Press Releases
UK Gambling Commission Approves BetBlocker.org as Prevention Charity
BetBlocker.org is proud to announce that it has been officially recognised by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) as a responsible gambling charity with the primary focus of helping to prevent problem gambling. The charity is now found listed on the UKGC website as one of only six charities recognised by the regulator under the prevention heading.
BetBlocker provides a free app that allows users to restrict their internet capable devices from accessing over 12.4k gambling operator websites (a ‘blocking’ software). The restrictions can last from 24 hours up to 5 years offering flexibility to the user to allow them to best manage their interactions with gambling in a controlled and responsible manner. The app is available on the following platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, Apple Mac, Linux and Fire OS.
BetBlocker.org was registered with the OSCR, Scotland’s charity regulator, in August 2019. Its main purposes, as listed on the OSCR website, are “the prevention or relief of poverty” and “the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage”.
Gambling operators, other organisations, and even the general public can now donate to BetBlocker.org in order to fund its activities. Donations from UKGC licensed gambling operators can also be counted towards the license required RET donations. This is especially significant as the regulator has been sign-posting for some time the possibility that their licensees may soon be required to offer a free license to a blocking software to any self-excluding player. As BetBlocker is currently the only free blocking software, by donating to the charity the generosity shown by the operator can be reciprocated by ensuring that a free blocking software remains available should the regulator choose to make this a license requirement. In this manner donating to BetBlocker may actually save operators money in the long run.
As a charity, BetBlocker.org can only continue operating as long as it is funded by generous contributors. Operators opting to cooperate with the charity are not only supporting the thousands of users that are actively using the tool every day but are insuring themselves against potential future overheads that would come from having to provide commercial licenses to an alternative blocking software to individuals looking to self-exclude.
In the short time since the UKGC charity recognition came through, BetBlocker has already received significant financial contributions from both Greentube (Novomatic) and L&L Europe. These contributions have already allowed for significant upgrades to be made to the service being offered.
About BetBlocker.org:
BetBlocker.org is a charitable organisation established to help relieve the burdens caused by gambling through the prevention of problem gambling. The organisation’s main tool is software that can be downloaded and installed to prevent online devices from gaining access to gambling sites. The software is offered free of charge to both consumers and gambling operators. It is funded through charitable contributions.
AGS
AGS celebrates 10 straight years as a best and brightest company to work for in the nation
For the 10th consecutive year, global gaming supplier AGS announced it has been named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation.
Presented by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR), the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For awards are not pay-to-play. Instead they are based on an independent, research-driven assessment of company practices and employee survey results.
Ten straight years places AGS in rare company by any measure; in gaming, it’s unprecedented.
No other gaming manufacturer has been recognized in the program or been awarded this designation, making this recognition a standout achievement for the team and the industry.
“Ten years of this honor is a testament not to us as a company, but to the remarkable individuals who power everything we do,” said David Lopez, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGS.
“We’ve built something truly special here – a people-first culture of long-term excellence that I’m incredibly proud of and that continues to propel us forward.”
Companies are evaluated across a comprehensive set of criteria that reflect the employee experience.
These include compensation and benefits, engagement and retention, education and development, achievement and recognition, civility and inclusion, leadership, communication, community initiates and corporate responsibility, and overall workplace well-being.
AGS earned high marks for its focus on key areas such as benefits, communications and shared vision, civility and inclusion, and employee enrichment, engagement and retention – surpassing the Best and Brightest benchmark, which reflects the median score of other participating companies.
In 2026, only 19 other companies in the country reached the 10-year mark, and just 46 organizations in total have been recognized for more than 10 years.
“What makes this recognition meaningful is that it’s based on how our employees truly feel,” said Kim Nasuta, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at AGS.
“Ten years in a row speaks to the consistency of our values and how deeply embedded they are in how we hire, support, and grow our people.”
This milestone reflects a decade of AGS’ consistent, employee-first culture – an accomplishment that is difficult to sustain year after year.
Ten years through real change is even harder. In that stretch, AGS doubled its employee count and office footprint, tripled its game studios, and expanded from two countries to ten.
The company looked different almost every year. The culture didn’t.
AGS was also awarded the same honor in the Atlanta market, which reflects the local impact, while the national honor acknowledges AGS’ broader commitment to culture across its U.S. footprint, which includes offices and game studios in Las Vegas, Reno, Scottsdale, Austin, and Oklahoma City.
The Metro Atlanta offices – home to many of the company’s R&D, engineering, and operations teams – continues to be a foundation of the Company’s innovation and culture.
Additionally, AGS supports a vast network of remote sales and field service employees located near customer operations throughout the country – extending the Company’s culture of connection and performance beyond physical offices. AGS also has a strong global presence with teams located in eight countries outside of the U.S.
This latest recognition follows AGS also being named to the 2026 USA TODAY Top Workplaces USA list for a second year in a row, solidifying its position as a standout employer in the gaming industry and beyond.
The post AGS celebrates 10 straight years as a best and brightest company to work for in the nation appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Founder and CEO SCCG Management
SCCG LATAM to Host First International Gaming and iGaming Conference in Venezuela, Caracas, August 12-14, 2026
Three-day conference will convene Venezuela’s gaming regulators, leading operators, banking partners, and international providers for the first time.
“The Venezuela Gaming Expo is a defining moment for Latin American gaming. For the first time, international operators, providers, and investors will have a structured venue to engage directly with the regulators and operators shaping one of the region’s largest underexplored markets.” — Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO, SCCG Management
SCCG Management, a leading advisory firm in the global gaming industry, today announced the inaugural Venezuela Gaming Expo, the first international gaming and iGaming conference to be held in Venezuela. Organized by SCCG LATAM, the three-day conference will take place at the Eurobuilding Hotel & Suites Caracas from August 12 to 14, 2026.
The Expo brings together Venezuela’s gaming regulators, leading domestic operators, banking and payments partners, international providers, and investors for what will be the country’s first dedicated international gaming convening. Pre-registration is open now for operators, suppliers, banking and payments firms, investors, regulators, and media seeking early access to programming and direct introductions to the Venezuelan operating community.
Venezuela is one of Latin America’s largest gaming markets and one of the least understood by international operators. The country has a population of nearly 29 million, high mobile and internet penetration, and a functioning regulated industry. Three license-emitting bodies govern the market: the Comisión Nacional de Casinos, Salas de Bingo y Máquinas Traganíqueles (CNC), the Comisión Nacional de Lotería (CONALOT), and the Superintendencia Nacional de Actividades Hípicas (SUNAHIP). The Instituto Nacional de Hipódromos (INH) operates national horse racing and sports betting infrastructure under SUNAHIP’s regulatory umbrella. Thirty-two licensed online operators are currently active, with the top five generating over USD 150 million in gross gaming revenue annually. SCCG LATAM has published a detailed primer on the Venezuelan gaming market covering the country’s regulatory framework, market dynamics, and banking infrastructure.
In April 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 57, authorizing U.S. financial institutions to provide a broad range of financial services to four named Venezuelan state banks. The licence marks the first time in years that payment infrastructure between U.S. and Venezuelan financial institutions has been on a clear legal footing, lowering one of the most cited structural barriers to international engagement with the Venezuelan gaming sector.
The Expo programme is built around three integrated pillars. A conference programme curated by operators for operators will cover market entry, regulatory navigation, payments and banking infrastructure, and cross-border distribution, with keynote speakers including Venezuelan government officials and industry leaders. A networking layer integrates hosted dinners and curated engagement with the Caracas gaming community. A dedicated business meetings room facilitates private introductions between operators, providers, banking partners, and investors. The format is designed for outcome over spectacle, with approximately 3,000 attendees and 60 exhibitor tables.
The Eurobuilding Hotel & Suites Caracas sits in Chuao, near the city’s financial district, with full conference facilities and on-site accommodations that allow the programme, networking, and business meetings to flow within a single venue.
“The Venezuela Gaming Expo is a defining moment for Latin American gaming,” said Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management. “For the first time, international operators, providers, and investors will have a structured venue to engage directly with the regulators and operators shaping one of the region’s largest underexplored markets. With the recent opening of U.S. banking channels through General License 57, the timing is right to convene the global industry in Caracas and translate market interest into commercial activity. SCCG LATAM is built to deliver that bridge.”
The Expo is part of SCCG LATAM’s broader regional strategy following the launch of its dedicated Latin American division and Miami office earlier this year. SCCG works directly with Venezuela’s three license-emitting bodies and with established Venezuelan operators, positioning international participants for compliant market entry and partnership.
Pre-registration, sponsorship inquiries, and exhibitor inquiries can be submitted at sccgmanagement.com/sccg-articles/2026/05/10/venezuela-gaming-expo-2026-save-the-date. A SCCG LATAM team member will follow up within 48 hours of each submission.
The post SCCG LATAM to Host First International Gaming and iGaming Conference in Venezuela, Caracas, August 12-14, 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
1/ST CONTENT
TPD’s In-Running Odds Increase International Betting Handle on North American Racing Using Live GPS Data
Total Performance Data’s partnerships with Equibase and 1/ST CONTENT are creating new ways to bet on horse racing for leading operators like bet365 and Entain
Total Performance Data (TPD) is powering live, in-running betting on North American horse racing, leveraging GPS data captured by Gmax – the world’s most widely used horse racing GPS tracking system.
TPD’s partnership with Equibase has already led to more than 30 installations of the system across North America. The technology captures live position, speed and biometric horse data at ultra-low latency, updating 10 times per second during a race.
TPD then uses proprietary machine learning models to generate live betting odds throughout each race, creating a new betting experience for customers and new revenue opportunities for the sport.
TPD partners with 1/ST CONTENT, the leading distributor of North American horse racing data, to license this in-running odds product to international operators. Operators using the product have reported increases in betting handle of between 5% and 10%.
TPD and 1/ST CONTENT enjoy direct integrations with leading global bookmakers, enabling the distribution of live odds within fractions of a second. Customers already include bet365, Ladbrokes, Coral, BetVictor, BoyleSports and William Hill.
As well as supplying in-running odds for US and Canadian racing, TPD also powers live odds for racing in the UK, South Africa, Chile, Australia and Germany, with additional territories set to follow.
Operators and their customers can now draw from the following benefits:
- In-running betting from 1/ST CONTENT racecourses, mapping 80% of North American handle
- 2,500 race days per year and rising
- Improved in-running engagement, featuring:
o Accommodating after-the-off “late money”
o Live tradeable prices until the final furlong
o Cashout-integrated functionality in-play (fair-margin, lowest latency)
o Price-smoothing and visual-tracking graphics to enhance the user experience
This breakthrough product was fashioned to disrupt the sportsbook space by delivering reliable live pricing on a popular sport which had previously struggled to keep pace with a broader sports betting marketplace, where over 80% of turnover is generated in-play. Now, however, TPD and 1/ST CONTENT have successfully launched a dependable in-play offering with Tier-1 partners which crystalizes accurate odds for the most solid in-play, fixed-odds pricing around.
The feed fuses the starting price with the best of automated trading via TPD’s advanced in-running analytics, including stride length, stride frequency and sectional timings, enabled by the saddle-cloth GPS tracking. These variables are accordingly harvested in-play by TPD’s machine-learning trading tools whose algorithms train themselves on race pace for precise pricing that delivers a distinct step-change in live fixed-odds betting, powering subsequent upticks in turnover.
John McBroom, Commercial Director at TPD, said: “We’re delighted to be harnessing the power of live GPS tracking data to create new opportunities to bet on North American racing. Our collaboration with Equibase, 1/ST CONTENT and our operator partners is delivering a truly innovative product and creating a new, much-needed growth engine for the sport.”
Simon Fraser, SVP International at 1/ST CONTENT, said: “1/ST CONTENT’s unparalleled racetrack coverage in North America – coupled to our strong heritage in managing content rights, data and odds – means that we were logical partners in a shared vision. Working with TPD’s team of analytical experts has been a responsive collaboration, allowing us to finally deliver a key new revenue-driver for North American racing.”
“Deeper audience engagement is our combined goal. And it’s exciting to see this in-play solution add a welcome new dimension to anyone following racing stateside.”
Kyle McDoniel, President and COO, Equibase, said: “TPD and 1/ST CONTENT are terrific partners. Through our collaborative efforts with Gmax, Equibase now collects GPS data at racetracks representing nearly 80% of North American handle. Thoroughbred racing is a data-driven sport, and the incorporation of this positioning data to power in-running wagering opportunities is another step toward capturing the broader sports betting fan who enjoys action throughout an event, and one of the first of many innovations to come from this rapidly expanding dataset.”
Ben Hutton, Head of International Racing at Entain, said: “This is a timely, automated-product innovation which gives our brands and customers the live service that they’ve been demanding for a long time. All the requisite variables are incorporated and accounted for, ensuring total peace of mind and speed of integration for anyone looking to add this breakthrough feed. At Entain, we’re always looking to provide additional data and exciting markets with which to better engage fans in a sport we love.”
The post TPD’s In-Running Odds Increase International Betting Handle on North American Racing Using Live GPS Data appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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