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Gambling websites declare: cartoon slot machine games are not for kids

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Photo credits: www.askgamblers.com
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If you do a simple Google search on some of the betting websites, you could end up thinking that Google’s famed search algorithm has finally failed. You can see fluffy kittens, pink dragons and chubby pandas – some of the graphics appear to be coming straight out of a child’s storybook. But no. Google is correct. Those graphics do appear in some of the betting websites.

The betting websites are banned from directly targeting children, but some such websites still offer games filled with these fairy tale favourites. And some of these websites have no age checks in place either.

One slot-machine game featured on several websites is based around a cartoon Pied Piper, which seems appropriate considering that the Pied Piper lured kids to their doom.

It is freely available to play with no checks on betting sites including the Malta-registered videoslots.com.

Equally enchanting are the cuddly pets on the slot machine game OMG! Kittens on Slotboss.co.uk.

Anyone can have a go without checks in “free-play mode.”

The site is run by LeoVegas Gaming Ltd, a Swedish company based in Malta, while the game is made by WMS Gaming of Chicago – this is a global industry.

Other equally accessible gambling games on the site include Top Cat and Inspector Gadget, Monopoly, or feature pixies.

On Meccabingo.com there’s Fluffy Favourites, which boasts how it is “Packed with pink elephants, happy hippos and dinky dragons.”

You can sign up with a fake address, date of birth, and email address and tempt you to start playing you’re given on-site money. The only age verification is by checking a box.

The site is run by Rank Group – latest annual profits £83.5million.

Over on Betfair, there are slot machine games showing cartoon penguins, the children’s card game Top Trumps and the fairy tale character the Big Bad Wolf. Part of the same company as Paddy Power, Betfair had an online revenue of £898million last year.

“No one under the age of 18 is allowed to bet with Betfair, we have rigorous authentication procedures that kick in as soon as someone seeks to fund an account,” the company stated.

“All the games on our site are tightly controlled, and advertised in accordance with guidance issued by the Gambling Commission and the ASA.”

In theory, children cannot lose money on these sites but our sister newspaper the Sunday People told last week how easily a 13-year-old boy blew £60,000 in a week betting online after setting up an account using his father’s credit card. We contacted these companies for comment and were referred to the industry body Remote Gambling Association.

Spokesman Brian Wright said: “From an online gambling perspective there is always a risk of designing fun games for adults that might inadvertently attract children but it would never be the intention to deliberately target youngsters,” he insisted.

Contrast that with an adjudication published last week by the Advertising Standards Authority against m88.com, run by ProgressPlay Limited of Malta.

The watchdog’s ruling concerned three games and just look at their names: Fairytale Legends Red Riding Hood, Fairytale Legends Hansel and Gretel, and Fairies Forest.

M88, sponsors of Bournemouth FC, maintained that the games were made by a third party software company and appeared on other gambling sites, as if that makes it OK.

The company even insisted that they “did not feature any content that was likely to be of particular appeal to children.”

The ASA disagreed and ruled that the games violated multiple advertising codes.

Ian Angus, programme director at the Gambling Commission, said: “It is unacceptable for gambling websites to display freely accessible adverts, which feature images that are likely to appeal particularly to under-18s.”

“We support any action taken by the Advertising Standards Authority against firms that fail to protect ­children.”

“We recently consulted on strengthening our own rules on advertising. This would mean that gambling firms that break advertising rules could be subject to the full range of our regulatory powers, including fines.”

Recent figures published by the Government ­estimate 370,000 ­children gamble every week.

Source: mirror.co.uk

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LiveScore Group Announces Internal Restructuring as Part of Sustainable Growth Strategy

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LiveScore Group has announced an internal restructuring process, expected to impact more than 100 existing roles across multiple business locations, including London.

The changes are seen as a difficult yet important step for LiveScore Group, streamlining the business to create improved structures and a pathway to long-term sustainable growth. All impacted employees have been informed and are now subject to a confidential consultation process.

Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, said: “On behalf of all Directors of LiveScore Group, and the relevant subsidiary companies, we are saddened by the difficult decision to commence an internal restructure of the business, a process which impacts a significant number of our people.

“Whilst we celebrate our recent period of significant and exciting growth, we must now future-proof the organisation and ensure our internal structures allow us to achieve long-term and sustainable success.

“This is a hard time for all our people, as we say goodbye to colleagues who have played an important role in our journey across recent years.”

The announcement follows on from the recent news that LiveScore Malta Limited (part of LiveScore Group) is to withdraw its LiveScore Bet brand from the Netherlands following recent government tax increases in the market. The announcement includes those impacted by this. There will be no other customer impact in respect of any of the remaining LiveScore, LiveScore Bet or Virgin Bet sites globally.

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Pronet Gaming Appoints Alex Karaoulis as its New Commercial & Product Strategy Lead

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Pronet Gaming, an award-winning platform provider of full turnkey solutions, announced the appointment of Alexandros Karaoulis as its new Commercial & Product Strategy Lead.

With over 14 years of experience in the iGaming industry, Karaoulis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company’s strategic initiatives forward.

Throughout his iGaming career, Karaoulis has held various senior roles with B2B sportsbook and casino providers, as well as with B2C operators. His extensive background in marketing and sales within the iGaming sector positions him as a true industry expert, ensuring that Pronet Gaming remains at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly evolving market.

“I am thrilled to join Pronet Gaming and excited to fulfill my role in developing and executing sales strategies to drive the company’s revenue growth in key markets,” Karaoulis said.

With a track record in commercial strategies and driving product excellence, Karaoulis’ appointment is invaluable as Pronet Gaming now seeks to expand its footprint to Asia. His vision and deep understanding of the iGaming landscape equip him to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that the dynamic region presents.

“I want Pronet Gaming to lead the iGaming revolution by providing innovative, culturally tailored solutions that cater to the diverse and rapidly growing demands of the region. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of local markets, we aim to empower operators to offer world-class gaming experiences that engage players and drive sustainable growth,” he added.

According to Karaoulis, Pronet Gaming is poised to make a splash in Asia by leveraging its advanced technology, flexible platform solutions and deep market expertise while adapting to the unique characteristics of the region.

“The key differentiation point of Pronet Gaming is that we have B2C experience, which greatly aids in understanding the needs of operators and helping them to improve and execute their strategy according to the market. I have worked in B2C roles for more than seven years in my iGaming Career and managed campaigns across various channels, optimised conversion funnels, and learned to use data to improve player acquisition and retention,” said Karaoulis.

Karaoulis acknowledges that the marketing skills he has acquired from B2C experience are valuable in every B2B environment. As he dives into his new role at Pronet Gaming, Karaoulis aims to guide his operator clients on how to better market their own sites, including providing them with advice on effective acquisition strategies, content marketing and campaign structures that appeal to iGaming audiences.

“I also focus heavily on engagement strategies, loyalty programs, bonuses, and personalised offers to keep players active and returning. In my new B2B role, I will advise clients on best practices for player engagement, helping them adopt effective loyalty programs, personalised marketing, and retention tactics that drive player lifetime value to improve the end-player experience for our clients’ sites,” Karaoulis added.

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Vbet Wins Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at SiGMA Europe 2024

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Vbet has been crowned the Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at the highly coveted SiGMA Europe event, cementing its position as a leader in the online gaming industry.

This achievement highlights Vbet’s commitment to providing an exceptional user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a vast range of options and a secure process. The dedication to creating a responsible, enjoyable environment for players was recognised with this award, making this accolade even more significant. As Vbet continue to expand into new markets, the list of strategic partnerships grows alongside our constant drive to expand its offering. This award serves as a stepping stone on its path to reach more players and set new standards in the industry.

Arman Khachatryan, VBET’s Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Best Online Casino Operator award at SiGMA Europe 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and effort of our entire team. Our mission has always been to deliver the highest quality experience in the safest environment possible to our users. This award not only recognizes our dedication to this mission but also motivates us to continue expanding into new markets and territories.”

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