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Casino Guru’s complaint data reveals scope of UK players gambling at unlicensed websites
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The Gambling Commission’s recent calls for evidence and views from the industry and the public regarding upcoming changes to Great Britain’s gambling regulation has seen a number of professionals emphasize the potential rise of black-market gambling as a consequence of tightening regulations.
These claims have been largely backed up by a PwC report, which estimates the number of UK online gamblers using unlicensed operators to have more than doubled from 2018 to 2020, from c.210,000 to c.460,000 gamblers.
Later on, UK gambling firms have been accused of exaggerating the scale of black-market gambling in an attempt to influence the GC’s decision to introduce tougher regulations. The GC’s chief executive Neil McArthur commented that the report delivered by PwC is not consistent with their intelligence picture and lacked any evidence to show an increase in illicit betting. He added that GC’s own evidence suggests that the impact may be being exaggerated.
Simon Vincze, Casino Guru’s Responsible Gambling Projects Manager, has been keeping up with the heated discussion taking place in British media and looked into their data on player complaints to get an idea about the scope of the issue: “I understand the need for regulation in the gambling market and its usefulness in keeping children and vulnerable players safe. It’s something I deeply believe in and work towards in my position as well. However, it didn’t seem right to me to just disregard the negative effects of tightening regulations altogether.”
Casino Guru operates a casino dispute mediation service, in which players can complain about any online casino if they feel to have been mistreated, regardless of its license, and get assisted for free. After looking into their data, Simon discovered 666 complaints submitted by players from the UK, of which 145 is about casinos with a license from GC and 521 is about casinos without it. This means that 78% of all complaints submitted by UK players have been about operators without a GC license.
“Of course, this doesn’t mean that 78% of UK players gamble at foreign websites. Because of the generally lower quality of service and reputation of these operators, it can be expected that these players will run into issues more often, resulting in a higher proportion of players submitting public complaints. However, it is also a clear sign that there are UK players gambling at casinos without a GC license, and that there is quite a lot of them,” Simon commented on this data.
He also compared the British situation to what has happened in Sweden: “When gambling regulations get more restrictive, an increased proportion of players usually start looking for unlicensed operators to avoid those regulations. Sweden is a great example of this, where 40% of casino players and 34% of sports betters gamble on unlicensed websites or would consider doing so in future, according to a study published back in April 2020. Taking a look at Google search data, there has been a major increase in Swedish players actively looking for unlicensed casinos since introducing the country’s gambling regulations with a strong focus on player safety.”
“With tighter regulations being introduced in Great Britain, the GC should be aware of the possibility of an increasing number of British punters actively looking for unlicensed sites in attempts to avoid the strict regulations. These players then gamble on foreign websites without the strict limits present at UK-licensed ones, ending up more susceptible to problematic gambling habits as a result of lower responsible gambling standards of some foreign operators, on top of other negative qualities that can be present at these websites.”
Data from the PwC report suggests that 4,5% of UK players gamble at foreign websites, while 78% of all complaints submitted to Casino Guru by UK players are related to these foreign websites.
Simon commented: “Combining this data would suggest that 4,5% of players are responsible for 78% of all casino complaints, which would signify a huge imbalance. Of course, the numbers are based on different data and there may be other factors in play, but I think that the imbalance is there, and has to do with the fact that players gambling on foreign websites simply run into issues more often. These can range from unclear bonus terms and bad implementation of responsible gambling features all the way to unscrupulous casinos outright scamming players.”
“If an increasing number of players leave the regulated market and go for foreign alternatives, they may be subject to a higher risk of developing problem gambling and losing money to foreign websites, some of which can have unscrupulous tendencies. This seems like a good enough reason to seriously consider the risk of rising use of black-market gambling websites by UK players,” he added.
While the GC is examining evidence presented by stakeholders and working towards updated gambling regulation, it remains to be seen how the situation ends up being handled and what new rules get implemented. Only time will tell whether tighter regulation really does increase the use of black-market sites or not, and whether the benefits will outweigh possible drawbacks.
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Esports organisation G2 returns to Kings League Germany with G2 FC, building on a groundbreaking debut
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- G2, one of the world’s leading global esports and entertainment brands, is back in Kings League Germany for its second season
- G2 FC, the football team created by G2, finished 3rd in Kings League Germany in its debut season and qualified for the Kings League World Cup
- G2’s competitive DNA, innovation, and storytelling has made them the number 1 supported esports team by German fans, with 46.33% naming the team their favourite, according to recent findings from Esports Bund Deutschland
- Season 2 brings back leadership with Ron Stublla as Team Manager and Malik Hadziavdic as Head Coach, building on the strong foundation established in Season 1
- New presidents for 2026 – Mohammed ‘MoAuba’ Harkous – professional EAFC player (World Championship winner and 5x German champion) and Konygebony – German lifestyle influencer and rapper
- By bridging traditional football and esports, G2 FC continues to expand the boundaries of sports entertainment and engage audiences across platforms and generations
G2, one of the world’s leading esports and entertainment brands, has announced the return of its football team, G2 FC, to Kings League Germany for its second season. The team officially kicked off the season on October 12th, building on a debut that saw them finish 3rd in the league, qualify for the Kings League World Cup and were the second most watched team in Germany (via Esports Charts). Quickly winning over fans across Germany, G2 FC blends high-level performance, innovation, and storytelling to deliver a unique football and esports experience.
Kings League Germany officially launched its second season on October 12, 2025, in Cologne with an event announcing the new rosters and pro kits for teams competing in the tournament. Part of the global 7-a-side Kings League, founded in 2022 by former FC Barcelona and Spanish national team player Gerard Piqué, the German league features two groups of four teams competing throughout October and November at MMC Studios Cologne, culminating in the Final Four on November 15. The German Kings League Cup winner will advance to the European Final in Berlin on November 22, facing teams from Spain and Italy at the Velodrom.
This season, G2 FC returns with continuity, tactical expertise, and renewed energy as it enters its second season. The team continues to showcase G2’s commitment to innovation and cross-cultural sports experiences, providing a platform to merge traditional football with esports and entertainment. By engaging fans across live and digital channels and exploring new media genres and formats, G2 FC is helping position Kings League as the future of sports entertainment, where esports meets football.
G2 FC is bringing back Team Manager Ron Stublla, whose background in Sports Management and experience in the Youth Bundesliga provide strong leadership on and off the pitch, alongside Head Coach Malik Hadziavdic, a former member of the German National Futsal team and player for FC Liria Berlin in the Futsal Bundesliga, who combines tactical knowledge with hands-on playing experience. The presidents for the club have changed, however, and G2 FC welcomes Mohammed ‘MoAuba’ Harkous, a professional EAFC player who’s a World Championship winner and 5x German champion, and Konygebony, a German lifestyle influencer and rapper. Tarik Haadziavdic, Kevin Moreira, Ahmed Omeirat and Cihan Ucar return to the squad for another season alongside a line-up of exciting new players that qualified for the team after a series of trials in Berlin.
2025 marks G2’s 10-year anniversary, highlighting a decade of growth into a global esports powerhouse with teams across multiple regions and long-standing partnerships with brands such as Mastercard, Red Bull, Ralph Lauren, Jägermeister and Herman Miller. Expansion into traditional sports remains a key pillar for G2, and its strong connection to fans is clear, with 46.33% of German esports fans naming G2 their favourite team. This connection drives its approach in Kings League, offering a fresh way to experience football by blending sport, entertainment, and digital innovation while bringing competitive excellence, creativity, and a fan-first mindset to engage the next generation of sports fans.
Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2, comments: “Our debut season in Kings League Germany demonstrated the potential of combining esports and traditional sports. For Season 2, we are focused on delivering new content, connecting with fans in innovative ways, and pushing the boundaries of what sports entertainment can achieve. G2 FC perfectly aligns to our long-term vision of blending competitive performance with storytelling and digital innovation for the next generation of sports fans.”
G2 FC’s return reinforces the organisation’s commitment to redefining sports and esports. With returning leadership, fresh talent, dynamic content, and a passionate fanbase, the team is ready to make Season 2 its most exciting chapter yet.
The post Esports organisation G2 returns to Kings League Germany with G2 FC, building on a groundbreaking debut appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Featuring cinematic storytelling and powerful visuals, the content reinforces Parimatch’s passion for pushing boundaries alongside UFC
Parimatch’s latest campaign brings cinematic flair and raw intensity to the screen, capturing the emotion and energy required to compete in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation. The campaign builds on major sports partnerships that have made Parimatch a global backer of professional sports, with a strong presence across Asia and the MENA regions. Released ahead of UFC 321: ASPINALL vs GANE, it sets the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable event.
The innovative campaign labelled “Get Closer. Feel Everything” redefines fan connection, bringing audiences closer than ever to the intensity of the Octagon®. Raw energy. Elite strikes. Heart-stopping moments. Experience what TV screens can never capture.
“UFC has always been personal – first for me, then for Parimatch,” said Sergey Portnov, CEO of Parimatch. “I grew up dreaming of becoming a pro fighter, training Muay Thai twice a day to the extreme. That passion never left me, and it evolved into years of partnership with the UFC. As someone who lives and breathes combat sports, I know fight fans want more than watching through screens – they want to feel the cage shake, to experience raw, unfiltered access to the Octagon®. This is only the beginning. Campaigns like this will drive our fan engagement strategy as we expand into new regions and strengthen our global presence.
Video: youtube.com/watch?v=T-fTXXrkwCY
Beyond the Screen: Where Real UFC Lives
Most fans watch fights through a screen and miss the thunderous roar of the crowd, the powerful force behind every strike, and the electric tension that fills inside the arena – now Parimatch is changing the game entirely. The campaign delivers cinematic-quality content that brings viewers closer to the Octagon® for every jaw-dropping knockout, lightning-fast dodge, and emotional victory celebration.
The high-octane video captures:
- Recreations of UFC events, showcasing the raw power and precision that makes champions
- Unfiltered athlete emotions – from the focused intensity before the fight to the explosive celebrations after victory
- Crowd energy that makes your pulse race and adrenaline surge
- Music-synced editing that amplifies every moment of impact and triumph
The post PARIMATCH REVEALS ACTION-PACKED NEW UFC AD CAMPAIGN appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Regulating the Game (RTG) has announced Evive Australia as the first innovation to take the stage at Pitch! – part of the annual RTG gathering in Sydney in March.
The event will take place at the famous Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2026, as part of the sixth edition of the international regulatory and industry conference.
Evive is an app designed to help people change how they play or seek support for gambling harms. Created by Sam DeMello, a tech specialist drawing on his lived experience of gambling harm, and supported by Jay Robinson, a safer-gambling expert with over two decades of harm-minimisation and prevention experience, Evive Australia aims to deliver personalised tools, resources and pathways for anyone seeking to reduce risk or access help.
“Evive brings together real-world experience, clinical expertise and technology to create an accessible and credible platform for change. Pitch! was conceived to spotlight exactly these kinds of innovations – ideas that challenge convention, improve safeguards and reimagine the future of regulation and industry practice,” said Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch and founder of Regulating the Game.
“Evive isn’t just another app, it’s a bridge between lived experience, behavioral science and practical support. It shows that compliance and compassion can coexist, and when they do, everyone benefits. The app gives regulators and operators confidence in credible harm reduction tools, while giving people a safe, stigma free path to change,” Robinson said.
The post RTG Announces Evive Australia as the First Innovation to Take the Stage at Pitch! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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