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Gambless unveils new DHYP awareness campaign
Gambling harm solution platform Gambless announces today the launch of a new “Don’t Hide Your Pain” (DHYP) awareness campaign against gambling addiction.
The launch of the campaign coincides with the start of the Safer Gambling Week, an initiative brought forward by the Betting and Gaming Council and aimed at promoting safer gambling in the UK and Ireland.
The DHYP campaign will last approx. three months and will cover various aspects of gambling, highlighting the risks involved in such activity.
The campaign aims to prevent gambling harm, conveying its message mainly to younger individuals in Britain and Italy. The two countries, despite being among the first markets to regulate online gambling, share staggering low levels of awareness.
In the UK, it’s estimated that only between 0.6 and 3% of problem gamblers receive treatment. Similar percentages are seen in Italy, where of the 1,300,000 estimated pathological gamblers, only about 12,000 get help each year.
The campaign messages focus on the fact that one does not need to be a problem gambler to suffer gambling harm, thus resonating with a larger audience.
The first batch of promo assets will begin circulating on various social media starting this weekend, putting the spotlight on some of the clear signs of problematic gambling behaviour to look out for, and will be accompanied by the #dhyp hashtag.
Below some comments on the initiative from Gambless CEO, Maurizio Savino:
“Why the need of an awareness campaign?”
A recent report from the National Gambling Treatment Service confirmed that the awareness on problem gambling in the UK is still very low. It’s estimated that less than 3% of all pathological gamblers receive help. That’s an extremely low figure, even compared to that of alcohol abusers who seek help (15-25%).
Making awareness campaigns about gambling addiction is not easy. It’s a delicate topic and we have seen recently how campaigns can easily face criticisms. However, there is a dire need to do more.
“Why borrowing a famous meme’s expression?”
We don’t have the resources of the big charities out there. So, with our small budget, we had to be creative.
Memes are one of the greatest ways of communication of our times. One may dismiss them as silly or shallow – a theory I strongly disagree with. In my opinion memes can be very deep and carry important meanings that one can relate to, stop and think for a couple of seconds. They can raise much more awareness than a distracting storyline.
Memes are also extremely popular among young adults, which are one of the categories at higher risk of gambling harm as well.
“What does Gambless do?”
Gambless is a mobile application, the first to provide psychological support to problem gamblers with an innovative and holistic approach on mental health.
Available both on Google Play and App Store, it provides several self-help tools and it offers a number of supportive programs specifically designed by our team of expert psychologists, using various techniques including CBT and Gestalt psychology.
Reception from users has been overwhelming so far. We saw more than 1,000 downloads in just two months since launch, with an upward trend. At current rates we welcome about 1 new gambler each hour through our virtual doors, which are open 24/7.
If these numbers might seem small, one must consider that the UK National Gambling Treatment services help about 9,000 individuals per year, with first appointment waiting times being even over of 104 days for residential treatment. Therefore, such remote services must be taken seriously as an immediate alternative and complementary way of support.
Gambless has the ability to reach many more people in need, with no scalability issues whatsoever. With a bit more awareness and cooperation from the industry, we could really make a difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals.
“What’s in store for 2021?”
We want to help as many problem gamblers as possible, so we will continue to raise awareness on the topic, we plan to rollout new languages, and we hope to cooperate with gambling firms and regulators in order to make gambling truly safer.
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Right in time for the Season of Love, Amusnet is glad to unveil its newest Online Casino portfolio addition, Diamond Plus – Valentine’s Edition.
The game offers a different perspective on one of the company’s most popular video slots, Diamond Plus. It will be available throughout the entire year, ready to bring some romance to everyone who needs it. The dazzling new game release combines a visually pleasing environment, enchanting ambient music, and a variety of vibrant symbols across the 5 reels and 10 fixed paylines.
Watch out for the Pink Diamond symbol, which is an Expanding Wild appearing on the second, third, and fourth reel to substitute for all symbols on the same reel. It also holds the reel that lands on and triggers a free respin of the other reels.
A selection of special features is also available to add an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay, making it more fun for players to engage with the game while on their journey to a world of romance.
Free Respins
The Expanding Wild symbol triggers a Free Resin. When it is activated, the reels where the Wild symbol appears are held, and the rest start to rotate automatically.
Bonus Spin Mode
During the base game, the player can receive free Bonus Spins. The Jackpot Cards feature cannot be triggered during this mode.
Gamble
Play the game and multiply your winnings through the Gamble feature!
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.
The post Celebrate the Season of Love with Amusnet’s Diamond Plus – Valentine’s Edition appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
New and exciting game studio signs yet another top-tier operator to its unique subscription-based content model
BetCity, the popular online casino brand for players in the Netherlands, has become the latest big-name operator to add Cherry Play to its content offering.
Cherry Play is a new and exciting studio led by industry veteran Olga Bajela as Chief Executive Officer and has hit the market with a pioneering subscription-based commercial model.
BetCity is one of the first operators to join forces with Cherry Play, paying a licence fee instead of the standard revenue share to access the studio’s content and offer it to its players.
Cherry Play has been busy since making its market debut back in December, rolling out two classic slots like Multi Banks, Super Coin and Golden Cherry Jackpot system.
These titles are now available to players at BetCity with additional games landing in the operator’s lobby as soon as they leave the Cherry Play production line.
All of Cherry Play’s games are developed on the powerful Bragg Gaming technology stack, ensuring the highest quality of product and the most efficient operator integration.
Cherry Play is an ambitious provider on a mission to disrupt the slot provision space through great games and its unique commercial model with plans to secure licences beyond the Netherlands.
Olga Bajela, CEO of Cherry Play, said: “BetCity needs no introduction. This is one of the most successful online casino brands in the Netherlands and we are thrilled to see our first run of slot games land in its lobby.
“Studios live and die on the quality of their games, and that’s why we are committed to producing high-quality slots helped in part by the capabilities of the Bragg Gaming platform. But we also believe there are other areas in need of innovation and that’s why we offer a unique subscription model.
“We believe this combination of top-notch content and a smart commercial offering makes working with Cherry Play a no-brainer for operators in the Netherlands and soon, beyond.”
The post Cherry Play adds BetCity to growing roster of partners in the Netherlands appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
As the UK Gambling Commission announces the launch of its consultation on proposed new rules for gaming machines, Nick Arron, lead partner for the Gambling Team at Poppleston Allen urges stakeholders to ensure they are heard
The UK Gambling Commission this week announced the launch of a 16-week consultation, seeking input on proposed new rules for gaming machines in retail venues.
The consultation focuses on technical standards and related testing strategy and aims to improve consumer protection through a number of proposed changes. The consultation is due to end on May 20.
Nick Arron, lead partner for the Betting and Gambling Team at Poppleston Allen, encouraged stakeholders such as operators and licensees to have their say on what impact these proposed changes will have, including the potential costs.
He said: “Robust stakeholder engagement is an important part of this progress. It’s important that operators have their say so that the regulatory framework balances both consumer safety and industry sustainability.
“Changes will require affected businesses to update their processes and technologies to ensure that any changes are not only implemented by the required date but also properly enforced.
“As this consultation progresses, operators will need to weigh the implications of adopting these new standards, not least the cost. While the intention is to enhance consumer protection, businesses must carefully assess the operational and financial implications of the proposed changes.
“While the Gambling Commission’s initiative is a positive step in prioritising consumer safety, the real challenge will be ensuring that the proposed regulatory adjustments are manageable for businesses already operating under thin margins.”
Tim Miller, Gambling Commission executive director for research and policy, said: “We recognise that regulatory changes that impact the design of machines can come with considerable costs.
“We are encouraging consumers, gambling businesses and other interested groups to share evidence that will assist us in measuring both the likely regulatory impacts of the proposed changes and the likely costs of implementing them.
“This evidence will be invaluable to helping make a robust assessment on whether the benefits to consumers are proportionate to the costs involved.”
The post Why stakeholders must be vocal as part of UKGC consultation on gaming machines appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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