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Martin Lycka to Welcome Former Liverpool and Leeds Star to Safe Bet Show at SBC Summit 2025
Safer gambling expert Martin Lycka will welcome former Liverpool and Leeds defender Dominic Matteo to SBC Summit 2025 for a live edition of The Safe Bet Show in collaboration with EPIC Global Solutions.
Matteo made 155 appearances for Liverpool between 1992 and 2000 before moving to Leeds United. During his time at the club, he played a key role in their run to the Champions League semi-finals and later went on to captain the side. He also enjoyed spells at Sunderland, Stoke City, and Blackburn Rovers, and represented Scotland at international level.
Since retiring at the end of the 2008/09 season, Matteo has become a leading voice in the safer gambling space, drawing on his own experience of struggling with gambling addiction. He now works with EPIC alongside his wife, Jess Matteo, where they serve as Lived Experience Facilitators to help raise awareness of gambling-related harm among professional athletes.
Matteo’s gambling addiction began towards the end of his career while playing for Blackburn. At its worst, he placed a £500,000 bet on a single horse race and accumulated debts of more than £1 million. His recovery began with the unwavering support of his wife Jess, whose role he describes as instrumental in helping him rebuild his life.
That support proved vital once again in 2019, when Matteo was diagnosed with a brain tumour that required life-saving surgery and radiotherapy. Remarkably, the tumour had been dormant since childhood — leading Matteo to reflect that he had unknowingly played his entire professional career with it.
The couple have since dedicated themselves to educating players across the EFL, Scottish Premiership and PREM Rugby on safer gambling measures. Their work focuses on building awareness, helping players spot early signs of harm, and connecting them to the right support.
Matteo’s story brings a powerful perspective to SBC Summit’s Player Protection Stage, where he and his wife Jess will join Lycka for a live conversation on Tuesday, 16 September, from 16:30 to 17:00. Jess will share her insights on what it means to support a loved one through gambling addiction, including how families can find the right advice and access meaningful support.
Their session comes as SBC Summit 2025 prepares to host its first-ever Legends Charity Game, featuring football icons such as Kaka, LuĂs Figo, Cafu, Alessandro Del Piero, Patrice Evra, and more. Against that backdrop, Matteo’s appearance offers a timely reminder of the need to educate both current and former players on the risks of gambling harm.
Ahead of the live show, Lycka said: “Dominic’s journey is one of incredible resilience. His willingness to speak openly about his struggles and his fantastic educational work with athletes is deeply impactful.
“Having him and Jess join me for this live edition of The Safe Bet Show brings an essential human perspective to the wider conversation on player protection. I’m honoured that I’ll be able to share the stage with them both in Lisbon.”
The Player Protection Stage will run across all three days of SBC Summit, from 16 to 18 September. Day one will focus on regulation, day two will explore the role of technology in player protection, and day three will be dedicated to research.
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Arizona Department of Gaming and Arizona Lottery Announce Proclamation Recognizing September 2025 as Responsible Gaming Education Month
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State agencies join forces to raise awareness, promote prevention, and provide tools for safe and responsible play.
The Arizona Department of Gaming (ADG) and the Arizona Lottery are proud to announce a joint effort in support of a new Proclamation recognizing September 2025 as Responsible Gaming Education Month in Arizona.
Responsible gaming is about ensuring that individuals who choose to play have the tools, resources, and knowledge they need to make informed decisions and enjoy gaming as a form of entertainment. While problem gambling initiatives focus on helping those already experiencing harm from gambling, responsible gaming emphasizes prevention by encouraging healthy play behaviors before they reach a critical point.
Throughout September, and continuing in the months ahead, the ADG and Arizona Lottery will work together to strengthen education and awareness initiatives. The goal is to equip players with strategies and resources that help them keep gaming fun and safe, while helping reduce the risks associated with problem gambling.
“For over 30 years, the Arizona Department of Gaming has safeguarded the integrity of gaming through strong consumer protections, enforcement against illegal operators, and support services for those impacted by problem gambling,” said Jackie Johnson, Arizona Department of Gaming Agency Director. “During Responsible Gaming Education Month, we remind everyone that part of playing responsibly is being informed—always double-check before you place your bet to ensure you are using a legal, regulated operator at gaming.az.gov/checkyourbet.”
The Arizona Lottery also remains steadfast in its commitment to responsible play and has a Level 2 certification with the World Lottery Association for responsible gaming. Lottery games benefit the people of Arizona by generating critical revenue that funds education, healthcare, environmental conservation, and economic development. At the same time, the Lottery prioritizes the well-being of its players. Each ticket includes clear odds of winning, vending machines display game odds, and the 1-800-NEXT-STEP helpline is featured across Lottery products and advertising.
“We are proud to deliver entertainment that benefits communities across our state, while recognizing our responsibility to promote safe play,” said Alec Thomson, Arizona Lottery Executive Director. “Through transparency and awareness, we want every player to have the tools they need to make informed decisions and enjoy the Lottery responsibly.”
As Arizona observes Responsible Gaming Education Month, ADG and the Arizona Lottery encourage all players to stay informed, know their limits, and seek help if needed. Together, we can ensure that gaming remains a source of entertainment that strengthens, rather than harms, Arizona communities.
For more information and resources, visit gaming.az.gov/ResponsibleGaming or ArizonaLottery.com/ResponsibleGaming. If you or someone you know may be struggling with problem gambling, call or text 1-800-NEXT-STEP for confidential support available 24/7.
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Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
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Seasoned iGaming executive brings decade of commercial expertise to drive B2B growth
VeliTech, the B2B technology division of Veli Group, today announced the appointment of Mats Lundin as Chief Sales Officer (CSO). Lundin brings over 10 years of commercial leadership experience across the iGaming sector to accelerate VeliTech expansion as operators worldwide seek battle-tested platform solutions.
In his new role, Lundin will spearhead VeliTech global sales strategy, focusing on delivering the company’s comprehensive suite of iGaming solutions to operators seeking proven technology backed by real-world performance. His appointment reinforces VeliTech commitment to partnering with operators who demand more than promises – they want technology that is already winning in the market.
“Mats embodies the kind of proven expertise that our operator partners expect,” said Giorgi Aleksidze, CEO at VeliTech.
“His track record of building meaningful relationships and driving revenue growth aligns perfectly with our approach of backing our technology with real results. When we say we bet on our tech, we need leaders who understand what that means in practice.”
Lundin joins VeliTech from Vegangster, where he served as Sales Manager. His career spans key roles including Director of Sales and Chief Commercial Officer at Gaming Corps, Head of Sales at iSoftBet, and various commercial positions where he consistently delivered revenue growth and market expansion
“What drew me to VeliTech is their unique position in the market,” said Lundin.
“This is not just another platform provider making bold claims – this is a team that operates their own gaming brands and proves their technology works where it matters most. That combination of technical excellence and real-world validation creates compelling value for operators.”
Throughout his career, Lundin has specialised in provider and operator relationship management, regulatory navigation, and market analysis. His expertise spans both B2B and B2C sectors, with a proven ability to identify growth opportunities and translate them into sustainable commercial success.
The VeliTech platforms cover all critical aspects of iGaming, including player account management, no-code CRM, payment gateway, content aggregation, and game development. The appointment of Lundin as CSO comes as the company continues expanding its presence across regulated markets, from European casinos to emerging African markets.
The post VeliTech Appoints Mats Lundin as Chief Sales Officer appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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