Author: Charles Shephardson

The UK Gambling Commission has delivered a long-awaited update on financial risk assessments, outlining the next stage of affordability checks applied to customers across Britain. The Commission hosted a conference call with industry stakeholders to present the framework and schedule for the binding application of financial vulnerability checks. Reports from Sky News and The Daily Telegraph ahead of the briefing indicated the government and Commission would confirm the Gambling Review’s proposed structure for these assessments. Customers losing more than £125 over 30 days or £500 in a year will face lower-tier checks using publicly available data, including bankruptcy records. More…

The iconic American Powerball lottery is set to make its UK debut on 21 July, marking the first time the draw has been offered outside of the United States. National Lottery steward Allwyn UK will begin selling £4 Powerball tickets through its retail network, website and app, subject to final regulatory approval. UK players will be eligible to enter the first official draw on 23 July, with an estimated top prize of around $416m if the current jackpot continues to roll over. Powerball has produced seven prizes worth more than $1bn since its inception in 1988, including the world’s largest…

Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has seen its decisions fully backed by the courts after three operators failed to overturn significant penalty fees. The regulator originally brought action against Betsson Nordic Ltd, Snabbare Ltd, and Spooniker Ltd in May 2025 over customer due diligence failures. The violations in question related to operator conduct during 2023, when all three were found to have inadequately assessed large customer deposits. Spelinspektionen issued Betsson Nordic a fine of SEK 6.5 million, Spooniker a fine of SEK 10 million, and Snabbare a fine of SEK 5.5 million alongside formal warnings. Snabbare Ltd is a subsidiary of…

Landman Economics researcher Howard Reed has challenged the credibility of a World Advertising Research Centre report predicting illegal gambling advertising will surpass the licensed sector. The WARC report, titled “The ad spend disconnect,” forecast that UK black market gambling advertising expenditure would outstrip the licensed industry by 2028. Reed’s critique was commissioned by Derek Webb’s Campaign for Fairer Gambling, and it targets the report’s lack of methodological transparency in its forecasting. Reed, the former chief economist for the Institute for Public Policy Research, argues the research is “flawed” because the methodology behind its predictions is never properly explained. His response…

Flutter Entertainment has announced redundancies across its PokerStars division as part of a sweeping operational restructuring affecting staff worldwide. The cuts will impact employees across PokerStars’ global hubs, including teams based in Canada, Europe, the UK, and Ireland, though exact numbers remain unknown at this stage. A PokerStars spokesperson confirmed the development, stating: “PokerStars can confirm that it is proposing a number of organisational changes as part of its ongoing transformation programme, which includes integrating its online poker offering with Flutter’s leading brands to better serve customers.” The spokesperson added that the changes reflect a shift toward a more locally…

PopOK Gaming has sponsored the annual TT Cup Challenge Horse Racing Event in Botswana, reinforcing its commitment to supporting local communities across regulated gaming markets. This year’s edition of the TT Cup Challenge attracted more than 3,500 spectators from neighbouring villages, making it the largest gathering in the event’s history. Recognised as one of Botswana’s most anticipated community sporting occasions, the TT Cup celebrates the country’s horse racing tradition while uniting families, participants, and local communities. The event drew support from a number of long-standing partners, including the Botswana Gambling Authority and the Ministry of Sport and Arts, who collaborated…

Xpoint has launched a new fraud detection tool built specifically to catch organised abuse of betting and gaming promotions across North America. The geolocation and compliance technology company has begun deploying its proprietary pattern-analysis engine with operator partners, targeting increasingly sophisticated fraudulent behaviour. The tool is designed to identify groups that cycle the same devices, accounts, and locations in order to farm sign-up bonuses and exploit promotional offers. Manu Gambhir, Xpoint CEO, said: “Attempts to defraud operators are becoming ever more coordinated and advanced, so operators need the best possible tools to spot areas of concern early.” Gambhir added: “Our…

The Netherlands’ Supreme Court has ruled that contracts between players and unlicensed online gambling operators are not void under Dutch civil law. The decision significantly narrows one of the central legal arguments players have used to pursue repayment for losses at unlicensed gambling sites. The preliminary ruling, issued on 3 July, was prompted by two separate disputes involving PokerStars operator TSG Interactive Gaming Europe and PartyCasino operator Electraworks Europe. Both companies are Malta-based and neither held a Dutch licence during the periods in question, which formed the basis of the player complaints. One claimant reported losing $139,464.58 playing with PokerStars…

SOFTSWISS wrapped up a strong showing at iGB L!VE London 2026, giving partners their first in-person look at the company’s refreshed visual identity and new positioning. The company had digitally launched its new brand on 1 July 2026, making iGB L!VE the first opportunity to bring that identity to life in a physical setting. Rather than simply unveiling a new look, SOFTSWISS transformed its entire exhibition presence into an immersive experience built around partnership and long-term growth. Every element of the company’s presence was designed around creating the right environment for meaningful conversations, stronger partnerships, and sustained business development. Miranda…

Blueprint Gaming has long been a dominant force in the UK market, and the provider has steadily built on that foundation with growth across Europe and North America. South Africa now represents the company’s next major strategic move, with the operator recently securing partnerships with tier-one operators Hollywoodbets and Sunbet. Sam Haggblom, director of business development at Blueprint Gaming, has outlined why the country is a key priority for the studio’s international ambitions. Haggblom points to Africa’s broader momentum as a major factor, noting that rising smartphone penetration, improving mobile connectivity, and a young digital population are driving rapid growth…