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BGC spokesperson Wes Himes shares insights on the gambling industry under the current national lockdown in exclusive interview with Online Bingo

Published

5 years ago

January 25, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Wes Himes at the BGC praises the success of the measures ensuring gambling remains safe and responsible, throughout this lockdown and beyond.

Bingo comparison site Online Bingo releases exclusive interview with Wes Himes of the BGC
Himes speaks of the successes of the BGC regarding its safer gambling tools
He asserts that casino venues were safe for reopening during the tier system put in place late last year
The BCG will continue to work with the government to ensure that land-based venues can reopen when possible
Himes expresses confidence in the regulations venues have in place to protect players from over gambling during the pandemic

In a two part series, Hannah Timoney of Online Bingo interviewed Wes Himes, Executive Director of Standards and Innovation of the BGC, to discuss the successes of the BGC and its continued mission to raise awareness for gambling harm.

In the first of the two interviews, https://onlinebingo.co.uk/news/interview-with-wes-himes-bgc, Himes discussed the success of the BGC since its foundation, and how the aims of the standards body have changed since the effects of coronavirus and lockdown shook the industry.

He talked about the BGC’s “extraordinarily positive feedback” over the year and praised the BGC’s implementation of new safer gambling tools, such as the whistle-to-whistle ban and the ad-tech code which increased the sensitivity level for access to age-related products on social media. He also hints that “there will be a number of other measures coming out around bonuses”, though did not share what that could entail.

The second interview focused on the national lockdowns. https://onlinebingo.co.uk/news/interview-with-wes-himes-part-2 Most notably, Himes spoke on the BGC’s call for land-based casinos to reopen during the tier system late last year, which he justified by insisting that casinos had “invested a tremendous amount of time and resources” into putting precautionary measures in place which were sufficient enough to mitigate infection risks.

He assures us these measures will continue if and when land-based venues are allowed to reopen, which he is eager to happen, saying “We are committed to continuing to explore with the government, as and when the time comes, what we can do to ensure that those premises can open.“

He went on to express confidence in the regulations venues have in place to protect players from over gambling, whether that behaviour is caused by the stresses of the pandemic or not. He says “these are the types of measures that we continue to raise standards on, these do help provide a very safe environment of play to the customers.”

Editor of Online Bingo, Max Wright, says “We’re thrilled to be able to speak to important members of the industry like Wes, and offer our readers some deeper context into issues like tackling problem gambling and improving legislation, which can sometimes be portrayed in an entirely negative light by the wider media.”

Online Bingo will continue to provide our audience of bingo and slots fans with informed insights from important gambling industry figureheads in order to shine a light on the decision making that affects gameplay and protects players from harm.

2026 EGR Europe Awards

MightyTips takes home EGR’s Affiliate of the Year title for the UK & Ireland

Published

4 hours ago

February 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

mightytips-takes-home-egr’s-affiliate-of-the-year-title-for-the-uk-&-ireland

MightyTips was honored with the Affiliate of the Year award for the UK and Ireland at the 2026 EGR Europe Awards gala. The event took place on 18 February at the Hilton Malta in St. Julian’s, bringing together leading figures from the European iGaming sector.

This acknowledgment comes after a year of considerable expansion and product advancement for MightyTips. In 2025-2026, the brand underwent a significant website enhancement, improving its structure, navigation, and user experience.

Key updates included:

launch of a new Tips section featuring short, expert-backed insights on betting opportunities;
fully reworked sports predictions section with more structured, data-driven analysis;
introduction of a new bonus section with a user-friendly, informative interface that clearly presents licensed operators’ offers.

MightyTips is an internet betting resource operated by SEOBROTHERS. In 2026, MightyTips was nominated for the EGR Affiliate of the Year award in Central and Eastern Europe.

Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR at SEOBROTHERS, commented: “The EGR Europe Awards are among the most established industry recognitions in the region. Winning it highlights the consistent work of the MightyTips team across multiple departments. This achievement reflects our long-term strategy and our commitment to sustainable product development.”

The EGR Europe Awards celebrate businesses that influence the iGaming sector throughout Europe. They acknowledge operators, affiliates, and suppliers establishing benchmarks in innovation, sustainability, customer experience, and product development. Regional categories highlight the advantages of particular markets, encompassing Central and Eastern Europe.

The accolade additionally acknowledges broader regional reach and enhanced collaborations with licensed operators in the UK and Ireland. MightyTips stays dedicated to delivering organized, data-oriented content for regional audiences, emphasizing compliance, transparency, and sustainable development.

The post MightyTips takes home EGR’s Affiliate of the Year title for the UK & Ireland appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Codere Online

Codere Online Launches iOS Poker App in Mexico, Advancing Its Multi‑Product Expansion Strategy

Published

5 hours ago

February 19, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

codere-online-launches-ios-poker-app-in-mexico,-advancing-its-multi‑product-expansion-strategy

Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. a leading online gaming operator in Spain and Latin America, today announced the launch of its new iOS Poker application in Mexico, reinforcing the Company’s strategic objective to provide customers with access to a complete suite of online gaming products. As part of this multi‑product roadmap, both Bingo and the Android Poker app will form the next steps in expanding the Company’s offering in the country.

Developed in partnership with Playtech, one of the world’s most established gaming technology providers, the new iOS Poker app integrates directly with Playtech’s player‑vs‑player (P2P) Poker network. This allows Mexican users to compete in real time with players across multiple operators, ensuring deeper liquidity, a more dynamic environment and a superior competitive experience.

Codere Online continues to observe strong demand for Poker in Mexico, with more than 1,300 unique active users per month already engaging with the vertical across existing channels, a clear indicator of the product’s relevance and potential as mobile availability expands.

“Launching the Poker app for iOS in Mexico is a key step in delivering on our commitment to offer customers all major online gaming categories,” said Alberto Telias, Chief Marketing Officer at Codere Online. “Poker has quickly emerged as a highly attractive vertical for our users, and through our partnership with Playtech, we are bringing them a premium, high‑liquidity platform that elevates their experience.”

The new app offers a stable and intuitive interface with access to cash tables, multi‑table tournaments, Sit & Go formats, and fast‑paced modes. It also incorporates Codere Online’s robust responsible gaming tools to ensure that customers can enjoy Poker in a safe and controlled environment.

“This release reflects our strategy to broaden our product offering and enhance the user experience across all key gaming verticals,” said Ran Licht, Head of Product at Codere Online. “Playtech’s P2P network enables us to deliver a feature‑rich Poker environment connected to a broader operator ecosystem, and we look forward to expanding our product suite with additional verticals currently in development.”

“We are proud to partner with Codere Online and bring our P2P Poker network to their players in Mexico through their new iOS app,” commented Marat Koss, Playtech Chief Interactive Gaming Officer. “Codere Online players will now boast access to one of the most liquid and competitive poker networks in the entire industry.

The post Codere Online Launches iOS Poker App in Mexico, Advancing Its Multi‑Product Expansion Strategy appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Akhil Sarin

Akhil Sarin Joins Bet It Drives: Stake’s Growth and What iGaming Gets Wrong About Marketing

Published

6 hours ago

February 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

akhil-sarin-joins-bet-it-drives:-stake’s-growth-and-what-igaming-gets-wrong-about-marketing

Season 4 of Bet It Drives is back, and Episode 2 features Akhil Sarin, CMO at Easygo and the marketing and partnerships mastermind behind Stake.

Sarin dives into the realities of iGaming marketing, sharing how some of the most cost-effective campaigns can deliver massive impact—including a low-budget idea that went viral with over 16 billion impressions.

Key insights from the episode include:

Stake’s most valuable partnerships and why they worked
What sets their sponsorship strategy apart
Common mistakes iGaming marketing teams make
The one thing Sarin wishes teams focused more on
Biggest red flags and warning signs in partnerships
Leadership lessons and internal trust challenges

The episode also features a fun “Confess or Call” segment, highlighting a late-night call to a senior exec about a high-stakes, unconventional idea—a true test of trust and creativity.

“This season is about open conversations, and Akhil was straight with us,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CSO at GR8 Tech and host of Bet It Drives. “iGaming marketers will rethink spend, partnerships, and what truly drives growth after this episode.”

Season 4 also includes a CEO debate with Cedomir Tomic (Founder, Alea) and Oleksandr Feshchenko (CEO, GR8 Tech), along with upcoming insights on crypto payments in iGaming and esports betting strategies.

Watch or listen to Season 4, Episode 2 on:

The post Akhil Sarin Joins Bet It Drives: Stake’s Growth and What iGaming Gets Wrong About Marketing appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.