Press Releases

UK Gambling Commission guidance in light of COVID-19 outbreak

Published

6 years ago

March 20, 2020

As the situation with COVID-19 continues to impact daily life in Great Britain, like many of you, the Commission is following Public Health England guidance and we have told all staff to work from home until further notice.

We recognise these unprecedented circumstances will be having a significant impact on businesses and many will be facing uncertain and unsettling times. The Commission has a well-practised and comprehensive Business Continuity Plan, which we have invoked with the intention of minimising the impact on our regulatory work and the advice and services we provide.

A number of operators have already contacted us to alert us to the challenges they face and seek our advice about how to respond. We realise that the unprecedented changes to daily life, and in some cases, financial uncertainty, will create challenges for your business. The changes will also increase the risks to some individuals, which means that despite the fact that these are challenging times we must all continue to protect consumers.

Here you can find information about how the Commission will be operating during this time, along with important reminders about how you should continue to protect consumers.

COVID -19 – A reminder to operators

First and foremost, we expect all our licensees to follow the applicable Public Health guidance. Where facilities for gambling are being offered we expect all our licensees to ensure that they have sufficient management, staffing and oversight in place to maintain compliance with the LCCP that apply to their licences.

Fees and applications

Our expectation remains that licensees ensure the maintenance of sufficient management, staffing and oversight in order to uphold the licensing objectives. Licensees should assess their ability to maintain compliance with the LCCP and consider voluntary partial or full suspension of their offerings should compliance not be achievable and until such time that a fully compliant service can be offered.

Unfortunately, due to the way that our fee system is structured we don’t have the ability to reduce fees.

We are also unable to fast track applications. We will continue to monitor the situation and will communicate any changes to our expectations accordingly.

A reminder specifically for online operators

The social distancing measures that are being put in place will mean that more people will be at home and we would like to remind online operators that they must continue to act responsibly, especially in regards to individual customer affordability and increased social responsibility interactions.

As a reminder, we expect licensees to:

Assess individual affordability on an ongoing basis – customers may be experiencing disrupted income. (Social Responsibility code 3.4 refers to our guidance – ‘Customer interaction- formal guidance for remote gambling operators’ )
Increase social responsibility interactions and intervene where customers are showing signs of gambling related harm
Onboard new customers in a socially responsible way and not exploit the current situation for marketing purposes
Refresh the information they have on customers regularly
Review the levels which trigger interaction for AML and SR
Ensure that your gambling products have been tested by a test house before they are released to the market.

Source: UKGC

Related Topics:COVID-19 UK Gambling Commission UKGC

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Defy the Odds partners with BettingStartups to support gaming startups

Published

1 hour ago

April 21, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

defy-the-odds-partners-with-bettingstartups-to-support-gaming-startups

Defy the Odds (DTO) and BettingStartups have announced a strategic partnership aimed at supporting early-stage companies across iGaming and sports betting, with initial joint activity planned around SBC Summit Americas (June 9–11) in Fort Lauderdale.

DTO, which describes itself as a startup launchpad advising early-stage founders in iGaming, sports betting, sportstech and fintech, will work with BettingStartups, which focuses on the early-stage real money gaming ecosystem, to connect startups with investors, operators and established suppliers.

The organisations said the partnership will focus on improving access to three areas they view as critical for founders: community, collaboration and capital. The companies positioned the effort as a way to increase visibility for emerging businesses, support investor-readiness, and expand introductions between startups and industry stakeholders.

Kelly Kehn, Co-Founder of Defy the Odds said of the partnership, “Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens when founders connect, share ideas and push each other forward. That’s what community does. This partnership with BettingStartups is about bringing more startups together and making sure the wider industry pays attention to what they’re building. Because the future of our industry is being shaped by these founders.”

Jesse Learmonth, founder of BettingStartups, adds “We’ve always been about providing high-signal infrastructure for founders to scale. This partnership with DTO doubles down on that mission, linking our audience with a community that actually opens doors. Starting with the Startup Zone at SBC Americas, we’re giving founders a direct, affordable line to the operators and investors who define this industry.”

The post Defy the Odds partners with BettingStartups to support gaming startups appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Adam Prock

Scientific Games wins seven-year Minnesota Lottery systems modernization deal

Published

3 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

scientific-games-wins-seven-year-minnesota-lottery-systems-modernization-deal

Momentum cloud platform to replace legacy tech across retail and digital channels, with an option to extend up to three more years.

Scientific Games has secured a new seven-year contract to modernize the Minnesota Lottery’s technology stack, replacing the lottery’s legacy system across its retail and digital networks. The agreement includes an option to renew for up to three additional years.

Under the deal, Scientific Games will deploy its cloud-based Momentum ecosystem, which the company says is designed to support omnichannel sales and performance. The rollout will include a systems conversion and new technology across the Minnesota Lottery’s retailer network.

“We took an innovative approach to selecting technology that would pave the way to the future and responsibly grow our contributions to programs that positively impact the lives of Minnesotans,” said Adam Prock, Executive Director, Minnesota Lottery. “We were seeking modern technology and a solution focused on service and partnership. Scientific Games was aligned with our vision for growth.”

Scientific Games said Momentum is anchored by its central gaming system, SciTrak Scratch games distribution system, gem | Intelligence retailer licensing and management portal, and INFUSE business intelligence platform. The Minnesota rollout also includes SCiQ digital menu boards, WAVE clerk-operated terminals and PlayCentral self-service machines, plus a second-chance digital promotions solution supported by the company’s CRM program.

Scientific Games said its systems technology has been selected by four North American lotteries in the past 18 months: Minnesota Lottery, Ohio Lottery, New Mexico Lottery and Loto-Québec. The Minnesota Lottery said it has generated more than $4 billion for state programs since 1990, including the environment, education, public safety and health and human services, and problem gambling.

The post Scientific Games wins seven-year Minnesota Lottery systems modernization deal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Adam Prock

Scientific Games Technology to Power the Minnesota Lottery’s Omnichannel Sales

Published

3 hours ago

April 21, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

scientific-games-technology-to-power-the-minnesota-lottery’s-omnichannel-sales

Company’s Innovative Tech Solution Selected Based on Partnership and Growth

Scientific Games and the Minnesota Lottery are partnering on a major tech modernization initiative through a new seven-year contract focused on growth. The global lottery company’s new technologies will replace the Minnesota Lottery’s legacy system, delivering industry-leading performance and security to its retail and digital networks. The new technology contract may be renewed for up to three additional years.

Scientific Games will power the Minnesota Lottery with a flexible, cloud-based solution through its Momentum ecosystem—an integrated framework of technologies, applications and services designed to work together to optimize sales performance and drive growth.

“We took an innovative approach to selecting technology that would pave the way to the future and responsibly grow our contributions to programs that positively impact the lives of Minnesotans,” said Adam Prock, Executive Director, Minnesota Lottery. “We were seeking modern technology and a solution focused on service and partnership. Scientific Games was aligned with our vision for growth.”

Scientific Games has become the fastest growing lottery systems provider in the world, with the company’s technology selected by four North American lotteries in the past 18 months, including the Minnesota Lottery, Ohio Lottery, New Mexico Lottery and Loto-Québec. Globally, over the last decade, the company has completed 50+ lottery system implementations and conversions, most recently for the New Mexico Lottery, North Dakota Lottery, Lotto New Zealand and The National Lottery in the UK.

“Scientific Games looks forward to serving the Minnesota Lottery with the highest standards of excellence and all the flexibility a cloud-based ecosystem has to offer,” said John Schulz, President of Americas & Global Instant Products for Scientific Games. “A systems conversion requires a strong partnership and months of cooperation and collaboration. We will work closely with the Minnesota Lottery’s team to deliver another successful go-live, moving the Lottery into a sustainable future.”

The company’s Momentum ecosystem is anchored by its central gaming system, patented SciTrak Scratch games distribution system, gem | Intelligence retailer licensing and management portal and INFUSE business intelligence platform. Scientific Games’ SCiQ digital menu boards, WAVE clerk-operated terminals and PlayCentral self-service machines—which can open new distribution channels—will be installed across the Minnesota Lottery’s retailer network. Additionally, a second-chance digital promotions solution supported by the company’s award-winning CRM program will be included.

Since 1990, the Minnesota Lottery has generated more than $4 billion for state programs, including the environment, education, public safety and health and human services, and problem gambling.

Serving 150 lotteries in 50 countries, Scientific Games is the world’s largest lottery games company, fastest growing lottery systems provider and a leading provider of digital lottery solutions. The company is one of the first lottery companies globally certified by the World Lottery Association as a Responsible Gaming Supplier.