Latest News
Monica Shafaq, former CEO of mental health charity The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, joins gambling addiction charity Gordon Moody as new CEO
Gordon Moody, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to providing support and treatment for those suffering from severe gambling harm, is delighted to announce the appointment of Monica Shafaq as its new Chief Executive Officer.
Following an extensive and thorough recruitment process conducted by our board of trustees over recent months, Monica Shafaq will take the helm from January 2024.
Monica brings 13 years’ experience in the charity sector and joins Gordon Moody from The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, a leading charitable organisation focused on mental health and wellbeing, where she has served as CEO since 2010.
Her wealth of experience and dedication to the betterment of individuals’ lives align perfectly with Gordon Moody’s mission. During her time in her previous role, Monica implemented the charity’s rebrand from Sandwell Mind into The Kaleidoscope Plus Group and retained a place on the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work for every year since 2015.
Monica will succeed interim CEO Matthew Hickey, who will continue to support the leadership team at Gordon Moody until the end of the year, ensuring a seamless transition until Monica officially assumes her role in early 2024.
During Matthew’s tenure, Gordon Moody has grown its treatment capacity from 120 to 270 a year; increasing the visibility of the organisation at a national level. He oversaw the opening of the UK’s first women-only residential treatment centre in 2021 and has paved the way for a new West Midlands-based treatment facility due to open in 2024, which will increase the number of bed spaces to 350.
Gordon Moody figures* reveal that applications for their treatment were up 43% last year (from 619 to 885), showing a positive narrative in people seeking help. But there’s still a long way to go as GambleAware has recently identified the true figure for those at risk of gambling harm as significantly more than the industry has previously suggested, and may be as high as 1.5 million.
Commenting on her appointment, Monica said: “It is a huge privilege to have been appointed the new CEO of Gordon Moody. It’s an honour to lead an organisation that is committed to making a positive impact to the lives of those affected by gambling harm and to work with the remarkable team of passionate individuals. Together, we will work tirelessly to raise awareness, provide support, and a path to recovery. I am excited to collaborate with existing partners and stakeholders as well as forging new relationships to drive meaningful change.
“I am leaving The Kaleidoscope Plus Group with a heavy heart but filled with pride for what the team has achieved over the past 13 years. We have done some extraordinary work together fighting for mental health equality and I know that we will remain strong allies going forward.”
Gordon Moody trustee, Claire Arnold, said: “We are delighted to welcome Monica to the Gordon Moody team as our new Chief Executive Officer and we would also like to express our sincere thanks to our departing CEO, Matthew Hickey, who has worked tirelessly to advance our cause over the past four years.
“Monica brings a wealth of experience from her work in the charity sector, most recently from The Kaleidoscope Plus Group and her energy for achieving social change will be a huge asset to Gordon Moody.
“We look forward to the new era of leadership under Monica Shafaq’s guidance and are confident that her expertise will contribute significantly to our mission of addressing gambling harm and its profound impact on individuals and families.”
SOFTSWISS, an international iGaming software provider, hosted the second season of its award-winning Summer Kids Camp in August on the shores of Lake Jeziorsko, Poland. The initiative brought together over 100 children of SOFTSWISS employees from more than 11 countries, reaffirming the company’s commitment to a people-first culture that extends well beyond the workplace.
The 11-day camp combined sports, creativity, and early career exploration, with over 50 engaging activities amounting to nearly 350 hours of programming. Children took part in everything from tournaments and creative workshops to speaking clubs and hands-on masterclasses.
A standout feature of this year’s programme was the camp coin system – a playful, gamified experience that introduced children to basic economic thinking. Kids earned coins for being proactive or engaged in educational tasks, and then spent them on fun privileges like ice cream, song requests at the disco, or even “becoming a PE teacher” for an hour, which many cleverly used to cancel morning workouts.
“The coin system helped teach initiative, responsibility, and teamwork in a fun way – almost like running a small business,” said Hanna Sauchuk, Event Producer at SOFTSWISS. One of the most touching moments was when the kids pooled their savings to ‘buy’ a collective sunrise celebration on the final day. That kind of collaboration and emotional intelligence is exactly what we hoped to nurture.”
Last year’s event has earned external recognition, winning the Eventex Award 2025 in the Corporate Event category – placing SOFTSWISS’ initiative alongside brand-led experiences from Disney, Nike, and Netflix.
“For me, this is not just another corporate project – it is one of the most meaningful things we do at SOFTSWISS. It brings our core value ‘We see people’ to life in the most tangible way. We don’t just see professionals at their desks; we see human beings with families, dreams, and passions. The Kids Camp is our way of saying: your family matters to us as much as your work does. It’s an investment in joy, in connection, and in kindness. Because when children are happy, their parents shine – and together, we create a stronger, more united community. This is rare in business, and that’s exactly why we are proud to make it happen at the highest quality,” said Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Kids Camp: Award-Winning Initiative Putting Families First appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
BETBY INTRODUCES HELP ARENA, RAISING THE STANDARD FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION
BETBY, a leading provider of cutting-edge sportsbook solutions, has announced the launch of Help Arena, a comprehensive customer support platform designed to enhance operational efficiency and streamline communication with its partners.
Help Arena serves as a central hub where BETBY partners can access support, submit and manage tickets, and stay informed with tailored updates, all from one intuitive portal. The platform is built to simplify day-to-day operations by consolidating communication and support tools into a single, easy-to-use interface, whilst ensuring that all customer queries and requests are met in a short timeframe
Through Help Arena, partners can engage in real-time communication with BETBY’s support team via an integrated widget and dedicated email channel. The platform is ideated to also support communication through multiple popular messaging apps, reflecting BETBY’s commitment to accessible and responsive support.
The platform features an efficient ticketing system, enabling users to create, track, and manage support requests with ease. Alongside this, Help Arena includes a robust knowledge base and FAQ section covering key topics such as sportsbook features, risk management, Betby Games, and betting rules. Partners can also access release notes and technical maintenance notifications, ensuring they are always up to date with the latest developments.
“Help Arena was developed to provide our partners with a seamless, efficient, and transparent support experience,” said Kirill Zhgun, Head of Customer Support at BETBY. “We understand that convenience and clarity are key to productive partnerships, and Help Arena reflects our commitment to making support as streamlined and effective as possible.”
Looking ahead, BETBY plans to continue enhancing the platform with new features, including deeper analytics, improved reporting tools, and greater customization options. The team is also actively working on expanding the knowledge base and FAQ section to support five languages, making Help Arena even more accessible to a global audience. Help Arena represents not just a support tool, but a long-term investment in the success and satisfaction of BETBY’s partners.
The launch of Help Arena marks a significant milestone in BETBY’s mission to deliver world-class service and operational excellence across the iGaming industry. Partners are encouraged to explore the platform and discover how BETBY is redefining customer support.
To find out more about BETBY, visit: https://betby.com/
About Betby
Betby is a leading B2B provider of top-tier sports betting services, renowned for its groundbreaking technology and dedication to excellence. Betby’s team of industry veterans tap into their knowledge and expertise to deliver a premium, adaptable, and scalable sportsbook platform tailored to meet the varied demands of operators across the globe. From dynamic in-play betting options to robust risk management tools and ground-breaking AI tools, Betby is committed to propelling the success of its partners in the rapidly evolving landscape of online sports betting.
For more information visit betby.com
The post BETBY INTRODUCES HELP ARENA, RAISING THE STANDARD FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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MixRift Appoints Former Meta VP Ingrid Cotoros to Board of Advisors to Accelerate Mixed Reality Gaming Innovation
The post MixRift Appoints Former Meta VP Ingrid Cotoros to Board of Advisors to Accelerate Mixed Reality Gaming Innovation appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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