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PAPYRUS & YGAM unite in their missions to keep young people safe

Published

6 years ago

December 11, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

As UK Charity Week (7-13 December) draws to a close, the Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) is celebrating a unique partnership with suicide-prevention charity PAPYRUS, coming together to raise awareness of the harms affecting young people.

Both charities use educational workshops to help young people understand the potential risks and prevent future generations experiencing harm. YGAM specialise in gaming and gambling-related harm prevention whilst PAPYRUS’s mission is to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by shattering the stigma around suicide.

As well as aligning their missions to safeguard future generations, the two charities also have another poignant link. PAPYRUS was founded in 1997 by a mother, Jean Kerr, from Lancashire following the loss of her son to suicide. YGAM was founded by Anne Evans in response to her own son Alan tragically taking his own life following a long battle with a gambling addiction. These sad stories are at the heart of everything both charities do, and their foundations form a powerful social purpose informed by lived experience.

Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of PAPYRUS, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with YGAM and are looking at ways in which we can come together to support young people. We hear from young people every day on our helpline HOPELINEUK who are struggling with thoughts of suicide. Whilst there is never one sole reason that may lead a young person think suicide is an option, we know that gaming and gambling can be a contributory factor for some.”

“By working in partnership with YGAM we are able to better understand how gaming and gambling can impact on a young person’s mental health and offer the appropriate support. We know that this partnership will help to save lives.”

The team at YGAM have now received SP-ARK training from PAPYRUS. This enabled YGAM to reflect on their personal and organisational approach to discussing and reducing the stigma surrounding suicide in day-to-day life. It also highlighted and reaffirmed the importance of self-care, a key message that is included within YGAM’s own training where they seek to inform, educate, and safeguard young and vulnerable people.

Members of the PAPYRUS team has also undergone YGAM’s free training which covers information on gaming and gambling and provide the tools needed to protect people from the risks of gambling and gaming-related harm, including lesson plans, activities, signs to look out for and information on where to go for advice and support. All training sessions have been assured by City & Guilds and the resources have been approved by the PHSE Association.

Sandy Thompson, the YGAM Education Manager for Greater London, said: “It was fantastic to train more of our colleagues from PAPYRUS, working together to continue our shared commitment to improve young lives by increasing awareness around these crucial issues.”

She continued: “PAPYRUS provide vital support to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, whilst also engaging and building awareness in communities, and training organisations and groups. Working together in partnership is a crucial step in highlighting these important areas and continuing to provide the support and information that our young people desperately need.”

Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under 35 in the UK. Every year many thousands more attempt or contemplate suicide, harm themselves or suffer alone, afraid to speak openly about how they are feeling. PAPYRUS believes that many young suicides are preventable, and today the charity engages communities and volunteers in suicide prevention projects and delivers training programmes to individuals and groups.

UK Charity Week is a campaign designed to give the people of the United Kingdom an opportunity to place awareness and fundraising for charities high on the national agenda.

Casino Content

Groove says its casino content library passes 20,000 games

Published

7 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

groove-says-its-casino-content-library-passes-20,000-games

Groove says it has passed 20,000 titles in its aggregated casino content library, delivered to partners via “one API” and managed through its Groove Command back office.

The company said the catalogue includes slots, instant win games, table games, crash games, live dealer and arcade-style titles, plus “emerging verticals including sweepstakes and crypto-native content.” Groove added that the portfolio is now live and available to its partners worldwide.

Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, said the company focuses on curation rather than chasing volume: “Twenty thousand games is a number. What matters is what sits behind it…” Says Tourgeman. “We don’t add studios for the sake of volume. We add them because they bring something distinctive: a mechanical innovation, a visual language, a player-engagement hook that our operators can’t get elsewhere. Our partners trust us to curate, not just collect. That trust is why we keep growing, and why the quality curve keeps rising alongside the quantity curve.”

Groove said recent integrations include KingMidas Games (150+ mobile-first titles), Urgent Games and Bryogames, which it described as offering “proprietary mathematics with real-time RTP customisation.” The company said the additions were assessed for technical compatibility and “commercial distinctiveness.”

Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, positioned the milestone as part of a broader platform pitch: “The aggregation space is crowded with platforms that offer ‘access’ and little else,” said Meltzer. “Twenty thousand games through a single API is not just scale. It is a statement. It says that Groove has become the default engine for operators who want to move fast, compete smart, and never compromise on content depth. But we are not stopping here. The next 20,000 will be even more selective, more integrated, and more aligned with where player behaviour is heading. Volume without curation is noise. We are building a signal.”

The post Groove says its casino content library passes 20,000 games appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

content-aggregation

Octoplay integrates with Lottomart to expand UK distribution

Published

7 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

octoplay-integrates-with-lottomart-to-expand-uk-distribution

Octoplay has expanded its UK distribution through a new integration with operator Lottomart, making a selection of the supplier’s slot games available to Lottomart players.

Under the agreement, Lottomart has added five Octoplay titles to its casino library: Fire Rail Express: Hold & Win, Break the Diamond Piggy, 777 Hot Reels: Megacharged, Big Bang Bonus: Hold & Win and The Lucky Fella: Hold & Win.

Chris Ruddock, Commercial Director at Lottomart, said: “We’re always on the lookout for exciting content that adds something fresh to our portfolio, and Octoplay’s titles do exactly that. Their distinctive style, engaging mechanics, and wide range of themes make them a fantastic addition to our casino. We’re really looking forward to seeing how our players respond.”

Ralitsa Georgieva, Chief Executive Officer at Octoplay, added: “Going live with Lottomart adds another respected UK operator to our growing list of partners in the market. The UK remains a core pillar of our European strategy, and we are pleased to bring our portfolio to Lottomart’s players.”

The post Octoplay integrates with Lottomart to expand UK distribution appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Commercial Gaming

Momentum forms UAE commercial gaming JV with Fanatics after GCGRA approval

Published

7 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

momentum-forms-uae-commercial-gaming-jv-with-fanatics-after-gcgra-approval

Momentum Group and Fanatics have formed a strategic joint venture to run and expand Momentum’s licensed commercial gaming operations in the UAE, the companies said on 29 June, 2026. The partnership is based in Abu Dhabi and brings Momentum’s existing UAE commercial gaming licenses and operations into the new entity.

The joint venture will operate and grow the activities currently licensed to Momentum in the UAE, including lottery, iGaming, sportsbook, and content websites. Momentum said the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has approved the change in control of Momentum’s existing licensed entities.

Scott Burton, Chief Operating Officer, Momentum Group, said:

“The UAE has built one of the world’s most carefully regulated commercial gaming markets, and this joint venture is a reflection of the confidence that brings. Combining Momentum’s regional experience with Fanatics’ global product capability creates a partnership well placed to grow alongside this market for the long term.”

Conor Grant, President, Fanatics Gaming, said:

“The UAE is establishing one of the most thoughtfully regulated commercial gaming markets in the world, and Momentum has demonstrated what a responsible, credible operation within it looks like. We are entering this market for the long term, committed to building something genuinely category-defining together.”

Momentum said the companies plan to invest through the joint venture in technology, product, and customer experience, and to advance responsible gaming and player protection in line with the GCGRA framework.

The post Momentum forms UAE commercial gaming JV with Fanatics after GCGRA approval appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.