Latest News

Gambless receives ORCHA approval, platform expands reach to 1.2 billion people

Published

5 years ago

April 13, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The mobile app “Gambless”, which provides anonymous and remote support to problem gamblers, has been awarded ORCHA’s certificate of approval; furthermore, the platform has added Spanish and Japanese languages to increase its reach.

During periods of lockdown and social restriction, remote tools and services have been an essential way of support for vulnerable individuals. It has been recently reported that in the last year, the usage of health mobile app has increased by 25%. For people dealing with a gambling addiction, the discrete support of mobile apps provides also a sense of protection against the stigma associated with the condition.

It is for this reason that for Gambless and its users, ORCHA’s approval represent an important confirmation and recognition of the worthiness of the app, which uses CBT and Gestalt therapeutic approaches to treat the addiction.

ORCHA is the world’s leading independent digital health evaluation and distribution organisation, trusted by national health bodies in 11 countries, including the NHS in the UK. Mobile apps are evaluated by ORCHA against more than 350 indicators, including Clinical Assurance, Data Privacy, and Usability standards and regulations. This gives thousands of Health and Care Professionals, the piece of mind when recommending quality apps directly to their patients.

Commenting on the certification, Gambless’ CEO Maurizio Savino said:

“We are very pleased to receive this recognition. ORCHA certification gives our users, as well as health organizations all over the world, the assurance that the Gambless mobile app is safe and trustworthy.”

“The effectiveness of our app was already known to us. We receive constant messages and emails from problem gamblers who thank us for our support tools. The app, created by our team of psychologists, enables users to learn more about their condition, teaching them how to control their impulses, and thus how to prevent gambling harm.”

“Given the overwhelming feedbacks from our users, we decided to invest further in our product and expand our platform to 5 languages (English, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Japanese), making our apps available to 1.2 billion first language speakers and natives of more than 30 countries. The rollout has already begun on the “Mindspa” app, which is Gambless sister-app. The two apps combined count more than 300,000 registered users.”

Gambless is already being used by problem gamblers registering from all over the world. While providing free access to psycho-educational resources on the app, Gambless is also surveying its users anonymously.

“Some interesting patterns are emerging. For example, habits of problem gamblers in the UK are different from the ones in the US. We’ll continue to collect anonymous data and hopefully be in a position to share some interesting analysis in the near future.”

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

10 minutes ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

sends-ceo-alona-shevtsova-moderates-global-gaming-expansion-panel-in-riyadh

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel at The Blockchain show on 29^th June, bringing together experts from entertainment, location-based gaming, and content localisation to examine what it takes to build sustainable gaming ecosystems across emerging markets.

The panel, titled “Global Gaming Expansion: Lessons from Untapped Markets,” will structure its discussion across four themes: the growth dynamics reshaping emerging gaming markets; the role of localisation in creating experiences that genuinely connect with new audiences; the infrastructure and communities needed to build gaming ecosystems beyond the game itself; and the lessons and opportunities that will define successful expansion in the years ahead.

Alona Shevtsova plans to frame the discussion around the central challenge for companies looking to expand globally: entering a new market requires far more than bringing an existing product to a new audience. Understanding local cultures, building communities, adapting experiences, and creating ecosystems that allow gaming to grow sustainably are all as important as the product itself.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, said:

“The future growth of gaming will come not only from new technologies, but from understanding people — their cultures, communities, and the experiences they want to be part of. Successful expansion will belong to those who can combine global ambition with local understanding.”

The first segment will examine why regions including the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia are becoming increasingly significant for developers, operators, and investors — driven by young audiences, accelerating digital adoption, and new entertainment models creating substantial growth potential. Panellists will explore how consumer preferences differ across markets and what trends among younger audiences are shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.

The third segment will broaden the lens beyond the game itself, exploring the role of location-based entertainment, gaming centres, esports, and experiential destinations in attracting new audiences and building long-term communities. Panellists plan to address how entertainment ecosystems — spanning physical venues, events, and community infrastructure — accelerate gaming adoption in markets where the category is still establishing itself.

Earlier this month, Alona Shevtsova was shortlisted for the 2026 Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Established Business of the Year category. Her team is also preparing for the Fintech Connect conference in London later this year. Sends will be a leading sponsor of this event.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED, registered in England and Wales (Company No.11070048). For more information, visit sends.co .

The post Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.