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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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PG Soft has been named as a sponsor of SiGMA Asia 2026, set to take place at the SMX Convention Center in Manila.
According to the company, the sponsorship package includes branding in the venue lobby and a 60-second branded video broadcast inside the exhibition hall across 14 hanging HD screens during the two-day expo.
PG Soft said the commercial partnership is part of its focus on engaging with Asian markets and supporting SiGMA’s networking aims for the global iGaming community.
A PG Soft spokesperson said: “SiGMA Asia is a must-attend event on the iGaming calendar, and Manila is one of the most exciting markets in the region. We’re very pleased to be supporting this summit and look forward to presenting our brand to the influential audience that SiGMA Asia continues to attract.”
The post PG Soft signs on as sponsor for SiGMA Asia 2026 in Manila appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
PropellerAds has launched Interactive Ads, a new ad format the company says is designed to improve click quality and increase conversion rates by adding a brief interaction before users reach an advertiser’s landing page.
Interactive Ads require users to complete a lightweight action—such as swiping, selecting, taking a mini quiz, or clicking a confirmation—before continuing. PropellerAds positions this “engagement step” as a filter for high-intent users, with the aim of reducing accidental clicks and low-interest traffic that can dilute campaign performance.
The company said the format is designed to be activated within existing campaign workflows and does not require additional creative assets or technical development. PropellerAds also said its platform automatically selects the interaction type based on advertiser goals and user characteristics.
PropellerAds suggested the format can be used alongside other ad approaches in a broader funnel—for example, using Social Commerce to generate initial traffic and Interactive Ads to qualify users before conversion.
Separately, PropellerAds said it was featured in G2’s Summer Report, which the software marketplace compiles using verified customer reviews, market presence, and user feedback.
The post PropellerAds rolls out Interactive Ads format aimed at higher-intent clicks appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming
Booming Games has released its latest slot “Diamond Forge: Link & Loot”. Boasting a 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines, the game offers players a maximum win potential of 10,000x. Set on a classic, diamond background, two explosive bonus features provide the ultimate experience for those seeking entertaining gameplay.
GAMOMAT has expanded its portfolio with the launch of Multi Machine, a classic fruit game crafted to connect with German players. Multi Machine is a 4-reel, 81 Ways to win fruit title that places the Wild at the centre, focusing on clean, stripped-back reel action.
DEGEN Studios has released Tomb of Wishes, a 5×5 cluster pays slot built around cascading wins, Random Wilds and a three-stage bonus sequence themed around a genie. In the base game, winning clusters remove symbols from the grid and feed a central counter. As more symbols are cleared, Random Wilds can land to help complete clusters and extend cascades.
PopOK Gaming has launched a new slot game, Fortune Tarta, with the title released on May 15, 2026. The supplier said the Asian-themed game is available for integration and is built around a 3×3 layout with five paylines.
Greentube continues to build on one of its most popular game franchises with the launch of Cash Connection Charming Lady’s Boom Coins, the latest charming addition to the Cash Connection series. Bringing together two fan-favourites, the 5×3 title combines the widely enjoyed Cash Connection mechanics with the unmistakable elegance of Charming Lady’s Boom.
Evoplay has launched Juicy Fruit Coins Hold and Win, its latest slot release built around a classic fruit-machine theme and a modern Hold and Win mechanic. The five-reel title uses traditional fruit symbols and wilds, with Scatter symbols triggering Free Spins.
Relax Gaming has released Purrrminator Dream Drop, the latest title in its Dream Drop jackpot series. The supplier said the Dream Drop series has now produced 30 MEGA Jackpot millionaires, with four payouts triggered this year in a record time frame.
BetGames has launched Chili Cash, a new high-volatility slot that debuts the supplier’s Hold & Win Plus feature. The game includes 243 ways to win, four jackpots and a stated maximum payout of 10,000x. Chili Cash is built on a 5×3 reel layout. BetGames said Hold & Win Plus allows players to lock in cash and jackpot prizes.
Pragmatic Play has expanded its fan-favourite canine slot franchise with the release of “The Big Dog House”. The main highlight of this new slot is the introduction of colossal wilds that help players target a massive 15,000x win potential.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a prominent B2B provider of gaming content, systems, and solutions, has announced the launch of three new titles—The Great Eggscape
, Aphrodite Legends of Olympus, and Gold Fever Mine All Mine—across the UK and Malta iGaming markets.
The post Weekend Reels | Week 21: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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