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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.

Greece

Regency Entertainment launches Regency Casino Online in Greece with SkillOnNet

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RegencyCasino.gr is the operator’s first digital product, built on SkillOnNet’s platform with live casino and Greek-speaking dealers

Regency Entertainment S.A. and SkillOnNet have launched Regency Casino Online in Greece, with the new online casino operating at RegencyCasino.gr.

The launch marks Regency Entertainment’s first move into digital gaming, following its land-based casino operations in Greece, including Regency Casino Mont Parnes in Athens and Regency Casino Thessaloniki.

RegencyCasino.gr is powered by SkillOnNet’s platform and offers online casino content from suppliers including Evolution, NetEnt, Play’n GO, Playtech, Pragmatic Play and Relax Gaming. The partners said the product also includes live casino tables with Greek-speaking dealers.

Regency and SkillOnNet said the platform includes responsible gaming and player protection tools. The companies also said the “RegencyCasino online brand will roll out to more SkillOnNet licensed markets including the UK, Denmark, Spain, Sweden Germany and more in the coming months.”

Yiannis Tsirikos, CEO at Regency Entertainment said: “For nearly three decades, Regency Casino has built its reputation in Greece on trust, quality and a commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment. With the launch of Regency Casino Online, we are proud to bring that same premium experience into the digital space, giving players the opportunity to enjoy a secure, engaging and truly authentic casino environment wherever they are.

“We believe in creating entertainment that is both exciting and responsible, and this new platform reflects our continued ambition to raise the bar while always putting our players first.”

Maor Nutkevitch, SVP Corporate Development at SkillOnNet said: “We are delighted to support Regency Entertainment in bringing its trusted and well-established brand online in Greece. This launch marks an important milestone in our partnership and highlights the strength of our platform in delivering premium, compliant and engaging experiences in regulated markets. Greece is a key region for us, and we look forward to working closely with Regency to deliver a best-in-class online casino offering for players across the country.”

The post Regency Entertainment launches Regency Casino Online in Greece with SkillOnNet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Amplify Suite

White Hat Studios debuts Super Mode with Fanatics Casino

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New promotional tool introduces dynamic in-game prize mechanic to fuel portfolio engagement

White Hat Studios, the ‘House of Brands’ provider to the US iGaming market, has launched its new Super Mode promotional tool with Fanatics Casino. Super Mode is a fully configurable random prize mechanic designed to increase player activity and session duration.

The proprietary solution, which is being integrated with Fanatics Casino in all four of its operational iGaming states, can be activated on any eligible White Hat Studios game, awarding players random prizes such as free spins and cash payouts.

Built for maximum flexibility, Super Mode grants the operator complete control over promotional parameters, including scheduling, duration, and participating titles. This provides Fanatics Casino greater support around new game launches, the ability to reignite activity on legacy content, and the flexibility to curate targeted campaigns aligned with commercial objectives.

The Super Mode launch represents the first phase in the rollout of White Hat Studios’ comprehensive Amplify Suite. The all-in-one operational ecosystem is set to redefine how US iGaming brands engage and retain their audiences.

Amplify Suite will unify the supplier’s extensive offering, including its game families, jackpot content, bespoke products, and gamification solutions, within a single framework, empowering operators to elevate their offerings in a competitive environment.

Daniel Lechner, SVP Sales and Marketing at White Hat Studios, said: “Debuting Super Mode with Fanatics Casino is a landmark moment for White Hat Studios, and an important step in bringing our all-in-one solution, Amplify Suite, to operators across regulated US iGaming markets.

“Fanatics Casino is an ideal launch partner. It is a leading brand in multiple states with a clear focus on engagement, and the addition of Super Mode to its gamification portfolio provides the operator with a powerful new way to create standout moments for players.”

Kieron Shaw, Sr. Manager Casino Content at Fanatics Casino, added: “Super Mode allows us to add a new layer of excitement to White Hat Studios’ already popular titles. With customisable graphics and full control over promotions and player segmentation, it will enable us to deliver more engaging campaigns that prioritise the user experience.”

The post White Hat Studios debuts Super Mode with Fanatics Casino appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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2026 FIFA World Cup

Canada’s Provincial Betting Divide Will Be Exposed During the 2026 World Cup, New Analysis Finds

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Canada’s fragmented provincial gambling system will face its biggest stress test during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to new research published by CasinoCanada.com, which finds stark disparities in how players across the country will be able to engage with the tournament.

The analysis draws on provincial regulatory reporting, iGaming Ontario’s annual figures and data from Blask’s 2025 iGaming Landscape Report to examine whether Canada’s betting infrastructure is ready for a tournament it is co-hosting.

The research highlights a sharp divide between Ontario and the rest of Canada. Ontario’s open, competitive market – home to nearly 50 licensed operators – has achieved a channelisation rate of 83.7%, meaning more than four in five Ontario bettors are choosing regulated platforms over unregulated alternatives.

Outside the province, the picture is notably different, with Saskatchewan carrying an estimated offshore leakage rate of 93%, Alberta and Manitoba sitting at 88%, and British Columbia – where a provincial platform has operated for years – retaining only around 49% of its online market.

CasinoCanada’s report also identifies a significant timing problem with Alberta’s competitive market. The AGLC’s registration deadline for operators falls on 13 July 2026, after the World Cup reaches the quarter-final stage. With Alberta’s significant offshore leakage rate, the analysis warns the province is likely to see record betting volumes flow through unregulated channels during the peak of the tournament.

Canada’s co-hosting status is expected to amplify betting appetite considerably. Data from the 2022 FIFA World Cup showed that 99% of bets placed on BCLC’s PlayNow platform backed Canada to advance from the group stage. With Canada co-hosting in 2026 and playing all three group-stage games on home soil, that appetite is expected to be significantly higher – arriving into a regulatory infrastructure that, outside Ontario, is not built to absorb it.

Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR for CasinoCanada, said: “The 2026 World Cup is not just a commercial opportunity for the Canadian market – it’s a live stress test for how the country regulates gambling. Ontario has built something that works, and the numbers show it. However, for most Canadians outside that market, the tournament is going to arrive at a system that was never designed for this level of demand.

“The offshore leakage figures are not abstract. They represent real bettors choosing unregulated platforms because the regulated alternative isn’t competitive enough. The World Cup will make that gap very visible, very quickly.”

The post Canada’s Provincial Betting Divide Will Be Exposed During the 2026 World Cup, New Analysis Finds appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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