Press Releases

Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling publishes literature review

Published

6 years ago

June 3, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

An academic literature review has revealed a dearth of knowledge worldwide about the links between crime and problem gambling – so the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling is to embark on a new research programme.

The Commission, set up by the Howard League for Penal Reform, began looking into the issue last year and carried out a literature review, which was published on Monday, 1st of June. The review found that, while millions of people are affected by gambling either directly or indirectly, there appear to be fewer than 50 peer-reviewed papers in the last 25 years that address the links between problem gambling and crime specifically.

In response, the Commission intends to conduct its own research, in three strands: the first project will look at the prevalence of gambling-related crime; the second will consider the lived experience of people caught up in the system; and the third will explore sentencers’ awareness of the issue.

Chaired by Lord Goldsmith QC, the Commission seeks to establish what the links between problem gambling and crime are; what impact they have on communities and wider society; and what steps could be taken to reduce crime and make people safer.

Lord Goldsmith QC, Chair of the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling, said: “Concern about harmful gambling activity has been growing for some time, but this is the first commission to focus specifically on the relationship between problem gambling and crime.

“From people getting into debt and defrauding family members or employers, to domestic violence and other crimes relating to gambling-related stress, we know anecdotally that police stations, courts and prisons see significant numbers of cases – but only a handful of academic studies have looked at this across the globe.

“The criminal justice system itself does very little work to capture the scale of the challenge and even less in terms of offering interventions like those we see for alcohol or drug problems. This has to change and our Commission can play a key role in improving the response to disordered gambling and crime.”

The literature review covers jurisdictions including Australasia, the US, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia and the UK. It reveals that, while the overall quantity of research is not huge, there is a consistency in findings across all jurisdictions.

Researchers have found high prevalence rates of people committing crimes to fund their gambling. A wide variety of crimes are committed as a result of gambling addiction; not just ‘white collar’ crimes such as theft and fraud, but also offences that occur in public spaces such as street robbery. There is significant evidence of domestic abuse and child neglect linked to problem and pathological gambling.

Studies have indicated that the more complex, prolonged and persistent a gambling problem is, the more likely it is that a crime will be committed and, indeed, that many crimes may result.

Although there has been a growing understanding that gambling addiction is a behavioural disorder, little of this has been translated to sentencing; problem gambling is not considered to be a mitigating factor in sentencing in the way mental health problems or drug and alcohol addiction are.

Research suggests that, in spite of extremely high rates of gambling addiction among prisoners, prisons offer only limited treatment. There is evidence of resistance to undertaking treatment among prisoners.

Several of the studies reviewed agreed that a custodial sentence, especially when no treatment is available for gambling addiction, was not a cost-effective way of avoiding further harm to the individual or society once the sentence is completed.

A small number of specialised gambling courts have been established in the US, with the aim of ensuring that people with gambling addictions who are in trouble with the law receive appropriate treatment. There is limited data on the success or otherwise of these initiatives.

Research is needed into the potential effect of gambling addiction treatment on the rate of recidivism, as well as more general research on how best to help vulnerable populations avoid the criminal justice system.

The literature review was written by Sarah Ramanauskas, Senior Partner at Gambling Integrity, who sits on the Commission.

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Conferences

BetConstruct AI to Redefine the Brazilian iGaming Landscape at SBC Summit Rio 2026

Published

8 hours ago

February 26, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

betconstruct-ai-to-redefine-the-brazilian-igaming-landscape-at-sbc-summit-rio-2026

BetConstruct AI is excited to announce its participation in the SBC Summit Rio 2026, held from March 4-5 at the Riocentro in Rio de Janeiro.

As Brazil navigates its second year of full regulation, BetConstruct AI arrives at this pivotal market juncture to showcase a vision of technological empowerment and strategic autonomy.

At Stand A230, visitors will encounter a comprehensive suite of AI-driven solutions designed to meet the high standards of the Brazilian audience. The showcase features the industry-leading Sportsbook and Casino Platforms, engineered to scale rapidly while maintaining the highest levels of performance.

Beyond the core platforms, BetConstruct AI provides the essential architecture for a dominant online brand. This includes CMS Pro, a specialized content management solution that empowers operators to manage their entire business from one centralized hub, and SpringBuilder X, our mobile-first, SEO-driven drag-and-drop website builder that eliminates the need for technical skills. Taking customization a step further, BetChain AI offers a revolutionary way to build and shape iGaming websites faster and smarter, giving partners full creative control. These foundational tools are designed to work in perfect harmony with our deeper intelligence layer, creating a seamless bridge between a stunning user interface and sophisticated back-end automation.

The core of the exhibition is the BetConstruct AI Suite, a sophisticated collection of tools built to automate and optimize the operator’s journey. This includes:

CRM AI: Delivering deep behavioral insights to enhance player retention.
Umbrella AI: Providing real-time risk management and automated player protection.
AI Game Recommendation System: Ensuring personalized content delivery to maximize engagement.
Betting Mate: An intuitive AI companion that elevates the player experience with real-time stats and insights.

Reflecting its commitment to the Brazilian market’s long-term success, BetConstruct AI will highlight its exclusive “The Choice to Grow” program. This performance-based initiative is designed to reward partners who achieve a 16.67% increase in GGR per quarter. By meeting these targets across a diverse product range – including Sportsbook, Virtual Sports, and partner brands like PopOK Gaming and CreedRoomz- operators can unlock a 51% invoice discount every third month, alongside exclusive service benefits and tournament access.

BetConstruct AI invites all industry stakeholders, operators, and media representatives to visit Stand A230 at Riocentro. The team will be available throughout the summit to demonstrate how a connected, AI-driven environment allows partners to choose the path of innovation, efficiency, and market leadership in the Brazilian Market.

The post BetConstruct AI to Redefine the Brazilian iGaming Landscape at SBC Summit Rio 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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CoinsPaid CEO Max Krupyshev on Bet It Drives: Crypto Secrets and Why “Zero Risk” Is the Fastest Way to Lose a Deal

Published

8 hours ago

February 26, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

coinspaid-ceo-max-krupyshev-on-bet-it-drives:-crypto-secrets-and-why-“zero-risk”-is-the-fastest-way-to-lose-a-deal

Max Krupyshev has been in crypto since 2013—long before it was “the usual.”

In the Bet It Drives podcast Season 4, Episode 3, the CoinsPaid and CryptoProcessing.com CEO joins host Yevhen Krazhan in Barcelona to explain why trust and controls decide who scales.

“Crypto was never anonymous—that was a misconception,” Max Krupyshev says in the podcast.

From there, he breaks down how the industry matured, why mass adoption is inevitable, and why the biggest risks today aren’t what most people think they are.

During the ride, Max digs into:

Is crypto still associated with money laundering?
Can crypto transactions still be completely anonymous?
The most common crypto fraud patterns in B2B
How to win big deals in business (and the fastest way to lose one)
What he dislikes in iGaming + crypto, and what the industry needs to fix next
The 8-Bitcoin story: what he spent it on, and why he doesn’t regret it
His most remarkable iGaming partnership, and why it mattered
Where crypto will be in 10 years, and what happens to cash along the way

Alongside the industry talk, Episode 3 also brings back Confess or Call, when Max gets pushed into a dramatic prank call: ringing his Head of Sales with an “urgent” request.

“This episode is practical,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech and host of Bet It Drives. “Max explains the risks, how fraud happens in practice, and what operators should look for in a payment provider. If you handle payments in iGaming, this episode lays out what matters, and what doesn’t.”

Season 4 opened with a CEO episode with Cedomir Tomic (Founder of Alea) and Oleksandr Feshchenko (CEO of GR8 Tech), followed by Akhil Sarin on marketing and partnerships at Stake. Episode 3 is for operators, affiliates, and product teams who want to understand crypto beyond the obvious, and episode 4 features Marek Suchar breaking down esports betting.

Watch or listen to Season 4, Episode 3 with Max Krupyshev on:

YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts

The post CoinsPaid CEO Max Krupyshev on Bet It Drives: Crypto Secrets and Why “Zero Risk” Is the Fastest Way to Lose a Deal appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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Aviatrix Makes North American Debut on Caesars Entertainment’s Online Casino Platforms

Published

8 hours ago

February 26, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

aviatrix-makes-north-american-debut-on-caesars-entertainment’s-online-casino-platforms

Aviatrix today announced its award-winning crash game Aviatrix is now live in North America for the first time.

The popular title has made its debut in Ontario across Caesars Entertainment’s online casino platforms, including Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino.

The Ontario launch is the first step in a partnership that will see Caesars bring Aviatrix to its online casino players in other North American markets. The launch also marks a major milestone for Aviatrix, which has rapidly scaled into regulated markets worldwide over the past few years, particularly in Europe and Latin America.

Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “This is yet another landmark moment for Aviatrix. Over the last two years, we have focused on bringing the game to regulated markets around the world, and to add our first in North America is something we’re really proud of. Partnering with a global leader like Caesars Entertainment is a clear statement of intent, and we are excited to work together as we expand across the region.”

Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, said: “We’re delighted to be the first operator to bring Aviatrix to North America. This title has been very popular among players worldwide, and we’re confident it will resonate with our Ontario audience. This launch marks the official beginning of our partnership, and one we look forward to building on.”

Aviatrix is licensed or certified in more than a dozen regulated markets, including Brazil, Colombia, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Ontario, Peru, Romania, South Africa and Sweden.

To find out more, please visit: aviatrix.bet/

The post Aviatrix Makes North American Debut on Caesars Entertainment’s Online Casino Platforms appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.