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Towards a sustainable global future
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In his role as Chief Executive of the Remote Gambling Association, Clive Hawkswood has spent almost a decade and a half guiding the industry’s efforts to develop best practices, educate regulators and unify the voice of the remote sector. As he approaches the end of his tenure with a flurry of new research and advocacy work, he believes there’s still a healthy dose of ingenuity left in the industry, as well as a sustainable future.
For the UK’s gaming operators, 2005 remains a hugely significant landmark. It’s the year that saw the passing of the Gambling Act, a piece of legislation that set out a blueprint for the classification of a range of different gaming machines, from lower-stakes arcade machines to slots in casinos and betting-shop FOBTs.
In almost a decade and a half, it’s fair to say a lot has changed – and not just in terms of the DCMS’ dramatic new plans to reclassify B2s. In the thirteen years since the then-government signed its Gambling Act into law, the number of people betting online has soared to the point where remote wagers have begun to dwarf their land-based counterparts. Several countries in Europe have opened up their markets to online gambling, while other jurisdictions are drafting ideas for new regimes.
Clive Hawkswood, the CEO of the Remote Gambling Association (RGA), has been in his post for the entirety of this thirteen-year stretch. Having taken up the role in 2004, he has helped to steer the organisation through a tumultuous and exciting time for Europe’s online gaming businesses.
Having announced his intention to step down next year, he is moving into the final months of his tenure, but, for the RGA, there’s no let-up in activity. From exploring the use of algorithms as a customer protection tool to working with lawmakers in the most promising new markets, the association is retaining a razor-sharp focus on building a strong, sustainable future for the industry.
“If we don’t protect consumers, keep crime out, all those sorts of things, then the industry’s not sustainable,” said Hawkswood. “And we’re trying to show regulators and governments, actually, this is in our interest to get this right. I think people actually want to know firms are protecting their customers. The commercial value of that also is, if you have a lifelong customer, that’s a sustainable business. The boom and bust of problem gamblers – you lose them, they just move onto another company – is not good business.
“Of the wealth of new ideas and technologies coming into focus in the industry, artificial intelligence and big data have recently come to the forefront of the remote sector’s social responsibility efforts. Over the past few years, the RGA has hosted a series of quarterly workshops featuring businesses, researchers and regulators, looking at how a greater understanding of player behaviour can be weaponised in the fight against problem gambling.
“Clearly, we don’t see customers face-to-face, but what we do have is all that data about them,” said Hawkswood. “By using that data, we can certainly, in most cases, find changes in behaviour that would indicate problematic play and then use that to interact with the customers and try and get them back down to whatever their normal level is. Longer term, that is going to be huge for the industry. I think our long-term success fully depends on us getting that right.”
The quarterly workshops are just one string in the RGA’s increasingly broad bow of social responsibility efforts. After being rolled out last year, GamStop – an independent self-exclusion service set up by the association – has spread at a rapid pace to cover almost the entirety of the UK’s gaming firms, with just a few smaller operators still to sign up. As part of the Gambling Commission’s National Responsible Gambling Strategy, research is also being conducted into measuring affordability for customers, as well as finding new methods of analysing the psychology of games design.
“Obviously, you want every game to be a great game that people enjoy playing, but, within that, is there anybody looking at it with that different approach, that different pair of eyes? What we want to do is to give people in that position the tools to know what they might look for,” explained Hawkswood.
While the UK continues to be the largest online gambling market in the world – growing in double-digits each year – investigations into new markets across Europe and the Americas have been continuing with increasing urgency. At the end of last year, the European Commission made the controversial decision to drop gambling-related infringement proceedings against member states, quashing hopes for a coordinated EU-based regulatory push in markets with problematic or protectionist rules. Nevertheless, Hawkswood and the RGA have continued their work of educating regulators on a country-by-country basis, concentrating on markets that show most potential.
“You have to build up those sort of relationships over a period of time and develop local partnerships and it just can’t be done overnight,” he said. “But on the plus side, each year, more and more jurisdictions in the EU and elsewhere are adopting online regulation and tax. They’re not going to be right to start with, but this is the art of opening the door a bit, getting in there, building that sort of credibility and then showing regulators, once they’ve regulated you, that the right thing can be done while also being profitable.”
It’s clear that, slowly but surely, the tide is shifting in Europe, with regulators finding increasing reassurance in the fact that other jurisdictions have successfully found ways to protect consumers and combat crime. The greater the body of evidence that is built up, Hawkswood says, the more regulators are willing to lend a sympathetic ear to the industry.
“What has become easier now is that we can say to people, “Look, there’s the UK, there’s Denmark, there’s Spain, there’s Italy. Go and speak to those regulators. We’re not saying we particularly promote one or the other, but each of them have found a way to address the concerns you’ve got.” I think that reduces some of the fears for regulators who aren’t used to regulating online gambling,” he added.
At next year’s ICE London, burgeoning markets around the world will come into focus with a series of expert panels looking at the most promising jurisdictions. According to Hawkswood, the adaptability of many of the firms already operating in markets across Europe is sure to be a key strength for those seeking new horizons.
“There are many good potential markets out there which are still at the very early stages of being developed in a proper regulated and taxed environment. That’s something our companies are used to,” he said. “They do have that advantage going on in the fact that their business models are built on allowing for compliance and tax and regulation, whereas a lot of companies outside those sort of markets just aren’t.”
Meanwhile, as the slow work continues on the regulatory front, the industry’s brightest and best continue doing what they excel at: developing new ideas, new products and new concepts. Over the past decade-and-a-half, dial-up connections and early-stage broadband connections have blossomed into an era of mobile apps, live betting and augmented reality. Nevertheless, there’s still enough room for clever ideas to transform the landscape.
“The great thing about ICE London is it’s the event where you will encounter that one person or that one group who comes up with something that makes you go, ‘Wow. I wish I’d thought of that.’ In the past, it would have been something like betting exchanges. Or it might have been the first person to say, ‘I’ll tell you what. I think online poker’s a good idea’,” said Hawkswood.
“It’s really difficult, because even with the size of the industry, the amount of money that’s spent on R&D and the number of really talented, clever people there are in it, it’s incredibly hard coming up with that one thing. But anybody who is a genuine innovator, who comes up with something like new in any form – I think that’s where the genius is. You have to be a genius to come up with that special thing.”
ICE London 2018 attracted a record 33,536 visitors, an 11 percent increase on 2017 and a landmark which constituted the event’s seventh consecutive year of growth. Density increased year-on-year, with the average number of visitors per stand up 17 percent and the number of visitors per square metre up 12 percent. The ICE London brand also demonstrated its unique ability to engage with gaming professionals based throughout the world, with the exhibition experiencing a surge of visitors from key growth regions, notably North America (+33 percent), Africa (+23 percent) and South East Asia (+18 percent).
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, today announced the launch of WSOP Express, a revolutionary new series of online qualifier tournaments designed to give every player the chance to win their way into the most prestigious live poker events on the planet.
WSOP Express utilizes a simple ‘steps’ format, allowing players to embark on their journey to glory from tiny buy-ins:
- Step 1: All-In or Fold 4-max Sit & Go – $0.50 or Step 1 ticket buy-in – Step 2 ticket prize
- Step 2: Spin & Gold 6-max Sit & Go – $2 or Step 2 ticket buy-in – Step 2-4 ticket or WSOP Pass prize
- Step 3: Turbo Tournament – $10 or Step 3 ticket buy-in – Step 4 ticket prize
- Step 4: Regular Tournament – $150 or Step 4 ticket buy-in – Ring Pass or Bracelet Pass prize
Players can start at Step 1 or buy directly into any step, making the path to live tournament poker accessible to all.
GGPoker will also host special step tournaments, which participants can play to win the bigger WSOP Express passes:
- Bracelet Step: Regular Tournament – $1,000 buy-in or ticket – Bracelet Pass prize
- Super Step: Regular Tournament – $2,500 buy-in or ticket – Super Pass prize
Free WSOP Express tickets can be claimed through various exciting promotions, including cash game challenges and more.
The available WSOP Express passes are:
- $5,000 Ring Pass: Your ticket to WSOP Super Circuit Live Events, this pass includes event buy-in plus expenses
- $10,000 Bracelet Pass: Grants entry to $10,000 WSOP bracelet events, such as next year’s iconic WSOP 2026 $10K Main Event in Las Vegas
- $30,000 Super Pass: The ultimate package for the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event, including your $26K entry, discounted accommodation at the exclusive Atlantis Paradise Island resort, and more
A key focus of WSOP Express is to open the doors to the newly announced WSOP Paradise 2025 Super Main Event. Taking place this December at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, this monumental tournament boasts a record-breaking $60,000,000 prize guarantee, making it the largest live poker guarantee in history, shattering last year’s impressive $50,000,000 Super Main Event guarantee.
Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker, shared his excitement: “This is a game-changer for the GGPoker community, literally. Imagine starting with a tiny buy-in and winning your way into the biggest live poker events on the planet, including the record-breaking $60,000,000 guaranteed WSOP Paradise Super Main Event in the Bahamas! WSOP Express is designed to turn dreams into reality, making the pinnacle of poker truly accessible for everyone – play WSOP Express and take the fast track to the WSOP!”
The WSOP Express journey is straightforward: complete steps, earn your pass, and enter the WSOP experience. This streamlined process ensures that players can easily track their progress towards their desired live event.
Visit GGPoker today to start your WSOP Express journey and take aim at poker’s biggest prizes: ggpoker.com/tournaments/wsop-express/
The post GGPoker Launches WSOP Express: Your Fast Track To Poker’s Biggest Live Events! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Spinomenal has rolled out the latest addition to its iconic Demi Gods Series: Demi Gods VI Hold & Hit. In this new release, players are transported to a mystical realm surrounded by ominous mountains and swirling mists. The adventure unfolds within a 5×3 reel frame, where electric anticipation crackles around each spin. Atlas, Selene, Helios, and Hera are once again the main protagonists on a mission through ancient Greece in the hunt for glory.
Million Games is thrilled to announce the launch of Fortune Fairies, an enchanting new video slot that takes players into a mystical forest filled with magic, rewards, and a jackpot. This 5×3, high volatility slot invites players into a world, where ethereal fairies, shimmering orbs, and hidden treasures await. Designed for players who love immersive storytelling and rewarding gameplay, Fortune Fairies features two captivating bonus rounds.
GAMOMAT, one of the leading independent German software developers for slot games, has released Roman Legion Flaming Link, the latest addition to join the line-up of its hugely successful Flaming Link series. This imperious 5×3 slot marches players straight to the heart of the Roman Empire, where legionnaires must vie for victory.
PG Soft has unveiled its fantasy-fueled video slot, Dragon’s Treasure Quest. The game is presented within a 5-reel, 3-row frame and features expanding reels and multipliers. Players must track down hidden treasures while navigating through legendary lore to find Wilds and Scatters, represented by a dragon eye and treasure chest respectively.
BC.GAME is adding a dark twist to its slot lineup with the launch of Symbiote, a high-volatility crypto slot developed by Croco Gaming. Inspire by the cult comic Venom, the game invites players into a battle for control — where fusing with an alien parasite brings incredible power, but always at a cost. Symbiote draws heavy visual influence from comic book aesthetics, particularly from the Venom universe.
Get ready to don your sombrero and put your piñata smashing arm to the test in Piñateros – the brand-new Premium release from popular software provider, Swintt, where collecting six or more flaming chilis can unlock fiery rewards or one of four red-hot local jackpots. Boasting a colourful collection of symbols that serves up sugar, spice and all things nice, this exciting 5×3 reel, 50-payline slot includes fresh fruits, thirst-quenching beverages and Mexican musical instruments among its unique icons, with expanding wilds helping to create further wins.
Saddle up, slot fans! TaDa Gaming’s latest release, Bounty Frenzy, is here to ignite the reels with wild west energy, gold-studded features and nonstop action. Packed with cascading wins, dynamic multipliers and transforming Gold Frame Wilds, this medium-volatility slot delivers thrilling gameplay with a 5000x max win potential.
The chaos-loving Joker returns in Cashin’ Joker, a vibrant 3-reel slot from Play’n GO that doesn’t play by the rules. As numbers tumble onto the reels and transform into powerful multipliers, players are thrust into a fast-paced experience full of surprises and dramatic shifts in momentum. Every time the Joker symbol appears, the game shifts into another gear.
Red Rake Gaming has released Super 60 Stars, the latest addition to its acclaimed Super series, now available to all partner operators. This new release retains the fast-paced gameplay and wide variety of features that have made the series one of the most popular in the iGaming industry, while also introducing an exclusive new addition that adds even more excitement to the game. The new feature in Super 60 Stars is the “Super 60 Stars” symbol, which can appear anywhere on the reels and trigger the brand-new “Super 60 Gold X” minigame.
The post Week 29/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
International stars of the football world are coming together in Lisbon this September for the Legends Charity Game in order to raise funds for communities suffering from the effects of war and local tensions around the world.
Timed to coincide with the SBC Summit in Lisbon, the Legends Charity Game on Monday 15 September is a highly anticipated match between Portugal Legends vs. World Legends, featuring some of the biggest names in the history of football. The Legends will compete in front of 60,000 Fans, and in front of millions of people that will watch the game online / on TV.
With strong support from the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), the match will see Portuguese legends playing against footballing royalty from the Rest of the World in an event that aims to raise over €1,000,000 for selected charities in the support of communities and families experiencing extreme hardship.
Luis Figo, who won trophies across Europe as well as the Ballon d’Or in 2000, will be captaining the Portugal Legends side. He comments: “It’s always a pleasure to come back to my country and play football, especially when wearing the national team colours! Hope to see a full stadium in my hometown Lisbon for this amazing Legends Charity Game and raise funds for important charity causes.”
Joining Figo from the triumphant Euro 2016 winning squad are Ricardo Quaresma, Eliseu and Ricardo Carvalho. Champions League winners Fábio Coentrão, Maniche, Hugo Almeida, Vitor Baia, José Bosingwa and Deco will also play on the night as well as other famous Portuguese legends include Beto, Jorge Andrade, Dani, Tiago Mendes, Hélder Postiga, Nuno Gomes and Simão. They will be managed by another Champions League winner – Costinha.
They will be facing stiff competition from the World Legends squad that includes legends such as: Peter Schmeichel (Denmark), Cafu (Brazil), Javier Zanetti (Argentina), Diego Lugano (Uruguay), Leonardo Bonucci (Italy), Gaizka Mendieta (Spain), Youri Djorkaeff (France), Christian Karambeu (France), Marek Hamsik (Slovakia), Giorgos Karagounis (Greece), Krassimir Balakov (Bulgaria), Gheorghe Hagi (Romania), Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands) Henrik Larsson (Sweden), Shota Arveladze (Georgia), Javier Saviola (Argentina), and Ronaldinho (Brazil).
The match will be played in front of 60,000 fans at either Estádio da Luz (Benfica Stadium) or José Alvalade Stadium (Sporting Lisbon Stadium), which will be part of a big and exciting reveal in August when the Champions League schedule is released.
The Legends Charity Game aims to raise over €1,000,000 for a number of good causes based both abroad and in Portugal as the Football Family aims to give back to the families of the world. Funds will be raised for both international and national charities who help families and communities in need.
One of the international organisations that The Legends Charity Game will be raising funds for is the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS). Every day, the Ukrainian Red Cross teams provide evacuation support, psychosocial and first aid, provide essential humanitarian relief, support temporary shelters, help with housing restoration, and spread awareness about unexploded ordnance risks. Ukrainian Red Cross volunteers and staff work in all regions of the country to support those who need it most.
Maksym Dotsenko, Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross, comments: “The war in Ukraine continues, and unfortunately, millions of people still need support every day. We have no right to stop. Initiatives like the Legends Charity Game are not just about the funds raised. They are about compassion, and the understanding that the world stands by us. They are about solidarity that transforms into real help for those going through the toughest times. We are grateful to everyone who takes part.”
The Lisbon-based Cáritas Portuguesa, which offers critical support to marginalised communities fighting issues such as poverty and inadequate emergency relief, is also a charitable partner for the Legends Charity Game.
SBC Founder & CEO Rasmus Sojmark explains: “We are taking our charitable endeavours up a notch this year with the spectacular football match in order to raise a lot of money for some very worthy causes. By tying the match in with the SBC Summit in Lisbon the same week, we have found a way for the communities around football and business to help other communities that are facing unimaginable hardships.”
Tickets are available to purchase via the official website www.legendscharitygame.com. See Tickets will handle ticket management of the event.
Sponsorships and Hospitality are still available in support of the event and the charities. Some of the sponsors already confirmed include iGP, Soft2Bet, Sportingtech, Vegas Legends, Spribe, SmartSoft and Alea.
Sport Global Charitable Foundation is a restricted fund under the auspices of Prism the Gift Fund (UK registered charity with charity number 1099682). All of the profits from the Legends Charity Game will support the Sport Global Charitable Foundation’s beneficiary charities across a range of causes including the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and Caritas Portugal.
The post Legends Charity Game in Lisbon to raise millions for charity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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