Latest News
Leading British politician praises YGAM for being ‘a leading example of how charities have innovated’
YGAM, the national education charity which works to raise awareness of gambling and gaming related harms, has been recognised by Shadow Minister Rachael Maskell, MP, for its ability to navigate the severe challenges of the Covid-19 crisis and continue to deliver an outstanding education programme through the application of digital media.
The Member of Parliament for York Central and Shadow Minister for the Voluntary Sector and Communities, who has been in dialogue with charities about the impact of Covid-19 and what measures the sector has initiated in order to adjust, said: “Speaking to YGAM, it is clear the team has gone above and beyond to ensure they are able to continue to educate young and vulnerable people in these unprecedented circumstances.
“I am extremely impressed by the prompt digital transformation of their resources and delivery model. I have been speaking to charities right across the UK to share insight on some of the struggles but also some of the positives. YGAM is a leading example of how charities have successfully innovated, and the team should be very proud.”
YGAM’s Head of External Affairs, Daniel Bliss, believes the challenges presented by Covid-19 has demonstrated the resilience of the ‘not for profit’ sector. Daniel said: “It’s been estimated that lost fundraising, donations and trading income has cost the charity sector over £4bn in the first 12 weeks of the coronavirus outbreak in the UK. No matter how large or small, all charities are facing significant challenges at this time.
“However, rather than take the easy option which would have been to suspend our activities, the YGAM team has responded creatively and reconfigured content for digital platforms. As well as the YGAM Practitioner Workshops, which have been presented as a blended, sophisticated digital offering, we have also launched our ‘Parent Hub’ website which is dedicated to providing a wealth of resources and activities to support families and help build digital resilience. The recognition we have received from a senior politician has provided an important boost to the YGAM team as we continue to deliver what I believe to be a best in class service.”
Latest News
Wazdan adds new instalment to its top-performing series 30 Coins
Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences, adds a 6×5 reel layout to its Coins™ series with its latest launch 30 Coins.
Adding a new dimension to the gameplay, the board is expanded to a 6×5 layout, allowing players to collect up to 30 Coins.
Landing six or more coins in the middle reels triggers the player-favourite Hold the Jackpot™ bonus round. This initially begins with three spins, resetting each time an additional coin is secured and continuing until the board is completely full or once no further spins remain.
Adding ways for players to win during the base game, the Cluster Collect symbol can also appear at any point, by collecting the values of any adjacent Bonus icons.
Furthermore, the Grand Jackpot has been set to 1500x to further boost win potential, while beloved Wazdan features Cash Infinity™, Sticky to Infinity™ and Chance Level™ all return.
The latest addition to Wazdan’s top-performing Coins™ series sees the provider continue to deliver customisable gameplay and engagement-boosting mechanics that deliver proven results.
Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “With every instalment of our Coins™ series Wazdan looks to build upon the predecessor and create a new title that is even more engaging. In 30 Coins, players are given more reels than ever before while the Cluster Collect feature returns to provide even more ways to win.
“By enhancing the gameplay and delivering results-driven solutions, we’re confident that 30 Coins is a worthy follow-up and continue to captivate players worldwide.”
Compliance Updates
A New Analysis by EGBA Reveals Notable Shift Towards Multi-licensing for Online Gambling Across Europe
A new analysis by EGBA concludes that 27 out of 31 European countries employ some form of multi-licensing for online gambling, with an overwhelming majority implementing a full multi-licensing approach.
In recent years, Europe has experienced a remarkable transformation in online gambling regulation. Just fifteen years ago, the landscape was vastly different. Most European countries lacked dedicated regulations for online gambling or operated under exclusive rights models where only state-owned entities had a monopoly to offer online gambling services.
But fast forward to today and the situation has evolved significantly. A new analysis by the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) concludes that the multi-licensing model has become the predominant regulatory approach in Europe. Under this model, multiple companies are permitted to offer online gambling services within a country, provided they comply with strict regulatory obligations.
Key findings of the analysis:
- 27 out of 31 European countries have adopted some form of multi-licensing, indicating a robust trend towards open, competitive markets.
- Four countries currently do not have any form of multi-licensing: Finland, Iceland, and Norway maintain exclusive rights models, granting state-owned entities a monopoly over all online gambling services, while Luxembourg lacks dedicated regulations for online gambling.
- Of the 27 countries with multi-licensing, 23 countries have a full multi-licensing model for all regulated online gambling products in those countries.
- Four countries have a mixed model with partial multi-licensing: Slovenia and Switzerland each have a monopoly for online sports betting, while Austria and Poland each have a monopoly for online casino gaming and poker, with multi-licensing for all other online gambling products.
- Cyprus (casino gaming and poker) and France (casino gaming) each impose product-specific prohibitions but both have multi-licensing for all other regulated online gambling products.
- Finland is currently undergoing legislative reforms, and is expected to establish a multi-licensing framework for online gambling in 2026.
Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of EGBA, said: “The momentum towards full multi-licensing for online gambling in Europe is undeniable. While a few exceptions still exist, governments are concluding that public policy objectives, particularly related to consumer protection and tax generation, are more effectively met through well-regulated online competition. Finland’s current transition towards multi-licensing signals the impending end of the last online gambling monopoly in the EU, marking a significant regulatory milestone.
“Similar deliberations regarding the future of the online monopoly are inevitable in Norway and Iceland. Furthermore, the handful of countries with either partial monopolies or product prohibitions should strive for greater consistency and effectiveness in their policies by phasing these out. With over 15 years of regulatory experience in Europe, it’s clear that full multi-licensing offers the best pathway to enhance consumer protection, increase tax revenues, and ensure stronger regulatory control. The time has come for the last remaining European countries to embrace this optimal form of online regulation.”
Industry News
IGT Expands Footprint in Spain’s ‘Salones’ Sector with Launch of New Multi-level Progressive Theme
International Game Technology PLC announced that its latest multi-level progressive (MLP) game, Diamond Mania, has launched in Spain’s Amusement with Prize (AWP) “salones” sector. Diamond Mania will follow the success of IGT’s Magic Fortune Link AWP game in Spain, a high-performing title that recently surpassed a 1000-unit deployment milestone.
“IGT is committed to growing its footprint in Spain by supplying researched-backed, market-attuned games that meet the player preferences in the region. Building on the successful deployment of IGT’s debut title for the salones sector, Magic Fortune Link, we are excited to expand our offering to include Diamond Mania, a unique multi-game jackpot that can help operators achieve excellent results and diversify their gaming floors,” said Maria Aldana, IGT Director of Sales Western Europe and Africa.
Specifically adapted for the salones market, Diamond Mania features four lively base game themes: Samurai Takeo, Majestic Stallion, Ramosis Treasures and Wish Mistress. Featuring proven mechanics for a highly engaging experience for players, Diamond Mania offers three special bonuses, a reel boost, a prize boost and a jackpot bonus, which can combine to activate the super games and mega games features and ultimately lead to the chance to win one of the four progressive jackpots.
Diamond Mania is available on the BINTIA 27-inch multi-game cabinet, which offers dual HD monitors and a topper option for casino-like styling. It features an ergonomic design, programmable LED lighting, vivid high-resolution graphics, an immersive sound system and can be configured with the TITO function.
The game will be exclusively distributed through Orenes Grupo, Spain’s salones sector market leader in operations and gaming machine distribution. Later this year, IGT plans to introduce Treasure Box, the Company’s third MLP developed specifically for Spain’s salones sector, which represents approximately 3000 gaming and bingo halls.
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