Press Releases
Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling publishes literature review
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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Hell Clock targets PS5 and Xbox Series X|S launch on July 14 alongside Cursed War expansion
Rogue Snail and Mad Mushroom moved the console release from June 2 to avoid Path of Exile’s Return of the Ancients update.
Hell Clock will launch on PlayStation 5 and XBox Series X|S on July 14, 2026, with its first major expansion, Cursed War, releasing the same day on consoles and Steam, according to Rogue Snail and publisher Mad Mushroom.
The date was disclosed during the Latin American Games Showcase alongside a new trailer focused on skills coming in Cursed War: youtu.be/cUWtDLd_u6Y.
Rogue Snail said the console edition and expansion were originally planned for a June 2 launch, but were shifted to avoid Path of Exile’s recent Return of the Ancients update.
Cursed War adds a new story act set during the Paraguayan War of 1864–1870, plus “over 10 new environments,” additional skills and relics, new bosses, and new endgame systems including Endless Nightmares and the full version of Ascension, the company said.
Hell Clock is set against a dark fantasy take on real Brazilian history, including the late 19th century War of Canudos, and is built around ARPG progression with roguelike run structure and build customization.
The post Hell Clock targets PS5 and Xbox Series X|S launch on July 14 alongside Cursed War expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Allwyn
Allwyn rolls out two-round Lotto format with first draw set for 10 June
Each £2 line now plays twice per draw night, lifting overall prize odds to 1-in-4.9 and targeting 345 millionaires a year.
Allwyn will launch a new two-round format for the UK National Lottery’s Lotto on Wednesday 10 June, giving players two chances to win from a single £2 line. Tickets for the updated game went on sale Sunday 7 June.
Under the change, each line is automatically entered into two separate rounds on each Wednesday and Saturday draw night. Players still pick six numbers from 59, but two sets of six main numbers and a Bonus Ball will be drawn using two separate machines, meaning a single line can win in one round, the other, or both.
Allwyn said the update improves the odds of winning a prize from 1-in-9.3 to 1-in-4.9. The operator also said it expects the number of Lotto millionaires created each year to increase from around 140 to approximately 345, with jackpots still starting at £2M and rolling over up to five times before a must-be-won draw on the sixth.
Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, said, “This is a huge moment for players as we enter a new era for the nation’s millionaire maker, Lotto. From now on, every ticket gives you two chances to win for the same £2 price. We’re talking more winners, more excitement and hundreds more millionaires made every year. It really could be you – not once, but twice.”
Allwyn said the jackpot will be shared across both rounds, while other prize tiers remain fixed cash prizes paid per round. The Lotto HotPicks add-on will also shift to a two-round format and remain priced at £1.
The post Allwyn rolls out two-round Lotto format with first draw set for 10 June appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
integrity services
Sportradar signs multi-year global data and integrity deal with Kalshi
Agreement covers official league data and services for prediction markets across MLB, NHL, MLS and UFC, among others.
Sportradar Group AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) has signed a multi-year global agreement with Kalshi to provide official sports data and related infrastructure for prediction markets, the companies said June 08, 2026. The deal was announced from St. Gallen, Switzerland and New York.
Under the agreement, Sportradar becomes an official data and solutions provider for Kalshi across major sports properties including Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), among others. Sportradar said the package includes official sports data and live odds for pre-game and in-play markets, fan engagement products such as scores and schedules, customer acquisition services, and integrity tooling including Sportradar UFDS AI and Sportradar Integrity Exchange (SIE).
Sportradar also said the agreement establishes the ability for it to enter into agreements directly with Kalshi partners, including brokers and market makers, using real-time official data and scalable solutions.
Carsten Koerl, Chief Executive Officer of Sportradar, said: “Prediction markets represent a compelling growth engine for the global sports ecosystem and Sportradar is uniquely positioned to shape and power this emerging sector. Our partnership with Kalshi extends the reach of our premium sports data and services into a rapidly evolving landscape, fostering collaboration with market makers and the broader marketplace. This partnership with Kalshi marks a critical first step. We look forward to working with key prediction market participants as the landscape matures, establishing the trusted, compliant framework for sports innovation just as we have successfully delivered in online sports betting.”
Tarek Mansour, co-founder and CEO of Kalshi, said: “The breadth and depth of this partnership is what makes it a big deal. We’re using official league data to ensure quicker trade settlements, creating an overall better customer experience. We’re also collaborating on an integrity monitoring program to further protect our users.” Sportradar added that it will provide products and services to Kalshi and other licensed prediction market entities operating in compliance with applicable regulations and legal requirements.
The post Sportradar signs multi-year global data and integrity deal with Kalshi appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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