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Safer Gambling: UK Govt Shows its Cards on the Trajectory of Gambling Reform for Digital Age
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has recently presented a white paper to Parliament, outlining the ill-equipped and outdated standards for protecting vulnerable players, and how they have failed to adapt to the digitalised age of gambling. There seems to be a disconnect between the technological advancements of gambling itself, and the technological advancements intended to protect its players.
According to the paper, there are an estimated 3,000,000 people in Great Britain who struggle with “problem gambling” – defined as “a degree which compromises, disrupts or damages family, personal or recreational pursuits”. The impact of problematic gambling can destroy lives and, given the impact of the current economic crisis on the lives of so many, it is imperative that the industry is supported to take on board the new approaches to gambling protocol as put forward by the white paper.
Despite the technological advancements within the industry making gambling accessible online, there is still a demand for land-based gambling enterprises such as casinos, betting shops and racecourses as they offer an authentic experience and atmosphere. Such a vivacious atmosphere cannot be emulated online which is indicative that land-based gambling sites will always be popular among players, whether regular or first-timers.
The white paper acknowledges that these are subject to outdated regulations, and looks to bring these in line with the proposed changes to the online gambling reformations. These intend to enable better monitoring of land-based gambling, in the same way that controls can be placed online to help protect players wherever they play.
From betting shops to pubs with arcade machines, discover more about what the recent white paper recommends for implementing Player Protection protocols in the business and providing responsible restrictions for customers.
Player Protection
Gambling operators are responsible for identifying customers who are susceptible to harmful play and must act accordingly. However, the operators have not had to date the adequate tools or assistance in performing checks on every person that enters their premises. Technology can be utilised to aid operators in this challenging but necessary task in protecting their players.
Biometric technology can help the operator in three core tasks
1) Age Estimation to prevent underage gambling
2) Player Tracking to limit daily spend or excessive losses
3) Identifying Self-Excluded Players
Underage Gambling
In the UK, most forms of gambling are illegal for those under 18s, and the government has the intention of strengthening this further by enacting legislation to ensure consistency. Gambling organisations are obliged to have stringent procedures in place to prevent underage gambling.
Recent figures released by Serve Legal reveal a vast rise in the number of bookies preventing young people from entering their shops. Instances of betting shops carrying out spot checks on underage players have increased from 67% to 91% over the last ten years. This is a promising statistic, and concrete evidence that the new infrastructure put in place to protect players is working.
“However, there are still too many instances of insufficient age verification in some venues, particularly those such as pubs, which can offer adult-only gaming machines but are not adult-only venues like many gambling premises.” – UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2023.
To further help reduce access to premises, ICU Pro can detect if an underage person is entering the premises and send an alert to the operator. A MyCheckr can be placed at the counter to aid the till operator in estimating the age of the customer and also reduce risk of abuse in asking for ID. Analytic and appropriate advertisements is also an attractive feature of the MyCheckr and can be used both as a return on investment and a valuable tool to extract the demographics of the customer base.
Biometric technology can be also used to automate age checks at a machine. ICU Lite, for example, is a compact age estimation device that can be seamlessly integrated into existing software and machines to help businesses comply with adherence to age restrictions. Through more stringent and consistent checks it can help prevent play from vulnerable persons who are underage from accessing the machine.
This new technology gives the operator 3 touchpoints where underage gambling can be prevented, 1) at entry to the premises 2) at the counter 3) at the gaming machine itself.
Player Tracking
Under the Gambling Act 2005, the Gambling Commission was established to regulate the industry and ensure responsible gambling among both individuals and businesses involved in gambling in Great Britain. In their review, the Department of Culture and Sport worked with the Gambling Commission to develop a two-form financial check preventative procedure.
The first will be background checks for moderate levels of spend, to check for indicators of financial vulnerability such as County Court Judgements, and should occur at £125 net loss within a month or £500 within a year. The next check is for higher levels of spending, suggestive of a harmful gambling binge or irrecoverable financial losses as a result of gambling, proposed at a threshold of £1000 net loss within 24 hours or £2000 within 90 days.
Biometric technology can again help operators in this vital task. An ICU Lite can be placed in every machine. Once a player accesses the machine, their age is initially checked. If the person is overage, then their face can be converted into a FaceID. This FaceID can be anonymously linked to the session and shared with all connected machines. Information such as daily spend and losses can then be linked to this FaceID and any necessary interventions can be easily alerted to the operator.
Additionally, the FaceID of a person can be used to set tailored restrictions and can be uploaded to the operators’ database with the agreed restrictions. For each session, the FaceID can ensure that the player will adhere to playing with the restrictions they have set. The FaceID can be automatically deleted after 24 hours and as such no data is stored permanently on the device.
Self-Exclusion
The Betting and Gaming Council enforces that anyone concerned about their gambling habits can exclude themselves from on-premises gambling facilities. Self-exclusion has the potential to help those suffering from gambling addictions to have more control over their lives and build a healthier relationship with gambling.
If a player has self-excluded, the device with facial recognition technology will store that player’s information as FaceID. If the player attempts to play again, the device will detect a match on the system for an attempt of play by a person who is self-excluding and alert the operator. This intervention can occur at multiple touchpoints, such as access to the premises, at the counter or at the machine itself.
Bolstering the Gambling Commission
The white paper also discusses the powers and resources given to the Gambling Commission. The paper acknowledges the difficult feat that the Commission is faced with; in an ever-evolving industry that has long been subject to outdated regulations, there is a lot of work to be done.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport envisions a future where the Commission has greater powers as regulators of the industry and supports the Commission in gaining cooperation from operators to share data to help identify non-compliance to licence conditions.
This is made even more prevalent as the Commission has recently issued its largest fine in history. A British online gambling company was recently fined £19.2m for widespread social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures, a record-breaking figure in the UK. The organisation had previously been fined £6.2m in 2018 for the same reasons, illustrating a repeatedly negligent pattern.
Protecting vulnerable players is a vital but complex task. Operators need the right support and tools to maintain and advance player protection as technology develops. Biometric technology will play a key role in implementing these key reforms designed to improve player protection.
The future for gambling certainly looks like one of change for the better. The restrictions are there not to impede the recreational joy of gambling, but to protect those most vulnerable to addiction. As stated by MP Lucy Frazer, who penned the ministerial foreword of the white paper, “prevention of harm will always be better than a cure, so we are determined to strengthen consumer protection and prevent exploitative practices”.
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S8UL creating history as the first Indian organization to secure four nominations at Esports Awards 2025.

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In a landmark moment for Indian esports, S8UL, a global powerhouse in gaming and esports content, has made history by becoming the first Indian organization to secure four nominations at the prestigious Esports Awards 2025, set to take place in Las Vegas on November 19, 2025.
Equivalent to the Oscars of gaming, the Esports Awards are the most esteemed global recognition platform for excellence in the esports and gaming ecosystem. Each year, they celebrate the players, creators, organizations, and innovations shaping the future of gaming worldwide.
This year, S8UL has earned nominations across four major categories, marking another milestone for India on the world esports map:
Esports Content Group of the Year – S8UL Esports
Having won this award three years in a row (2022, 2023, and 2024), S8UL returns as a frontrunner in the category that has established it among the most decorated organizations in Esports Awards history. The nomination further reinforces its dominance as a content powerhouse and community leader.
Esports Personality of the Year – Animesh Agarwal (8Bit Thug)
As the driving force behind S8UL, Animesh Agarwal has been recognised for his immense contributions to India’s gaming ecosystem and his leadership in bridging the worlds of esports, entertainment, and brand partnerships. Under his guidance, S8UL has become one of the most influential organizations in global esports.
Esports Content Creator of the Year – Raj Varma (Snax)
Raj Varma, one of India’s most beloved creators, has been nominated for his engaging storytelling, skill-based content, and influence in shaping the next generation of gamers. A former esports athlete, he is now among the country’s biggest gaming creators, with over 2.15 million subscribers on YouTube and 1.1 million followers on Instagram.
Streamer of the Year – Payal Dhare (PayalGaming)
One of India’s most prominent gaming personalities, Payal Dhare has been recognized for her trailblazing journey that continues to inspire millions of women gamers. Known for curating diverse gaming content, she remains the only female gamer from India to win an international award, paving the way for more women to pursue gaming professionally.
This recognition follows a landmark year for S8UL, which represented India at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh after becoming the first and only Indian organization selected for the prestigious Club Partner Program by the Esports World Cup Foundation. Last year, Naman Mathur (Mortal) brought further pride to India by winning ‘Esports Content Creator of the Year,’ marking a first for an Indian creator on such a global platform.
As the world gears up for the Esports Awards 2025, all eyes are now on S8UL and its creators to once again make India proud on the world’s biggest esports stage.
Voting for the Esports Awards 2025 is now live at www.esportsawards.com/vote, and will remain open until November 12, 2025.
The post S8UL creating history as the first Indian organization to secure four nominations at Esports Awards 2025. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Gaming in Germany Conference confirms new speakers, breakout program

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The Gaming in Germany Conference, which will take place November 11 in Berlin, has added several new speakers to its already impressive agenda.
Sebastian Buchholz, Head of Licensing and Market Supervision, Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), will deliver the event’s keynote address.
The operator’s perspective will be well represented at this year’s Gaming in Germany Conference, with Christian Heins, Director iGaming Tipico; Alex Green, Vice President – Games, ZEAL Network; and Ewout Keuleers, former General Counsel, Kindred Group all confirmed to make an appearance at our event.
Naturally, attendees will also hear from both German and European trade associations, with Dr. Dirk Quermann, President, Deutscher Online Casinoverband (DOCV); Mathias Dahms, President, Deutscher Sportwettenverband (DSWV); and Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) contributing.
Willem van Oort, founder of Gaming in Germany commented: “I am extremely pleased with this year’s speaker lineup. I think it speaks of the relevance of our event, and especially the key topics that we are highlighting this year: the threat of the black market and the evaluation of the 2021 State Gambling Treaty. I see that licensed operators are highly committed to making the German iGaming market more sustainable and competitive and I am very happy that we are trusted to play a role in promoting fruitful discussion and debate on these topics.”
“As the event takes place while the evaluation of the 2021 State Gambling Treaty is ongoing, this is certainly the time to be part of the conversation,” van Oort added.
Breakout program and networking opportunities
In addition to its main program, the Gaming in Germany Conference will also feature several highly practical breakout sessions on data compliance, game certification, RG, live casino, eSports, and much more.
The full agenda, including breakout program, is available here.
In addition to a loaded program, the Gaming in Germany Conference also offers plenty of networking opportunities during pre-conference dinner, coffee breaks, lunch, and concluding networking drinks.
Practical information
The 2025 Gaming in Germany Conference takes place Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hilton Ku’damm in Berlin – just 100 meters from the magnificent Kurfürstendamm.
The post Gaming in Germany Conference confirms new speakers, breakout program appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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PAGCOR LAUNCHES DIGITAL SPACE FOR GAD

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PAGCOR proudly launched today its Gender and Development (GAD) Digital Corner dedicated to promoting gender equality, empowerment, inclusivity, and diversity within the organization and beyond.
The digital space features comprehensive GAD-related contents including the latest news and announcements, significant laws and issuances, projects and activities, and other beneficial resources.
The PAGCOR Digital Corner will be displayed as wallpaper on all office desktops with the new GAD logo and a QR code directing to the GAD Digital Corner website from October 16 to November 16, 2025.
This initiative highlights PAGCOR’s continuing support to gender equality and inclusivity in the workplace, in relation to Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women.
The post PAGCOR LAUNCHES DIGITAL SPACE FOR GAD appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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