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How the UKGC Ban on Credit Cards Affected Payment Provider Industry and Consumer Habits

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The UK Gambling Commission ban on the use of credit cards has challenged consumers and businesses, seeking to adapt to the new requirements. 

On April 14th, the new UKGC ban came into effect, prohibiting the use of credit cards to top-up online gambling accounts: the measure was instituted in an effort to mitigate financial risks for consumers and prevent them from gambling with the money they do not possess. The new regulation challenged some of the prevalent consumer habits and pushed payment vendors to expand the scope of their services.

Agnė Selemonaitė, Deputy CEO at ConnectPay, shared her insights on the impact it had for both sides of the market.
Impact for payment service providers

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According to Ms. Selemonaitė, current changes the industry is going through will affect not only the bettors’ spending habits, but also payment gateway providers, aiming to supply the market with flexible, as well as compliant, solutions.

“Our focus has always been on being proactive towards any new developments in the market. That’s why even amidst lockdown we pivoted towards integrating more payment methods into our Merchant API to provide gambling vendors with more options to facilitate payments,” explained A. Selemonaitė.

According to Selemonaitė, more and more gambling sites are getting into partnerships with payment service providers, seeking to streamline settlements for their regular bettors and provide a greater on-site experience. As ConnectPay aims to continue growing its payments selection, Selemonaitė encourages operators to look into how leveraging diverse solutions could help better match their clients expectations.

As the opinions on the policy are two-fold, A. Selemonaitė noted that every decision, with the goal of mitigating risks for consumers, should be a welcomed initiative. That said, it is important that alternative solutions rolled out into the market would meet both vendor and consumer needs, but with added safety, while being compliant with the new measures. “In order for business to welcome new measures, regulators need to stay focused on setting up such an environment that fosters the development of a holistic system and doesn’t hinder scaling opportunities,” she added.
What are the alternatives for consumers?

The operators’ commitment to enable clients to continue enjoying their favorite pastime while spending within reason led betters to get accustomed with various other payment options.

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Visa and Mastercard debit cards

Using a debit card is almost identical to using a credit card, with the main difference that with the prior, the funds are taken directly from the checking bank account, rather than being charged to a line of credit to be paid for later. This ensures that the bettors themselves verify payments, and help protect the account from scammers’ malicious intent.

Prepaid cards

Many providers, such as ConnectPay, issue prepaid cards, which, unlike debit, are not linked to a bank account to draw money from. Instead, the customer is spending money that has been loaded onto the card beforehand. Prepaid cards are limited by default, therefore one can only access the amount of funds that have already been vouched for.

E-wallets

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Although the credit card ban extends to e-wallets, they can still be used for gambling-related payments with the exception that the service does not support credit lending. Similar to prepaid cards, e-wallets require money to be loaded prior to any transaction. It is an appealing alternative as it offers faster payouts and enables switching back and forth between different gambling sites with ease.

Cryptocurrency

Another method to deposit money is using a cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin. It provides total anonymity, as no personal details are shared with the site, making it one of the most secure alternatives. Although many do not understand the inner workings of the crypto industry, it remains a viable option for all tech-savvy betters.

Even though some may still be unconvinced about the necessity of the new legislation, it is shaping up to be a sound solution, which could lead to heightened industry transparency, as well as provide consumers with more payment options to choose from. However, its true impact on the industry will show only after some time.

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Independent evaluation highlights impact of Ygam’s parent programme

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An independent evaluation has provided compelling evidence that Ygam’s work is effectively equipping families with the tools and knowledge to safeguard children from gaming and gambling harms.

The evaluation report, conducted by Sherbert Research, examined Ygam’s programme tailored for parents and carers, which includes online workshops, resources, and the Family Hub website.

The evaluation, assessed against Ygam’s comprehensive Theory of Change, found ‘strong evidence across all groups’ of increased understanding of gaming and gambling harms and their impact on behaviour change and the wellbeing of children and young people. It also highlighted that parents regard Ygam as a trusted source of support and information on these subjects.

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After attending a Ygam workshop, parents expressed a deeper understanding of their role in supporting children and young people on these issues. The workshops were credited with reducing stigma around gaming and gambling harms and encouraging greater engagement from families. Many parents reported proactively understanding the risks and feeling empowered to start conversations with their children about gaming and gambling, putting boundaries in place before harm occurs.

While parents and professionals are increasingly aware of the risks associated with gaming, fewer recognise children’s potential exposure to gambling and gambling-like features, along with the related harms. The report reinforces that Ygam’s work plays a vital role in closing this critical knowledge gap through awareness raising, offering effective safeguarding tools, and providing the guidance and support required to create a safer digital home environment.

The programme was also commended for shifting perceptions around video gaming and microtransactions. They described taking immediate proactive steps such as adjusting screen time, understanding app spending, and setting clearer rules around their child’s online habits.

One parent who took part in the evaluation said: “After the session, I checked my son’s gaming account and realised he had spent over £200 on in-game purchases. We talked about it, and I’ve now set up parental controls.”

The high quality and standard of Ygam’s educational content was also praised by parents, with many describing it as ‘one of the best’ workshops they had attended for addressing a topical and complex issue, and for delivering accessible knowledge that supports real-life action.

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Another parent said: ” A friend mentioned Ygam after I shared concerns about my son’s gaming habits. She had been on the course and said it had really helped her understand how to manage screen time”.

Claire Patel, Programme Lead for the Parents and Carers programme at Ygam, said: “We welcome the findings of this evaluation, which highlight the widespread and meaningful difference our programme is making for families. Parents and carers know their children better than anyone, and they have a crucial role to play – but they consistently tell us they often feel under-informed in today’s fast-moving digital world. We remain committed to listening to families and providing the information and tools they need to promote healthy habits and safeguard their children from potential harms.”

The evaluation was informed by interviews and video diaries from parents, foster carers, and professionals who attended Ygam workshops between 2023 and 2024.

All recommendations for improvement will be incorporated into the ongoing review and development of Ygam’s programmes to ensure they remain as effective and impactful as possible.

The post Independent evaluation highlights impact of Ygam’s parent programme appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Endorphina Press Releases

Endorphina’s Sticky Lips: Our Joker Returns, Ready to Stick You with Unforgettable Luck!

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Prepare for an unforgettable summer as Endorphina announces the highly anticipated release of Sticky Lips, its latest captivating slot, on the 8th of July. This visually striking title invites players into a vibrant world where Endorphina’s Joker makes a remarkable return, blowing irresistible kisses to make their winnings truly stick.

She’s wild, she’s wicked – and her lips are ready to stick you with luck! Dare to stare into her eyes in this 5-reel 4-row slot with 50 fixed paylines and prove your worth to get a lucky, juicy kiss. With every spin, her lips glow and tempt, hungry to lock in golden wins.

Key highlights of Sticky Lips:

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  • Vibrant Visuals: The captivating graphics and symbols, such as gleaming gold bars, blazing sevens, and shiny bells, bring the world of Sticky Lips to life.
  • Mobile Compatibility: Enjoy the sticky-sweet fun anytime, anywhere, with seamless play across all devices.
  • Free Games with the Sticky Wild Feature: Land 3 Scatter symbols to trigger 10 Free Games where Wilds become sticky for even more incredible wins. Scatters covered by a Wild still count towards new combinations!
  • Classic Risk Game: Dare to double your winnings up to 10 times in our signature Risk Game!

What truly sets Sticky Lips apart is its unique blend of familiar slot charm with an enticing, playful narrative. Sticky Lips features a visually striking design that captures the playful mystery and growing anticipation, drawing players deeper into the narrative with every spin.

Why try Sticky Lips?

For over 12 years, Endorphina has stood out as a premier slot provider in the iGaming industry. Since the beginning of our journey, we’ve developed slot games celebrated for their stunning visuals, engaging features, unique themes, and immersive gameplay. Our player-centered approach to game development ensures every slot delivers a magical, mobile-compatible experience, packed with thrilling features for everyone to enjoy.

The post Endorphina’s Sticky Lips: Our Joker Returns, Ready to Stick You with Unforgettable Luck! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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GR8 Tech Launched the Champion’s Playbook for High-Performance iGaming Brands

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When ESPN Bet crashed during 26% of March Madness game time, it proved what heavyweight operators already know: that level of downtime is unthinkable—and expensive. When you’re processing millions of bets during a single event, every second of uptime and every millisecond of speed directly impact your bottom line.

That’s why GR8 Tech created the Champion’s Playbook for High Performance—distilling lessons from processing billions of bets per year into a tactical guide for operators who refuse to accept ‘good enough.’

Inside the guide, operators will discover:

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  • Three pillars of high performance: the non-negotiable standards for uptime, speed, and scalability that separate champions from contenders—plus the specific benchmarks that matter.
  • From heavyweight performance to champion experiences: how to transform solid infrastructure into engaging, personalized player experiences while protecting margins from churn and fraud.
  • A hard-hitting due diligence checklist: ready-made questions to evaluate your current provider or efficiently eliminate unsuitable candidates from your shortlist.

“After hundreds of conversations with operators, I know exactly what’s broken in the industry. The checklist cuts through the sales pitch to the questions that actually matter. Use it on any provider, including GR8 Tech. The answers will separate the real heavyweights from the pretenders,” says Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech.

Why this matters now

The iGaming landscape demands excellence. Players expect 24/7 availability, lightning-fast responses, and experiences that feel built just for them. Meanwhile, 70% of businesses struggle with poor data quality, and mobile users abandon sites that take longer than 3 seconds to load. In this environment, technical mediocrity isn’t just disappointing—it’s expensive.

Ready to perform like a true iGaming heavyweight?

Download the Champion’s Playbook and start building your path to high-performance dominance.

The post GR8 Tech Launched the Champion’s Playbook for High-Performance iGaming Brands appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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