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bacta launch YGAM and Betknowmore UK Safer Gambling Training on portal
Bacta, the trade association which represents the amusement and gaming machine industry in the UK, has reiterated its commitment to raising standards by enabling access to the Safer Gambling Training programme through the bactaPortal.
Safer Gambling Training, developed and delivered by leading charities YGAM and Betknowmore UK, combines specialist knowledge, insight and research to raise standards in player protection. Informed by lived experience and relevant to the latest LCCP requirements, the initiative contains six programmes including key areas such as: understanding customer vulnerability; managing welfare; how to interact with customers and signposting to support services.’ The training will now be accessible via the new bactaPortal which went live in September 2021.
The bactaPortal allows gambling venues to maintain paperless records of all their customer interactions and self-exclusions, as well as hosting training modules and other valuable information. It is available to everyone, although bacta members benefit from a subsidised price.
John White, Chief Executive at bacta welcomed the announcement by saying: “YGAM and Betknowmore UK are renowned for their safer gambling training and we are proud that they have chosen to make it available via the bactaPortal. This initiative is the first of many that will make the bactaPortal indispensable to arcade businesses looking to remove paper from their operations. Not only will we populate the bactaPortal with additional training we will be providing a suite of tools from AV testing logs to crime alerts that will put the bactaPortal at the top of the must haves for the sector.”
The Safer Gambling Team will be attending the upcoming EAG conference in London to showcase their programme and talk to delegates about how they can access the training through the portal.
Ian Shanahan, Director of Business Development and Fundraising at YGAM, said: “We’re delighted with this commitment from bacta. It is encouraging to see an influential trade association support our work and I hope more sectors within the gambling industry continue to invest in our City & Guilds Assured Safer Gambling Training. All profits generated from our training are directed back into our charities to further support our social purpose.”
Frankie Graham, Chief Executive at Betknowmore UK, said: “We are delighted to see bacta support the Safer Gambling Training programme. Sector wide commitment to raising standards through training and enhanced learning is our best guard in the prevention of gambling harms.”
Since launching in April 2021, the charities have sold over 14,500 programmes. The bactaPortal training can be completed online, with each programme taking around 60-minutes to complete. The training can be easily accessed on PC, laptop, tablet or mobile at a time that suits the learner.
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Alina Mihaela Popa Chief Commercial Officer at ICONIC21
ICONIC21 Increases Reach Through Strategic Content Alliance with Celesta
ICONIC21 has achieved an important milestone in its distribution approach by unveiling its complete multi-vertical portfolio on Celesta’s extensive aggregation platform.
This collaboration provides Celesta’s broad operator network with instant access to ICONIC21’s varied collection, including live casino games, slots, and virtual games. The integration signifies a complete portfolio acquisition, guaranteeing that the provider’s full creative production can be distributed globally via Celesta’s efficient technology.
Celesta has positioned itself as a major player in the iGaming supply chain, providing a collection of more than 7,500 titles from leading providers, which now includes ICONIC21. Through a single API integration, the aggregator allows online casinos and sportsbooks to expand quickly while ensuring technical reliability.
The addition of ICONIC21 enhances Celesta’s portfolio, particularly with the Gravity Series in the live dealer segment, alongside an expanding range of mathematically-based slots and virtual games like Plinko and Crash. The partnership aims to satisfy the increasing demand for adaptable content that succeeds among various player demographics and locations.
Commenting on the launch, Alina Mihaela Popa, Chief Commercial Officer at ICONIC21, said: “Joining forces with Celesta is a calculated move to ensure our content hits the right lobbies. What stands out in this partnership is the sheer velocity of the go-to-market process; Celesta’s infrastructure allowed us to transition from agreement to live status with remarkable efficiency. Through them, we can showcase the technical quality of our games and we expect the performance data from this rollout to speak for itself very shortly.”
From Celesta’s side, Corentin Budny, Head of Growth & Account Management, added: “Our objective is to provide operators with tools for genuine differentiation, and ICONIC21’s portfolio fits that brief perfectly. Integrating their full range, from high-energy live tables to virtual games, adds significant depth to our offering. This is a collaboration where success will be measured by clear, quantifiable engagement metrics, and we look forward to analyzing those results as we expand our mutual footprint.”
The agreement highlights ICONIC21’s dedication to a multi-product approach, expanding from a single-vertical emphasis to deliver a comprehensive gaming experience. Utilizing Celesta’s global distribution capabilities, the provider is set to greatly enhance its presence across various markets.
The post ICONIC21 Increases Reach Through Strategic Content Alliance with Celesta appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
bankroll coverage
St8 Partners with iBankroll to Empower Operators with Expanded Financial Muscle
Casino games aggregator and comprehensive technology provider St8 has teamed up with iBankroll to launch bankroll coverage as a service on its platform, further broadening its products and services in international markets.
Through the collaboration, St8 will incorporate iBankroll’s unique Bankroll-as-a-Service model into its services, enabling operators to accommodate higher limits while controlling exposure and utilizing capital more effectively.
Designed exclusively for iGaming, iBankroll merges liquidity, risk knowledge, and strategic acumen to assist operators in achieving growth with enhanced predictability and managed volatility.
Accessible directly through the St8 platform, the integration allows operators to implement iBankroll’s liquidity assistance solution without added operational difficulties, utilizing it either for their entire casino range or specifically for high-limit and VIP segments, based on their exposure strategy.
Designed as a unified, adaptable solution, St8 offers partners access to high-quality content via a single integration, along with marketing tools, analytical features, and comprehensive compliance support.
With St8 expanding its services, the collaboration with iBankroll introduces an additional financial aspect to its platform and represents another advancement in the company’s growth plan, solidifying its role as a next-gen full-service tech provider.
Vladimir Negine, Chief Executive Officer at St8, said: “Our focus at St8 is giving operators the right foundations to grow in regulated markets.
“Partnering with iBankroll introduces an additional range of tools to our platform and is a practical addition to our ecosystem, one we believe will make a real difference for partners as they continue to scale.”
Hayden Bowman, Co-Founder at iBankroll, added: “St8 has built a strong infrastructure for brands launching and expanding in key markets.
“By working together, we are able to extend that proposition with additional liquidity support and a structured risk-sharing mechanism that helps operators offer higher limits while maintaining predictable performance.”
The post St8 Partners with iBankroll to Empower Operators with Expanded Financial Muscle appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Compliance Updates
Romanian Mayors Push to Ban Gambling Halls
A wave of Romanian mayors has followed the example set by Slatina’s mayor, who recently announced plans to eliminate gambling halls from his city under newly amended legislation. While the political signal is growing louder, the decisive vote belongs to local councils – and gambling operators are unlikely to retreat without resistance.
On February 26, the mayor of Vaslui, Lucian Braniște (PSD), said he would submit a draft decision to the Local Council seeking a ban on gambling halls within the city. He argued that gambling has become a serious social issue across many Romanian communities.
“In recent years, gambling has become a real problem in many communities in Romania. Beyond advertisements and colorful lights, behind these halls, there are too often stories of affected families, debts, addiction, and suffering,” the mayor said.
In Ploiești, mayor Mihai Polițeanu also voiced support for eliminating gambling venues and announced that he would table a similar proposal before the City Council, Economedia.ro reported. He described parts of the city centre as having turned into a “strange, underworld-like” area, suggesting that the proliferation of betting shops has contributed to urban degradation.
The mayors of Brăila and Rădăuți have likewise declared their intention to pursue restrictions on gambling activities.
The initiatives follow a recent amendment to gambling legislation adopted by the government, which now requires operators to obtain not only a national licence but also a local authorisation from the mayor’s office in the municipality, town, or commune where they operate. The new provision also empowers local councils to decide whether such activities may take place within their administrative boundaries.
While the political momentum appears to be building, the outcome will ultimately depend on council votes in each locality. Given the economic stakes and the industry’s established presence, legal and political battles are expected before any city can formally declare itself gambling-free.
The post Romanian Mayors Push to Ban Gambling Halls appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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