Latest News

Record sign-ups in 2021 push GAMSTOP registrants beyond 200,000

Published

5 years ago

April 6, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

GAMSTOP recorded its highest ever day for registrations in February 2021
An average of 5,500 people per month have registered since launch in April 2018
96% keep self-exclusion in place once the initial exclusion period has expired

More than 200,000 people are now registered with GAMSTOP, the free, independent national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, after a spike in numbers during lockdown.

Registrations in February 2021 increased 21% year-on-year, with nearly 6,500 people choosing to exclude themselves from all UK-licensed sites, which followed a 14% year-on-year increase in January when more than 7,000 people registered. There were 326 registrations on February 22^nd, the highest daily figure recorded in GAMSTOP’s history.

The 200,000 landmark, which was not expected to be reached until later in the year, coincides with the first anniversary of a shake-up in the self-exclusion system. From March 31^st last year it became a licensing requirement for all online operators to be registered with GAMSTOP.

According to the Gambling Commission, the total number of online bets rose by 12% from November to December 2020, and the trend towards more online gambling may be leading to more vulnerable individuals choosing to exclude themselves from all sites.

In January 2021, 49,328 GAMSTOP-excluded individuals out of a possible 177,038 attempted to gamble and were successfully blocked by the scheme. While this demonstrates the effectiveness of GAMSTOP, it also highlights that self-exclusion is not a silver bullet for those with a gambling addiction, who should always seek treatment alongside blocks they have in place.

GAMSTOP advocates a layered approach to tackling problem gambling and is collaborating with GamCare and Gamban on the TalkBanStop campaign, which promotes the use of a range of practical tools and support via The National Gambling Helpline.

Registration with GAMSTOP is free, with people asked to fill in personal details and select an exclusion period of six months, one year or five years. More than 120,000 of those who have registered chose to put in place a five-year exclusion, the longest term possible.

GAMSTOP was launched in April 2018 and, of those who chose shorter self-exclusion periods, and therefore became eligible to remove themselves from the scheme from October 2018 onwards, 96% left the exclusion in place. Since that date, 15,400 have removed their exclusion only to reinstate it.

Recently, the number of women registered with GAMSTOP surpassed 50,000, and the gender split on the scheme is 71% male, 29% female. 18-34 year-olds are the most prolific age group using GAMSTOP, accounting for 59% of all registrants.

Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, said: “We’re pleased that GAMSTOP is serving as an effective safety net, providing crucial breathing space to those who are struggling with their gambling. With the rate of registrants continuing to rise, I would urge anybody putting self-exclusion from online gambling in place through GAMSTOP to also seek treatment. Awareness around self-exclusion schemes and blocking software has been increasing throughout the last year, and it is important that we continue to spread the message about what help is available to those who need it most.”

Matt Blanks, 35, is a recovering gambling addict who registered with GAMSTOP after his addiction led to him trying to take his own life. He now uses his experience to help other suffering with the addiction.

He said: “Signing up to GAMSTOP was a massive relief to me. I had previously had to self-exclude with each individual operator, and would simply move onto the next site who I hadn’t self-excluded from. It was like a game of whack-a-mole, and I kept relapsing. GAMSTOP helped me self-exclude from all online gambling sites in one go, giving me space to clear my head, seek support and kickstart my recovery journey.”

Artificial intelligence

Kaizen Gaming rolls out GenAI-powered Betano Trivia across 20 markets

Published

5 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

kaizen-gaming-rolls-out-genai-powered-betano-trivia-across-20-markets

Kaizen Gaming has launched Betano Trivia, a live trivia product it describes as the world’s first fully GenAI-powered live trivia experience. The free-to-play game is now available across the 20 markets where Kaizen Gaming operates.

The product was developed by Kaizen Labs, the company’s innovation incubator. Kaizen Gaming said Betano Trivia uses generative AI to power the avatar presenter, create dynamic trivia content, and generate supporting audiovisual assets, positioning it as a new engagement format inside the Betano brand.

Players are invited to answer questions spanning sports, entertainment and pop culture and compete for prizes, according to the company. Kaizen Gaming also tied the timing of the launch to heightened global football attention, pitching the game as a second-screen-style entertainment layer for fans.

George Kourakos, Director of Innovation at Kaizen Gaming, stated: “Betano Trivia demonstrates how AI can be used to create entirely new forms of entertainment and customer engagement. At Kaizen Gaming we never use technology for its own sake. We have a clear goal to elevate the world-class gaming experience we offer to our customers. What makes this achievement particularly special is that it was developed entirely by our internal teams, combining creativity, engineering excellence and a shared passion for innovation across the board.”

Kaizen Gaming framed the release as part of its broader generative AI push, arguing that internal teams can use the technology to scale new product experiences across multiple regulated markets.

The post Kaizen Gaming rolls out GenAI-powered Betano Trivia across 20 markets appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

ELA Games

ELA Games adds slots portfolio to Fonbet.gr in Greece

Published

6 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

ela-games-adds-slots-portfolio-to-fonbet.gr-in-greece

Deal expands ELA Games’ distribution under its Hellenic Gaming Commission licence, with localized titles now live on Fonbet’s Greek site.

ELA Games has partnered with Fonbet to roll out a selection of its slot titles to Greek players via Fonbet.gr.

The supplier said the integration makes its portfolio available through Fonbet’s Greek-facing operation, including titles such as Piñatas Festival, Flame Fruit Frenzy and Riches Express. The release positions the launch as a lobby expansion for Fonbet and a further distribution step for ELA Games in the market.

ELA Games said the deal builds on its existing presence in Greece, citing its Hellenic Gaming Commission licence. The company also claimed active users in Greece rose 86.3% over the last two quarters, while bet counts increased 201.9% over the same period.

Yaroslav Soloshenko, Business Development Team Lead at ELA Games, said: “Partnering with Fonbet is a brilliant step forward for our brand visibility in Greece. The Greek market means a great deal to us and has been a strong focus for our growth strategy recently. Having our content available on their well-respected platform allows us to showcase the true depth of our portfolio to a dedicated audience. We welcome the opportunity to offer players and partners a full, detailed presentation of the immersive mechanics, unique art styles, and gamified features our team puts into every single release.”

The post ELA Games adds slots portfolio to Fonbet.gr in Greece appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance Updates

HIPTHER Launches HALLO: The Standard in Compliance Expertise

Published

8 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

hipther-launches-hallo:-the-standard-in-compliance-expertise

A Pioneering Premium Platform Connecting Organizations with Elite Compliance Professionals, Legal Operations Experts, and Trusted Industry Vendors

Europe — HIPTHER proudly announces the launch of HALLO (Highly Aligned Leaders in Legal Operations), a pioneering platform redefining how organizations discover, connect with, and engage compliance expertise.

Embodying the tagline “The Standard in Compliance Expertise,” HALLO combines a premium professional directory, industry intelligence hub, community platform, and visibility ecosystem into a single destination for compliance professionals and the organizations that rely on them.

At a time when regulation is becoming more complex across gaming, fintech, payments, AI, cybersecurity, digital identity, AML, blockchain, and emerging technologies, the need for trusted expertise has never been greater. HALLO addresses that challenge by creating a structured environment where qualified professionals, legal operations specialists, compliance leaders, and service providers can be discovered, evaluated, and engaged with confidence.

Beyond a Directory

HALLO is built as more than a professional directory.

It serves as a dedicated ecosystem for compliance excellence, enabling organizations to identify the right expertise while giving professionals a platform to showcase their experience, achievements, thought leadership, and industry contributions.

Memberships Tailored for Professionals and Organizations

HALLO offers flexible participation options designed to support everyone from independent compliance professionals to large organizations building regulatory, legal, and compliance capabilities.

There is an Individual Professional Membership available as well as an Enterprise Membership for teams and organizations seeking expanded access, visibility, and networking opportunities. All memberships include a 14-day free trial.

Free Expert Profiles, Premium Visibility Opportunities

One of HALLO’s core principles is making compliance expertise discoverable.

Compliance professionals can join HALLO free of charge as Experts, creating publicly visible profiles that showcase their experience, areas of specialization, professional achievements, and industry expertise.

Whether joining as an independent expert, a growing consultancy, or an established enterprise, HALLO provides multiple pathways to build credibility, expand reach, and engage with a highly targeted audience of compliance, legal, regulatory, and operational decision-makers.

Introducing HALLO Resources: A Living Compliance Intelligence Hub

Alongside its directory and community functions, HALLO launches with one of its most powerful features: HALLO Resources.

The Resources section serves as a continuously updated compliance intelligence center featuring more than 17,000 regulatory and compliance-focused articles, bringing together regulatory updates, jurisdictional developments, enforcement news, legal analysis, compliance guidance, and industry intelligence from across the HIPTHER media network.

Designed to support both practitioners and decision-makers, HALLO Resources offers:

Daily updates with continuously refreshed content
Powerful search functionality by topic, jurisdiction, and keyword
Open access with no login required
Coverage spanning gaming, fintech, AI, payments, AML, digital policy, cybersecurity, and regulatory affairs

By combining expert discovery with practical intelligence, HALLO is a daily destination for compliance professionals.

Advertising & Thought Leadership

HALLO also introduces premium visibility opportunities through the Wayseers Booklet, the annual compliance handbook distributed at HIPTHER conferences across Europe.

The publication reaches more than 1,500 professionals across gaming, fintech, AI, compliance, and regulatory sectors, creating a unique opportunity for organizations to showcase expertise, promote services, and contribute thought leadership to the wider compliance community.

Advertising opportunities range from directory listings to half-page, full-page, and double-page placements through Standard, Premium, and Platinum packages.

Furthermore, HALLO serves as a trusted source of compliance expertise for HIPTHER’s media and conference initiatives, creating additional opportunities for members to contribute thought leadership, industry insights, and expert perspectives.

Building the Future of Compliance Collaboration

With regulatory complexity increasing across industries and jurisdictions, HALLO arrives at a critical moment for businesses navigating compliance, governance, risk management, legal operations, and regulatory change.

Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated about HALLO: “Navigating the modern regulatory landscape requires more than just standard legal advice; it demands highly specialized, agile compliance expertise. With the launch of HALLO, we are bridging the critical gap between organizations facing complex global standards and the elite professionals who can guide them through. By combining an active directory with a massive intelligence hub, we are setting a new standard for compliance collaboration and empowering businesses to move forward with absolute confidence.”