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Racing TV survey uncovers significant black market threat
A recent Racing TV survey has drawn a strong response among its members, with more than 3,500 having their say on the Gambling Act Review and the spectre of the black market.
Racing TV is fully supportive of the objectives of the Gambling Act Review in protecting those at risk of gambling harm. In what is the first consumer survey to assess the scale of the black market and affordability checks, the key findings were:
- 80% of the 3,469 respondents said they would not like to see mandatory limits imposed by bookmakers
- 15% of 3,539 respondents said they bet, or know someone that bets, with an unregulated online bookmaker
- 22% of 3,575 respondents said they have been asked to supply personal information
- 50% (404 respondents) of those asked to supply this information, refused to do so
- 92% of 3,237 respondents said they would consider using a different bookmaker if no personal information was required
Affordability checks and loss limits have been key focal areas of the ongoing Gambling Act Review and will draw most attention when the White Paper is published.
Reports in the media last year indicated that a leaked draft of the White Paper contained fixed loss limit thresholds. These are highly contentious for our survey respondents. Nearly 80% of the 3,469 respondents said they would not like to see mandatory limits imposed by bookmakers.
Perhaps the most worrying of these findings was that 15% of the 3539 respondents to the below question said that they bet, or they know someone that bets, with an unregulated online bookmaker.
In the absence of clear direction from the Gambling Commission, and while the wait for the publication of the White Paper goes on, many bookmakers have introduced affordability checks, some of which, such as requests for payslips, bank statements or P60s, could be considered intrusive.
More than 22% of the 3,575 respondents to the below question suggested that they have been asked to supply such documents.
Just over half of those who had been asked to supply such documents declined to do so.
In addition, more than 92% of 3,237 respondents to the below question suggested they would consider using a bookmaker, which didn’t require documentation.
Martin Stevenson, CEO of Racing TV’s parent company Racecourse Media Group, said: “The widespread response to the Racing TV survey shows how much the ongoing Gambling Act Review, combined with their recent experiences, is affecting our members.
“Our survey revealed that 15% of respondents bet, or know someone that bets, with an unregulated bookmaker, which is of real concern. With millions of customers betting on racing, the findings of this survey indicate that hundreds of thousands of punters are potentially using the black market.
“This survey is clear evidence that shows that the black market is real and substantial and suggests that affordability checks are having the effect of moving a significant number of affected punters out of the UK-regulated environment and so exposing them to potential harm. This must be a pyrrhic victory and the opposite to what affordability checks set out to achieve.
“We have shared this information with the Gambling Commission and hope that they can take account of this in their assessment of the black market. The evidence suggests it exists and is only building.”
Stevenson went on: “Nearly a quarter (22%) responded yes to the question on whether they had been asked for personal information, with 50% refusing to comply. This is a strikingly high percentage, demonstrating consumers’ rejection of this intrusion on their leisure activity.
“The inference that 22% of racing punters are at risk of harm is very challenging to believe and appears excessive when compared against the overall prevalence of problem gambling.
“In addition, RMG has seen a material decline in online betting turnover on horseracing in 2022. The Racing Post has estimated the sport could lose up to £40m of funding each year. Everyone involved in the industry should be deeply concerned. The impact of affordability checks is that the sport is suffering a heavy financial toll.”
The former Minister with responsibility for Horseracing and Gambling, Paul Scully, recently indicated how the Government were approaching affordability checks, saying: “It is not the role of the government, it is not the role of the Gambling Commission, to tell people how much of their salary they are ‘allowed to’ spend on gambling.”
Stevenson continued: “I hope that the new Minister with responsibility for Horseracing and Gambling will also consider the results of this survey as part of the ongoing work on the Gambling Act Review. It has been long overdue, in this process, to consider the attitudes of the consumers themselves in regard to how they choose to spend their time and money. I was very glad to hear the former Minister acknowledge that in his recent speech.
“Applying universal limits does not recognise the wide range of natural betting behaviours, events, seasonality or differing individual financial circumstances. The undoubted highlight of the Jumps season, the upcoming Cheltenham Festival – which is the major focus for many punters – is clearly a case in point. To that end, I was pleased to see the former Minister stating that a ‘one size fits all approach’ was not the intention.
“I’d like to thank all our members who took part in the survey.”
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MyEmpire, one of the leading brands within the MioMedia affiliate program, proudly unveils its grand transformation. The empire has been reborn — with a stunning new look, an expanded collection of games, and thrilling new features set to redefine the gaming experience.
The redesigned MyEmpire brand unveils a fresh and immersive environment inspired by great civilizations of the past. The new interface offers smoother navigation, enhanced visuals, and a layout that reflects the brand’s evolution and the spirit of the empire. It’s cleaner, faster, and full of life — giving players the feeling of truly stepping into a renewed realm of majesty.
The updated design extends across the entire game world, bringing richer landscapes, detailed architecture, and enhanced character art that adds elegance and depth, drawing players further into play.
Along with the visual transformation, MyEmpire is expanding its portfolio with new games. Each title offers a unique experience while staying true to the empire’s spirit of strategy, adventure, and discovery. Together, they create a broader and more dynamic world for players to explore.
Beyond new games, MyEmpire is expanding with the launch of a dedicated shop — a new destination where players can purchase exclusive items or exchange their in-game bonuses for them. It’s a fresh way to turn progress into rewards and make every victory even more satisfying.
Soon, players will also enjoy new gamification features — SpinRally, Wheel of Fortune, and WonderPot. These additions will introduce even more thrills and rewards, giving players the chance to test their luck, win prizes, and uncover new surprises within the empire. Each feature is designed to enhance engagement and add a fresh layer of fun to the play.
MioMedia Affiliates continue to stand at the forefront of iGaming innovation, bringing together top-performing brands and world-class affiliate partnerships. As MyEmpire enters a new era with its refreshed look and features, MioMedia Affiliates celebrates the brand’s dedication to excellence, creativity, and pursuit of entertainment that both inspires and rewards.
For more information and guidance, contact the team: https://www.miomedia.com/contact-us
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Rokky, the PC game distribution platform delivering publisher-approved keys to global markets, has today unveiled its landmark whitepaper, The State of PC Distribution. The report, based on an independent study of 306 game industry execs, reveals how Steam’s continued dominance of PC game distribution leaves developers fearing their over-reliance on the platform and exploring alternative channels.
For years, Steam has deservedly been synonymous with PC game distribution. A striking 72% of developers believe Steam operates as a monopoly, with more than half (53%) concerned about their overwhelming reliance on a single platform. With over 18,000 new titles hitting Steam in 2024, the dominant storefront is drowning in games, and this fierce competition fuels developers’ concerns for game distribution. Market saturation (35%), and the ever-present challenge of discoverability (33%) are cited as key challenges, although the rise of the free-to-play model (40%) was named as the number one concern.
In response, developers are diversifying their distribution channels, with a significant 48% utilising the Epic Games Store. E-stores (38%) and marketplaces (30%) are also key channels for PC distribution, offering avenues to sell Steam keys outside of Valve’s platform, and appreciated by a third of developers for their access to hard-to-reach markets. The report also dives deep into the often-misunderstood gray market, where discounted keys are resold from low-priced regions in marketplaces and e-stores. With 73% of developers concerned about players reselling keys, “The State of PC Distribution” Report details how studios can reap the perceived benefits of e-stores and marketplaces without falling victim to the gray market.
Vadim Andreev, CEO and Co-Founder of Rokky, said:
“With a growing prominence of e-stores and marketplaces, PC game distribution is more varied, vast, and complex than it has ever been. New opportunities are everywhere – as are pitfalls and challenges. And most of the old guard remain relevant. Understanding the nuances has never been more important, and so we created this report to highlight the trends that matter.”
Key Findings from “The State of PC Distribution”:
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Today’s challenges: The rise of free-to-play games is the biggest challenge of selling PC games today (40%), followed by market saturation and competition (35%) and discoverability (33%)
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Steam’s dominance: 88% of studios say Steam accounts for over 75% of their revenue. 72% feel Steam effectively exists as a monopoly and 53% are concerned about their level of reliance on that single platform.
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Beyond Steam: 48% have distributed a title to the Epic Games Store, 30% to marketplaces such as G2A and Kinguin, 38% to e-stores such as Fanatical or Humble Bundle, 10% have distributed with GOG, and 8% with itch.io.
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Marketplace Benefits: Developers relate marketplaces with benefits such as ease of use (45%), pricing control (35%), promotional support (33%) and international reach (31%).
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E-Store Benefits: Developers relate marketplaces with benefits such as ease of use (41%), pricing control (35%), promotional support (33%) and international reach (35%)
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Marketplace Concerns: Developers relate marketplaces with the gray market (24%), loss of control (22%), and loss of revenue (22%).
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E-Store Concerns: Developers relate e-stores with the gray market (23%), loss of control (23%), and loss of revenue (19%).
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Alternative distribution outlook: 75% of developers anticipate at least a 10% revenue uplift from using e-stores and marketplaces; 80% expect alternative channels to become a regular part of their distribution mix within five years.
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Defining the gray market: Only 22% believe the gray market is the concept of unauthorised reselling. For the majority of respondents (73%), the gray market is not a practice but a place. 24% perceive that marketplaces themselves are the gray market, 24% define it as e-stores, and 25% believe the gray market is a combination of both.
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Resale concerns: 73% of developers are concerned about players reselling keys.
The post 53% OF PC DEVELOPERS WORRY ABOUT STEAM RELIANCE, AS PC DISTRIBUTION DIVERSIFIES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, has strengthened its support of the SiGMA Summit series by sponsoring the SiGMA Central Europe Expo, taking place from 3rd – 6th November at Fiera Roma in Rome, Italy.
The SiGMA Central Europe Expo brings together leading stakeholders from across the global iGaming ecosystem for four days of networking, innovation, and business growth in one of Europe’s most iconic cities.
During the show, PG Soft’s branding will feature prominently at the event’s Registration Counter – the first touchpoint for every attendee and one of the venue’s busiest hubs. Additionally, PG Soft banners will surround the registration desk and storage wall areas.
PG Soft’s branding will also be displayed on large HD screens positioned beside the main entrance, running across all three days of the Expo. Two custom 30-second videos, designed by PG Soft’s creative team, will loop continuously across the displays.
While this sponsorship does not carry an official title, it further reinforces PG Soft’s commitment to enhancing the player and partner experience at leading global expos and supporting SiGMA’s mission to connect and inspire the worldwide iGaming community.
PG Soft’s spokesperson commented: “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with SiGMA for the upcoming Central Europe event in Rome. Our collaboration reinforces PG Soft’s commitment to enhancing the player and partner experience at leading global expos and supporting SiGMA’s mission to connect and inspire the worldwide iGaming community.”
The post PG Soft reinforces European presence through SiGMA Central Europe sponsorship appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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