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UK Gambling Commission highlights failures to stop children playing on 18+ pub gaming machines

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Tests on a sample of pubs in England indicate that almost 90% failed to prevent children accessing 18+ gaming machines.

The Gambling Commission has worked with licensing authorities and local police to test compliance with laws in place to protect children from the risks gambling can pose.

Children are not permitted to play Category C gaming machines in pubs. Staff are expected to stop children playing on the machines and there should be clear signage indicating the age restriction.

Announcing the results at the Institute of Licensing National Conference, Helen Rhodes, Programme Director at the Gambling Commission, said: “We are extremely concerned that pubs across England are failing to stop children playing gaming machines designed for adults. We urgently call on the pub sector to take action immediately to enforce the laws in place to protect children and young people.”

“We expect to see significant improvement in further tests and will continue to work with licensing authorities to support any action required against those failing to adhere to the requirements.”

The current failure rate (89%) compares to an average failure rate of 15% to 30% for other age restricted products such as alcohol or tobacco.

The Commission has written to the pub industry today outlining the findings of our work and calling for urgent improvements. The letter can be found below.

 

 

Letter 

Dear Trade Association

Age Verification on Category C (adult only) gaming machines in pubs

In June 2018 the Gambling Commission (the Commission) set out further commitments to protecting children and young people from the dangers of gambling, building on work already underway in this area.

The Commission asked its expert advisers the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB) for specific advice on the critical theme of children, young people and gambling. Bringing together existing work and acting on the advice provided by the RGSB, the Commission’s strengthened focus seeks to ensure the right protections are in place to reduce the risk of harm to children and young people.

The Commission called for all those responsible for safeguarding children, to work together with the Commission to address the wide range of issues identified in RGSB’s advice. Amongst the actions identified was the need to address access and exposure to gambling by children and young people.

The Commission has therefore been working in conjunction with licensing authorities across England for the last six months to test the compliance of pubs with the requirement to prevent under 18s playing on Category C machines. These exercises were led by licensing authorities (and trading standards staff) or police officers who had volunteered their resources to work with the Commission.

The interim results are sufficiently concerning that we consider it to be in the public interest to release them immediately. The current failure rate is 89% based on 61 tests. This compares to a pass rate of 70 – 85% for most age restricted products such as alcohol or tobacco. (Source: Serve Legal.)

The pubs tested were a matter for the licensing authority to determine based on their local priorities. The failure rate did not vary significantly between licensing authorities nor between [large] pub companies and independents. The results were uniformly poor.

To summarise the legal position, at s46 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act)

(1)   A person commits an offence if he invites, causes or permits a child or young person to gamble.

At s284, a licensing authority may remove the exemption (to make gaming machines available on a licensed premises) if:

            ‘an offence under this Act has been committed on the premises’.

The Commission has published a Code of Practice[1] for gaming machines in clubs and premises with an alcohol licence under s24 of the Act. The Code makes it a condition of the permit that:

‘All gaming machines situated on the premises must be located in a place within the premises so that their use can be supervised, either by staff whose duties include such supervision (including bar or floor staff) or by other means.’

Section 3.1 of the Code sets out good practice in relation to access to gambling by children and young people:

Permit holders should put into effect procedures intended to prevent underage gambling. This should include procedures for:

• checking the age of those who appear underage

• refusing entry to anyone unable to produce an acceptable form of identification.

Permit holders should take all reasonable steps to ensure that all relevant employees understand their responsibilities for preventing underage gambling.’

The Commission, the Local Government Association and the Welsh Local Government Association are very concerned about the findings and the clear risks that they indicate to children and young people’s access to gambling. Further tests will be undertaken over the coming months.

We urgently call the industry and their Trade Associations to take the results as a serious indication of the need to improve matters. We expect that the action taken will be reflected in significant improvements in future test results.

As a part of the Commission’s wider focus on children and young people, we will support licensing authorities in their further actions against operators who fail to meet the conditions of their permits and will also not hesitate to amend the Code of Practice for gaming machines in clubs and pubs if that is proved necessary.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Watson, Executive Director Enforcement


Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR GLOBAL GAMING EXPO 2025

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Gaming’s Premier Global Event Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence in Las Vegas, Oct. 6-9

Registration is now open for G2E 2025, presented by the American Gaming Association (AGA) and organized by RX. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Global Gaming Expo continues to act as a catalyst for innovation and excellence, setting the benchmark for the industry standard as the global gaming community convenes at The Venetian Expo from Oct. 6-9. Exhibitors, media, and attendees can find more information and register now by visiting globalgamingexpo.com.

Supported by the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), this historic year features exciting new additions to the show-floor experience, including the high-stakes Dealer Championship and reimagined iGaming Hub in the iGaming Zone.

“G2E 2025 is unlike any year before. Introducing the latest innovations, immersive experiences and business-driving programs, G2E is the place for the international gaming community to look ahead and network in a way that can only happen in person,” said Korbi Carrison, RX’s Event Vice President for G2E.

For 25 years, G2E has been the most influential trade event for the legal, regulated global gaming industry, fostering innovation and driving growth across casinos, hospitality, technology, iGaming, sports betting and more. The event will welcome over 25,000 industry professionals from more than 120 countries, regions and territories, and nearly 400 exhibitors showcasing the latest global gaming technologies.

“As the event that shapes the future of gaming, G2E fosters an environment that empowers and celebrates the decision makers driving the legal, regulated industry forward at a pivotal time,” said Maureen Beddis, AGA’s Senior Vice President of Membership and Events. “This year’s show is the culmination of 25 years of innovation and progress – and the can’t-miss event of the year for anyone invested in shaping what’s next for gaming.”

G2E 2025 will reflect the industry’s growth with a diverse range of offerings and experiences:

  • New this year, the G2E Dealer Championship marks the nation’s first competition of its kind, celebrating the skill and professionalism of top land-based U.S. casino dealers.
  • The all-new Meeting Zone, where AI-driven matchmaking ensures attendees make the most of their time, with seamless scheduling through the G2E mobile app for business connections tailored to professional goals.
  • The G2E Networking Lounge returns as a hub for engagement and collaboration, offering a dedicated space for meaningful conversations across the G2E community.
  • Debuting this year, the G2E Media Zone offers state-of-the-art studio space for media partners to conduct interviews, produce content, and connect with industry leaders. Space is available for hourly booking throughout the event.
  • The 2025 education program features over 100 sessions and 330 speakers, offering insights from leading voices across gaming.
  • A reimagined iGaming Zone delivers immersive opportunities to experience the latest advancements in legal, online gaming – from cutting-edge technology to expert-led conversations and networking in the iGaming Hub.

Education sessions will run from Oct. 6-9, and the expo hall will be open from Oct. 7-9. For more information and to register for G2E 2025, visit globalgamingexpo.com.

 

The post REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR GLOBAL GAMING EXPO 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Betsson Group Rolls Out Its Flagship Offering in Lithuania

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Betsson Group has today launched its flagship brand, Betsson, in Lithuania, marking a new chapter in the Group’s ongoing strategy to unify and elevate its brand presence globally. The rebrand sees the former Betsafe operation transition to the Betsson brand, further strengthening the company’s positioning in regulated markets.

Betsson Group first entered the Lithuanian market in 2016 through the acquisition of TonyBet, which was rebranded as Betsafe the following year. Since then, the brand has gone from strength to strength, establishing itself as one of the leading operators in the country. The transition to Betsson reflects the Group’s ambition to bring even greater consistency, scalability, and brand recognition to its operations across regulated markets. For Lithuanian customers, it ensures the same trusted and seamless gaming experience – now backed by the strength of a globally recognised brand, with expanded resources, international partnerships, and unique fan engagement opportunities.

Jesper Svensson, CEO at Betsson Group, commented, “Lithuania has been an important market for us over the years, and this rebrand is a natural next step in our journey. By aligning our presence in the market under the Betsson brand, we can tap into broader marketing synergies, strengthen our global identity, and continue offering the same great service that our customers know and trust.”

The rebrand reflects Betsson’s ongoing investment in Lithuania, where the company moved into a larger office in Vilnius’ Central Business District just over two years ago. Today, the office is home to around 40 employees working across commercial, payments and support functions.

Over the years, the Group has also built strong local partnerships that demonstrate its commitment to sport. Betsafe is the title sponsor of the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL), one of the most competitive leagues in the region. The brand also supports both the men’s and women’s Lithuanian national basketball teams, and is a proud sponsor of football club FC Žalgiris.

This brand transition also aligns with Betsson Group’s broader international marketing strategy. The Group is actively investing in high-profile sports sponsorships, including partnerships with Boca Juniors and Racing Club in Argentina, Inter in Italy, Atlético Nacional in Colombia and several other clubs across Europe and Latin America. These global initiatives not only raise brand awareness but also bring added value to local markets like Lithuania through stronger brand recognition and cross-market campaigns.

The post Betsson Group Rolls Out Its Flagship Offering in Lithuania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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ELA Games Unveils Revamped Client Area – A Redesigned Hub For B2B Customers

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ELA Games, an innovative iGaming game development studio, has redeveloped its comprehensive Client Area. These changes package crucial assets and data regarding the studio’s games and content in an intuitive and informative manner.

The new Client Area includes the following information:

  • Roadmap: B2B clients can now learn about the studio’s plans before they’re revealed to the public. Here, clients can access upcoming games, their information and the company’s forthcoming business plans.
  • Game Info: Clients can view ELA Games’ content stats in one consolidated section. They can sort each game by certain metrics, such as RTP%, volatility and more.
  • Licensing Info: ELA Games currently has licenses for various regions across Europe, including Malta, Romania, Denmark, and Sweden. Clients can view all the games available in each region to better understand the scope of content applicable to their platforms.
  • Visual Assets: Clients can access every game’s visual elements for promotional and marketing purposes and game demos.

ELA Games has grown substantially since its inception, with a significant increase in production output. With more visually-rich content and more technical details for clients to digest, having a consolidated and centralised Client Area that includes all relevant information for B2B clients is essential.

Yaroslav Soloshenko, Business Development Manager of ELA Games, commented on the new improvements, “The Client Area is a useful hub where all our onboarded clients can view game details, our studio’s plans and download any visual assets. This consolidated section makes it easier for operators to interact with our brand and make the most out of our content more effectively. We look forward to making more additions to the improved Client Area as we continue to grow and expand our portfolio.”

The post ELA Games Unveils Revamped Client Area – A Redesigned Hub For B2B Customers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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