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English Gambling Education Hub Portal goes live

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  • The EGEH Portal is a new digital resource and network for professionals who work with or have a duty of care towards children and young people.
  • The EGEH has been commissioned by GambleAware, led by GamCare and Ygam, with regional partners Aquarius, ARA, BCT, Breakeven and NECA.
  • It aims to provide professionals with evidence-based information, support and resources, enabling them to deliver preventative education on gambling harms to children and young people.

This week marks the launch of the English Gambling Education Hub (EGEH) portal, a new resource which provides clear evidence-based information, support, and education to those working with children and young people.

The EGEH is a collaboration of seven organisations working together across England. The two national partners are GamCare and Ygam. The local partners include Aquarius, ARA, Beacon Counselling Trust, NECA and Breakeven. The programme is also working in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Gambling Education Hubs.

Commissioned by GambleAware, the EGEH aims to enhance the capability of Youth Services, Family Services, Formal Education, and other services in England to provide early intervention and prevention regarding gambling harms. The EGEH network will create a virtual community of professionals who work with or have a duty of care towards children and young people.

The Gambling Commission’s Young People and Gambling Report for 2022 found that 31 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds had spent their own money on gambling in the last 12 months. The 2022 study also found that 0.9 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds, equivalent to around 35,000 children, were classed as problem gamblers in Great Britain

As part of the EGEH portal, schools can apply to achieve the ‘Gambling Education Quality Mark’. This free quality mark for schools – provided by Ygam on behalf of the EGEH – is in recognition of a school’s commitment to gambling harm prevention through education and consists of them meeting set criterion. The EGEH portal outlines application requirements, how to achieve the ‘Gambling Education Mark’, and what schools will receive as part of the recognition.

Ygam has also developed a Quality Assurance Support Package (QASP). The QASP is for organisations who deliver (or plan to deliver) training around gambling harms and would like support to gain accreditation. Their training can either be given directly to children and young people, or to professionals working with them. More information on the QASP, what it includes, and how it can help organisations refine best practice can also be found on the EGEH portal.

Additionally, the EGEH is hosting a film competition which invites organisations working with children and young people to create a film that raises awareness of gambling harms. Entries are open to 11 to 25-year-olds from all educational settings, formal and informal. The winner will have their film professionally developed and shared in schools across England, as well as being invited to spend the day on set.

Kyle Riding, Head of Programmes at Ygam, said: “Education plays a vital role in preventing gambling harms. As online gambling is now part of the statutory RSE curriculum in schools, it is vital that youth organisations have a convenient place to access consistent information and informed resources to help them to effectively safeguard their children and young people.”

“This collaborative programme is not only an effective way to centralise support for those who need it, but also a great opportunity to build a network of people who all share the same goal to raise awareness and reduce the impact of gambling harms on children and young people across England.”

Shirley Tomkins, Programme Manager at GamCare, said: “The English Gambling Education Hub is uniquely placed to understand the true scale of gambling harm emerging across England and how it will vary in each location and for each community. We know professionals need clear, consistent, and non-judgemental information to effectively support young people, who are increasingly encouraged to engage in gambling or gambling-like behaviour online.”

“We are continuing to listen to young people and elevating their voices through our events and our engagement with relevant stakeholders across the UK. With the Government currently looking at the future of gambling support, it’s important we do not lose sight of the vital role that education will play in protecting the next generation from gambling harms.”

Anna Hargrave, Chief Commissioning and Strategy Officer at GambleAware said: “Gambling harm is a serious public health issue which can affect anyone – including children and young people. Early intervention and prevention programmes, such as these education hubs are vital to keeping people safe from gambling harm. Young people are increasingly exposed to gambling through the wider environment, so it is important that practitioners, educators and youth workers have awareness and understanding of the issue and harms that can result from gambling.”

To find out more about the film competition or to join the EGEH Network to keep up to date with the latest news, please visit www.egeh.org.

For more information about Ygam and our portfolio of education programmes, please visit www.ygam.org or email [email protected].

Belatra

Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe

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Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, is thrilled to announce its participation at the SiGMA Central Europe Expo in Rome, Italy. The event is being held at the Fiera Roma from November 3rd to November 6th, providing Belatra with the perfect chance to showcase its latest legendary slots and front-line solutions.

Belatra’s beloved Mummy will be visiting Rome as the character continues to strike a chord with audiences worldwide. Its unique blend of humour, mystery, and quirky antics has transcended cultures. The character made its debut in 2022 for the release of Mummyland Treasures and has since grown into an extensive multiverse encompassing various formats, special features, and spin-offs, which form the core of our very own flagship game universe.

At SiGMA Central Europe, visitors to Belatra’s Booth #4071 will be able to immerse themselves at the heart of the Mummy Universe. There will be a themed experience that brings the magic and the mystery of our beloved multiverse to life. Special prizes are also on offer from the Mummy’s own treasure vault.

Kateryna Goi, Belatra CMO said:  “SiGMA Europe provides the perfect platform to connect with existing and potential collaborators. Our team is more than ready to present custom solutions, our robust technical infrastructure, and game designs to ensure player involvement and operator success.”

The post Belatra set to unearth ancient treasures at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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EGT Digital Malta Appoints Enrico Bradamante as CEO

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EGT Digital is pleased to announce the appointment of Enrico Bradamante as CEO of its Malta-based operations. With this step, the company continues to strengthen its leadership team and expand its presence in regulated markets.

Enrico brings more than 13 years of experience in the iGaming industry, having held senior management positions at some of the sector’s leading companies. He has served as Managing Director at NetEnt, Chief Commercial Officer at Aristocrat Interactive (formerly Pariplay), and most recently Chief Growth Officer at Relax Gaming. In addition, he is the Chairman and Founder of iGEN (iGaming Executives Network), which demonstrates his commitment to advancing the industry as a whole.

Commenting on the appointment, Enrico Bradamante, CEO of EGT Digital Malta, said:
“I am delighted to be joining the leader in the global gaming industry. Working with the talented and diverse team at EGT Digital, I look forward to supporting the company’s continued success.”

Vladimir Dokov, CEO of EGT Digital, added: “We are very happy to welcome Enrico. I am confident that together we will achieve remarkable results and further strengthen our position in the key regulated markets.”

The appointment of Enrico Bradamante marks an important milestone for EGT Digital Malta, as the company continues to pursue its mission of delivering innovative gaming solutions and exceptional service to partners worldwide.

The post EGT Digital Malta Appoints Enrico Bradamante as CEO appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Payments Under Scrutiny: Polish Example

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Online gambling continues to thrive in Poland, despite the country’s strict regulatory framework. Virtual casinos and betting platforms still attract players with the promise of easy access and quick winnings. Yet, their operations would not be possible without the involvement of payment institutions that process transactions for entities operating outside the boundaries of the law. Behind the scenes lie not only questions about compliance with Poland’s Gambling Act, but also serious concerns about money laundering and the potential financing of criminal activity.

 

PSPs Legal Responsibility

The key question remains the legality of actions taken by payment institutions that handle transactions linked to illegal online gambling. Do they, even unintentionally, help such operations thrive? Under Polish law, payment service providers are required to monitor and limit high-risk transactions. In practice, this means that every deposit or withdrawal connected to unlicensed gambling activity should be treated as a red flag. Special attention is also given to transactions made through popular mobile payment systems such as BLIK. While BLIK itself is not a payment institution under Polish law, the banks and financial operators using it are and it is they who bear responsibility for preventing the flow of funds that may support illegal gambling activities.

 

Clear Legal Framework, Limited Excuses

Polish law leaves little room for speculation here. The register of domains used to offer illegal gambling, the ban on processing payments for unlicensed operators, and the penalties outlined in the Fiscal Penal Code and Criminal Code set clear boundaries of responsibility.

The Anti-Money Laundering Act (AML) and the EU Regulation 2023/1113 require payment institutions to actively monitor transactions, block suspicious transfers, and cut off risky relationships. Guidance issued by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF/UKNF) and the National Risk Assessment, along with its sectoral annex, describes typical abuse schemes and makes it clear that payments directed toward online gambling should be treated as a major warning signal. In practice, this means that financial channels supporting illegal gambling must be identified and shut down before the funds return to players as so-called “winnings.”

And this principle is now being actively enforced. Recently, the Financial Supervision Authority (UKNF) went a step further, issuing a sector-wide warning urging payment service providers to block financial flows to unlicensed operators. In response, Polish payment providers have begun withdrawing support for illegal gambling sites and removing payment options such as BLIK from unlicensed platforms.

 

The Hardest to Detect: The Intermediary Role

The flow of funds into illegal online gambling can take many forms, depending on the relationships between the parties involved in the transaction. The most difficult to detect, however, is the scenario in which a payment institution acts only as an intermediary within a larger payment chain transferring money between other financial service providers without directly serving the payer or the recipient. Even in such cases, the institution is not exempt from its obligation to continuously monitor and analyse all transactions.

Depending on the type of payment, it should apply different verification methods, all aimed at determining whether executing a transfer on behalf of another provider could, in practice, end up funding entities that organize illegal online gambling. The institution must obtain information from the ordering provider about the recipient, determine whether it is engaged in gambling related activity, and verify its legal status. If red flags arise during the analysis such as missing data in the payment chain, a domain listed in the official register, or the absence of the website from the list of legal operators the transaction should be paused or rejected and properly escalated. This includes raising the risk level, notifying the relevant authorities, or even terminating cooperation. When dealing with correspondent relationships involving other institutions, including those based within the European Union, heightened caution is essential.

 

Grey Market Fuelled by Inaction

Illegal online gambling would not exist without the support of the payment system. Although the law clearly defines the obligations of financial institutions, in practice it is often these very institutions that knowingly or not enable the flow of money into illegal online gambling. This is why effective identification and blocking of such transactions is crucial, especially within complex payment chains where tracing the connections can be most difficult. Every transfer made in support of illegal online gambling represents not only a legal risk but also real support for the shadow economy that thrives on the lack of vigilance within the financial sector.

This article was supplied by:

Marek Plota

Founding Attorney at RM Legal & Gaming In Poland •

Marek is a founder and a head of the legal team at RM Legal Law Firm and Gaming In Poland, jointly providing multidisciplinary and multijurisdictional support for leading international gambling operators in the Polish, European Union, and African markets. His gambling practice includes regulatory support at the pre and post-licensing stage, IT, and taxation services, as well as the unique service of performing a function of a gambling representative. RM Legal is the only law firm in Poland representing offshore companies operating legally in the Polish gambling market. Apart from gambling Marek specializes in corporate commercial law and international investment projects.

The post Payments Under Scrutiny: Polish Example appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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