Author: Andrew Fletcher

Simon Westbury, Strategic Advisor at 1xBet, has argued that higher quality education from both operators and regulators is essential to normalising player protection across the industry. Westbury cautioned against over-educating players to the point of inducing apathy, but stressed that operational transparency remains mandatory for delivering robust and meaningful protection. He used a relatable analogy to make his case, explaining that understanding return-to-player figures does not mean expecting exact returns, but it does help players make genuinely informed choices about their activity. “It’s very clear education needs to be given to the player to make an informed choice,” Westbury said,…

Sweden’s presence at the 2026 World Cup has ignited extraordinary betting enthusiasm, with LeoVegas reporting a surge in activity that is unlike anything seen during the regular season. Per Carlander, Director of Sport Strategy at LeoVegas, described the mood around Sweden’s campaign as electric, with the operator’s trading desks feeling the pressure of heavy patriotic backing on every Blågult fixture. Sweden arrives at the tournament carrying genuine star power, with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres ranked among the Premier League’s most expensive strikers currently playing in England’s top flight. The national team’s road to qualification was far from smooth, with…

Bet365 has launched a new Fantasy Sports product timed to coincide with the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on June 11. The free-to-play mobile game was developed in partnership with B2B sports gamification specialist LOW6, which focuses on building interactive F2P mobile experiences for sports fans. Available to users aged 18 and over across the United States and Canada, the app is accessible in all eligible markets with the sole exception of Washington state. The game blends fantasy sports competition with collectible athlete card mechanics, allowing users to open in-app player packs and build competitive…

UK gambling operators are facing fresh regulatory pressure following a new compliance initiative announced by the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Advertising Standards Authority. The joint initiative specifically targets social media content that could be considered appealing to under-18s, marking a significant focus on protecting younger audiences online. Both the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Advertising Standards Authority have long played central roles in shaping how gambling is advertised across the United Kingdom. The move reflects growing concern among regulators about the reach of gambling-related social media content and its potential exposure to minors browsing popular platforms. Despite…

The Advertising Standards Authority has announced it will use artificial intelligence to identify gambling advertisements deemed to have “strong appeal” to under-18s. The Committee of Advertising Practice updated its guidance back in October 2025, clarifying what content would breach CAP Code 16.3.12 by appealing to young people. Despite that updated guidance, the ASA found that non-compliant ads were still appearing on social media platforms, prompting the decision to take further action. From 11 June, the ASA’s Active Ad Monitoring system will conduct a sweep of social media to identify any offending gambling advertisements still in circulation. The Gambling Commission has…

Blask currently tracks more than 5,000 iGaming brands operating across 133 countries, offering a rare global view of the iGaming landscape. Only six operators worldwide have established a presence in more than 100 markets, making them genuinely exceptional cases in the industry. Stake, 1xBet, Megapari, Mostbet, Melbet, and 1win lead the global leaderboard by geographic reach, though their market positions differ significantly beneath the surface. Some brands dominate tier-3 and grey markets, while others generate large engagement volumes inside major economies despite relatively small visibility shares. Stake stands out among this group by combining major positions across tier-1 economies, regulated…

Imagine Live has confirmed a new B2B partnership with Novibet, extending its live casino content across several of the operator’s key regulated markets globally. Novibet, founded in Greece in 2010, has grown into a multi-market international operator with a footprint spanning Europe and Latin America, including Mexico, Brazil, Ireland, Finland, Chile, Ecuador, Cyprus and New Zealand. The agreement will see Imagine Live supply live casino content to Novibet across all available licensed markets, with a particular focus on Greece and Brazil. Localized live casino tables featuring native Greek and Brazilian Portuguese-speaking game presenters will be central to the rollout in…

Affilka has officially become a Certified Google Click Tracker, marking a significant milestone for the affiliate management platform and the wider iGaming industry. The certification ensures that Affilka’s tracking links are formally verified as safe, transparent, and fully aligned with Google Ads’ strict guidelines. As major advertising networks like Google continue tightening compliance policies to combat fraud, this development carries considerable weight for operators in regulated markets. For brands using the Affilka platform, the certification translates into a substantial operational advantage when executing Google Ads strategies at scale. One of the most immediate benefits is the elimination of disapproval risk,…

Despite a projected fifth consecutive year of income growth, serious concerns over horse racing’s financial sustainability are being raised by industry leadership. The Horserace Betting Levy Board is expected to collect around £110m for the year ended 31 March 2026, marking a landmark figure for the organisation. This projected total represents the highest income recorded since the levy collection reforms were introduced in 2017, a significant milestone for the sport’s funding body. The reforms implemented in 2017 overhauled how the levy was collected, and the sustained growth since then has been broadly welcomed across the racing industry. Five consecutive years…

Advisors directly involved in negotiations between Bally’s and evoke remain confident the multi-billion-pound deal will ultimately be completed despite ongoing delays. The sale of the William Hill operator represents the most significant pending gambling sector M&A agreement in Europe, delivering a British high-street stalwart into Bally’s hands. Bally’s is a business widely known for aggressive cut-price deals, making this potential acquisition one of the most closely watched transactions in the industry. Since news of the deal was first reported, the parties announced an extension of negotiations minutes before the initial deadline, pushing talks into the following month. Despite that delay,…