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BGC spokesperson Wes Himes shares insights on the gambling industry under the current national lockdown in exclusive interview with Online Bingo

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Wes Himes at the BGC praises the success of the measures ensuring gambling remains safe and responsible, throughout this lockdown and beyond.
- Bingo comparison site Online Bingo releases exclusive interview with Wes Himes of the BGC
- Himes speaks of the successes of the BGC regarding its safer gambling tools
- He asserts that casino venues were safe for reopening during the tier system put in place late last year
- The BCG will continue to work with the government to ensure that land-based venues can reopen when possible
- Himes expresses confidence in the regulations venues have in place to protect players from over gambling during the pandemic
In a two part series, Hannah Timoney of Online Bingo interviewed Wes Himes, Executive Director of Standards and Innovation of the BGC, to discuss the successes of the BGC and its continued mission to raise awareness for gambling harm.
In the first of the two interviews, https://onlinebingo.co.uk/news/interview-with-wes-himes-bgc, Himes discussed the success of the BGC since its foundation, and how the aims of the standards body have changed since the effects of coronavirus and lockdown shook the industry.
He talked about the BGC’s “extraordinarily positive feedback” over the year and praised the BGC’s implementation of new safer gambling tools, such as the whistle-to-whistle ban and the ad-tech code which increased the sensitivity level for access to age-related products on social media. He also hints that “there will be a number of other measures coming out around bonuses”, though did not share what that could entail.
The second interview focused on the national lockdowns. https://onlinebingo.co.uk/news/interview-with-wes-himes-part-2 Most notably, Himes spoke on the BGC’s call for land-based casinos to reopen during the tier system late last year, which he justified by insisting that casinos had “invested a tremendous amount of time and resources” into putting precautionary measures in place which were sufficient enough to mitigate infection risks.
He assures us these measures will continue if and when land-based venues are allowed to reopen, which he is eager to happen, saying “We are committed to continuing to explore with the government, as and when the time comes, what we can do to ensure that those premises can open.“
He went on to express confidence in the regulations venues have in place to protect players from over gambling, whether that behaviour is caused by the stresses of the pandemic or not. He says “these are the types of measures that we continue to raise standards on, these do help provide a very safe environment of play to the customers.”
Editor of Online Bingo, Max Wright, says “We’re thrilled to be able to speak to important members of the industry like Wes, and offer our readers some deeper context into issues like tackling problem gambling and improving legislation, which can sometimes be portrayed in an entirely negative light by the wider media.”
Online Bingo will continue to provide our audience of bingo and slots fans with informed insights from important gambling industry figureheads in order to shine a light on the decision making that affects gameplay and protects players from harm.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: BGC spokesperson Wes Himes shares insights on the gambling industry under the current national lockdown in exclusive interview with Online Bingo
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SlotMatrix kicks off festive season with Santa’s Golden Christmas release
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SlotMatrix, the world’s largest casino content aggregator, is embracing the holiday season with Santa’s Golden Christmas, a sparkling new slot packed with festive cheer, golden prizes, and heart-warming holiday magic.
Set in a winter wonderland, the game brings players closer to the jolly gift-giver. Snowflakes drift across the reels, each carrying the potential to boost Jackpot values or trigger Stanta’s Jackpot Wheel, where Mini, Minor, Major, Mega, and Grand prizes await.
The Free Spins bonus delivers even more festive excitement. Locking full reels clears columns, opens new positions, and increases the Free Spins Multiplier, which can climb from 1x all the way to 10x. Each cash prize collected during Free Spins is amplified at the end by this multiplier, turning generous gifts into golden wins.
Exclusively available through SlotMatrix, Santa’s Golden Christmas is enhanced by EveryMatrix’s proprietary gamification tools, including free spins and leaderboards, and can be seamlessly integrated with EngageSuite, the all-in-one player loyalty solution.
Carl Gatt Baldacchino, Head of Account Management, SlotMatrix: “We are nearing the end of the year, and we wanted to celebrate this wonderful season with a special game.
“The dazzling visuals, joyful audio, and ever-present chance of hitting Santa’s biggest prizes make this the perfect choice for the holidays. ‘Tis the season to be jolly, ‘tis the season to play Santa’s Golden Christmas.”
The post SlotMatrix kicks off festive season with Santa’s Golden Christmas release appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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CHESS SUPERSTARS CARLSEN, NAKAMURA, AND GOTHAMCHESS JOIN BETBY FOR CHESS MASTERCLASS AT ICE BARCELONA
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BETBY, the Tier 1 B2B sportsbook supplier, has announced an unparalleled activation for ICE Barcelona 2026, bringing together three of the most influential figures in chess: Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Levy Rozman (aka GothamChess). This will mark the first time that all three will appear publicly together in Europe, adding a landmark moment to one of the industry’s major events.
Magnus Carlsen, BETBY’s global brand ambassador, five-time World Chess Champion, and officially considered the greatest player in chess history, will be joined by Hikaru Nakamura, current world number two, five-time US Champion, and one of the best grandmasters of the modern era. They will also be accompanied by Levy Rozman, better known globally as GothamChess, the world’s largest chess streamer with more than 7 million YouTube followers and a central figure in chess’ surge in mainstream popularity.
This unique gathering underscores the shared vision between BETBY and the global chess community: innovation, strategic excellence, and the pursuit of new frontiers in digital entertainment. Chess continues to experience a cultural renaissance, fuelled by new competitive formats, digital viewership, and its recent inclusion in the Esports World Cup, where Carlsen claimed the inaugural title.
The activation also marks a major moment in the second phase of BETBY’s global campaign with Magnus Carlsen, “Leaders Choose Leaders.” This campaign is built on the idea that true leaders — in chess and business — recognise excellence and choose to surround themselves with others who operate at the highest level.
Carlsen, Nakamura, and Rozman will join BETBY at 12:00 pm on Day 2 (20 January) of ICE Barcelona, at stand 5K20 in Fira Barcelona Gran Via, offering attendees a rare opportunity to get up close and engage directly with three of the sport’s most recognisable figures.
The appearance will include a live press conference, as well as exhibition matches featuring Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Levy Rozman.
“Bringing Magnus, Hikaru, and Levy together at ICE Barcelona is a once-in-a-lifetime moment,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, CEO at BETBY. “Anyone who loves chess knows how special this is. Having these three on the same stage guarantees an incredible show full of energy, personality, and the kind of excitement you rarely get to see live. We’re proud to create a moment that fans and our partners will remember for a long time.”
BETBY invites chess fans, industry professionals, and ICE delegates to witness this exceptional activation at stand 5K20, where strategy, entertainment, and elite talent converge in a show you won’t want to miss.
The post CHESS SUPERSTARS CARLSEN, NAKAMURA, AND GOTHAMCHESS JOIN BETBY FOR CHESS MASTERCLASS AT ICE BARCELONA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Gaming Corps signs new content partnership with Buzz Bingo
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Gaming Corps – a publicly-listed game development company based in Sweden, has partnered with Buzz Group, the company behind the UK’s largest omnichannel bingo operator, Buzz Bingo.
Buzz Bingo has a five-decade heritage, a cross-generational community of more than a million members, and 79 bingo clubs that welcome nearly 100,000 players each week. Its digital platform extends this community online, offering hundreds of slots and recreating the safe and sociable atmosphere that has long defined its venues.
Buzz Bingo’s digital platform will now feature a host of Gaming Corps’ standout titles such as 3 Pigs of Olympus, a light-hearted mythological slot packed with Instant Prize action and an escalating Bonus Pot, along with Anubis vs Horus: Twin Titans, where two of mythology’s most powerful deities face off in a battle for legendary rewards.
These join the wider portfolio of Crash, Mine, Table, Plinko and Slot content, all available across mobile, desktop and in-club Touchpads.
Adam Pentecost, Director of Customer Success at Gaming Corps, said: “Buzz Bingo has a unique place in British entertainment. Few brands have such deep community roots or such a loyal, cross-generational audience. That makes this partnership particularly meaningful for us. Our goal is always to build games that feel engaging from the very first interaction, and Buzz’s focus on sociable, inclusive play is a natural home for our content. We’re looking forward to supporting their continued growth across both digital and in-club channels.”
David Swaine, Head of Product Slots & Games at Buzz Bingo, added: “We’re pleased to bring Gaming Corps titles to buzzbingo.com as we continue expanding our online games library. Their mix of inventive mechanics, bold themes and easy-to-pick-up gameplay fits well with what our players enjoy, both in-club and online. We’re excited to add more of their releases over the coming months.”
The partnership marks Gaming Corps’ latest move in strengthening its position in the UK market, adding another recognisable British entertainment brand to its growing network of operator partners.
The post Gaming Corps signs new content partnership with Buzz Bingo appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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