Latest News
YGAM calls for Government to support education as part of the Gambling Act Review
The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has told the Government that the need to educate our future generations on the potential harms of gambling is more important than ever, regardless of any legislative changes.
The charity has submitted its written evidence to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part the call for evidence for the Gambling Act Review. In their response, YGAM outlined the importance of education and the impact of their portfolio of evidence-led programmes.
The Gambling Act Review has been labelled a ‘once in a generation’ moment for everyone connected to the sector and YGAM believes the process presents an opportunity for the UK to set standards for the world to follow.
YGAM wants the issue of gambling harm to be is given the same level of focus as other public health issues such as alcohol and drugs. In their response, the independent charity has called for increased long-term funding to be directed towards research, education and treatment and meaningful engagement from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education. YGAM has also encouraged the Government to ‘support the progress that has been in the third sector and promote initiatives that demonstrate meaningful impact’. The charity is supporting the notion of a statutory levy.
James Matthewson, Marketing & Communications Manager at YGAM said “The Gambling Act Review presents a much-needed opportunity for the regulation to catch up but also an opportunity to demonstrate the ongoing progress being made to educate and safeguard future generations. This review will scrutinise all aspects of regulation and, as an education charity, we do not claim to have the expertise to contribute to most of these intricate policy decisions. We believe keeping our young people safe should be the key focus of any outcomes from this review. Prevention is a better solution than treatment and we want Government to recognise that education has a vital role to play.”
The topic of gambling harm prevention now features on the PSHE curriculum in England and whilst YGAM welcomes this, they argue it should be a compulsory awareness session for young people during secondary education. Figures released by YGAM earlier this year show that the education charity trained 2,906 practitioners in 2020 (up from its original target of 2,592) as part of the Young Peoples Gambling Harm Prevention Programme. With this training, those practitioners have reached an impressive 184,700 young people to provide vital educational sessions on the harms associated with gambling and gaming (up from a target of 170,300).
The written evidence submitted by YGAM also calls for the gambling industry must do much more to protect consumers and admits that education alone will not prevent gambling harms. They charity welcomes the introduction of any further protections for young people and wants to see more done to minimise the exposure that children have to gambling advertising.
Lee Willows, Chief Executive of YGAM recently wrote a column for The Times newspaper in which he said ‘we have a responsibility to educate young people about the risks of gambling’ and highlighted YGAM’s close working relationship with the education sector.
Powered by WPeMatico
Bryndís Hrafnkelsdóttir
NOVOVISION Implemented at the University of Iceland Lottery
The University of Iceland Lottery UIL (Happdrætti Háskóla Íslands) was established in 1933 for the purpose of funding the university buildings as well as the purchase of research equipment and other supplies. It is licensed to operate three types of lotteries in the Icelandic market: the traditional class lottery that was established upon its foundation, instant scratch cards, and some 500 gaming terminals which are currently operated in 19 venues across Iceland. Lottery games are very popular in Iceland and generally used as a means of raising money for community purposes.
The University of Iceland Lottery UIL (Happdrætti Háskóla Íslands) has implemented a new platform for gaming terminals in an aim to improve operational efficiency while ensuring a responsible approach to gaming. In a public tender, NOVOMATIC was chosen as the provider of the new CMS: NOVOVISION is the selected management solution, comprising in phase one a variety of functionalites including slots accounting, TiTo, AML, Business Intelligence and the NV smart Staff App in addition to providing the required IT infrastructure for all UIL venues. More system functionality is to be added at a later stage.
The system roll-out across all 19 venues was achieved in a timely manner during ongoing operations and with minimum disruption to the players. Apart from the manifold new functionalities on the operator side, the high level of system integration allows UIL customers to now redeem their tickets online via the UIL Players’ App directly to their bank accounts.
Fabian Schnötzinger, Market Coordination NBS, said: “This was a very special project that yielded immediate progress in ongoing operations. Gaining an in-depth understanding of the on-site requirements and implementing the integration together with the UIL team was a very positive experience for us, knowing that NOVOVISION would generate significant value in several areas. It was also the expertise and high level of commitment of the UIL team that made this project special: They addressed topics openly, provided quick feedback and made time in their schedules for implementation. This reliability and hands-on approach were real success factors. I am already looking forward to our cooperation in the next stages of the NOVOVISION implementation.”
“We are pleased to announce our collaboration with NOVOMATIC on this project. Slot machines are an important part of our business, and this technology will provide us with better access to information, helping us to responsibly manage our operations and enhance the player experience,” said Bryndís Hrafnkelsdóttir, CEO of UIL.
“The integration of the NOVOVISION platform has proceeded smoothly due to effective planning and great collaboration between UIL and NOVOMATIC. This platform offers features that will support us in making informed decisions without compromising our commitment to responsible gaming. As we move forward, we see opportunities to expand our service offerings and develop new solutions, including the upcoming implementation of electronic player cards. With NOVOVISION, we are well positioned to address the evolving needs of our customers while maintaining our focus on responsible gaming practices. This new platform is a key element of our strategy to enhance our operations and support our mission in the gaming market,” she added.
The post NOVOVISION Implemented at the University of Iceland Lottery appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Balkans
Expanse Studios Signs Content Distribution Deal with Lobbet
Expanse Studios, a subsidiary of Golden Matrix Group, has signed a content distribution agreement with Lobbet, a licensed sports betting and iGaming operator in Montenegro and part of the Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG). The distribution will be delivered through DualSoft, a leading aggregation platform with an established footprint across regulated European markets.
Under the agreement, Lobbet will integrate Expanse Studios’ proprietary iGaming content into its online offering, expanding the availability of Expanse titles within the Montenegrin regulated market. DualSoft will facilitate distribution and technical integration, enabling scalable deployment across its broader operator network.
The transaction further strengthens Expanse Studios’ presence in regulated European markets and supports Golden Matrix Group’s broader B2B growth strategy. DualSoft represents a high-potential distribution channel, serving more than ten active operators across multiple regulated jurisdictions, with additional expansion planned.
Lobbet operates in Montenegro as part of Fortuna Entertainment Group, one of the largest betting operators in Central Europe, which recently entered the Montenegrin market through the acquisition of Lob, reflecting growing institutional confidence in the country’s regulated gaming sector.
“This agreement reflects our approach to regulated market expansion across Europe, through scalable B2B distribution. Working with DualSoft allows us to reach high-quality operators such as Lobbet while creating optionality across a broader network of regulated markets. Our focus remains on disciplined growth through partners that operate within clear regulatory frameworks,” said Damjan Stamenkovic, CEO of Expanse Studios.
The post Expanse Studios Signs Content Distribution Deal with Lobbet appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andrew Rhodes
Andrew Rhodes to Step Down as CEO of UK Gambling Commission
The UK Gambling Commission has announced that Andrew Rhodes has decided to leave the Commission on 30 April 2026, to take up a new role, which will be announced in due course.
Andrew has provided outstanding leadership of the Commission for almost five years and has overseen a transformation of the Commission and how it regulates the gambling Industry.
Andrew has led the work required from the Commission to implement the Gambling Act Review, with a strong focus on consumer safeguards. This has included the introduction of financial vulnerability checks, reducing the intensity of online games, and banning potentially harmful marketing offers. He has also overseen the introduction of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, now one of the largest surveys of gambling behaviour in the world.
Amongst his other achievements, Andrew oversaw the successful implementation of the Fourth National Lottery licence and transformed the Commission’s approach to regulation through more robust and outcome-focused strategies.
He said: “It has been a privilege to lead the Gambling Commission through such an important period of change. I am proud of the progress we have made to strengthen regulation, improve consumer protections, and ensure gambling is safer and fairer. I leave with confidence in the organisation, its people, and the work still to come.”
Charles Counsell, Interim Chair of the Gambling Commission, said: “Andrew has provided outstanding leadership for nearly five years and leaves a strong legacy. He has led the Commission through major reform, strengthened our regulatory approach, and ensured consumer protection has remained at the heart of our work. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Andrew for his dedication and wish him every success in the future.”
The Commission will shortly begin the process of recruiting a Chief Executive for an interim period. Deputy Chief Executive Sarah Gardner will step up as Acting Chief Executive to cover the areas of work that Andrew will step back from during this transitional period.
The post Andrew Rhodes to Step Down as CEO of UK Gambling Commission appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Brasil on Track6 days agoODDSGATE LAUNCHES “BRASIL ON TRACK”, A STRATEGIC PLATFORM FOR NAVIGATING BRAZIL’S REGULATED IGAMING MARKET
-
0006 days agoCash Pig 2 Debuts from Booming Games with 15,000 Top Prize
-
Compliance Updates7 days agoRomanian National Gambling Authority Pushes for Urgent Overhaul of Self-exclusion Rules
-
40 Glossy Hot6 days agoAmusnet Releases “40 Glossy Hot”
-
Amusnet5 days agoWeek 6/2026 slot games releases
-
BETANO6 days agoPlaybook Fusion launches with Betano in Brazil
-
Digitain6 days agoDigitain Earns Double Nomination at SiGMA Eurasia Awards 2026
-
Finland6 days agoData-Driven Analysis of Finnish Gamblers’ Preferences and Behavior



