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How 2 Bolton Based Businesses are Tackling Addiction in the Aftermath of Lockdown
Two Bolton based businesses, Acquiesce and WHYSUP, recorded a podcast discussing addiction, and how they are tackling it following the coronavirus lockdown.
Acquiesce is a private rehabilitation centre, offering luxury accommodation and an urban recovery model that integrates recovery into everyday life. Tina, the senior practitioner at Acquiesce, oversees each individual’s entire journey.
WHYSUP was founded by Mark and Liam. They work to deliver presentations, workshops and keynotes to schools and businesses across the UK to educate and raise awareness of mental health and addiction.
Mark’s Story
Mark begins by explaining his battle with a gambling addiction that started with a bet when he was just sixteen. By 21 he realised he needed help and attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings.
“I remember going to a GA meeting, looking around and thinking ‘Well I’ve not lost my house, not lost my wife, not lost my family. I’m not as bad as these so I don’t need help.”
By 25 he had a girlfriend and a professional job. Everyone around him thought he had left his old life behind and was on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case.
At 29, he was kidnapped and held hostage by a group with machetes who were demanding ransom from his mother. Luckily, the police tracked his phone and rescued him.
Mark finally hit rock bottom when his family turned their backs on him. Without his family, he felt that suicide was the only way out of his mess but knew the impact this would have on everyone around him, including his children.
With help from his mum, Mark went to rehab in Birmingham. He took part in the fourteen week programme but stayed there for another five and a half months.
In rehab, Mark wrote down all of his debts. He initially thought he owed a total of £100,000 but now says it was closer to £306,000.
“It’s like I’m talking about a different person now when I look back. Thankfully that’s where it turned around for me. Rehab saved my life.”
Liam’s Story
Around the age of 13, Liam started to experiment with alcohol and drugs like many teenagers at the time.
“There was no prevention or awareness, no knowledge of addiction. My decisions were based on ‘Am I going to get caught?’”
“By 15 I was taking Class A drugs several times a week. I thought drinking and drugs were a normal part of life. I also thought I was good at it because I could do it and still do what I was supposed to be doing.”
Liam got his GCSEs, enjoyed Thai boxing, got his A levels and had a long term girlfriend, all whilst taking drugs.
“I was living a double life. No one knew. From the outside I was seen as popular and successful, the things that you don’t associate with addiction. That’s why I never thought I had a problem.”
He also started struggling with his mental health, dealing with feelings of shame, guilt and paranoia. Liam finally acknowledged his problem after crashing four cars in one week and his family started to ask questions.
“From the minute rehab was mentioned I booked myself in. I pretty much destroyed everyone I loved because I had to tell them what had been going on. When I came out, I went back to normal life, the life where I’d taken drugs for 19 years.”
Following rehab, Liam continued to take drugs after he relapsed at a funeral. His wife became frustrated with the chaos and arranged for him to stay with Mark.
“It wasn’t easy but I was given a safe place. I was able to build a recovery in the real world, which is very important because you can’t just live in a bubble.”
Mark encouraged Liam to make weekly plans, give up his cash card and attend the gym in the same way that he did when he was in recovery at the halfway house.
“I didn’t need to change my location, I needed to change my mindset. People, places, routine, structure- I had to relearn it all to get where I am today. This is why we got in touch with Acquiesce. It integrates the real world into your recovery.
Acquiesce
Acquiesce provides a discreet, highly supported and safe environment within the community to recover in. Without being hidden from the real world, the urban recovery model allows individuals to gain all the tools and experience necessary whilst maintaining a carefully monitored level of responsibility over their own recovery.
This makes the transitional period from treatment a much smoother process, resulting in a more sustainable recovery journey.
WHYSUP
Mark and Liam started WHYSUP after discussing how their addictions started and the mental challenges they had faced. They wondered if anything would have changed had they been given a talk in school.
Three years later, their service is well established and works in three different sectors; education, business and sport.
They have spoken to over 30,000 people nationwide. Over the last 18 months, people with some form of experience have joined the team. Initially their key focus was addiction but they now focus more on mental health and wellbeing.
Support During Lockdown
The team were managing the number of calls well, especially once they hired a professional who helped with more severe cases. Unfortunately, when lockdown started, calls quadrupled and they could no longer meet the demand.
“We underestimated how many and how severely people were declining. They were threatening suicide and we had to drop off flowers at funerals of people who would likely still be here if it wasn’t for lockdown.”
Acquiesce also had an increase in calls, with people experiencing anxiety and fear from a loss of jobs and uncertainty about the future. Tina explained that the number of individuals at high risk from drinking has doubled according to Public Health England.
“We found that some clients have relapsed after being clean for many years and have had to come back into treatment.” Tina added.
When defining addiction from a professional point of view, Tina says they look at withdrawals, tolerance, loss of control, broken promises and consequences, but that in reality it’s a much wider perspective.
“I define addiction as a compulsive behaviour that is impossible to stop without professional help and support. As much as you try to convince yourself you can do it alone, I know from experience that you just can’t.” Added Mark
Liam’s definition of addiction has changed over time. He said, “Two and a half years ago, I’d have talked about drugs. For me now it’s more than a substance or behaviour, it centres around thinking and feeling.”
Tina explained that the Acquiesce programme is very much about positivity, positive self talk, self esteem, gaining confidence.
“When clients come in, their addiction has robbed their self esteem and we work to get it back.”
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or mental health issues, please book a callback with Acquiesce at acquiesce.org.uk/contact or 01204 771940, or get in touch with WHYSUP at whysup.co.uk/contact
To listen to the whole podcast, please visit acquiesce.org.uk/how-2-bolton-based-businesses-are-tackling-addiction-in-the-aftermath-of-lockdown/
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Held between April 13 and 16 in Marbella, the EGR Power 50 gathered some of the most influential voices in the global iGaming industry for a rare moment of strategic reflection and high-level exchange.
In this article, Fellipe Fraga, Chief Business Officer at Stellar Gaming, shares his firsthand perspective from the event, highlighting the key discussions shaping the sector, from the growing role of artificial intelligence to the emergence of prediction markets and the increasing complexity of regulation, while also reflecting on Brazil’s rising relevance in the global landscape.
The future in Marbella
By Fellipe Fraga
What for many is a holiday destination has, for the iGaming world, become for a few days a true laboratory of the future.
It was in Marbella, Spain, that the EGR Power 50 took place, held at the Puente Romano Resort, bringing together some of the leading global figures in the industry in an environment that combined strategic reflection, exchange of experiences, and relationship building.
More than an event, it was a pause. A rare moment in which executives, who live under daily pressure, were able to look more calmly at what lies ahead.
The meeting was not just about networking. Above all, it served as a space to discuss the sector’s recent challenges and, especially, the transformations that are already beginning to reshape the global market.
The Brazilian presence also played a relevant role in this context. Stellar Gaming, through EstrelaBet, was highlighted as one of the “six to watch” at the event, representing Brazil among a select group of global operators.
In a predominantly international environment, I was the only Brazilian executive present, which reinforces not only the company’s prominence but also the level of attention the Brazilian market has been attracting on the global stage.
As expected, topics such as artificial intelligence and prediction markets dominated much of the conversation. In the case of artificial intelligence, the discussion is no longer about “if,” but about “how.”
How can these tools be better used to gain operational efficiency?
How can teams be enhanced? And perhaps most importantly: what new products and experiences can emerge from this new technological layer?
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a support tool and is now taking on a central role in companies’ strategies.
Prediction markets, on the other hand, bring an even more sensitive debate. Are we talking about something complementary to the traditional betting model, or a new competitor? The answer, at least for now, depends on perspective.
On one side, we have the classic model, in which the operator sets the odds and assumes the risk.
On the other, an environment where the dynamic is market-driven, with prices formed through the interaction between participants.
This raises relevant questions: are we dealing with distinct products or variations within the same category?
Is the simple combination of forecasting future events and financial exposure enough to classify them under the same concept? Or are the operational structure and the role of the operator the determining factors in this distinction?
And perhaps the most important question of all: how will regulators approach this development?
If there is one thing that is clear, it is that regulation—already one of the industry’s major topics today—is likely to become even more challenging in the coming years.
Another interesting aspect of the event was the mastermind sessions. In these more closed discussions, away from the stages, candid conversations emerged about day-to-day operations, strategic decisions, and even mistakes made along the way.
This type of exchange, often more honest and less institutional, is what truly accelerates the development of the sector. And, of course, there is also the human side.
Between a round of golf and a wine tasting, the event reinforced something that, at the end of the day, remains central: this is an industry made up of people.
For that reason, getting to know who is on the other side of the table, building trust, and strengthening relationships remains just as important as any technological innovation.
Perhaps this is the greatest value of gatherings such as the EGR Power 50.
In a sector that is growing rapidly, constantly transforming, and operating under regulatory and competitive pressure, taking time to collectively reflect on the future is not only useful, but necessary.
Because, in the end, the future of iGaming will not be defined solely by technology or regulation, but by the ability of its leaders to interpret change, make decisions, and, above all, act before others.
Fellipe Fraga is Chief Business Officer (CBO) – responsible for Institutional Relations at Stellar Gaming.
Holds a law degree from PUC Minas, with a specialization in Public Law from UNESA, and has extensive experience in Public, Electoral, and International Law. He was a founding member of the Superior Court of Sports Justice for American Football (STJD-FA) and served on the Sports Law Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB-MG).
The post Inside EGR Power 50: Shaping the Future of iGaming in Marbella appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
El sector de iGaming de Brasil está entrando en una fase decisiva a medida que la creciente presión de los legisladores, el poder judicial y las autoridades de salud pública comienza a remodelar la trayectoria de la industria.
Con la aceleración del PL 4583/24, una creciente represión por parte del Tribunal Supremo Federal sobre la deuda relacionada con el juego y un mayor escrutinio sobre las prácticas de los operadores y los flujos de pago, el debate ha ido mucho más allá de la regulación hacia los ámbitos del impacto social y la estabilidad económica.
Al mismo tiempo, el creciente tráfico de usuarios destaca un mercado que continúa expandiéndose rápidamente, preparando el escenario para un complejo acto de equilibrio entre crecimiento, supervisión y responsabilidad en el cambiante panorama de las apuestas en Brasil.
Salud Pública en el Radar
El escenario legislativo brasileño en relación con el iGaming ha cambiado de nivel esta semana con la aprobación del régimen de urgencia para el PL 4583/24, de autoría del diputado Ruy Carneiro.
La decisión, tomada el miércoles (22), indica que el Congreso ya no ve la ludopatía simplemente como un efecto secundario, sino como una emergencia nacional que exige una estrategia de atención centrada en la adicción a los juegos y apuestas digitales.
El texto propone la creación del Programa Nacional de Asistencia Integral, que pretende movilizar las estructuras del SUS y del SUAS para ofrecer soporte médico, psicológico y social a los afectados.
La justificación de tal premura reside en cifras alarmantes que conectan la economía doméstica con la fiebre de las apuestas.
El autor del proyecto destacó un estudio del Banco Central que revela que, solo en agosto de 2024, los beneficiarios del programa Bolsa Família destinaron cerca de 3.000 millones de reales a plataformas de apuestas a través de PIX.
En la práctica, esto significa que 1 de cada 5 reales transferidos por el gobierno a estas familias termina en las “bets”.
Además del impacto financiero, el aumento en la demanda de atención de salud pública es evidente, con los casos de juego patológico atendidos por el SUS saltando de 108 a 1.200 entre 2018 y 2023.
El proyecto no se limita al tratamiento, sino que avanza sobre el monitoreo y la publicidad.
Se prevén directrices estrictas para proteger a los menores de edad y la creación de mecanismos técnicos para detectar comportamientos compulsivos directamente en las plataformas.
Para viabilizar estas acciones, las empresas de apuestas estarán obligadas a proporcionar datos anónimos para análisis epidemiológicos.
La financiación del programa provendrá de una combinación de impuestos sobre las propias plataformas, alianzas privadas y recursos del Fondo Nacional de Salud.
Con el régimen de urgencia, el texto puede ser incluido directamente en el orden del día del Pleno de la Cámara, ignorando plazos reglamentarios y el trámite demorado en diversas comisiones.
El STF y el “Mínimo Existencial”
Paralelamente al Legislativo, el Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) ha iniciado un debate profundo que sitúa a las apuestas online como un factor central en la crisis de endeudamiento de los brasileños.
Durante el análisis de la validez de los decretos que fijan en 600 reales el valor del “mínimo existencial” para consumidores sobreendeudados, los ministros elevaron el tono contra el mercado.
El ministro Flávio Dino fue categórico al afirmar que el dinero necesario para la subsistencia básica está siendo drenado por manipulaciones perversas que conducen a desastres familiares y vulneran la dignidad humana.
El ministro Luiz Fux, relator de acciones relacionadas, clasificó a las plataformas como uno de los motores del endeudamiento, vinculando la adicción a problemas psiquiátricos graves y casos extremos de suicidio.
Fux recordó su decisión previa de prohibir el uso de recursos del programa Bolsa Família en apuestas y señaló que la alta recaudación de estas empresas genera tensiones institucionales que dificultan el tratamiento adecuado del problema.
Por su parte, el decano Gilmar Mendes citó a Portugal como ejemplo de buenas prácticas, donde la dependencia del juego se trata como una adicción patológica con sectores de atención especializados, y prometió que el Supremo tendrá un “encuentro marcado” con este tema en un futuro próximo.
El juicio, que se reanudará tras la solicitud de vista y ajustes en los votos, se encamina hacia un consenso sobre la necesidad de revisiones técnicas periódicas del valor del mínimo existencial por parte del Consejo Monetario Nacional (CMN).
Los ministros coinciden en que el escenario actual de los préstamos de nómina y la “maldición de los juegos” exige un análisis de impacto regulatorio constante para evitar que las deudas se vuelvan impagables y destruyan la red de protección social del país.
La Trinchera de la Integridad Sectorial
En el ámbito operativo, el papel de las empresas de pago se ha convertido en la pieza clave para garantizar que la regulación sea efectiva.
La empresa brasileña Pay4Fun, por ejemplo, ha reforzado su actuación internacional al participar en el Foro de Proveedores de Pago de la IBIA para mitigar riesgos y combatir operaciones ilegales.
La estrategia defendida es asfixiar financieramente a las plataformas no autorizadas, monitoreando las licencias de los operadores y fortaleciendo los procesos de verificación de usuarios, conocidos como KYC y KYB.
El CEO de Pay4Fun, Leonardo Baptista, sostiene que, al ser los canales por donde circula el dinero, los métodos de pago tienen la responsabilidad de identificar transacciones sospechosas y cuentas de fachada que alimentan fraudes y manipulaciones.
Con la vigencia de la Ley nº 14.790/2023, los proveedores tienen legalmente prohibido procesar transacciones para empresas sin licencia, lo que eleva la responsabilidad de estas instituciones en la protección del usuario y en la garantía de una competencia leal dentro del mercado regulado.
Brasil No Deja de Hacer Clic
Mientras Brasilia debate leyes y restricciones, el mercado de consumo muestra una vitalidad impresionante.
Datos recientes revelan que el tráfico en las diez principales plataformas de apuestas en Brasil superó los 1.340 millones de accesos mensuales entre 2024 y 2026.
Betano consolida su liderazgo absoluto con 426 millones de visitas mensuales, seguida de Superbet y 7Games. Estas tres empresas por sí solas concentran más de la mitad de toda la atención del público brasileño en el sector.
Se ha identificado un cambio de comportamiento notable: el usuario brasileño es más maduro en relación con las marcas.
En lugar de buscar términos genéricos como “apuestas deportivas”, el público realiza ahora búsquedas directas por los nombres de las operadoras, con Betano liderando también el volumen de búsquedas orgánicas.
El caso de Superbet también llama la atención por convertir altos volúmenes de accesos mediante estrategias agresivas de marketing y patrocinios, superando en tráfico a plataformas tradicionalmente fuertes en búsquedas, como bet365.
The post Bets bajo vigilancia: salud pública, el STF y el mercado en Brasil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Brazil’s iGaming sector is entering a decisive phase as mounting pressure from lawmakers, the judiciary, and public health authorities begins to reshape the industry’s trajectory.
With the fast-tracking of PL 4583/24, a growing crackdown from the Supreme Federal Court on gambling-related debt, and increasing scrutiny over operator practices and payment flows, the debate has moved far beyond regulation into the realms of social impact and economic stability.
At the same time, surging user traffic highlights a market that continues to expand rapidly, setting the stage for a complex balancing act between growth, oversight, and responsibility in Brazil’s evolving betting landscape.
Public Health on the Radar
The Brazilian legislative landscape regarding iGaming reached a new level this week with the approval of urgency for PL 4583/24, authored by Congressman Ruy Carneiro.
The decision, made on Wednesday (22nd), signals that Congress no longer views ludopathy as a mere side effect, but as a national emergency requiring a focused care strategy for addiction to digital games and betting.
The text proposes the creation of the National Integral Assistance Program, which intends to mobilize SUS and SUAS structures to offer medical, psychological, and social support to those affected.
The justification for such haste lies in alarming figures connecting domestic finances to the betting fever.
The project’s author highlighted a Central Bank study revealing that, in August 2024 alone, Bolsa Família beneficiaries spent approximately R$ 3 billion on betting platforms via PIX.
In practice, this means R$ 1 out of every R$ 5 transferred by the government to these families ends up in “bets”.
Beyond the financial impact, the increase in public health demand is evident, with pathological gambling cases treated by SUS jumping from 108 to 1,200 between 2018 and 2023.
The project is not limited to treatment but also addresses monitoring and advertising.
Strict guidelines are planned to protect minors and create technical mechanisms to detect compulsive behaviors directly on the platforms.
To facilitate these actions, betting companies will be required to provide anonymous data for epidemiological analysis.
Funding for the program will come from a combination of taxes on the platforms themselves, private partnerships, and resources from the National Health Fund.
With the urgency regime, the text can be scheduled directly for the House Floor, bypassing regulatory deadlines and lengthy committee processes.
The STF and the “Existential Minimum”
In parallel with the Legislature, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) began a profound debate placing online betting as a central factor in the Brazilian indebtedness crisis.
During the analysis of decrees fixing the “existential minimum” for over-indebted consumers at R$ 600, ministers sharpened their tone against the market.
Justice Flávio Dino stated that money needed for basic subsistence is being drained by perverse manipulations leading to family disasters and violating human dignity.
Justice Luiz Fux, rapporteur of related actions, classified platforms as a driver of debt, linking addiction to severe psychiatric problems and extreme cases of suicide.
Fux recalled his previous decision to ban Bolsa Família funds from betting and noted that the high revenue of these companies creates institutional tensions that hinder proper handling of the issue.
Justice Gilmar Mendes cited Portugal as an example of best practices, where gambling dependency is treated as a pathological addiction with specialized care sectors, and promised that the Supreme Court has a “tryst with this theme” in the near future.
The judgment, set to resume after a request for view and vote adjustments, moves toward a consensus on the need for periodic technical reviews of the existential minimum by the National Monetary Council (CMN).
Ministers agree the current landscape of payroll loans and the “curse of gambling” requires constant regulatory impact analysis to prevent debts from becoming unpayable and destroying the country’s social protection network.
The Trench of Sectoral Integrity
In the operational field, the role of payment companies has become key to ensuring regulations are effective.
The Brazilian company Pay4Fun, for instance, has strengthened its international presence by participating in the IBIA Payment Providers Forum to mitigate risks and combat illegal operations.
The strategy is to financially suffocate unlicensed platforms by monitoring operator licenses and strengthening user validation processes (KYC and KYB).
Pay4Fun CEO Leonardo Baptista argues that payment methods have a responsibility to identify suspicious transactions and front accounts that fuel fraud and match-fixing.
Under Law No. 14,790/2023, providers are legally prohibited from processing transactions for unlicensed companies, raising their responsibility within the state-regulated ecosystem to protect users and ensure fair competition.
Brazil Can’t Stop Clicking
While Brasília debates laws, the consumer market shows impressive vitality. Recent data shows traffic to Brazil’s top 10 betting platforms exceeded 1.34 billion monthly visits between 2024 and 2026.
Betano consolidates its absolute leadership with 426 million monthly visits, followed by Superbet and 7Games. Together, these three companies hold more than half of the sector’s traffic.
A notable behavioral change was identified: Brazilian users are more brand-aware. Instead of generic searches, the public now searches directly for operator names, with Betano also leading in organic search volume.
Superbet also draws attention for converting high traffic volumes through aggressive marketing and sponsorship strategies, surpassing search-heavy platforms like bet365.
The post Bets Under Scrutiny: Public Health, the Supreme Court, and Brazil’s Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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