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YGAM’s Student Hub website receives NUS endorsement as universities return

Published

5 years ago

October 2, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The National Union of Students (NUS) which represents 7 million individuals engaged in higher and further education has welcomed the launch of YGAM’s new Student Hub website which has been developed to raise awareness of the risk of students experiencing gaming and gambling-related harm while at university/college. The NUS described the YGAM initiative as ‘vital for students and crucial in helping to provide advice on how to make the most of university life while avoiding the risks.’

Created with input from current students, the website features bespoke advice and guidance to help students make the most out of university while avoiding the risks of gaming and gambling-related harm. It features interactive elements along with lived-experience case studies to further highlight the real issues of gambling and gaming harms on university campuses.

Pete Woodward, Head of Delivery for University and Student Engagement at YGAM, said: “Research commissioned by YGAM and undertaken by Red Brick Research found that 264,000 students are at some risk of gambling-related harm in the UK, while around 88,000 may already be problem gamblers. Student life has changed dramatically this year due to Covid-19, and this could have a detrimental impact on student wellbeing and increase the risks associated with gaming and gambling at university. Our Student Hub is the first of its kind; supporting students to enjoy a university experience free from gaming and gambling-related harm. We will use this online portal to gather insights and share findings with our partners at other universities and students’ unions.”

He added: “Research published by The Lancet in July suggests that the mental health of young people aged 18-24 has deteriorated this year, likely due to the ongoing pandemic. This is a concerning development, as YGAM’s research on the topic suggests that students often turn to gambling and gaming when they are depressed, as a desire to feel more ‘in control’ of their day-to-day activities. One third of students said their gambling habits have had a negative effect on their wellbeing.”

Karen Rowlingson, Professor of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham said: “Students are under huge pressures, more so than ever this year. Gambling and gaming problems can sometimes be a consequence of those pressures and sometimes a further cause. YGAM’s new student hub provides an incredibly important resource to help students avoid the risks of gaming and gambling-related harm at this time.”

To support the Student Hub and its additional university projects, YGAM has also announced the appointment of part-time student positions to drive their programme and to ensure the voice of students is consistently used in their work. YGAM will also be training staff at 25 different universities across the UK, enabling an unprecedented number of young people to benefit from the additional safeguarding this will allow.The Student Hub will sit alongside other tools such as GAMSTOP the free, independent, self-exclusion tool which enables people to exclude from all UK-based online gambling operators for a period of six months, twelve months, or five years.

Carl Gatt Baldacchino Head of Account Management SlotMatrix

High-Voltage Reels: SlotMatrix Debuts Salty Sam’s Rage Bait

Published

19 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

high-voltage-reels:-slotmatrix-debuts-salty-sam’s-rage-bait

SlotMatrix, the premier casino content aggregator globally, is enhancing its unique portfolio by introducing Salty Sam’s Rage Bait, an energetic fishing experience that merges character-focused gameplay with dynamic Spin & Win features.

Situated in the chaotic waters overseen by fisherman Salty Sam, the game invites players to throw their lines over colorful reels filled with Wilds and Bonus icons. Each Wild that appears intensifies Sam’s fury, bringing him nearer to exploding with rage, activating the Spin & Win feature.

The core game offers thrilling speed, while hitting three, four, or five Bonus symbols triggers the Free Spins Bonus, granting eight, ten, or twelve complimentary spins. In this mode, extra Wilds fill the reels, enhancing the likelihood of triggering the Spin & Win feature and forming powerful combinations.

The Spin & Win function includes fish multipliers and bait symbols that work together to enhance nearby values via dynamic chain reactions. Multipliers can increase significantly, resetting spins and revealing substantial possibilities as the grid becomes populated with enhanced symbols.

Available solely via SlotMatrix, Salty Sam’s Rage Bait features EveryMatrix’s unique gamification features, such as leaderboards and free spins, and can be effortlessly incorporated with EngageSuite, the comprehensive player loyalty system.

Carl Gatt Baldacchino, Head of Account Management, SlotMatrix, said: “Salty Sam’s Rage Bait is a highly entertaining title and a strong addition for operators looking to keep engagement high. I’m confident it will be especially popular with players who are fans of fast paced, all action content.”

The post High-Voltage Reels: SlotMatrix Debuts Salty Sam’s Rage Bait appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

James Jelliffe Head of Slots at Stakelogic

Stakelogic reinvents vintage slot thrills with Mega Fortune’s Hold ’n’ Win twist

Published

19 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

stakelogic-reinvents-vintage-slot-thrills-with-mega-fortune’s-hold-’n’-win-twist

From fruit to wealth, traditional slot icons reappear alongside Coin collections and bonus elements.

Stakelogic has broadened its slot collection with the launch of Mega Fortune, a Hold ’n’ Win game that embraces traditional slot design while incorporating bonus features to maintain the momentum from one spin to the next.

Set on a traditional 5×4 grid featuring 20 paylines, Mega Fortune combines fruit, BARs, and sevens symbols with Gold and Silver Coins that are central to the game’s winning possibilities. The game has an RTP of as high as 96.03% and a top multiplier of x1,000.

Coin symbols enhance the primary experience, showcasing fixed values of up to 25 times the total wager and replacing each other to assist in forming winning combinations. The Hold ’n’ Win Bonus activates when five or more Coins appear anywhere on the reels during a single spin. In the feature, Coin symbols become固定不变, enabling wins to accumulate as more Coin values are gathered and summed to the total.

Aside from the bonus round, the game features the Sevens Sweep mechanic, in which a Red 7 Chest symbol can gather visible Coin values from the reels, generating chances for quicker win accumulation and maintaining excitement even when not in the Hold ’n’ Win feature.

For those wanting to speed up the gameplay, Mega Fortune features a Buy Bonus option, granting instant access to the Hold ’n’ Win feature, along with Super Stake, which increases the likelihood of activating Free Spins for half of the wager.

James Jelliffe, Head of Slots at Stakelogic, said: “Mega Fortune is a game that players who appreciate our classic slot catalogue will enjoy and we have enough new gameplay features involved to keep the game rewarding. The core mechanics, multipliers and collection lock in with the Hold n Win bonus and make this game a winner for both old and new players.”

The post Stakelogic reinvents vintage slot thrills with Mega Fortune’s Hold ’n’ Win twist appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Deron Hunsberger

Konami Gaming Appoints Deron Hunsberger as Vice President, North American Game Sales

Published

19 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

konami-gaming-appoints-deron-hunsberger-as-vice-president,-north-american-game-sales

Konami Gaming Inc. has appointed Deron Hunsberger as its vice president, North American game sales, bringing a 25-year track record of customer partnership and business results. In this role, he is responsible for developing and executing strategic sales initiatives in land-based casino games markets across the US and Canada. Formerly appointed director of slot sales from 2000 to 2006, Deron Hunsberger returns to Konami Gaming with a significant prior term as one of the organization’s earliest employees.

“Deron Hunsberger’s demonstrated customer commitment, solutions-driven approach, and passion for continuous improvement algin with our organization’s enduring values and key objectives. Hunsberger’s prior experience with Konami further positions him for success in this role, leading an incredibly talented and dedicated team of representatives serving casinos from coast-to-coast,” said Tom Jingoli, president & chief operating officer at Konami Gaming Inc.

The post Konami Gaming Appoints Deron Hunsberger as Vice President, North American Game Sales appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.