Press Releases
UKGC’s independent advisory board renamed to reflect sharper focus on safer gambling
Ahead of the publication of the new National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, the Gambling Commission has announced that its independent advisors, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB), has been renamed as the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG).
The ABSG will provide independent advice to the Commission as it works to implement the new strategy over the next three years and ensure progress is made on reducing gambling harms.
Following the announcement last November, new chair Dr Anna van der Gaag CBE has today taken over the position from Sir Christopher Kelly who has come to the end of his tenure after six years in the role.
Anna van der Gaag, said: “I would like to thank Sir Christopher for his tremendous leadership and I am delighted to be taking forward the work at this exciting time of change. Our new name reflects the need for greater clarity about everyone’s roles in the delivery of the new strategy.
“Gambling harms are rightly recognised as a public health issue and I welcome the Gambling Commission’s new strategy with its strong focus on both prevention and treatment.
“As the ABSG, we will be bringing a renewed focus on the safety of consumers and prevention of harm, helping to ensure consumers are free from the consequences of gambling harms, that research priorities are high up the Commission’s agenda, and that we are listening and working closely with all our partners.”
Neil McArthur, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, added: “We need to shift the focus from ‘responsible gambling’ to ‘safer gambling’. Responsible gambling suggests that the individual customer is principally in charge of keeping themselves safe. By focusing on safer gambling we want to emphasise that there is a clear onus on gambling operators to protect their customers.
“The ABSG, led by Anna, will continue to provide the crucial advice we need into the long-term delivery of the new National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms which launches later this month.”
Further changes took place on the ABSG board earlier this year with consumer protection specialist Louise Baxter joining in January on a three-year term.
The ABSG provides independent advice to the Gambling Commission on research, education and treatment programmes needed to support a national gambling strategy and associated funding requirements.
The National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms will be launched by the Gambling Commission on 25 April.
Latest News
Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center Leads Industry in 2023
Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center leads industry in 2023, saving players over $11 million
Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center continues to set the standard for excellence in the online gambling industry, achieving remarkable milestones in 2023 and reaffirming its commitment to player advocacy and fair gaming practices.
In the past year alone, the Complaint Resolution Center received over 14,000 complaints from players worldwide, a testament to its reputation as a trusted platform for addressing player concerns. Of these, over 12,000 were accepted, underscoring the Complaint Resolution Center’s dedication to providing a voice for players and addressing their grievances. Throughout the year, Casino Guru’s team successfully resolved 3,428 complaints, resulting in an astounding USD$11,279,425 in saved funds for players. This achievement reflects the Complaint Resolution Center’s unwavering commitment to securing favorable outcomes for players and ensuring a fair and transparent gaming environment.
Notably, Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center stands out from its competitors such as AskGamblers by accepting almost all complaints received; a significant difference that underscores Casino Guru’s dedication to prioritizing player concerns and advocating on their behalf. By comparison, AskGamblers reported saving USD$9,031,914 for players with 3,565 accepted complaints while Casino Guru’s comprehensive approach led to saving USD$11,279,425 with 12,161 complaints accepted for resolution.
Aside from monetary savings, the Complaint Resolution Center also boasts other significant achievements. With an average resolution time of 17 days and the fastest resolution completed in just 48 minutes, Casino Guru demonstrates efficiency and responsiveness in addressing player concerns. Additionally, the Complaint Resolution Center resolved the longest open complaint, active for 287 days, showcasing its commitment to seeing cases through to a satisfactory resolution. Moreover, the Complaint Resolution Center successfully resolved the complaint with the highest value, amounting to USD$1.99 million, further highlighting its dedication to addressing all levels of player grievances.
Petronela Kontos, Complaints Team Lead at Casino Guru, commented on the Center’s achievements: “We are proud to lead the industry in providing a platform where players can voice their concerns and seek resolution. Our commitment to fairness and transparency drives us to continually improve and deliver exceptional results for players worldwide.”
In addition to its outstanding performance in 2023, Casino Guru’s Complaint Resolution Center has achieved significant milestones over its lifetime. With over 37,000 complaints received and more than $25 million recovered for players, the Complaint Resolution Center has become a trusted resource for players seeking resolution to their issues.
As the Complaint Resolution Center continues its mission of empowering players and advocating for fairness within the online gambling industry, it remains dedicated to providing exceptional service and ensuring that players’ voices are heard and their concerns addressed with integrity and transparency.
Latest News
Evoplay strikes distribution agreement with Light & Wonder
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has leveraged its position across Europe by taking its portfolio live with Light & Wonder’s leading aggregation platform.
Through this latest launch, over 100 of the provider’s dynamic titles will be made available on Light & Wonder’s global operator network including its Penalty Shoot-out instant game as well as top-performing slots The Greatest Catch Bonus Buy and Hot Triple Sevens.
The integration will see Evoplay boost its presence across a plethora of territories in Europe, including MGA-regulated markets, Italy, Portugal, the Balkans and the Baltics, where Light & Wonder’s platform is a top choice for tier-one operators.
Evoplay’s latest agreement underscores its commitment to becoming a leading supplier across Europe and follows significant commercial expansion in several key markets.
Ihor Zarechnyi, CBDO at Evoplay, said: “Evoplay’s latest landmark deal serves as a testament to the power of our dynamic portfolio. As we continue to excel across markets worldwide, we are delighted that Light & Wonder recognised the quality of our games and took them live on its platform.
“Light & Wonder has a vast market reach, which allows us to greatly expand our footing in Europe. Additionally, once we obtain the Canadian licence, we look forward to introducing our innovative content to an even wider audience of players.”
James Bustin, Commercial Director at Light & Wonder, added: “Thanks to its commitment to differentiation, Evoplay’s offering has proven to captivate players across Europe and we anticipate its games will perform just as well with our operator network.
“Forging new content agreements with suppliers such as Evoplay allows us to continue delivering fresh and exciting experiences to the market whilst elevating studios to an even bigger reach.”
Central Europe
Wazdan amplifies Swiss presence with Swiss4Win launch
Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences has further expanded in the regulated Swiss market, taking its games live with Swiss4Win.
The collaboration enhances Wazdan’s profile in the country with Swiss4Win’s leading online gambling platform revolutionising player experiences with the introduction of the studio’s exciting range of games.
As Wazdan continues to deliver the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences, this new partnership heralds a new era of entertainment. Players can look forward to a diverse selection of captivating slots designed to appeal to Swiss players.
In conjunction with this partnership, Swiss4Win unveils its new website, meticulously crafted to enhance user engagement. The platform boasts a cutting-edge SEO-oriented design, complemented by a sleek dark mode interface. With a heightened focus on slot providers, the website features a dedicated page showcasing premier gaming offerings.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales and Business Development at Wazdan, said: “We’re excited to join forces with swiss4win.ch to introduce our latest games to players worldwide. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to innovation and excellence in the iGaming industry.”
Paolo Sanvido, Chief Executive Officer at Casino Lugano and Swiss4Win, added: “Wazdan’s distinguished reputation stems from its exceptional graphics and innovative features, which have resonated with players globally. Its dedication to crafting enriching casino experiences offers players greater control over their gaming preferences and seamlessly aligns with our audience’s interests.”
-
Compliance Updates4 days ago
Bet on Compliance: Navigating the Stakes with the UK’s Affordability Checks
-
Industry News4 days ago
Real Dealer Studios: Offering a fresh spin on classic roulette
-
Industry News4 days ago
Cheltenham and Grand National 2025 start now
-
eSports4 days ago
Denis ‘electroNic’ Sharipov is a New Virtus.pro Player
-
Asia4 days ago
Aurora Gaming Crowned Champions of $350,000 Skyesports Masters 2024, Earns Spot in Skyesports Championship
-
Gambling in the USA5 days ago
Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – April 8-14
-
eSports4 days ago
NODWIN Gaming Partners with Global Esports Federation as Portfolio Management Company for Key Emerging Markets
-
Asia4 days ago
Asian Regional Qualifiers Host Announced