Playson, the fast-growing digital entertainment supplier, has revealed its latest partnership with industry-renowned operator OlyBet to elevate the gaming experience of the operator’s Spanish players.

Forming part of the Olympic Entertainment Group, OlyBet is a leading online and land-based casino and sportsbook brand operating across Europe, with more than 150 casinos, 100 sports bars and a chain of five-star hotels.

The agreement sees Playson support OlyBet’s ongoing growth in Spain, with a host of the studio’s top performing titles including the in-demand Hold and Win portfolio, now available on its website. Titles such as Energy Coins: Hold and Win, Pink Joker: Hold and Win and Thunder Coins: Hold and Win will enable players to enjoy a fully immersive gaming experience and expand the operator’s premium slot offering.

The collaboration is testament to Playson’s ongoing commitment to expanding its global footprint and cementing its position as the go-to provider for operators in leading regulated markets.

Cristhian Zito, Sales Manager at Playson, said: “Our partnership with OlyBet represents a strategic alignment in our shared vision of delivering inspired gaming experiences for regulated markets worldwide.

“With OlyBet’s impressive foothold in Spain and Playson’s reputation for delivering creative and engaging games, we are set to offer even more value to players with an enriched gaming portfolio.”

Andrés Torresan, the Online Casino Manager at OlyBet said: “Through this collaboration with Playson, we have reinforced our commitment to innovation in gaming and the expansion of premium slot content to key markets.

“OlyBet customers will now be able to enjoy access to a diverse selection of captivating Playson slot experiences, elevating gameplay across OlyBet’s platforms.”

The UK Government has been urged to restrict gambling advertising in Northern Ireland.

Members of the Stormont Assembly’s All Party Group on Reducing Harm Relating to Gambling have written to Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, asking her to act to protect the public in the region.

In a letter sent at the end of Safer Gambling Week, the MLAs, including the group’s chairman Philip McGuigan (Sinn Fein) and Robbie Butler (UUP), have asked Ms Nandy to bridge a gap around gambling advertising online.

They said Northern Ireland is an outlier in the UK in not having updated gambling legislation since the advent of the internet.

While gambling policy is devolved, MLAs are concerned there is not enough time remaining in the current Assembly mandate to be able to pass a new Bill.

The Irish Parliament recently passed legislation introducing tight restrictions on gambling marketing.

It includes a new Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland which has the power to set the times, places and events where gambling advertising can be broadcast, displayed or published.

In their letter to Ms Nandy, the MLAs write: “We urge you to use your existing powers under the Gambling Act 2005 to take immediate action on gambling advertising and promotion and protect people across these islands from further gambling-related harm.”

They pointed to a recent cross-border report by Maynooth University and Ulster University showing that young people across the island of Ireland are exposed to “extremely high levels of gambling marketing” through televised sports programmes and social media content.

“Northern Ireland now stands alone as the only jurisdiction on these islands without updated gambling legislation since the advent of the internet,” they wrote.

“Unfortunately, our Executive does not have sufficient legislative time in the current Assembly mandate to take forward a Gambling Bill.

“This leaves our population here (who already experience the highest levels of gambling-related harm across these islands) highly vulnerable.”

“While remote gambling operators licensed by the Gambling Commission can freely advertise in Northern Ireland, as online and broadcast advertising is a reserved matter, our population is afforded no protection by the regulator.

“However, you have the power under existing laws to prevent our children from being bombarded with gambling related marketing during major sports broadcasts, such as Premier League matches, and prevent those already experiencing gambling harms from being targeted by gambling companies on social media.

“Introducing restrictions similar to those in Ireland would have a profound benefit for Northern Ireland, Britain and Ireland, where British TV is widely watched.”

“We urge you to use your existing powers to take immediate action to restrict the promotion of gambling in the UK and reduce the harm caused by gambling across these islands.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport indicated they would respond to the letter from the MLAs in due course.

Galaxy Entertainment Group has confirmed its exclusive interest in an IR project in Bangkok, with an estimated total capital expenditure of $3 billion. Meanwhile, gaming expert Daniel Cheng advises caution for casino investors after Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed a petition against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claiming he attempted to undermine the monarchy and exert control over the Pheu Thai Party. In the UAE, more than half of the $5.1 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island project, the region’s first IR, is said to have been completed.

Galaxy Entertainment Group has expressed its intent to focus solely on a proposed integrated resort (IR) project in Bangkok, despite Thailand’s plan to issue five gaming licenses nationwide, including three outside the capital. Management believes that Bangkok’s status as a premier travel destination offers greater certainty for investment returns. This information was shared by Goldman Sachs after meetings with Galaxy executives in Singapore, where they indicated a willingness to collaborate with local partners.