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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.

casino games

F*Bastards says it now distributes content via 400+ operators worldwide

Published

3 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

f*bastards-says-it-now-distributes-content-via-400+-operators-worldwide

F*Bastards says its casino content is now available through more than 400 operators worldwide, marking a distribution milestone for the iGaming supplier as it continues to expand its portfolio and partner network.

In a company statement outlining its background, Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas said the team’s earlier attempt to build a game studio fell short due to positioning rather than production capability. “Looking back, we realised we weren’t missing talent. We were missing identity. We could build games, but we hadn’t built something people could remember. That lesson became the starting point for everything F*Bastards would later become.” says Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas.

The company said it intentionally built its brand around differentiation, including the decision to use the name F*Bastards despite the expectation it would split opinion among potential partners. The founders described early progress as incremental, driven by game releases, industry events, operator feedback and relationship-building, rather than a single breakout moment.

F*Bastards also pointed to a fundraising milestone in 2026, saying it secured its first seven-figure investment. The company positioned the round as validation of execution rather than an early-stage concept.

“From day one, the goal wasn’t to become the biggest supplier. It was to build something people would remember. We’ve come a long way, but in many ways, it still feels like we’re only getting started” says Co-Founder Ugnius Seskas.

The post F*Bastards says it now distributes content via 400+ operators worldwide appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

API integration

Belatra signs cooperation deal to distribute slots via VeliGames

Published

3 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

belatra-signs-cooperation-deal-to-distribute-slots-via-veligames

Belatra has signed a cooperation agreement with VeliGames to distribute its online slots to operators across Latin America, Africa and Asia. The deal was announced Tuesday 7th July 2026.

VeliGames is a game aggregation platform by VeliTech. The companies said the platform is designed for operators in Latin America, Africa and Asia, with architecture optimised for unstable internet connections and low-cost devices.

Under the expanded agreement, VeliGames will gain access to Belatra’s portfolio through a single API integration, giving operators access to Belatra’s slots via the aggregator.

Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra said: “Our integration with VeliGames through a single API opens a direct route for our slots to reach operators in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Our mathematical architecture and character-based IP are focused on long-term player retention, and VeliGames’ technology ensures stable operation of content in these markets regardless of the quality of communication.”

Revaz Janelidze, Operations Lead at VeliGames, added: “Belatra’s award-winning portfolio and proven mechanics are just the kind of dependable content our operator partners are looking for across multiple regions. Bringing the games into our ecosystem through a single API makes it simple to deliver, even on lower spec devices and slower connections.”

The post Belatra signs cooperation deal to distribute slots via VeliGames appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GCGRA

UAE Lottery names second AED 30m Lucky Day jackpot winner in five weeks

Published

3 hours ago

July 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

uae-lottery-names-second-aed-30m-lucky-day-jackpot-winner-in-five-weeks

The UAE Lottery has confirmed its second AED 30 million Lucky Day Grand Prize winner in five weeks. The operator said Sunil Kumar Sadasivan, a 52-year-old Indian resident of Abu Dhabi, matched all seven winning numbers in the Wednesday, July 1 draw.

The company said the Wednesday Lucky Day draw has now produced two AED 30 million Grand Prize winners and one AED 5 million Second Prize winner “in a span of a few months.” Lucky Day draws run every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:30 PM.

Speaking about the win in a statement included by the operator, Sadasivan said: “When I first looked at it, I couldn’t believe it. Then I looked again and saw the full number. That’s when I realized I had won.”

The UAE Lottery said each draw offers an AED 30 million Grand Prize and an AED 5 million Second Prize, as well as three guaranteed AED 50,000 Lucky Chance prizes. Tickets cost AED 50, according to the operator.

The company said its games are regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and reiterated its commitment to responsible gaming.

The post UAE Lottery names second AED 30m Lucky Day jackpot winner in five weeks appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.