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GAMSTOP marks fifth anniversary with parliamentary reception as record numbers chose to self-exclude
- Lords event hosted by peer who first advocated multi-operator self-exclusion
- GAMSTOP has registered more than 380,000 users since its inception in April 2018
- May 2023 was a record month for registrations, eclipsing March 2023
Parliamentarians, regulators, gambling charities operators, and those with lived experience, gathered at Westminster to mark the fifth anniversary of GAMSTOP, the UK’s independent online gambling self-exclusion scheme.
The event on Wednesday June 14th was hosted by Lord Browne of Belmont, who first advocated a national gambling self-exclusion scheme, and former gamblers spoke about the importance of GAMSTOP in helping them overcome their problems.
GAMSTOP was launched in April 2108 and two years later it became a licensing condition for all UK operators to integrate with the scheme, in addition to operating their own self-exclusion schemes. More than 380,000 people have registered with GAMSTOP since its inception, choosing to exclude themselves from all UK operators for a period of either six months, a year or five years.
Last month was GAMSTOP’s busiest ever with a record 8,594 new consumers registering for the free service, 90 more registrations than the previous record in March 2023.
Users interviewed recently by independent research agency, Sonnet, said that GAMSTOP provided an important safety net and self-exclusion was helping their recovery. The House of Lords reception brought together former gamblers, who shared their experiences in a video played to guests.
Stacey Goodwin, from Chesterfield, who is recovering from an eight-year addiction, said:
“GAMSTOP was vital for me in my recovery. I’ve had a lot of comments during my recovery such as ‘you’re so strong’ but I don’t feel that way. The truth is that when I don’t feel in a good place, GAMSTOP is the tool that is strong for me.”
Matt Blanks, who started gambling at 11 and lost around £700,000, said:
“GAMSTOP really is a lifeline not only for me, but for a lot of people struggling with gambling harm. It gives you the chance to stop and reflect and take away the temptation of gambling”.
Jack Scott, who has overcome his gambling addiction to become a successful endurance runner, said:
“GAMSTOP smashed through the roadblock, I was sick of the person I had become. With a tool like GAMSTOP, if it can promote you being the best person of yourself why would you not tick that box?”
Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, told guests:
“We are constantly looking at ways we can improve the experience for our consumers, ensuring that GAMSTOP offers secure and effective exclusion from online gambling for those who have registered. We are also looking at improving consumer journeys both in terms of enabling them to seamlessly exclude from all gambling, not just online, and ensuring that they are signposted effectively to further support and treatment should they want it”.
Speaking at the event, Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE, National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms for the NHS, said the UK was leading the way on self-exclusion and called for further work to be done with land based self-exclusion. She said:
“We are fighting tech with tech. Patients are frustrated by self-exclusion measures because they cannot beat them. Some patients are returning to bookmakers because that’s the only thing left to do. They are using cashback from Tesco to get around bank blocks. There’s an enormous need to block people from going into bookmakers by having a universal scheme for the country”.
iQOO S8UL
iQOO S8UL crowned champions of Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA Legends 5v5 tournaments
iQOO S8UL, the MOBA Legends 5v5 team of S8UL Esports, emerged victorious at the Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA tournaments, with a nail-biting 4-3 win in the grand final held in Kolkata on February 18. The championship secured the team INR 12.5 lakh in prize money and reinforced S8UL Esports’ dominance in the Indian competitive MOBA scene.
The month-long tournament featured 1,024 teams in open qualifiers, culminating in a top-16 main event. Led by in-game leader Mohammad Saad (Apex), alongside Abhijeet Katkar (Abhi), Mehta Jay (J), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), and Joseph Nehhunjang (Kakarot), iQOO S8UL displayed remarkable composure and strategic execution throughout.
The team’s path to victory included:
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Quarterfinals: 2-0 win over Megatron Esports (Bo3)
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Semifinals: 3-1 victory over PEAK (Bo5)
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Group A Finals: 4-0 sweep of Elusivity Esports (Bo7)
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Grand Final: 4-3 triumph against Godlike Esports (Bo7)
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder of S8UL Esports, commented: “This win is a testament to our long-term vision and structured support system for elite players. The Indian MOBA ecosystem is growing rapidly, and victories like this validate our investment in building top-tier lineups and nurturing talent.”
IGL Mohammad Saad (Apex) added: “The grand final was one of the most intense series we’ve played. This title belongs to everyone who believed in us.”
The victory strengthens S8UL Esports’ reputation as a leading Indian esports organization, highlighting its commitment to developing elite talent and elevating India’s presence in both national and global esports arenas.
The post iQOO S8UL crowned champions of Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup, one of India’s largest MOBA Legends 5v5 tournaments appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
PG Soft, a leading mobile games developer, returns to SiGMA Africa 2026, taking place from March 3–5 at The Grand Arena, GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World in Cape Town, South Africa, with two high-profile sponsorships.
Africa remains a rapidly growing and increasingly savvy iGaming market, forming a key part of PG Soft’s long-term expansion strategy.
The HD Screen at Entrance Sponsorship puts PG Soft’s logo on giant screens next to registration, accompanied by a looped promotional video showcasing its diverse game portfolio to every attendee.
Meanwhile, the Registration Counter Sponsorship gives the brand prominent exposure at the start of the SiGMA experience, featuring full branding and two dedicated screens for maximum visibility.
The dual sponsorship underscores PG Soft’s commitment to the African iGaming market and its ongoing strategic growth in the region.
A PG Soft spokesperson said: “Africa continues to be an exciting frontier for iGaming innovation and growth. By sponsoring SiGMA Africa once again, we’re reaffirming our dedication to this vibrant market and our belief in its potential. We look forward to connecting with industry leaders and partners at one of the continent’s premier gaming events.”
The post PG Soft returns with dual sponsorship for SiGMA Africa 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Belatra, the innovative online slots developer, is back with the highly anticipated sequel to its hit Blast the Bass, introducing Ice Bass.
The familiar fisherman returns, swapping summer gear for a heavy-duty parka and an ice drill, ready to fish beneath a frozen lake for a maximum win of 5,000x. Each spin is accompanied by an energetic soundtrack that intensifies as players progress through the game’s new levels.
Fish icons represent both standard payline elements and credit symbols, with multipliers ranging from 2x to 1000x. The Fisherman-Wild, appearing exclusively in Free Games, collects all visible values on the screen, with multiple Fishermen multiplying the haul.
Players can unlock boosters during the pre-game fishing phase—triggered by three or more Scatters in Free Games—that add Fishermen, extra spins, or guaranteed Fish symbols. The round continues until the dreaded Old Boot is hooked, with the Booster panel stacking rewards and multipliers as the feature progresses.
Hot Mode, activated by five Scatters in the base game, immediately awards active multipliers and additional games. Players can increase Scatter frequency with the Bet +25% option or jump straight into Free Games or Hot Mode using the Buy Bonus feature.
Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented: “Get your winter gear ready for our slick new Ice Bass, a worthy follow-up to the much-loved Blast the Bass. We wanted to create a game that packs the same punch as the original but in a thrilling winter setting—and the team has delivered a game that’s scorching hot even below zero!”
The post Rods at the ready for Belatra’s Ice Bass slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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