7 minutes ago

May 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

pascal-gaming-signs-ronaldinho-for-football-themed-crash-and-slot-titles

First release is Avinho R10, followed by June launch Fortune Ronaldinho as the studio lines up more titles ahead of the World Cup season.

Pascal Gaming has partnered with Brazilian football player Ronaldinho to launch a dedicated portfolio of games inspired by the athlete, the company said on 26 May, 2026.

The planned pipeline includes crash games, slots and additional titles set to roll out through the year. Pascal Gaming said the initiative is aimed at both Brazil and international markets, and will be supported by tournaments, promotional activity and special events tied to the Ronaldinho-branded portfolio.

The first game confirmed is Avinho R10, described as a crash-style title featuring Ronaldinho “above Brazil” in an aviation-themed experience. A second game, Fortune Ronaldinho, is scheduled for release in June and is positioned as a slot-inspired title.

“Ronaldinho is one of the most recognisable and loved football personalities in the world, so for us this collaboration is much more than a game launch. It is a global entertainment project that combines football culture, emotionally engaging gameplay and strong promotional activities ahead of the World Cup,” said Armen Mnaskanian, Head of Sales at SoftConstruct Gaming Content.

Pascal Gaming said it has been expanding its crash game portfolio during 2026 and investing in localised, character-driven content across Latin America, Africa and Asia. The company added that more Ronaldinho-themed titles and marketing campaigns will be revealed in the coming months.

The post Pascal Gaming signs Ronaldinho for football-themed crash and slot titles appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Belgium

PokerStars Open Namur returns May 27 with €1m guaranteed Main Event

Published

7 minutes ago

May 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

pokerstars-open-namur-returns-may-27-with-e1m-guaranteed-main-event

Belgium stop at Circus Casino Resort Namur runs May 27–June 7 and adds PokerStars Live League points toward a €157,500 credit pool.

PokerStars will bring PokerStars Open Namur back to Circus Casino Resort Namur from May 27 to June 7, with the festival returning one day after the operator’s May 26 announcement.

The stop follows a 2025 edition PokerStars said was record-breaking for Belgium, including 1,571 entries in the Main Event and what it called the largest live tournament prize pool in Belgian poker history.

This year’s schedule is headlined by the €1,100 PokerStars Open Main Event, which carries a €1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. Other listed highlights include the €400 PokerStars Open Cup (May 27-31), €3,300 Super High Roller (June 1-2), €2,200 High Roller (June 5-6), and €800 Mystery Bounty (June 6-7).

“Last year’s turnout reinforced Namur’s place as one of the most exciting live poker stops in Europe,” said Cedric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events Operations at PokerStars. “What makes the event special isn’t just the size of the fields, it’s the atmosphere around the entire festival.”

PokerStars also positioned Namur as a scoring stop in the PokerStars Live League, which awards points across High, Medium and Low leaderboard tiers. PokerStars said players are competing for a share of €157,500 in PokerStars LIVE event credit, with the top 30 players in each tier qualifying for a €100,000 freeroll at the first European Poker Tour festival of 2027.

The post PokerStars Open Namur returns May 27 with €1m guaranteed Main Event appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BETER

BETER to make US exhibition debut at SBC Summit Americas 2026

Published

9 hours ago

May 26, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

beter-to-make-us-exhibition-debut-at-sbc-summit-americas-2026

BETER, one of the award-winning providers of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports betting content, will exhibit at SBC Summit Americas for the first time.

The company will be attending at Stand 813, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion across the United States.

SBC Summit Americas 2026 takes place from June 9–11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bringing together more than 10,000 industry professionals and over 400 exhibitors.

BETER will be welcoming delegates interested in enhancing their sportsbook offerings with fast-paced content and cutting-edge solutions at Stand 813.

Since entering the regulated US market in 2025, BETER has secured regulatory approvals and licenses in nine states, including Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina, Illinois, and Kentucky.

BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide, offering up to 50 markets per event and an average operator margin of 7.5%+.

Its esports portfolio includes the ESportsBattle product featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis. Its sports portfolio features the Setka Cup table tennis content and the BSKT Cup basketball league.

In addition, BETER provides its Esports Odds Feed, offering market-leading odds with the highest uptime across 450+ tournaments globally, covering more than 40,000 pre-match and live events annually, all powered by a team of in-house expert traders.

All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, and sports federations.

The company’s rapid impact across the US market, alongside the strong performance of its products and the quality of its data, has earned it two nominations at the prestigious SBC Awards Americas 2026 – Rising Star in Sports Betting and Live Gaming & Betting Product.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “We have made significant progress in establishing BETER as a trusted provider in the United States over the past 12 months.

Our participation in this exhibition marks an important milestone as we make our official debut in the region, showcasing the strength and scalability of products that are already proven globally.

“We are excited to present our full product suite to a US audience for the first time and warmly invite all attendees to visit us at Stand 813 to meet the team and explore partnership opportunities.”

Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, added: “Our presence at SBC Summit Americas reflects the strong momentum behind our content and solutions, as well as the growing demand from operators for high-performance esports and sports betting products.

“As we expand further across regulated US markets, we see significant opportunities to deepen partnerships and drive innovation in fast-betting experiences. We look forward to connecting with both existing partners and new ones at our stand.”

“Book a meeting with BETER team”, says the company.

The post BETER to make US exhibition debut at SBC Summit Americas 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.