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.

Source

crypto sports betting

Mash.fun Expands Crypto Sports Betting with Player Props, Hits $1 Million in Trading Volume

Published

19 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

mash.fun-expands-crypto-sports-betting-with-player-props,-hits-$1-million-in-trading-volume

Mash.fun, the innovative crypto-powered sports trading platform, has officially launched its first player props markets, giving users a new way to trade the performance of individual athletes.

The move comes as Mash.fun celebrates a major milestone, surpassing $1 million in total traded volume.

The new player props feature enables users to speculate on metrics like the aggregate minutes of goals scored by a specific player. For instance, if a player such as Erling Haaland scores in the 61st and 82nd minutes, the market settles at 143. This approach allows traders to long or short individual player performances, offering a more precise and interactive betting experience compared to traditional match outcomes.

“Player props are a natural evolution for Mash.fun, allowing our users to engage with sports betting in a more nuanced way,” said a spokesperson for Mash.fun. “Hitting $1 million in traded volume within weeks highlights strong demand for this innovative trading model.”

Mash.fun combines the user experience of top Gen Z trading apps with sports betting, featuring unique scalar markets, leveraged positions, and dynamic crypto charts. Built on the Solana blockchain, Mash.fun merges the speed and transparency of crypto with the excitement of live sports trading.

In addition to player props, Mash.fun recently introduced Shirts markets, where users trade indices based on the aggregate shirt numbers of goalscorers, further expanding its creative and engaging market offerings.

For more information, visit Mash.fun and explore the future of crypto sports trading

The post Mash.fun Expands Crypto Sports Betting with Player Props, Hits $1 Million in Trading Volume appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Alternative Payment Methods

Paysafe and Pay.com Launch Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Payment Orchestration

Published

21 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

paysafe-and-pay.com-launch-strategic-partnership-to-revolutionize-payment-orchestration

Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), a global leader in payment solutions, has announced a landmark strategic partnership with Pay.com, a premier payment orchestration platform. The collaboration positions Paysafe as a recommended acquirer for card transactions while integrating its full suite of alternative payment methods (APMs) into the Pay.com ecosystem.

This partnership is designed to empower online merchants by combining Paysafe’s 30 years of processing expertise with Pay.com’s intelligent orchestration technology to maximize transaction success rates worldwide.

Enhancing Checkout with Intelligent Orchestration

Pay.com’s platform leverages advanced orchestration and a centralized risk engine to optimize every transaction. By including Paysafe as a core acquirer option, merchants across e-commerce, travel, regulated iGaming, and financial services can now access seamless credit and debit card processing.

Key benefits for merchants include:

Increased Authorization Rates: AI-driven routing ensures transactions are sent to the acquirer most likely to approve them.
Reduced Friction: A centralized risk engine filters out fraud without slowing down legitimate customers.
Global Reach: Access to Paysafe’s extensive processing network covering 48 currencies and 260 payment types.

Expanding the APM Suite: Skrill, Neteller, and paysafecard

To provide consumers with total flexibility, Pay.com has integrated Paysafe’s flagship digital wallets—Skrill and Neteller—as well as the paysafecard eCash solution.

Skrill & Neteller: Boasting over two decades of heritage and availability in 130 countries, these wallets are “trust-marks” for high-value players in the iGaming and trading sectors.
paysafecard: This voucher-based solution enables the cash-focused and privacy-conscious consumer to transact online safely, effectively bridging the gap between physical cash and digital commerce.

Strategic Vision for 2026 and Beyond

The partnership is already operational, with several Pay.com merchants currently processing live transactions through Paysafe. The roadmap for 2026 includes onboarding 20+ additional major merchants by year-end, signaling a rapid scaling of the joint offering.

“Our collaboration will likely be a game-changer for online merchants,” said Rob Gatto, Chief Revenue Officer at Paysafe. “By optimizing payment routing and enhancing approval rates, we are helping merchants strengthen their checkouts and, ultimately, their customer relationships.”

Nicholas Banerjee, Chief Revenue Officer at Pay.com, added: “Integrating Paysafe into our platform enhances the advanced orchestration capabilities we provide, helping merchants optimize every transaction. This partnership ensures our customers benefit from greater flexibility across card payments and a wide range of alternative payment methods.”

About Paysafe and Pay.com

Paysafe is a leading payments platform connecting businesses and consumers across 260 payment types. Its core purpose is to enable seamless transactions through industry-leading capabilities in processing, digital wallets, and online cash solutions.

Pay.com is an innovator in payment orchestration, offering merchants full control to route transactions optimally using a self-service rule engine and a centralized token vault.

For more information, visit the official Paysafe website or explore the Pay.com platform.

The post Paysafe and Pay.com Launch Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Payment Orchestration appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continent 8 Technologies

Continent 8 and CEO Michael Tobin claim number one spot in GamblingIQ’s global ‘Security 10’ rankings

Published

1 day ago

January 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

continent-8-and-ceo-michael-tobin-claim-number-one-spot-in-gamblingiq’s-global-‘security-10’-rankings

Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of cutting-edge managed IT solutions designed for the global iGaming and online sports betting industry, has been named number one in GamblingIQ’s prestigious ‘Security 10’ global rankings. CEO Michael Tobin is recognised as the top industry leader in security, trust and data integrity.

This accolade reinforces Continent 8’s position as the trusted provider of data centre services, cloud hosting, private connectivity, and cybersecurity solutions, underscoring its commitment to safeguarding operators, suppliers, and players in an increasingly complex and regulated digital landscape.

Continent 8 is the partner of choice for hundreds of leading operators, suppliers, and platform providers worldwide. From tier-one brands to emerging innovators, these companies depend on Continent 8’s secure, compliant, and resilient infrastructure to power their businesses and protect their players. Customers include FanDuel, Kambi, Sportingtech, Playtech, DraftKings, Alea, BetMGM, and more.

GamblingIQ stated: ‘Michael Tobin is one of gambling’s rare figures who combines respect with genuine popularity: a feat almost impossible in an industry as volatile and scrutinised as ours. His reputation isn’t built on flash or hype, but on steady, practical leadership, curiosity about technology, and an ability to make complex challenges seem manageable. Operators, regulators, suppliers and colleagues value his clarity, his evidence-backed thinking, and his long-term approach to partnerships. After nearly 30 years, his standing signals more than success: it reflects consistency of character, reliability and a human touch in a sector that often forgets both.’

Michael Tobin, CEO and Founder of Continent 8 Technologies, commented: “Security and trust are the cornerstones of iGaming – they are the principles on which I founded Continent 8. This recognition from GamblingIQ is a testament to our team’s relentless focus on safeguarding the industry and enabling our customers to innovate with confidence. Congratulations to all the other companies listed in the Security 10.”

The post Continent 8 and CEO Michael Tobin claim number one spot in GamblingIQ’s global ‘Security 10’ rankings appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.