Latest News

Racing TV survey uncovers significant black market threat

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

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.”

Latest News

S8UL Esports Unveils Power-Packed Call of Duty: Mobile Roster, sets its sights on national and international CODM glory

Published

10 hours ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

This strategic move underscores S8UL’s unwavering commitment to expanding its presence across diverse video gaming titles

S8UL Esports, a global name in esports and gaming content, is thrilled to make its mark in the Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) competitive scene with a formidable lineup of battle-hardened veterans. This new roster is primed to take on the best in the world and solidify S8UL’s position as a powerhouse in CODM esports.

The new S8UL CODM roster features:

Zeel Patel (Neutrino)
Samruddha Ghadge (SAMs)
Samartha Ghadge (JOKOs)
Rishi Dubey (Trunks)
Glenn Varshan (Ghost)
Chiranthan Shetty (BurnZ) – Team Coach

The roster boasts an enviable mix of experience, firepower, and tactical prowess. Neutrino and Trunks, in particular, have already made history by being part of their earlier lineup that secured a runner-up finish at the Call of Duty: Mobile World Championship 2023. Their journey to the grand final included a defining 3-2 victory over North American giants Luminosity Gaming, highlighted by a spectacular 7-0 sweep on Meltdown in the decisive Search and Destroy match, one of the most memorable moments in Indian CODM esports history.

Commenting on the team’s latest foray into CODM, Animesh Agarwal, Co-Founder of S8UL, said: “At S8UL, our vision has always been clear—whenever we enter a title, we aim to set the stage on fire, not just nationally but globally. CODM is no different. We’ve built a team we have immense confidence in, and I look forward to supporting them in reaching their full potential. This is an exciting new chapter for us, and we can’t wait to make our mark.”

With a squad filled with veterans who have competed at the highest levels of CODM, S8UL is ready to shake up the competitive landscape. The team will be making its debut in upcoming high-stakes tournaments, setting its sights on national and international championships and bringing laurels for the country.

“Joining S8UL is a massive opportunity for all of us. With the organization’s backing and vision, we have everything we need to push our limits, refine our strategies, and take on the toughest competition. We have the experience, the hunger, and the skill to compete with the best in the world, and we can’t wait to prove it on the battlefield and make the country proud on the global CODM stage,” said Zeel Patel aka Neutrino, IGL

Recently, S8UL made headlines by announcing its expansion into VALORANT with a star-studded roster, reinforcing its ambitions in the FPS competitive scene. S8UL Esports, renowned for its dominance in both competitive gaming and content creation, has already made waves in titles like Pokémon UNITE. With multiple Esports Awards and MOBIES wins to its name, the organization continues to expand its presence in the global gaming scene. The addition of a high-caliber CODM roster marks another significant step in its esports journey, reinforcing its commitment to elevating Indian esports on the world stage.

As S8UL Esports embarks on this exciting new chapter, the organization remains steadfast in its mission to set new benchmarks and create unforgettable moments in the world of esports. Stay tuned as S8UL Esports prepares to unleash its Call of Duty: Mobile roster onto the competitive circuit, with one mission in mind—victory.

The post S8UL Esports Unveils Power-Packed Call of Duty: Mobile Roster, sets its sights on national and international CODM glory appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

ITL Spain welcomes new Customer Support Advisor

Published

11 hours ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Innovative Technology Ltd. (ITL) are pleased to welcome Àlex Ventura Vilalta Customer Support Advisor, to their operations in Barcelona, Spain.

Àlex’s role is to provide first line customer support and advice to ITL’s customers in the region. The company has two main divisions; cash validation equipment and age & identity verification technology.

Commenting on ITL’s latest appointment, Bohke Otten, Senior Support Engineer for ITL said, “I am delighted to welcome Àlex to the team. He brings extensive help desk experience from previous roles so is accustomed to providing excellent customer service and solving technical problems. Àlex is already proving to be a key part of the support team and he has a fantastic rapport with our customers. His appointment further strengthens our ability to provide customers with a local, dedicated contact for technical assistance and advice.”

Commenting on his new role with ITL Àlex said, “In September 2024, I had the privilege of joining Innovative Technology as Customer Support Advisor for the Spanish market. I was attracted to ITL by its rich history, innovative cash validation products and forward-looking vision. I am working with various products such as the NV22S, Spectral Payout and SMART Coin System offering support to both retail and gaming customers ensuring that each interaction is positive and productive. I attended my first ITL exhibition, ICE Gaming in Barcelona, at the beginning of the year which was a great experience and enabled me to meet some of our customers face-to-face. I have always been fascinated by technology and how it can transform the way we do things and enjoy helping customers overcome technical challenges, so I am very excited to be part of this great team.”

Concluding Bohke said. “With an educational background in systems, networks and application development, Àlex has the technical expertise and knowledge to maintain the high level of customer support that our customers are familiar with. He values the importance of precision and efficiency in customer service and is a real asset to the team. I look forward to working with him to further develop our business, continuing to provide our customers with first-rate technical support.”

The post ITL Spain welcomes new Customer Support Advisor appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

kwiff sponsors Millwall FC for FA Cup Clash with Crystal Palace

Published

11 hours ago

February 28, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

kwiff, the super-charged sports betting service, is proud to sponsor Millwall FC in their FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park tomorrow.

The game will be broadcast live on BBC One, presenting a prime opportunity to showcase the kwiff brand to a nationwide audience. This sponsorship aligns with kwiff’s ongoing mission to raise brand awareness across the UK and Ireland, bringing its Supercharged betting experience to more punters than ever before.

Tomorrow’s clash will be the eighth time the two sides have met in the FA Cup, with the Lions edging the head-to-head by four games to three.

Director of Acquisition at kwiff, Garry McGibbon, said: “We at kwiff are very pleased to partner with Millwall FC before their upcoming FA Cup clash at the weekend. We’ll have our fingers crossed The Lions can Supercharge their way into the next Round!”

“We’re delighted to have kwiff on board for this weekend’s FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Crystal Palace,” added James Voisey, The Lions’ Head of Commercial. “The guys have been brilliant in throwing their support behind us, so here’s hoping they bring us luck and they’re on the winning side!”

The post kwiff sponsors Millwall FC for FA Cup Clash with Crystal Palace appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.