Latest News

GambleAware Publishes New Reports and Guide for Financial Services Industry to Help Prevent Gambling Harm

Published

4 years ago

July 15, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

GambleAware has published a new report by the Behavioural Insights Team which analyses behavioural datasets to understand whether these could be used to build a clearer picture of the ways in which people gamble, identify possible harms, and eventually inform prevention, treatment, and support responses.

The commissioned research analysed bank transactional data from Monzo and HSBC, aiming to shed new light on what these datasets can, and cannot, tell us about gambling behaviour. The reports demonstrated that bank customer and transactional data can offer valuable insights into the success of gambling blocking tools and also provide unique profiles of gamblers. For example, of those using Monzo’s gambling blocker, it was found that the week before gamblers activated the block, their average daily gambling spend tripled. Specific profiles of gamblers were also revealed by the research, such as that gamblers had less money on average in their Monzo internal saving pots than non-gamblers, or that gamblers ranked “Very Concerning” by HSBC had on average 35.6 gambling transactions per month, compared to 15.6 in those ranked “Concerning”, and just 1.2 in the “Control” group.

Taken individually, however, these datasets are not enough to understand whether a customer is at risk of experiencing gambling harms. A dataset from a single bank is unlikely to offer a full picture of an individual’s spending, and so these exploratory research projects illustrated that further research is needed to create a fuller picture of an individual’s overall financial wellbeing.

“Our research with HSBC and Monzo has demonstrated that bank transactional data can be a useful tool in identifying gambling behaviours and the unique profiles of gamblers, but further work is needed to understand how such data can be used robustly. Different banks may use different factors, and different thresholds to identify gambling, and future work could look at developing a more standard operating model of how this kind of data should be used to identify those at risk of harm,” Dr Simon McNair, Advisor at BIT, said

“Our research with GambleAware helps us to understand gambling-related behaviours so that we can provide the best support to our customers. This includes opt-in solutions such as a gambling restriction feature to help people control their urge to gamble and automatic declines or referrals for lending to help prevent the customer getting into debt. Customers can also appoint third parties to help manage their finances either through a third-party mandate or our Independence Service. In addition, our specialist support team are on hand to aid customers at risk of financial harm and can refer to trusted external organisations where needed. We continue to work with charities such as Gamble Aware on other ways in which we can ensure these customers have access to the right support,” Maxine Pritchard, Head of Financial Inclusion and Vulnerability at HSBC, said.

“Our work with the Behavioural Insights Team has provided us with important insights into gambling behaviour and the impacts of gambling. At Monzo, this is an area we care deeply about and we’ve had amazing success so far with our gambling block, which has been used by more than 350,000 customers since its launch in 2017. We’re excited to use these insights to inform future work in this area, further reduce gambling harm and provide our customers with even more control over their financial lives,” Natalie Ledward, Head of Vulnerable Customers at Monzo, said.

GambleAware has commissioned the Personal Finance Research Centre at the University of Bristol to produce a practical guide for financial services seeking to protect customers from gambling-related financial harms. The guide offers real-life examples of what firms can do to identify and support customers who are at risk of gambling-related financial harm. It highlights the value of financial firms proactively analysing customer transaction data for spending patterns and behavioural signs that might indicate gambling-related vulnerability and enable firms to take action to prevent harm occurring.

“At a conservative estimate, at least five million people in Britain experience harmful gambling, either because of their own gambling or someone else’s. Regulated financial services firms are well-placed to address the financial harms linked to gambling-related vulnerability and our practical guide shows them how. Doing this may have knock-on benefits for other dimensions of gambling harm, such as people’s mental health,” Professor Sharon Collard, Research Director at the University of Bristol’s Personal Finance Research Centre, said.

“This research from the Behavioural Insights Team is a good first step to explore how bank transactional data may be able to identify behaviours indicative of gambling harm. Whilst more research is needed into this area, we encourage all financial institutions, including those from non-bank settings, to make the most of the new guide to see what they can do to protect their customers from gambling harm. By working with financial services and promoting the advice and support available, we can work collaboratively to respond to customer need to keep people safe from gambling harm,” Zoë Osmond, CEO at GambleAware, said.

Latest News

Betbazar Explores Cricket in iGaming: What Operators Need to Know

Published

8 minutes ago

April 30, 2025

Zoltan "Hawkie" Tundik

Revolutionising Cricket Premier League: Max Sevostianov – COO at Betbazar, shares insights on how AI-Cricket and hyper-local data products are helping Operators engage, convert, and retain players year-round

With the start of the Premier League cricket season in India, what key trends are you seeing in the iGaming industry around this sport?

We’re witnessing explosive demand for faster, more immersive cricket content. Ball-by-ball gaming is really taking off, driven by players who crave real-time action and micro-engagements. This has pushed Operators to double down on mobile-first experiences — speed, accessibility, and UX are everything in this space.

Another standout trend is hyper-localisation. It’s no longer enough to offer cricket content in English — platforms are integrating regional languages, tailoring promotions based on local fandoms, and weaving in fantasy-style formats that resonate deeply with Indian audiences.

Perhaps the biggest shift we’re seeing is strategic: cricket is evolving from a seasonal event to a sustainable, year-round revenue channel. Operators aren’t just riding the IPL wave — they’re building ecosystems around domestic leagues, international fixtures, and even niche formats, ensuring engagement doesn’t drop off after the final.

Do you think the league will trigger a revenue surge for South Asian Operators? What should they focus on to make the most of this opportunity?

Absolutely — the Premier League is essentially Black Friday for cricket in India and the wider South Asian market. It’s the peak of the calendar, where user engagement and volumes skyrocket. But high traffic alone doesn’t guarantee high returns.

To truly capitalize on this opportunity, Operators need robust infrastructure. That means rock-solid uptime, especially during critical moments like the toss or final overs when activity spikes. Fast bet settlements, wide market coverage — from traditional formats to more niche or prop bets — and content that keeps users hooked, like virtuals or eCricket, are all must-haves.

This season, the winners won’t just be those with the most users — they’ll be the ones who can scale seamlessly, automate efficiently, and deliver content that’s as thrilling as the match itself.

What cricket-related products are currently making the biggest impact in the iGaming market?

Three products are really making waves right now.

First, Virtual (AI) and eCricket formats are proving to be game-changers. These always-on experiences keep players engaged even between live matches, maintaining momentum throughout the season and beyond.

Second, high-frequency data feeds are unlocking a new level of interactivity. Instant markets, player props, and ball-by-ball gaming are now the norm, providing users with a dynamic and deeply immersive experience, especially appealing to mobile users who seek fast, responsive gameplay.

Finally, localised and gamified content is crucial. We’re seeing strong traction with fantasy-style elements and UI’s designed specifically for cricket fans. When combined with regional language support and tailored promotions, this kind of personalisation boosts both engagement and long-term retention.

These innovations are driving serious volume — and, more importantly, keeping players coming back.

Betbazar recently launched a new product – AI Cricket. Can you walk us through its key features and what makes it so promising?

AI-Cricket is the latest innovation on Betbazar’s marketplace, and it’s setting a new benchmark for virtual sports. At its core, it delivers 24/7 AI-powered cricket matches with realistic gameplay that mirrors live action — from batting styles to fielding dynamics — all generated by advanced algorithms.

What truly sets AI Cricket apart is its end-to-end automation. Everything from match creation to odds generation is fully automated, allowing Operators to run with minimal overhead and maintain a consistent 8% margin, without the need for manual trading.

On the user side, it’s all about engagement. The product supports fantasy-inspired modes and even customisable avatars, offering a highly immersive experience that feels fresh every time. And because it’s always available, it gives Operators a powerful tool to drive retention, even during downtime in the real-world sports calendar.

So AI-Cricket blends innovation with profitability, making it a standout product for today’s cricket-focused iGaming market.

Сricket coverage in Betbazar’s Live Data Feed is described as unique. How broad is the coverage, and what specific advantages does it offer to operators?

Betbazar’s Live Data Feed offers one of the most comprehensive and operator-friendly cricket solutions in the market today. We’re talking about 15,000+ pre-match and over 9,000 live Cricket & Kabaddi Events, and an additional 10,000+ AI Cricket events each year — a scale that ensures operators can engage users year-round.

But what really sets it apart is the quality behind the quantity. Settlement times for top events are incredibly fast, typically within five minutes after the match, giving players confidence and keeping the gaming process flow smooth.

From a technical perspective, we’ve built it for performance, featuring low-latency updates, a high SLA for reliability, and customisable margins that allow Operators to fine-tune their offerings to suit different markets and risk profiles.

In short, it’s a powerful, high-performance data solution designed to meet the fast-paced demands of modern cricket, enabling operators to stay ahead of the game.

About Betbazar

Betbazar is a B2B worldwide iGaming marketplace which has set a new sales standard, sourcing specialist iGaming products and advising on their role within existing strategies to deliver growth to our partners. The company’s ambition is to build a digital iGaming marketplace that connects creators with operators, accelerating growth through best-in-class products.

Latest News

63 suspicious betting alerts reported by IBIA in Q1 2025

Published

2 hours ago

April 30, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported 63 alerts of suspicious betting to the relevant authorities in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025. The Q1 2025 total is 3% less than the 65 alerts in Q4 2024, and 11% more when compared to the revised Q1 2024 total of 57 alerts. IBIA monitors over $300bn per annum in betting turnover (handle) across more than 80 members with over 140 sports betting brands globally.

The 63 incidents of suspicious betting in Q1 2025 concerned six sports, across 23 countries and 5 continents. Other key data for Q1 2025 includes:

Football and tennis accounted for 40 of the Q1 2025 alerts (64%), a 14% increase from 35 alerts in Q4 2024.
Sporting events in Europe and North America, with 32 alerts combined, made up 51% of the total reported; that was a decrease of 29% compared to 45 alerts in Q4 2024.
Table tennis saw a notably reduction in alerts from 21 reported in Q4 2024 to 9 reported in Q1 2025, representing a 53% quarter-on-quarter fall.

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “The first quarter of 2025 was relatively consistent with the previous quarter and the comparable period last year. Football and tennis remain the most reported sports, albeit their combined Q1 2025 number was down 14% on Q4 2024. This quarter-on-quarter reduction was primarily due to a fall in tennis alerts, which have shown a welcome reduction in recent years. The Q4 2024 increase in table tennis alerts has not continued into Q1 2025 and has fallen back to previous levels. IBIA has taken increased precautions regarding this sport and agreed a number of new integrity partnerships and protocols in Q1 with the aim of detecting and sanctioning corrupt betting activity.”

IBIA is a leading not-for-profit dedicated to protecting the integrity of regulated sports betting markets worldwide. Its global monitoring network serves as a powerful anti-corruption tool, identifying and reporting suspicious betting activity. In late 2024, IBIA further strengthened its capabilities with a major technological upgrade, significantly enhancing its ability to detect and respond to potential match-fixing across its members’ markets.

The post 63 suspicious betting alerts reported by IBIA in Q1 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Fujitsu names Sammi Abdulla as Business Development Manager for iGaming

Published

2 hours ago

April 30, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Fujitsu, the leading provider of infrastructure and platform solutions to businesses in the global online gambling industry and beyond, has named Sammi Abdulla as Business Development Manager for iGaming.

Sammi is a highly experienced business development manager, having held roles at major companies both inside and outside of the industry. Most recently, he was Business Development Manager at media powerhouse, Next.io.

As Business Development Manager at Fujitsu, Sammi has been tasked with driving the company’s expansion within the global online gambling industry, building meaningful relationships, understanding the unique demands of the sector and aligning Fujitsu’s solutions with client needs.

This includes delivering tailored platform and infrastructure solutions such as compute, storage and hybrid cloud. Sammi will also consult on technical requirements and compliance standards and support clients in driving digital transformation initiatives that improve scalability, uptime and security.

Over the coming months, his priority will be to engage with key stakeholders across the industry, demonstrate how Fujitsu’s technology can add real value and help clients to strengthen and futureproof their operations via scalable, secure and reliable infrastructure.

Nick McDonald, iGaming Account Director at Fujitsu, said: “Sammi is one of the most experienced Business Development Managers in the sector with a proven track record at renowned organisations both in and out of the industry. We are delighted to be able to leverage this as we look to strengthen our position in the market.

“Fujitsu’s platform and infrastructure solutions set the standard for others to follow, and with Sammi on board, we can make more operators and suppliers aware of our suite of products and how they can help them future proof their operations.

“This is a significant hire for Fujitsu, and I look forward to working closely with Sammi in the weeks, months and years to come.”

Sammi Abdulla, Business Development Manager for iGaming at Fujitsu, added: “I’m thrilled to have joined Fujitsu and to be diving even deeper into the iGaming world, a space I have good knowledge of and feel passionate about.

“With Fujitsu’s powerful tech behind us, I’m excited to help our clients level up their infrastructure, stay ahead of the game and maybe even have a little bit of fun while we do it.

“I’m also looking forward to working with the incredible Fujitsu team, which has already made me feel incredibly welcome.”

The post Fujitsu names Sammi Abdulla as Business Development Manager for iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.