Latest News

GAMSTOP is putting vulnerable online consumers back in control

Published

5 years ago

July 14, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

More than eight out of ten (82%) consumers have stopped or reduced their gambling since registering with GAMSTOP, according to the first independent evaluation of the UK’s online self-exclusion scheme.

The report by research consultancy Sonnet, based on surveys of more than 3,300 users and in-depth interviews, found that 84% felt safer from gambling-related harm and more in control of their gambling after registering with GAMSTOP. Eight out of ten (80%) said that the self-exclusion scheme had delivered on their intended outcomes, whether they wanted to stop gambling completely, reduce their gambling or simply to take a short break.

Although financial losses were often an important trigger for registering with GAMSTOP, consumers also reported significant improvements in their well-being:

77% felt more in control of their personal or household finances
72% reported improvements in their levels of anxiety and stress
63% enjoyed an improvement in the quality of their family relationships
60% found they were better able to focus at work
40% reported they were consuming less alcohol

The report’s recommendations include:

Longer self-exclusion periods – currently, the maximum self-exclusion is five years, which had been selected by 71% of consumers surveyed, but four out of ten wanted the option of excluding themselves from all online gambling for longer
Helping consumers to access specialist support – 53% of GAMSTOP’s users have not previously used gambling-related support services so the scheme can be a bridge to other organisations offering help with gambling addiction by working more closely with them
Actively engaging with family and friends of consumers – only 28% of consumers were supported by friends or family, with many too embarrassed or ashamed to seek help, so raising awareness of the service among those affected by a loved one’s gambling will provide a broader support network for consumers and their families
Responding to the threat posed by unlicensed gambling websites – The scheme’s users are deliberately targeted by unlicensed sites – an issue highlighted in GAMSTOP’s response to the DCMS Gambling Act review – and 10% reported accessing them while self-excluded so greater controls on these sites are required to prevent them being exposed to temptation
More research into the harmful effects of advertising – consumers consistently expressed their frustration at being exposed to gambling advertising and wanted greater protection

More than 200,000 consumers have registered with GAMSTOP since the scheme’s inception in 2018. The report found that GAMSTOP had reached a broad cross-section of the population across all demographic groups.

Women aged over 44 were identified as an important demographic, making up 53% of all women surveyed, and the report recommends reaching out to older age groups more generally, together with specific initiatives aimed at people with below national average income. It advocates a marketing strategy to target high-risk groups, making the service more visible through online searches and on operators’ websites.

The report concludes:

“This study shows very strongly that GAMSTOP is successfully achieving a reduction in gambling-related harm with far-reaching positive impacts for consumers being clearly shown in our interviews and survey… Our findings show that GAMSTOP is effective across all age groups, gender groups and, importantly, for all types of online gambling.

The vast majority (of consumers) report a very positive experience of using the service, and our research highlights that it is effective both in terms of delivering consumers’ objectives but also in alleviating a wide range of gambling-related harms”.

An office worker in his 30s, who was spending up to £300 per spin on online slot machines and ran up debts of more than £10,000, registered with GAMSTOP after his partner left him and he feared losing his job. He told researchers that, having self-excluded for five years, he felt safe from temptation during lockdown and has stopped gambling completely. He is now paying back his debts to family and friends and said: “I think this service saved my life. Best thing I ever did is cancel my demons by using this amazing service”.

A delivery driver in her mid-twenties, who was spending almost her entire weekly wage on gambling, and had tried self-excluding from individual websites, found that registering with GAMSTOP helped her take control of her gambling. She is getting married this year and has built up her savings. With the support of her family and partner, she has restricted herself to the occasional £5 bet on football at high street bookmakers and intends to renew her self-exclusion every five years to resist the temptation of betting online.

She said: “The last year I haven’t gambled at all, it was hard at first but now I don’t miss it and the money I have saved is unbelievable”.

Fiona Palmer, chief executive of GAMSTOP, said:

“We are grateful to Sonnet for carrying out this very detailed evaluation of the service and are studying their recommendations carefully. We are delighted to know that vulnerable consumers who have registered with GAMSTOP have found it has helped them control their gambling and made a positive impact on their lives.

The insights in this report are extremely helpful and we welcome the opportunity to look at all suggestions for further improvements to the service, including extending the length of the maximum exclusion period to give them peace of mind that they will benefit from the long-term protection that GAMSTOP provides”.

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.”