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UK Gambling Commission publishes new report on children and gambling trends
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The Gambling Commission has said stronger partnerships are needed to protect children following a new report published today. The gambling regulator has called for regulators and businesses across industries to work together, but the research also shows the important influence parents can have on children’s gambling behaviour.
This year’s Young People and Gambling report reveals that gambling participation by 11 to 16 year olds has increased in the last 12 months but remains lower compared to all previous years. However, the research indicated that more children are at risk of being harmed by gambling.
The report identifies the most common gambling activities that children are engaging in are often outside of the Gambling Commission’s direct regulatory control – such as bets between friends, lottery scratch cards purchased by parents and playing of fruit machines in pubs. It highlights the need for a more collaborative proactive approach to protect young people.
Despite the increase in problem gambling rates the report found that only 19% of children said their parents had set strict rules about gambling.
Tim Miller, Executive Director at the Gambling Commission, said: “Protecting children from the harms that can come from gambling remains one of our highest priorities. In the areas we have regulatory control, we continue to strengthen the protections in place to prevent underage gambling, such as our recent proposals for enhanced age verifications checks for online gambling.”
“But regulation alone cannot address all of the risks that young people may face from gambling. Our latest research shows that the most common forms of gambling by children do not happen in gambling premises. Some of these are legal, such as bets between friends; some of these are unlawful, such as gambling on machines in pubs. But all of them present risks to young people as there is no form of gambling that is risk-free. It is therefore vital that all those with a part to play in protecting children and young people – parents, businesses and regulators – work together.”
Last week, the Commission called on the pubs industry to take urgent action following serious failures to stop children playing on 18+ gaming machines. In addition, in September 17 global gambling regulators teamed up with the Commission to work together to address the risks created by the blurring of lines between video games, social gaming and gambling. The Commission is also currently consulting on strengthening age verification processes.
Key findings
- 14% of 11-16 year olds had spent their own money on gambling in the past week, this is up from 12% in 2017 but still lower than rates seen prior to 2017
- This compared to 13% who had drunk alcohol in the past week, 4% who had smoked cigarettes and 2% who had taken illegal drugs
- The principal forms of gambling in the past week are placing a private bet for money with friends (6%), National Lottery scratchcards (4%), fruit/slot machines (3%) and playing cards for money with friends (3%)
- Young people who have gambled in the past week spent an average of £16 on gambling during this period
- Over the past 12 months, 39% of 11-16 year olds have spent their own money on gambling
- 6% have gambled online using a parent or guardian’s account
- 31% have ever opened loot boxes in a computer game or app, to try to acquire in-game items, while 3% claim to have ever bet with in-game items (so called ‘skins’ gambling)
- 59% agree that gambling is dangerous and only 14% agree that it is OK for someone their age to gamble
- Around half (49%) of respondents said that someone had spoken to them about the problems that gambling can lead to, with the conversation typically taking place with a parent (40%) or teacher (21%).
- 60% of young people think their parents would prefer them not to gamble at all, however only 19% stated that their parents set strict rules about gambling with no negotiation
- 1.7% of 11-16 year olds are classified as ‘problem’ gamblers, 2.2% as ‘at risk’
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

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Boomerang’s insights: The evolution of sports betting traffic
Sports betting is becoming a key driver of affiliate growth — it’s a global trend, and Boomerang Partners reveals the latest insights behind this evolution.
Sports betting has evolved significantly in recent years. Now, it is a serious separate direction in affiliate traffic, bringing top profits. Boomerang Partners, a rapidly growing global brand and organizer of the tournament for affiliate teams – the Golden Boomerang Awards, has analyzed the evolution of this business direction and shared its insights.
It’s a thing of the past: simple Sportsbook sites, limited payment methods, and basic betting options
Evolution touches every aspect of human activity, and sports betting is no exception. Previously, bookmakers offered their users simple website functionality so they could focus their attention only on betting opportunities. The range of markets was much more modest than it is now.
Payment options for deposits and withdrawals were also quite limited compared to today, often causing inconvenience for users. Users had to choose from a few options for transferring funds, and it was not always convenient for them.
Current trends: focus on dynamics, privacy, and modern technology
Today, the betting industry is booming thanks to live betting, where users place wagers in real time. The rapid development of the mobile app segment makes it possible to place bets wherever one likes. Users also appreciate dynamically changing odds and the ability to watch match streams on betting platforms to adjust their predictions. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to calculate odds, making them more accurate and adaptive.
Modern technologies have expanded the range of payment methods available, with the integration of cryptocurrencies opening new possibilities for fast, secure, and anonymous transactions. Another notable trend is the introduction of social functions into the work of Sportsbooks. For example, holding tournaments with prize pools adds an element of interaction and competition between players.
Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 as an opportunity to succeed through sports traffic
Sports betting is now an important area that can significantly impact traffic growth. Boomerang Partners is currently running its second annual global Golden Boomerang Awards 2025. Its participants compete for monthly prizes and awards in 11 categories, including a Grand Prix. This year, for the first time, organizers have introduced two separate leaderboards: one for sports and one for casino traffic. Registration is open until May 5, and all interested affiliate teams have time to join and compete for awards.
Also, as part of the Golden Boomerang Awards 2025, Boomerang Partners is holding a special raffle with prizes to coincide with the Champions League semifinals. The tournament will run until May 11. If you register now, you can get into the prize draw, which will take place on May 3. The top 30 teams at the end of the tournament will go to Milan to the iconic San Siro stadium.
Join the Golden Boomerang Awards 2025
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang is the Official Regional Betting Partner of AC Milan and collaborates with women’s football star and influencer Alisha Lehmann. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards 2024, the first annual global affiliate tournament. Boomerang Partners’ betting segment surged 5x, and gambling — 2x in 2024. Its affiliate program demonstrated a 120% increase in partners, and the number of sports betting offers surged more than 6 times. Six new products were launched by Boomerang in 2024, which contributed to an almost 1.5-fold increase in product users.
Boomerang’s portfolio contains 15+ gambling brands, including sportsbooks. They cover over 35 GEOs and offer a wide range of betting options with favorable odds. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.
The post Boomerang’s insights: The evolution of sports betting traffic appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Olympian Legends: Galaxsys’ New Slot Game Inspired by Ancient Myths
Galaxsys, the award-winning games developer, is proud to announce the launch of Olympian Legends, a new slot game that brings the power and majesty of ancient mythology to life.
More than just a tribute to ancient mythology, Olympian Legends combines breathtaking visuals, innovative features, and dynamic gameplay, promising players an unforgettable journey through the myths of Olympus. As players progress and reveal mythic features, they face the power of ancient gods. With cascading symbols and exciting bonuses, the game delivers a dynamic adventure that’s truly worth exploring.
This marks the third slot title that Galaxsys has announced over the last two months, following the launches of Funny Faces: Hoglet-Moglet and El Dorado.
What Makes Olympian Legends Special
Olympian Legends stands out by blending rich narrative elements with innovative slot mechanics. The progress bar on the right side of the grid consists of five elements. Each time a winning combination is formed, the progress bar fills from bottom to top, triggering a mythical feature when an element is completed. Additionally, the Buy Bonus option allows players to take fate into their own hands, enabling them to access the bonus game at any time they choose.
Dynamic animations and sound design ensure every encounter with Zeus, Poseidon, and more characters feels like stepping into an epic saga rather than playing a traditional slot.
Vigen Safaryan, CPO at Galaxsys, commented: “Olympian Legends combines strong gameplay mechanics with a detailed and dynamic theme. Our goal was to deliver a slot that feels rewarding to play while offering players a more refined experience through mythology. We paid special attention to balancing the game’s features to ensure that the experience feels dynamic, without overwhelming the player. From the visuals and animations to the way the bonuses unfold, every element was designed to create a journey that feels both entertaining and authentic.”
Olympian Legends is now live and available for Galaxsys’ global network of partners.
The post Olympian Legends: Galaxsys’ New Slot Game Inspired by Ancient Myths appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Inaugural iGaming Event for Technology Leaders: Technology in Gaming Conference 2025
The iGaming industry is getting a dedicated space for its most forward-thinking technical leaders with the launch of the Technology in Gaming Conference 2025 (TiG 2025) — an exclusive new event created specifically for CTOs, CIOs, and senior technology stakeholders in the iGaming world.
Taking place on 1st July 2025 as part of London iGaming Week in partnership with iGB Live!, this specialist conference will bring together some of the most innovative minds in technology to explore the future of cybersecurity, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, compliance, and scalability. TiG 2025 is designed to give technical leaders a forum tailored to the real challenges and opportunities shaping iGaming today and in the years to come.
“I am delighted to see other organisers bringing their own events that meet the need of specialist verticals within the industry as part of London iGaming week. The team at iGB L!VE are pleased to be able to support this event, and encourage iGaming senior IT professionals to join what we know will be an event that offers excellent content and networking opportunities for them” said Naomi Barton, Portfolio Director at Clarion – Organiser of iGB Live!
Topics on the agenda include:
- Scalable architecture & infrastructure
- AI & machine learning in iGaming
- Compliance & security in regulated markets
- Future-ready platform innovation
- Engineering teams, DevOps, and automation
“As an industry driven by technology I think it’s important to create a space that speaks specifically to the leaders developing and driving the change that has such a big impact on the growth and development of such an exciting sector” commented Shona ODonnell, Event Director.
Pretty Technical, a leading provider of iGaming software and platform solutions, is proud to be named the headline sponsor of this inaugural event. The company’s commitment to innovation and modern architecture makes it a natural fit for an event designed to shape the next chapter of gaming tech.
“As a business that thrives on building technology designed for the next decade, not the last, we’re thrilled to support TiG 2025 and connect with the talented tech leaders shaping the future of iGaming,” said Emma Blaylock, CEO Pretty Technical.
The event is also sponsored by Claranet, experts in modernising and managing critical applications and infrastructure 24×7, and Marshall Wolfe, a dedicated hiring consultancy specialising in digital and technology sectors.
Registration is now open with tickets currently discounted by £200 until 31st May.
The post Inaugural iGaming Event for Technology Leaders: Technology in Gaming Conference 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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