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

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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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Esports community establishes Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE)

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The Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE) was established following a General Assembly held on 6 March 2026 in Rio de Janeiro. The organisation was founded with the stated goal of promoting competitive integrity, legal safety, and institutional research within the esports sector.

Carlos GamaVice President of Games and Esports at the Rio de Janeiro branch of the Association of Brazilian Information Technology Companies (ASSESPRO) and President of the Advisory Council of FERJEE (Rio de Janeiro Esports Federation, involved with the upcoming IEM Rio) was elected as Executive President to lead a multidisciplinary team tasked with developing frameworks for the industry’s regional growth.

One of the primary objectives of the ILAE is the creation of a local Esports Arbitration Chamber. This mechanism is intended to serve as a specialized venue for the mediation and resolution of conflicts, such as contractual disputes between players and organisations. The model aims to offer a technical alternative to the traditional judicial system, seeking to provide greater legal security and faster resolutions for administrative and professional disagreements within the competitive environment.

The ILAE’s structure is centered on an Executive Board that includes:

  • Vice-President Marcella Ferreira (former pro player and current sports psychologist),
  • Administrative-Financial Director Vinicius Verly (FERJEE), and
  • Project Director Marianna Muniz (FERJEE and OnFire Agency).

Technical oversight is managed by lawyers:

  • Dr. Antonio Carlos Bratefixe (Research and Knowledge) and 
  • Dr. Osmar Berardo, who will direct the institute’s Arbitration Chamber.

The Fiscal Council is led by: Dr. Soraya Vasconcelos, who also leads Brazilian organisation Galorys, responsible for financial and institutional oversight.

Regarding the institute’s mission, Carlos Gama stated that the organization intends to facilitate dialogue across the Latin American esports community. “We want to bring together athletes, teams, researchers, organizations, companies, and public managers to build a common development agenda for the region,” Gama noted. He also highlighted that a priority for the ILAE will be the production of research on strategic themes, such as social inclusion and competitive integrity policies.

The ILAE’s governance framework also incorporates individuals with competitive backgrounds, aiming to ensure the organisation remains informed by the practicalities of the sector. This includes the participation of former FPS and eFootball pros Marcela “Callax”Renato “Rentão”Monik BisoniGabriela Tavas, and Gabriel “Franja” within the various councils and administrative chairs.

By integrating these perspectives alongside legal and academic professionals, the institute intends to address the specific needs of the regional ecosystem. The organization has opened associations to professionals, researchers, and entities.

 

The post Esports community establishes Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE) appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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SPORTRADAR AND BSN STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP TO ELEVATE BASKETBALL IN PUERTO RICO

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Sportradar AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) has expanded its agreement with BSN Puerto Rico (Baloncesto Superior Nacional), reinforcing its long-term commitment to supporting professional basketball in Puerto Rico through advanced technology, data and integrity solutions. Basketball is the most bet upon sport in Puerto Rico and the second most popular across the LATAM region.*

Sportradar holds the exclusive betting and gaming audiovisual (AV) and data rights for BSN basketball competitions worldwide, alongside non-exclusive coaching and talent scouting rights, to drive the growth of Puerto Rican basketball and strengthening fan engagement across international markets.

The agreement features the provision of Integrity Services, such as Sportradar’s proprietary Universal Fraud Detection Service (UFDS AI) for comprehensive real- time betting market surveillance. Additionally, BSN Puerto Rico will access a portfolio of sports performance and management solutions, including Synergy Stats and the Competition Management Platform, to support league operations, performance analysis and regulatory compliance.

“We are proud to deepen our ties with BSN to accelerate the development of basketball in Puerto Rico,” said Raphael Sobral, Sports Partnerships Director, LATAM at Sportradar. “By combining our cutting-edge technology with our unmatched data and integrity services, Sportradar is providing the backbone for BSN’s next phase of global growth and operational excellence.”

“This partnership reaffirms BSN’s commitment to modernization and operational excellence across the league. Having a partner like Sportradar allows us to strengthen our processes, elevate the use of official data, and ensure the highest standards of integrity and performance as we look ahead to the 2026 season and the future of professional basketball in Puerto Rico,” said Ricardo Dalmau, President of BSN.

The extended partnership further strengthens Sportradar’s role as a trusted technology and data partner for more than 20 basketball competitions in regulated markets worldwide, including the NBA, EuroLeague, ACB Spain, LNB France, Lega Basket Italia and NBL Australia.

 

The post SPORTRADAR AND BSN STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP TO ELEVATE BASKETBALL IN PUERTO RICO appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026

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At the heart of the exhibition is the IRIS platform, R. Franco Digital’s GLI-certified, open-architecture solution. Designed to deliver a seamless experience across casino, sports betting, and retail operations, IRIS gives operators the flexibility, scalability, and security required to grow efficiently across multiple Latin American markets.

In addition to its robust infrastructure, R. Franco Digital will present its latest high-performance gaming titles, including Strange Spins, Genie Triple Bonanza, Diamond King Gorilla, Luxury Blast, Zorro: Final Duel, and The Phantom. Each game incorporates localized mechanics and culturally relevant themes, ensuring maximum engagement for LatAm players.

Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, commented:
“Latin America is a cornerstone of our global strategy. GAT Expo Cartagena provides an essential platform to connect with partners and showcase how our technology evolves alongside the region’s regulatory landscape. We are excited to highlight the latest advancements in our IRIS platform and our expanding game portfolio, both designed to deliver operational excellence and support regulated operators across LatAm.”

Visitors to the expo will be able to experience live demonstrations of the IRIS platform and explore R. Franco Digital’s diverse content offerings, emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation, localization, and operator success in the region.

The post R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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