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Affordability checks could drive players offshore, says leading gambling researcher Mark Griffiths

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The financial risk checks proposed in the White Paper on gambling reform and now being consulted on by the Gambling Commission are not the best way to prevent problem gambling, according to one of the world’s most prominent gambling addiction researchers.

In an exclusive interview with sports betting community OLBG, Professor Mark Griffiths said: “In principle, affordability checks are a good idea, but financial limits that apply to everyone may not be.”

Griffiths is a Chartered Psychologist and Distinguished Professor of Behavioural Addiction at Nottingham Trent University, and is also the Director of the International Gaming Research Unit. He has worked as a consultant for many gambling companies in the areas of responsible gambling, player protection and harm minimisation.

The Gambling Commission last week opened a consultation on proposals to require operators to carry out financial risk checks on customers with net losses of £125 a month or £500 per year. It has also proposed that enhanced checks should take place for customers with net losses of £1,000 in 24 hours or £2,000 in 90 days.

However, Griffiths said: “The Gambling Commission always talks about the amount of money people are spending, but it is better to talk about how much somebody can afford to gamble as opposed to how much they are actually spending.”

He added: “The more fine-grained we get about affordability checks, for example, if the Gambling Commission says it wants companies to dig into people’s personal finances, there’s going to come a point where most people won’t want to divulge that kind of information.

“What they will then do is go and bet with less reputable companies, ones that are not operating within the confines of the regulatory system here in the UK but are instead located offshore with little or no responsibility measures whatsoever. This would just displace the problem.”

Griffiths, who has won 24 national and international awards for his research, argued it would be better if it became mandatory for players to set time and money limits when they initially sign up with an online operator.

“If gamblers set these limits in the cold light of day based on what they can afford, it doesn’t matter how problematic an activity could be because once they’ve hit their limit, they can no longer gamble,” he said.

He added that a wide-ranging study he was involved in conducting in Norway suggested that mandatory play breaks could also prove useful tools given the huge rise in gambling opportunities over recent years.

Griffiths, who has published more than 1,400 peer-reviewed research papers, six books and over 190 book chapters, also pointed out there was little evidence to suggest problem gambling was on the rise.

“Over the last 20 years the problem gambling rate has been fairly stable at around 0.5%, with the latest figure 0.3%, based on the Gambling Commission’s statistics on participation and problem gambling for the year to March 2023. The vast majority of people who engage in gambling activities have no problem at all.”

Other topics covered in the interview include Griffiths’ views on The Guardian’s advertising ban, the rise of in-play betting, advertising restrictions and the definition and characteristics of addiction.

Gaming

ZITRO LAUNCHES MERGING FU POTS

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Discover the world of Merging Fu Pots and unveil the hidden fortunes within each pot! At 75 credits, players can access 3 combinable features: the Green Pot (Multiplier), the Orange Pot (Double), and the Blue Pot (Extra Spin) to unlock up to 7 different Bonus Links!

But at the boost level bet of 100 credits, players will unlock 1 Merged Pot, which combines the Double, Multiplier, and Extra Spin features for a new gameplay experience! Land 15 link symbols and claim the GRAND MEGA or MEGA jackpot with a spin of a wheel.

The thrill of Fu Pots, now with an extra boost!

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Asia

Mythpat, GamerFleet, Piyush Joshi Gaming: India’s popular Minecraft Players Gear Up for the Ultimate Battle in Creators Rumble

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Get ready to dive into an electrifying, one-of-a-kind gaming spectacle as India’s most talented gamers face off in the much-anticipated Minecraft tournament titled Creators Rumble, an initiative by OP Gaming, a subsidiary of OpraahFx. This event is set to bring together India’s top Minecraft creators, who will challenge each other and display their mastery over the game in a thrilling competition spanning three rounds which includes Parkour, MLG and PvP. 

This event marks the first time that India’s top Minecraft influencers and gaming creators unite in an official tournament format, bringing fans and players alike a whole new level of excitement.

Divided into six teams of four members, they will face off across action-packed Minecraft rounds  designed to test every skill—from strategy and creativity to adaptability and teamwork.

Mythpat aka Mithilesh Patankar, one of India’s leading Youtuber and gaming influencers, shared his excitement saying, “Creators Rumble will be a chance to bring the Minecraft gaming community closer, strengthening bonds among creators and igniting excitement for both fans and gamers. India has a huge Minecraft fanbase, and this tournament will introduce even more gamers to the fun of Minecraft.”

The inaugural edition of Creators Rumble will tap into Minecraft’s worldwide popularity, which has grown steadily since its release. In October 2023, Mojang Studios, the game’s developer, revealed it has sold over 300 million copies, making Minecraft the best-selling video game in history. Players of all ages continue to be captivated by its open-ended gameplay and limitless creative potential, where they can build worlds and structures limited only by their imagination.

Anticipating the prospects Mansi Gupta, Chief Business Officer at OpraahFx, emphasized on the industry impact saying, “India’s gaming landscape is thriving, and we believe that the nation has the potential to emerge as one of the world’s biggest pools of gaming talent. The Creators Rumble is a platform for growth, not only for seasoned players but for the entire creator economy. We’re here to support these creators as they captivate audiences with their talents in Minecraft.”

The Creator’s Rumble will see iconic players Mythpat (Mithilesh Patankar) and Gamerfleet (Anshu Bisht) showcasing some exhilarating gaming experience joined by popular gaming creators, Piyush Joshi Gaming (younger brother of popular Indian YouTuber, Sourav Joshi), AndreoBee (Naveen Yadav), MC Addon (Dipanshu Prajapati), PSD1 (Prathamesh), Harshita (Harshita Shukla), ShadowShooter (Pankaj Kumar Sahoo), I.M.Kopi (Bibek Jung Kunwar), Proboiz (Paresh Solanki), Mr Lapis (Jitender Kumar), GameBeat (Nitin Tyagi), Risible Twins (Kartik and Kunal), Yug Playz (Yug Thakkar), Agnit Plays (Vinit Aggarwal), GamerJatin (Jatin Makhija), Spunky Insaan (Harshit Nema), Pahadi Gaming (Lokesh Karakoti), DevXD (Pankaj Dev), Ro9nie (Rohan Chhabra), Sidh4rth (Siddharth), CassalFx (Shrey Patel) and Dattrax Gaming (Harvest Dewangan).

With this monumental event, OP Gaming aims to further solidify India’s role in the global gaming landscape and showcase the extraordinary creativity and camaraderie of the Minecraft community.

The tournament is scheduled to take place on November 22 (Friday) and will be streamed live on the OP Gaming YouTube channel. Six teams – Team RedstoneTeam Gold, Team Emeralds, Team ShulkerTeam Amethyst, and Team Diamonds, will compete in a series of thrilling challenges, vying for the prestigious title and showcasing the finest Minecraft talent in India.

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Gaming

THE BATTLE OF POLYTOPIA RELEASES NEW AQUARION SPECIAL SKIN IN LATEST UPDATE

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Midjiwan, the award-winning independent studio behind The Battle of Polytopia has today released a new Aquarion Special Skin, additional language options and balance updates to the recently reworked Aquarion tribe. Players will dive deep into the Ritiki Marshlands encountering a lost Aquarion outpost with the new skin known as “The Forgotten”.

Long ago, when the Aquarion Empire vanished beneath the waves. One remote outpost in the swampy atolls lost all contact, leading its inhabitants to believe they were the last of their kind. This forgotten tribe evolved in isolation, adapting to the marshy landscapes with squid-like appendages and unique abilities to command the swamp and its creatures.

Using the unique abilities of “The Forgotten”, players can build on water, summon giant squids, create speed enhancing bubbles, ride crocodiles, tame toads, and traverse their marshy terrains with ease.

In addition, the latest update to the game now offers expanded language options: Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Polish, Thai, Turkish & Vietnamese.

Christian Lövstedt, CEO of The Battle of Polytopia, commented: “I feel that this skin is one of the best we’ve created and has quickly become my personal favourite. Additionally, we have added Bubble Tech to the Aquarion Waterways, making that tribe even greater. With expanded language options and new gameplay mechanics, we’re inviting players to dive into the rich lore and strategy that make the Battle of Polytopia truly special.”

To celebrate the launch of the new update, Midjiwan hosted an exclusive livestream event, offering fans a unique look behind the scenes, live gameplay, and discussions with the development team – the livestream is available to watch now: The Forgotten livestrea m by Midjiwan.

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