Latest News

New Research Reveals Gambling Ads on Social Media More Appealing to Children than Adults

Published

4 years ago

October 27, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

According to a new study conducted at the University of Bristol, gambling advertising on social media is significantly more appealing to children and young people than to adults.

The study findings showed disguised gambling marketing and ads for betting on esports – professional online competing in computer games – were nearly four times more appealing to children than adults. It also revealed nearly half of children are exposed to such advertising weekly and around a quarter encounter it daily.

Whereas results showed the vast majority of adults were wary or annoyed when faced with gambling ads, children mainly reacted positively.

Co-lead investigator Dr Raffaello Rossi, who is conducting first-of-its-kind research into the use and impact of gambling advertising on social media, said: “The overwhelming strong appeal of gambling advertising on social media to children is of huge concern, as it is known the earlier people start gambling the more likely it will become habitual and problematic.

“That’s why there needs to be much stricter and clearer rules in place to clamp down on the issue, which could easily spiral out of control given how long children and young people spend on social media these days. Many of the adverts may look entirely innocent and harmless, but they in fact pose a serious risk of getting a whole new generation of gamblers hooked on a serious addiction which has devastating consequences.”

The report, in light of its findings and previous studies, is calling for:

Esports gambling advertising, which automatically appeals to children and young people, to be banned.
Gambling content marketing, which masquerades as something appealing, to be rigorously regulated and informed by what is proven to attract young people.
Regulators to broaden the age range of a “young person” from 16-17 to 16-24-year-olds.
Social media platforms to only allow gambling ads on social media when users actively opt-in to receive them.

The report comes as the Gambling Act is currently being reviewed by the government, and the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has launched a consultation to better protect children from gambling advertising which appeals to them.

This study surveyed online 210 children aged 11 to 17 years, 222 young people aged 18 to 24, and 221 adults aged 25 to 78 years in the UK from May to July last year.

Esports gambling adverts were also found to be much more appealing to children and young people than adults, who were shown to be four-times more likely to feel extremely negative emotions about the ads than children.

Co-lead investigator Agnes Nairn, Professor of Marketing at the University of Bristol’s School of Management, said: “We know from previous research that children are actively following and engaging with gambling content on social media and regulators are struggling to keep up with this trend. This new research shines a spotlight on two specific types of gambling adverts: content marketing and esports that are strongly and significantly more appealing to children and young people than to older adults.

“Importantly, the current regulations do not address these types of advertising at all. The esports market is forecast to exceed a billion dollars this year. It has an audience of 500 million people, most of them children and young people. The regulations need to be reformed as a matter of urgency.”

The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), a leading UK gambling-harm prevention charity, provides a range of education programmes, working with thousands of schools and youth practitioners to help engage with and safeguard future generations against gambling harms.

Kev Clelland, Strategic Alliance Director at YGAM, said: “A key part of our programmes focus on gambling advertising, as well as the growth of esports, and this latest research will further inform our evidence-led resources. The findings support the evidence we submitted to the Gambling Act Review where we called for more to be done to minimise the exposure that children have to gambling advertising. All gambling advertising should be designed and displayed in a way that is appropriate for adults and avoids marketing techniques that appeal to children. There is opportunity to strengthen advertising protections and both the advertisers and the platforms which host adverts should use technology and data to do more.”

Latest News

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – June 30-July 6

Published

45 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has issued monetary penalties totaling $350,000 against Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for multiple violations of provincial gaming standards. The penalties follow an impromptu after-party that was permitted to take place in the pre-dawn hours directly on the casino’s gaming floor. On September 27, 2024, an electronic dance music event attended by thousands of people was hosted in the theatre adjacent to the casino at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. The event was marked by widespread intoxication, disorderly behaviour and numerous criminal and medical incidents – both inside and outside the venue – including alleged assaults, drug overdoses and acts of public indecency. Although paid duty officers were present, additional police and emergency services were required to manage the situation.

International Game Technology PLC, doing business as Brightstar Lottery, announced that Michelle Carney, Brightstar’s Vice President of Global Lottery Marketing, will be inducted into the Lottery Industry Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025. The induction ceremony will take place this September at an industry event in Ontario, Canada hosted by the Public Gaming Research Institute (PGRI) in conjunction with the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL). In her current role, Carney is responsible for the development of marketing and communications strategies that support growth for Brightstar’s Global Lottery business, including lottery product marketing, trade shows and events, thought leadership communications and B2C marketing campaign materials to support customer launches of new game content.

Partnerships

International Game Technology PLC announced that its subsidiary, IGT Canada Solutions ULC (IGT), signed an eight-year agreement with Atlantic Lottery to supply its IntelligenEVO video lottery central system technology across Atlantic Canada. The agreement includes the option for multiple extensions and positions the Atlantic Lottery to become the first World Lottery Association (WLA)-affiliated lottery operator to deploy IGT’s next-generation central management system in a game-to-system (G2S) distributed market. With peak system security, network availability and responsible gaming functionalities, IntelligenEVO is a reliable, scalable solution that can meet the needs of today and in the future. The solution will accelerate time-to-market and enables the Atlantic Lottery to benefit from the system’s suite of player-focused functionality. The technology’s G2S and open API design optimises data collection and delivery and will enable Atlantic Lottery to customise their programme for evolving player needs.

EDGE Boost by EDGE Markets, a financial platform for smart bettors and gamblers, has partnered with World Series of Poker, the premier series of worldwide poker tournaments. The EDGE Boost debit card is now the preferred payment method for WSOP, offering ease of payment, safety and several exclusive on-site perks for tournament players. In past tournaments, WSOP players were limited to $10,000 per transaction and had to complete a lengthy approval process, often resulting in frequent cash deposits. Now, those using the EDGE Boost card through PayPal checkout can bypass traditional credit card verification. They can also make entries up to $250,000, which eliminates the need to carry large sums of cash at the event and increases security measures.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – June 30-July 6 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Zimpler introduces ID+: A next-gen identification layer for digital payments

Published

45 minutes ago

July 8, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Zimpler, a leading Swedish company in Pay-by-bank solutions, today announced the launch of Zimpler ID+, a new identity layer designed to simplify compliance and accelerate user conversion within digital payment environments. By embedding biometric identification and regulatory checks directly into the first user interaction, Zimpler ID+ reduces friction in sectors with complex onboarding requirements.

“Zimpler ID+ gives our partners a direct path to compliance and conversion – cutting onboarding time, reducing drop-offs, and removing the need to build identity infrastructure in-house,” said Tobias Gunnesson, Chief Product Officer at Zimpler.

“While most verification flows still rely solely on deposit-based triggers or cookie tracking, we’re the first to enable verification at the point of entry – meeting compliance head-on and delivering a better user experience from the start.”

Purpose-built for highly regulated digital environments

Zimpler ID+ serves industries where compliance is critical and abandonment rates are costly, such as iGaming and financial services. It ensures users are verified from the start, without requiring deposits or post-registration identity checks.

Key features include:

Quick onboarding: Verification and collection of KYC data takes place at the first point of contact, not only at the point of payment
Seamless return user experience: Returning users can identify with biometric technology and are recognized with the help of cookies
Works even without cookies: If cookies are unavailable, the user can easily identify themselves using a passkey
Built-in compliance: Regulatory assurance at every step of the customer journey

By functioning as a unified identity layer from sign-up through repeat visits, Zimpler ID+ helps businesses minimize onboarding churn and maximize regulatory confidence.

Solving identification friction at scale

The launch of Zimpler ID+ comes as businesses across Europe face rising pressure to improve digital onboarding while maintaining regulatory standards. National ID systems remain foundational – but they weren’t built to optimize every business touchpoint.

Zimpler ID+ complements these systems by offering operators a plug-in layer of biometric identification and gathering of KYC information tailored to business needs. It removes the need for deposit triggers, repeated logins, or re-verification after a device change.

“With Zimpler ID+, we’re introducing a flexible approach that gives businesses more control over identity flows – without compromising security or relying solely on external systems” said Gunnesson.

Product availability

Zimpler ID+ is now available as a value-added service to select partners in Finland, with more markets to be added in the future.

By embedding advanced onboarding capabilities directly into its existing infrastructure, Zimpler expects ID+ to strengthen customer retention and enhance platform value across regulated sectors for years to come.

The post Zimpler introduces ID+: A next-gen identification layer for digital payments appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

7777 gaming gains certification for Italian iGaming market

Published

4 hours ago

July 8, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

7777 gaming is proud to announce that it has successfully obtained the required certification to offer its iGaming content in Italy, marking a significant step forward in the company’s continued expansion across regulated European markets.

This milestone underlines 7777 gaming’s strategic vision of building a global presence through compliance, innovation, and strong partnerships. The Italian market, known for its mature regulatory framework and discerning player base, presents an ideal environment for the company’s next-generation games to thrive.

“Italy is an essential milestone in our international roadmap. With certification secured and partnerships already signed with well-established local companies, we’re bringing our fresh and distinctive portfolio to one of Europe’s most mature gaming markets,” said Elena Shaterova, Chief Commercial Officer at 7777 gaming. “We’re excited to build on these strong collaborations and deliver gaming experiences that truly stand out.”

The certified game package for the Italian market showcases 7777 gaming’s signature diversity in format, theme, and gameplay innovation. It includes a robust lineup of slot games, such as Crazy 100 Bucks, Cash 100, Thracian Treasures, and Vault Looter – titles built to deliver consistent performance and broad appeal. The portfolio also features instant win games like Sea of Treasures and Bloody Stakes & Riches, offering fast-paced mechanics. Additionally, 7777 gaming introduces its distinctive “Innovative” – a category reserved for titles that push creative and technical boundaries. Among them, Devil’s Deal Soul for Sale stands out with its unique storytelling, visual style, and experimental gameplay, reflecting the company’s bold approach to modern iGaming entertainment.

All games are designed with a strong focus on player engagement, featuring popular functionalities such as multipliers, bonus rounds, free spins, gamble features, expanding reels, and buy bonus options.

With this new certification, Italy becomes the 14th consecutive market in 7777 gaming’s global expansion. Over the past three years, the company has extended its reach worldwide, establishing a presence across diverse regions and regulated markets. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, 7777 gaming has secured entry into Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, and Italy underlining its commitment to growth and trusted partnerships. The team remains dedicated to bringing high-performing, regulation-ready content that resonates with players and operators everywhere.

About 7777 gaming:

7777 gaming is an innovative and data-driven B2B igaming provider, founded in 2020 with the mission to revolutionize and challenge the status quo in the industry by offering 360-degree platform, state-of-the-art online casino games, iLottery, Jackpot, and marketing solutions, draw-based games, scratch cards, and much more.

The product is built by a dedicated team of visionaries with over 20 years of experience. The games and the RNG are tested and compliant in several highly regulated jurisdictions worldwide. Besides, the company achieved and maintained ISO 27001 certification. 7777 gaming holds a gambling license in Bulgaria and Romania and an MGA Certificate to provide its online casino games to these markets.

7777 gaming is already partnering with the leading aggregators and platform providers in the igaming industry.

Contact us:

[email protected]

https://www.7777gaming.com

Social Media:

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