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We must be guided by the education sector to deliver effective prevention programmes to young people

YGAM Chief Executive Lee Willows reflects on some of the key topics to emerge from three reports published last week and highlights the valuable contribution the charity is making.
Last week was a significant week for everyone connected the gambling industry. Reading the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) annual progress report; The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report and the Lords Select Committee report, it was pleasing to read these reports all featured insight from people with direct experience of the tragic harm that gambling can cause some individuals, such as the YGAM Founders. As Chief Executive of the YGAM charity and personally as someone who lost everything to a gambling addiction, I was grateful for the opportunity to contribute my insight and experiences. Such inclusion would have been unheard of five-years ago. Having three incredibly helpful reports published in quick succession over a period of five days is in many ways helpful and timely as YGAM continues to evolve our strategy. I congratulate everyone involved in producing three fascinating reports that will inform the debate moving forward.
At YGAM, we strongly believe that prevention, including education is an essential component to reduce gambling-related harms. We engage with the education sector daily and we are constantly listening to the needs of teachers, practitioners and young people. It is very clear from these conversations that teachers and practitioners need and appreciate our resources more than ever. The feedback we get from teachers, practitioners and young people and the insight from external evaluations is overwhelmingly positive and there is an enormous demand for information on gambling and gaming. Whilst it was pleasing to see education feature in all three reports, the voices of the professionals working in that sector should also be taken into consideration. We must continue to be guided by professionals working in the education sector to deliver effective prevention programmes to young people.
The focus on the blurred lines between gaming and gambling is welcomed. The YGAM workshops help build digital resilience and educate people on the different types of games accessible to children. We agree with the DCMS Select Committee and the Children’s Commissioner that loot boxes that contain the element of chance should not be sold to children under 18. The concern about allowing children to access loot boxes is that it is conditioning them to gambling behaviour from an early age. Building on our discussions with DCMS we look forward to contributing to the government’s call to action on loot boxes which will hopefully lead to consideration of an appropriate regulatory intervention.
The debate around gambling advertising and the impact it has on younger generations is imperative. You do not have to work in this sector to notice that gambling adverts dominate the promotional spaces at most sporting events. The YGAM resources tackle this topic head on as we continue to raise awareness of the potential harms and the support available. We believe concerns about marketing and sponsorship should be addressed by evidence-based analysis that puts the safety of young people first and we look forward to contributing to this debate.
When the Gambling Commission launched the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling-Related Harms, there was real hope for change and there has been some positive change; yes more can be done and some actions need to move in a more expedient manner, but change does take time. I also worry that in the desire to affect structural change, or radically change strategic direction part way through a national strategy may result in valuable insight being lost. I do see many people and organisations coming together to deliver the strategy which is superb and that is where we will continue to have a relentless focus.
Certainly in my time in YGAM I have seen Safer Gambling teams within operators increase from one employee, who led Safer Gambling work on a part-time bases, to now large Safer Gambling teams with twenty plus employees working full-time in this area of work. In that time, I have also seen and been fortunate to work alongside others who have been affected by gambling-harms set up their own organisations and I have witnessed the rise of passionate campaigners who demand change, often following tragic circumstances. At the heart of all this work is a shared commitment to reduce-harms and it would be so oxygenating if more time can be spent finding common goals and delivering the national strategy.
As a prevention charity we will continue to focus on the delivery of education, building and sharing insight and demonstrating impact. This is a crucial period for the future of this sector and everyone at YGAM looks forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholder groups to ensure all young and vulnerable people are safe from gaming and gambling related harms.
Finally, YGAM has published its strategic plan 2019 – 2021 and within our annual review filed with the Charity Commission and Companies House we share progress against our strategic goals and insight. However next week, we will have a dedicated page on our website which will also show this progress, insight, and our impact in a succinct manner. I am incredibly proud of the YGAM team and many colleagues from all parts of the sector (inc charities, trade bodies, operators, regulators, ABSG, DCMS, teachers, young people, EbEs); working hard to make a difference in this space.
Lee Willows
Chief Executive, YGAM
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Xanada Investments Announces the Launch of the Xanada Pitch Contest 2025

$50,000 Investment Prize & Global Exposure Await the Next Big iGaming Startup
Xanada Investments announced the launch of the Xanada Pitch Contest 2025, a global competition aimed at supporting iGaming startups seeking investment and growth opportunities in partnership with NEXT.io and Lilith PR Agency.
The contest offers a $50,000 equity investment to the winning startup, along with strategic mentorship, industry connections, and marketing support.
The competition will follow a two-stage selection process. From February 10 to April 1, 2025, startups can submit their applications online. Following the initial evaluation, the top five finalists will be announced on April 10, 2025, and will proceed to a live pitch event at the NEXT Summit in Valletta on May 8, 2025.
A Panel of Experts Will Choose the Winner
The final five startups will pitch their ideas live on stage at NEXT Valletta to a distinguished panel of judges, including:
- Vladimir Malakchi – CEO & Managing Partner, Xanada Investments
- Pierre Lindh – Co-founder & Managing Director, NEXT.io – The World’s iGaming Community
- Dmitry Belianin – CEO & Founder at Belianin, Co-founder & Managing Partner at Blask
- A Secret Judge – To be revealed soon
“A Unique Chance to Scale and Succeed”
“The Xanada Pitch Contest is raising the bar for startup competitions. This is a rare opportunity for iGaming startups – whether they are launching, growing, or looking to scale – to showcase their vision in front of key investors and decision-makers. We are committed to bringing together the brightest minds in the industry to support the next wave of innovation,” said Vladimir Malakchi, CEO & Managing Partner of Xanada Investments.
Who Should Apply?
The contest is open to Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A startups operating in the iGaming sector. Startups at various growth stages – whether developing new solutions or scaling existing ones – are encouraged to apply.
Application and Key Dates
- Applications Open: February 10 – April 1, 2025
- Top 5 Finalists Announced: April 10, 2025
- Live Pitch Event: May 8, 2025, at NEXT Summit, Valletta
For further information and to apply, visit https://xanada.investments/contest or reach out to Xanada Investments at [email protected]
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Pole Position Performance: GR8 Tech Transforms Client Challenges into Opportunities with CRM

GR8 Tech has launched a five-episode video series that demonstrates how its top-tier CRM can address key client challenges, such as improving communication, automating workflows, and delivering personalized experiences. Through real-life examples from GR8 Tech’s clients, viewers can discover how to unlock CRM’s full potential.
Watch Pole Position Performance: GR8 Tech CRM
Kateryna Pozdnysheva, GR8 Tech’s Chief Client Officer and Head of CRM Business Unit, leads the series. Along with her assistant Addi, Kateryna dives deep into the mechanics of CRM: how to design a CRM journey that targets both casino players and sports enthusiasts, ensuring that each player receives a personalized experience; how to engage with players effectively, test what resonates with them, and adjust strategies in real-time to improve performance. Viewers learn the importance of segmentation tools, which allow CRM to categorize players based on their habits, risk profiles, and preferences, all while navigating diverse markets. The series also emphasizes how to connect with players on a deeper level by crafting campaigns that deliver the right incentives at the perfect moment and via the most effective communication channels.
One of the highlights of GR8 Tech’s CRM solution is its ability to optimize player engagement to drive retention. Through advanced gamification tools like rewarding achievements, the CRM makes player interactions exciting and impactful. The series shows how these dynamic elements enhance the player experience, leading to a 25% increase in first-time deposits, 80% retention on average, and 75% engagement of MAU with gamified features. It highlights how GR8 Tech’s CRM serves as a powerful strategy for delivering personalized, effective, and results-driven client experiences.
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Gainr.ai and Goal Analytics Agree Trading Data Partnership

Gainr.ai announces a strategic agreement with Goal Analytics for sports data models
Gainr.ai, a leader in AI-powered alternative trading solutions, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Goal Analytics – a top European data analytics company to enhance the performance of the Gainr Trading portfolio through advanced predictive data insights. This collaboration will provide Gainr Trading with high-quality, data-driven intelligence to optimise trading strategies, improve risk management, and refine AI-driven market-making models.
As a specialist in sports data analytics, Goal Analytics will supply Gainr Trading with in-depth statistical models and proprietary data sources, offering a crucial edge in predictive accuracy for trading syndicates. This partnership marks a significant step in Gainr.ai’s commitment to integrating best-in-class analytical expertise into its trading ecosystem, ensuring partners have access to cutting-edge insights to inform their strategies.
Gainr Trading is a scalable alternative trading fund, administered and audited by Suntera, leveraging Gainr.ai’s proprietary technology to execute verified prediction market strategies. The addition of high-quality data analytics strengthens its ability to optimise odds, enhance risk assessment, and refine AI-driven decision-making in real time.
Commenting on the announcement, Theodoros Koumis, CEO and Founder of Gainr.ai, stated: “Access to superior data is at the heart of every high-performance trading strategy. Our partnership with Goal Analytics allows us to integrate deeper statistical intelligence into Gainr Trading, ensuring our partners and investors benefit from the most accurate and actionable insights available. This collaboration underscores our commitment to advancing AI-driven trading solutions with academic-grade models and industry-leading automation.”
“We are very happy to team up with Gainr Trading and share our expertise in football data analytics and algorithm development. Gainr Trading’s expertise and experience in trading and execution makes this a highly compelling partnership forming a very strong syndicate for football. We are excited to support Gainr at all levels with our football data-driven expertise, creating a wide range new opportunities in the industry.” Malte Schmielewski CEO Goal Analytics.
With this expansion into Europe, Gainr.ai continues to enhance its alternative trading intelligence framework, ensuring its ecosystem remains at the forefront of AI-powered trading innovation. As demand for agile, data-driven trading strategies grows, Gainr Trading is well-positioned to provide superior analytics and automation for sports betting syndicates and alternative investment firms.
The post Gainr.ai and Goal Analytics Agree Trading Data Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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