Latest News
YGAM launch ‘Parent Hub’ as university research highlights loot box danger amongst children
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.
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ACR Poker
ACR Poker brings back High Five Series with $4m guaranteed in April Subheadline
ACR Poker will run The High Five Tournament Series from April 19 to 23, 2026, with $4 million guaranteed across 50 tournaments, according to the operator.
The schedule lists 10 events per day, split between five higher buy-in tournaments ($44 and over) and five lower buy-in tournaments ($33 and under).
The operator is also adding new ‘Highest Five’ events—two per day—positioned as “nosebleed” tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $5,200 to $25,500. ACR Poker said these are the biggest stakes it has offered on the platform.
The series Main Event runs Monday, April 20, with a $420 buy-in and a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool. ACR Poker also flagged a rebuy and add-on day on April 20 and a dedicated PLO day on Wednesday, April 22.
A leaderboard promotion will award more than $25,000 in prizes, including $2,650 Venom seats, tournament tickets and “The Golden Bong” trophies. Points accrue via High Five events and are split into a High Leaderboard ($44 and over) and Low Leaderboard ($33 or under).
ACR Poker said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker and CEO Phil Nagy plan to play every Highest Five event. “The High Five Tournament Series has a fun vibe to it and I’m excited to be jumping into the new Highest Five tourneys,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “But what’s great about this series is that players of all bankrolls can get in on the action from small-stakes grinders to high-rollers. We’ll see you at the tables.”
The post ACR Poker brings back High Five Series with $4m guaranteed in April Subheadline appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Casino Content
Creedroomz launches Road to El Dorado live casino game show
Creedroomz has launched Road to El Dorado, a new live casino game show it calls its largest production to date. The title is built around a wheel-of-fortune mechanic and four bonus rounds, with a studio set designed around an Aztec theme.
The main wheel has 54 segments, with base numbers 1, 2, 5 and 10, plus four bonus spots. Creedroomz said each segment has its own payout multiplier, and that after bets close a random number or bonus segment may receive an added multiplier of up to x50.
Creedroomz said the game includes four bonus rounds: Marble Race, a physical marble race in-studio with payouts up to 6,250×; Boom Blast, a 3D bonus where players choose one of three cannons with multipliers up to x100 on low risk and up to x500 on high risk; Dice Fight, shown on an LED screen with random multipliers up to 10,000x and rerolls on ties; and Eldorado, a multi-level pick-and-reveal bonus where multipliers combine across four levels, with a fifth “Zenith” level unlocked by finding hidden diamonds.
“With Road to El Dorado, we didn’t just want to build a wheel; we wanted to build a world,” says Arturs Fjodorovs, CPO at Creedroomz. “By combining physical studio elements with RNG-driven 3D visuals, we’ve created a multi-layered experience that offers something for every type of player. It is a true spectacle for operators and a goldmine for engagement.”
Creedroomz: https://creedroomz.com/ Official company site for product and portfolio context.
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA): https://www.mga.org.mt/ Relevant regulator for verifying licensing and game supply credentials if applicable.
UK Gambling Commission (UKGC); https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/ Relevant regulator for checking market access and licensing where applicable.
The post Creedroomz launches Road to El Dorado live casino game show appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
Midnite hikes World Snooker Championship 147 fan prize to £100,000 for 2026
Midnite will raise its “Midnite Maximum” giveaway to a top prize of £100,000 for the 2026 World Snooker Championship, where it is the official UK betting and casino partner.
The promotion pays a cash prize to a fan if a maximum 147 break is made during the tournament.
The operator is introducing a staggered prize structure by round: £5,000 for a 147 in the opening round, £10,000 in round two, £25,000 in the quarter-finals, £50,000 in the semi-finals, and £100,000 if a maximum is made in the final.
Midnite pointed to prior activations as evidence of traction. At the 2025 World Snooker Championship, Mark Allen hit a 147 at the Crucible, triggering a £25,000 payout to fan Brian Nicholls. The company also referenced the 2026 Johnstone’s Paint Masters in January, where it said there was “up to £16,000 available each session across multiple winners.”
Away from the table, Midnite said its Midnite Lounge fan space will return at BOX in Sheffield city centre for the 17 days of the championship. The schedule is set to include exhibition matches, amateur competitions featuring local snooker clubs, and free-to-play table time.
Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said: “The Midnite Maximum was created to give something back to loyal snooker fans and supporters.
“We’ve seen first-hand the impact it can have for those in the draw. The initiative was a huge success at the Crucible last year, and there’s no more iconic stage to return to with an even bigger campaign.
“At the 2025 World Championship, one fan won £25,000, and at the Masters at Alexandra Palace in January, we had up to £16,000 available each session across multiple winners. This time, we wanted to raise the bar again, introducing staggered prizes throughout the tournament, building all the way up to £100,000 if a maximum is made in the final.
“We’re proud of the partnership we’ve built with WST and excited to keep giving back to the fans who make the sport so special.”
Peter Wright, Chief Commercial Officer at World Snooker Tour said: “Heading into the World Championship we are excited again to be working with Midnite, who always come up with fantastic ideas which really add to the experience for our fans.
“Last year the Midnite Maximum made by Mark Allen was one of the most thrilling moments of the tournament, particularly the reaction from Brian Nicholls who came for a day at the Crucible and went home with £25,000! Raising the prize to as much as £100,000 creates even more drama and let’s hope we see another 147 in the final, which was achieved by Mark Selby in 2023.
“We also love the concept of the Midnite Lounge where fans can enhance their enjoyment of the tournament and get involved with interactive games. ”
The post Midnite hikes World Snooker Championship 147 fan prize to £100,000 for 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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