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Marc Etches to step down as CEO of GambleAware

Published

6 years ago

August 14, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

After almost a decade as Chief Executive, Marc Etches has announced he will step down from his role as Chief Executive of GambleAware at the end of March 2021.

Under Marc Etches’ leadership, GambleAware has evolved to become the primary commissioner and convenor of services dedicated to reducing and preventing gambling harms in Great Britain. Formerly known as the Responsible Gambling Trust, the charity is now guided by a public health approach, overseen by a wholly independent and expert Board of Trustees, and works collaboratively with those in the public health sector, including the NHS, public health agencies, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations.

Marc Etches has led a substantial increase in funding and donations during his time as CEO and leading members of the Betting and Gaming Council have recently committed further funding of £100 million for the next four years. The charity now has £40m of grant funding under active management and the additional pledged funding will help GambleAware to continue to develop the National Gambling Treatment Service with its partners across England, Scotland and Wales.

The process to select a new Chief Executive will be led and overseen by GambleAware’s Board of Trustees. As GambleAware enters into the next stage of its evolution, the independent Board will look to appoint someone with appropriate expertise, including in commissioning healthcare services, who will be able to continue to ensure gambling harms are understood and tackled as a matter of public and individual health and wellbeing.

Commenting on Marc Etches’ departure, Kate Lampard CBE, Chair of GambleAware said:

“It has been a pleasure working with Marc over the past four years and he has taken the charity from strength to strength. As a result of his hard work, GambleAware has developed the expertise and sustainability to continue to deliver and work with partners across the healthcare spectrum to prevent and protect against gambling harms. I look forward to continuing this important work with a new Chief Executive next year.”

Marc Etches also commented: “It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve as CEO for nearly a decade and I am enormously proud of the charity’s development and the contribution it makes, in partnerships with others, to keeping people safe from gambling harms.

With the prospect of a new era of increased funding and wider commissioning responsibilities, it is the right time for the charity to find someone with the skills and expertise necessary to take it into the next stage of its evolution.

I want to thank the Board of trustees and the entire staff team at GambleAware for their hard work and commitment to the charity’s purpose as well as for their magnificent personal support of me.”

Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance™

Inspired Brings Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance to Online, Mobile and Retail Markets

Published

6 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

inspired-brings-golden-horsey-winner-grand-chance-to-online,-mobile-and-retail-markets

Inspired Entertainment, Inc. is thrilled to unveil the debut of Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance in the UK and Maltese iGaming markets as well as in UK B3/CAT C retail.

Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance races onto the reels as a progression of the acclaimed slot, Golden Winner Grand Chance, fusing the franchise’s successful, record-setting mechanics with an energetic horse racing motif. It provides participants with a new, seasonal adventure that’s filled with significant winning possibilities and dynamic gameplay for top-tier omni-channel gaming enjoyment.

Participants can take part via various bonus entry options, such as Free Spins, Gold Bar Stack, Gamble, Fortune Spins offered in both retail and interactive formats, along with Fortune Bet and Bonus Buy in the interactive version. Collector Jockeys, paired with the advanced Grand Chance mechanic, creates multipliers and uncovers pot prizes for thrilling, nail-biting moments. Unexpected reel modifiers and adjustable volatility in the interactive format guarantee that each spin brings thrill and suspense, providing both online and brick-and-mortar operators with a flexible and captivating game suitable for a wide range of players, just in time for the eagerly awaited UK horse-racing season.

Dave Johnston, Head of Inspired’s Bell-Fruit Game Studio, said: “Golden Winner Grand Chance has been a fan favourite for both online players and retail audiences, so bringing it to life with a horse racing twist felt like the perfect next step. It is a playful, fast-paced slot, that’s full of fun, winning moments, precisely what players love, and we can’t wait to see them enjoy this seasonal spin on what has become, a classic favourite.”

The post Inspired Brings Golden Horsey Winner Grand Chance to Online, Mobile and Retail Markets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Abby Merk

CoinPoker Debuts New App with Rake Free Poker, Signs Abby Merk and Papo MC

Published

6 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

Wladimir P.

coinpoker-debuts-new-app-with-rake-free-poker,-signs-abby-merk-and-papo-mc

Online poker platform CoinPoker rolled out a new software client and mobile app in March 2026, alongside rake-free poker games and new additions to its sponsored player roster.

Joining CoinPoker’s ambassador team—already featuring top poker names such as three-time Triton Series champion Mario Mosböck and WSOP Online Main Event champion Benjamin ‘Bencb’ Rolle—are Abby Merk and Alejandro ‘Papo MC’ Lococo.

Abby Merk, known as Abigail ‘Abby Poker’, is a top-ranked professional from Chicago and an award-winning poker content creator. She brings extensive experience in mentoring and leadership, having trained women in strategic thinking through poker.
Papo MC, a freestyle rapper and live tournament star, has over $15 million in earnings, ranks #2 in Argentina behind Nacho Barbero, and holds a World Series of Poker bracelet.

Other notable poker names recently partnering with CoinPoker include Jean-Robert Bellande, Faraz Jaka, Mariano, YoH ViraL, Nik Airball, and Brantzen Wong.

Rake-Free Poker Games

Throughout March, CoinPoker is hosting rake-free poker action, returning all cash game rake and tournament fees to players daily.

First half of March: Players can earn 100% flat rakeback, credited at 08:00 UTC each day.
Second half of March: All rake is returned via Splash Pot cash drops, CoinRaces leaderboards, and the Level Up Series tournaments, featuring boosted prize pools and refunded buy-ins—effectively offering free poker tournaments through March 31.

Level Up Series

The Level Up tournament series introduces CoinPoker’s new multi-day tournaments with features such as bubble protection, blind rollback, and final table deals. Running alongside regular freerolls and MTTs, the series offers extra prize value plus full rake rebates.

The promotion gained coverage on PokerStrategy, while the 100% rakeback offer was highlighted by Esports Insider.

New Software and App Features

Following the software and app launch, CoinPoker has been recognized among the top poker apps by Card Player Magazine and Gambling Insider, recording launch-day traffic of over 7,000 players online—rivaling GGPoker.

The new desktop and mobile clients feature:

In-built player stats powered by PokerIntel
New poker formats including PLO6, All-in or Fold, and Bomb Pot
Enhanced features like EV cashouts, Interactive Emojis, and Throwables
Improved lobby and table interface for No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, and PLO5

Throughout March, all games are effectively free to play, with the platform’s welcome bonus of 150% up to $2,000 returning from April onward.

About CoinPoker

CoinPoker is an online poker platform available for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and a web browser client for mobile.

All poker games are played in Tether (USDT), with additional crypto support including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDC.
Players in 25+ countries can also deposit via bank transfer.
The site also features a crypto casino and sportsbook alongside poker against real opponents worldwide.

Website: coinpoker.com
Media Contact: [email protected]

The post CoinPoker Debuts New App with Rake Free Poker, Signs Abby Merk and Papo MC appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Abby Merk

CoinPoker Debuts New App with Rake Free Poker, Signs Abby Merk and Papo MC

Published

6 minutes ago

March 10, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

Online poker site CoinPoker launched a new software client and mobile app in March 2026 alongside rake-free poker games and the signing of new sponsored players.

Joining the site’s ambassador team – already including some of the top names in poker, such as three-time Triton Series champion Mario Mosböck and WSOP Online main event champion Benjamin ‘Bencb’ Rolle – are Abby Merk and Alejandro ‘Papo MC’ Lococo.

https://x.com/CoinPoker_OFF/status/2030009912424849452

United States pro Abigail ‘Abby Poker’ Merk is an award-winning poker content creator from Chicago, ranked among the top female players in Illinois. With a background in volunteering, tutoring, and mentorship, Abby has also trained women in leadership skills and strategic thinking through the game of poker.

Freestyle rapper Papo MC has over $15 million in live tournament earnings – the #2 ranked player in Argentina behind Nacho Barbero – and a World Series of Poker bracelet.

Other household names of poker, such as Jean-Robert Bellande, Faraz Jaka, Mariano, YoH ViraL, Nik Airball, and Brantzen Wong have also recently announced partnerships with CoinPoker.

https://x.com/mariomosboeck/status/2030247270378020932

Rake-Free Poker Games

Throughout March, CoinPoker is hosting rake-free poker games – players receive all cash game rake and tournament fees back daily, in the form of various promotions. In the first half of the month, players can potentially earn 100% flat rakeback credited to their accounts at 08:00 UTC each day.

In the second half of March, CoinPoker is returning all rake to players in the form of Splash Pot cash drops, CoinRaces leaderboards, and a Level Up Series of tournaments with boosted prizepools and refunded buy-ins – making for free poker tournaments until March 31.

Level Up Series

The Level Up tournament series debuts the site’s new multi-day tournaments and features such as bubble protection, blind rollback, final table deals and more. These events run alongside the site’s regular freerolls and MTTs, with added value in the prizepool and a full rebate on the rake.

That free poker event made headlines on PokerStrategy, and the 100% rakeback promotion was featured on Esports Insider.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BKGIzgG3_Jo (embedded video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGIzgG3_Jo

Following its new software rollout, CoinPoker has also been rated among the best poker apps by the likes of Card Player Magazine and Gambling Insider and seen record traffic, rivalling the likes of GGPoker with over 7,000 players online for launch day.

The new poker app and desktop client include in-built player stats powered by PokerIntel, new games like PLO6, All in or Fold, and Bomb Pot formats, and new features like EV cashouts, Interactive Emojis, and Throwables at the tables. No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha and PLO5 are also available, now with an improved lobby and table interface.

Throughout March, all of its poker games are essentially free to play to debut the new software, and its welcome bonus offer of 150% up to $2000 also returns in April onwards.

About CoinPoker

CoinPoker is an online poker site available for download on Windows, Mac, iOS or Android, alongside an in-browser web client for free poker on mobile.

The platform’s tournaments and cash games are played in stablecoin Tether (USDT). Other major cryptocurrencies are also accepted such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and USDC, and 25+ countries can also deposit by bank transfer.

Alongside free poker action against real opponents around the world, the site also has an attached crypto casino and sportsbook.

Website: https://coinpoker.com/