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YGAM launch ‘Parent Hub’ as university research highlights loot box danger amongst children

Published

6 years ago

July 21, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

National charity, YGAM has joined with research teams from Newcastle and Loughborough Universities to help parents and carers understand the danger of loot boxes, with one young respondent in the Economic and Social Research Council funded project confirming how he spent nearly £500 buying packs of random cards.

The expert insight and advice is being posted on YGAM’s new ‘Parent Hub’ website www.parents.ygam.org. The hub which has been developed thanks to funding received from Lottoland, GVC and Playtech, provides families with the resources, information and activities to help build digital resilience and safeguard children. ‘Parent Hub’ helps explain why children are drawn to purchase loot boxes, ranging from the surprise and suspense of opening a box and the desire to win something rare, to receiving specific items that deliver an in-game advantage or boost their social status.

The research covers the potential harm loot boxes can cause, such as young people’s exposure to and normalisation of gambling style systems, as well as the emotional and financial harm from repeat spending – with one young person telling researchers how he spent nearly £500 in a mobile card game by buying packs of random cards, playing for up to seven hours a day. The advice covers how parents can take important steps to safeguard children, including the use of parental controls and identifying potential signs of harm.

“For some children, the act of opening a loot box is as important as what it contains” explains Dr James Ash, Reader in Technology, Space and Society at Newcastle University, who is leading the research. “Feelings of surprise and suspense lead to the repeat purchase of loot boxes. But this is often short-lived.

“Children and young people have told us how they feel disappointment, frustration, anger, and regret at loot box purchases, yet they are still driven to purchase again. This is concerning, given the deliberate design of these mechanisms – the visual stimulus, the randomised contents, and the very unfavourable odds for unboxing rare items – which can lead to repeat loot box purchases.”

Amanda Atkinson, Head of Parental Engagement at YGAM said the research will help inform and develop the charity’s educational programmes so that all young and vulnerable people are safe from gaming and gambling related harms. She stated: “Certainly the enormous variety of games and in-app purchases that are available can make it confusing for parents to keep on top of safety controls. Through our educational resources, we are focused on providing crucial information to parents so they can identify changes in behaviours and understand the effects this may have on mental and financial wellbeing.”

In collaboration with GamCare, YGAM is delivering the UK’s ground-breaking National Gambling Education and Prevention Programme. Supported by members of the Betting and Gaming Council, the £10 million programme will reach over 3 million young people to raise awareness of the risks of potential gaming and gambling related harms.

3 Oaks Gaming

3 Oaks Gaming Strengthens International Presence After Teaming Up with Interwetten

Published

40 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

3-oaks-gaming-strengthens-international-presence-after-teaming-up-with-interwetten

Significant deal expands distributor’s presence in various global regions.

3 Oaks Gaming, a renowned provider of iGaming content, has teamed up with Interwetten in an agreement that expands its wide range of games to a larger audience worldwide.

The partnership allows Interwetten to offer 3 Oaks Gaming’s renowned collection of slot games, featuring popular titles like 3 Super Coin Volcanoes, 3 Pots of Egypt, and Magic Clovers, across various regions globally, enhancing visibility in important MGA markets.

For more than 30 years, Interwetten has been a leader in sports betting and casino entertainment, recognized as one of the top operator brands in the worldwide industry.

Recognized for its creativity and dedication to excellence, 3 Oaks Gaming’s vibrant portfolio coincides with Interwetten’s emphasis on providing top-tier content to its users. This collaboration signifies a crucial milestone in the distributor’s continuous worldwide expansion plan, guaranteeing that more players than ever can enjoy its engaging iGaming experiences.

Emilia Kazberuk, Sales Manager at 3 Oaks Gaming, said: “Partnering with Interwetten is a major move for us. The size and scale of their operations will provide us with a significant boost in taking our content into new regions and audiences.

“We’re looking forward to integrating our premium portfolio with such a respected and long-standing operator, and very hopeful our high-quality, feature-rich titles will be appealing to their vast player base.”

Mario Bilic, Casino Director at Interwetten, added: “We are delighted to welcome 3 Oaks Gaming’s exciting portfolio to our platform. Their reputation for delivering engaging, innovative slot content matches our commitment to offering best‑in‑class entertainment to our players.

“This partnership enhances the depth of our casino offering, and we are confident their games will be well‑received across our markets.”

The post 3 Oaks Gaming Strengthens International Presence After Teaming Up with Interwetten appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Jeff Letlat COO at SpinOro

SpinOro joins forces with Spinomenal

Published

40 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

Spinomenal, a top iGaming content provider, has formed a partnership with SpinOro to offer its wide range of games to players in the UK. SpinOro, emerging from Anakatech, is a thriving provider of online casino solutions with over a decade of experience.

Via its dynamic aggregation platform, SpinOro allows operators to effortlessly access a diverse selection of cross-platform games, whether as an independent suite or incorporated with third-party offerings from top-tier providers.

Spinomenal‘s games have been officially introduced on SpinOro’s prominent UK brands, including Winomania, 7Bet, Betnero, and LuckyMate, with additional brands set to follow.

Yossi Shayovits, Head of Business Development for Spinomenal commented: “SpinOro has earned an excellent reputation for providing access to the best cross-platform games, proven to enhance player activity and increase retention. Our titles are recognised across the industry for delivering exactly that, and we’re excited to bring even more amazing experiences to UK players.”

Jeff Letlat, COO at SpinOro added: “We are thrilled to welcome Spinomenal to our aggregation platform where they sit proudly alongside the best providers in iGaming. We’re highly confident that Spinomenal’s rich selection of titles will be a big hit with players.”

The post SpinOro joins forces with Spinomenal appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Akis Palianastasis

Sportradar Expands its Partnership with SkillOnNet

Published

40 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

sportradar-expands-its-partnership-with-skillonnet

Sportradar has expanded its marketing partnership with SkillOnNet, a leading, international iGaming entertainment company. Sportradar’s Marketing Services now serves as SkillOnNet’s primary programmatic partner focused on growing its casino business.

Sportradar will help develop and execute digital advertising campaigns to support customer acquisition and retention, alongside integration of Sportradar’s Marketing Cloud and reporting tools to track campaign performance and player value. The partnership spans 12 markets across Europe, North America and Latin America and covers SkillOnNet’s PlayOJO, PlayUZU and BacanaPlay brands.

“The expansion of our partnership with SkillOnNet reflects the scalability of our Marketing Services platform and the value of a fully integrated, data-driven marketing approach. Over the past few years, we have grown together across markets, supporting their international expansion with structured campaign management and measurable performance,” said Nikolaus Beier, SVP Product, Marketing Services, Sportradar.

“As we scale our portfolio across regulated markets, we value partners who can deliver consistency and measurable results across territories. Sportradar has become an important part of our marketing infrastructure, and this renewal reflects the strength and evolution of that relationship,” said Akis Palianastasis, Digital Director, SkillOnNet.

The post Sportradar Expands its Partnership with SkillOnNet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.