Following recent public inaccurate and misleading claims about GambleAware, Zoë Osmond, CEO, has said in response to these statements:

“Gambling harms have a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities. As the leading independent charity dedicated to preventing and treating these harms in Great Britain, GambleAware’s foremost priority is to prevent harm and provide accessible support to those affected. These services are vital, remarkably effective, and readily accessible.

“Gambling operator funding remains the primary source of funding for prevention, treatment, and research into gambling harm. Many charities and organisations receive this funding through the Gambling Commission. We believe the gambling industry should be held accountable to contribute financially to the vital services that prevent gambling harms, which is why we have consistently advocated for a statutory levy. 

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“Our robust governance and commissioning practices ensure that the industry has no influence over our operations. GambleAware’s independence has been widely recognised by a range of stakeholders including the Government, as evidenced in the Gambling White Paper.

“The complaint lodged to the Charity Commission by The Good Law project is based on misleading and outdated information. While we are confident that this complaint will not be upheld, we are deeply concerned that inaccurate headlines and misleading newspaper articles may have a damaging impact on our services and the people that rely on them.

“The deeply stigmatised nature of gambling harms often makes it difficult for individuals to reach out for help. Maintaining the credibility and reputation of essential support services is crucial to reaching people before their gambling issues become catastrophic. Undermining these services, and the dedicated workers and experts who operate them, risks not only those directly relying on them but also the many indirectly affected by a loved one’s gambling problems.

“As gambling harms affect more people, it’s crucial for us all to come together to prevent and alleviate them. GambleAware remains focused on our mission to prevent gambling harms and provide vital support to those affected. We appreciate the continued trust and support from our stakeholders and the public, and we urge anyone experiencing harm to reach out. Help and support are available through the National Gambling Support Network and the National Gambling Helpline, offering free, confidential assistance 24/7 to those in need.”

The Q1 analysis indicates a marked preference amongst bettors for real-time wagering. This trend enhances engagement and offers sports betting operators higher margins and quicker capital turnover, demonstrating live betting as one of the key drivers of profitability in the sports betting domain.

Moreover, the transition from desktop to mobile continues to accelerate, with mobile devices accounting for 90% of the GGR, up from 86% the previous year. This trend highlights the growing importance of mobile-friendly betting solutions. It also suggests that operators prioritising mobile integration and user experience are likely to capture a larger market share.

A look at the top sports by GGR shows a stable interest in traditional favourites with some notable shifts. Football remains dominant, while tennis has overtaken basketball for the second spot. The inclusion of American football in the top five, primarily driven by the Super Bowl in February, reflects the impact of major sporting events on betting behaviour. Ice hockey remains strong, underscoring the sport’s consistent appeal to bettors.

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Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, reflects on these developments: “The trends we’ve observed in Q1’24 emphasise our platform’s adaptability and growth while also underscoring critical dynamics in player preferences and technological advancements. Our focus on enhancing live and mobile betting capabilities directly responds to these insights, aiming to provide our partners and their customers with superior betting experiences.”

In Q1’24, the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook continued its growth trajectory. Turnover surged by 246% compared to Q1’23, while month-on-month growth from Q4’23 reached 136%. Revenue also saw a staggering increase, jumping 251% year-on-year and maintaining a consistent month-on-month growth of 136%. These figures highlight the platform’s growing popularity and its increasing efficiency and appeal to operators.

Aiming to strengthen the industry, the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team has recently published a free Sportsbook Budget Calculator, helping businesses considering launching a sports betting project to calculate the costs and benefits. Also, in celebration of its 15th anniversary, SOFTSWISS is offering new Sportsbook clients free access to the Jackpot Aggregator for all local jackpot campaigns for the first 150 days after launch.

About SOFTSWISS 

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SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Software, and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.