Researchers from the University of Ontario and elsewhere have proposed a new tool to help gambling operators develop more effective RG messages. The Responsible Gambling Message Development Framework builds on the findings of a rapid evidence assessment (REA) and established theories of health communication and behavior change. “By implementing player-centric, evidence-based strategies, this framework has…
A theme is emerging in Latin America once regulatory frameworks are established, with over-regulation becoming a temptation for states seeking to increase revenue and to appease certain sections ofsocial sectors that oppose the gaming industry. This combination, according to experts, can be counterproductive: it encourages the growth of illegal practices, reduces the room for maneuver…
Gregory Petts has been named the new Chairman at the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC). Appointed by the Isle of Man Treasury, Petts will now ensure that the organisation upholds high standards of regulation in the gambling sector, as well as accountability and oversight to balance needs with safety. The new Chair has had a diverse career, having…
A trade association is encouraging the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to improve its strategy and policies and better support betting companies in using data and statistics.
The Institute of Licensing (IoL) put out a statement following the Commission’s publication of Gambling Survey of Great Britain (GSGB) data, gathered during the second year of the survey.
IoL argues that the UKGC needs to improve user confidence in the survey, and that a more detailed improvement plan is needed if the recommendations made by Professor Patrick Sturgis of London School of Economics, based on the survey, are to be adopted smoothly.
This should sit alongside a user engagement strategy and information on the quality assurance and validation processes of the GSGB, the IoL believes. The organisation argues that building trust among the GSGB’s users should be a priority for the UKGC.
The GSGB began in 2023 as a two year study of how Britons engage with the gambling sector, and how their behaviour may have changed during this time. This coincided with the review of the 2005 Gambling Act, party functioning as a means to support UKGC policy and guidelines, and industry best practice.
The second year datasets identified scratchcards, sports betting and online instant win games as being the most associated with higher risk. These products were the most frequently used non-lottery products, being used by 12%, 10% and 7% of respondents.
Additionally, the study has reiterated some points about the increasing digitisation of gambling, particularly among younger demographics, which are also more likely to engage with non-lottery products. The survey found that males aged 18-24 became the most active group, with a 47% participation rate, once lottery products were excluded.
These statistics, just some examples out of many, clearly give industry stakeholders across a range of disciplines a lot of food for thought. The IoL argues though that this can be built on further.
The association states that the UKGC should “consider how it can align further development of these statistics, including the detail that is provided and how it is presented, with user needs”.
Another issue lies in what stakeholders understanding of the survey is, and how it relates to the wider UK ambling ecosystem. The IoL is encouraging the Commission to look at how GSGB data can relate to other statistics, such as those derived from the Health Survey for England and the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey.
This is an interesting point given that the UKGC itself has often urged UK gambling stakeholders to make better use of data, and learn from other industries like the finance sector when it comes to data sharing and using stats to inform policy and practices.
“To benefit future statistics development and address diverse stakeholder needs, the Gambling Commission should broaden its stakeholder network and collaborate further with official statistics producers,” the IoL’s seventh recommendation read.
However, combining GSGB data with stats from the likes of the Health Survey for England could also lend more to the argument that gambling should be framed as a public health issue rather than a business one – something that neither the UKGC nor the government have committed to, though some campaigners including MPs are becoming more and more vocal in favour of this.
The Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) and the Health Quality Assurance Organisation (OHQA) have joined forces to combat gambling addiction in Greece.
Greek authorities have agreed to a three-year Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to establish a new joint approach to preventing gambling addiction, while enhancing social support for those affected.
The cooperation will begin with the HGC and OHQA forming a ‘Coordination Committee’ to act as the supervisory body for the implementation of a new national strategy on gambling addiction.
OHQA Chief Executive, Christos Nestoras, stated: “The Memorandum of Understanding aims to deepen cooperation with the Hellenic Gaming Commission. The formation of a modern and functional framework based on scientific documentation, respect for citizens and practical support for those in need is a common goal of our bodies.”
Of concern, Greece is witnessing a growing problem of teenage gambling. A recent study by the Mental Health Research Institute (EPIPSY) found that 36% of first-year high school students in Greece gambled for money in 2024 — well above the European Union average of 23%.
Furthermore, 7% of Greek teenagers are already showing early warning signs of developing a gambling addiction.
The Memorandum outlines four key objectives: increasing public awareness around responsible gaming, implementing early risk detection methods, expanding access to counselling services, and developing treatment programmes and extended support systems for affected individuals and their families.
Dimitris Ntzanatos
Dimitris Ntzanatos, President of the HGC, hailed the agreement as a pivotal change in Greece’s approach to gambling harm.
“It is with great satisfaction that we inaugurate our new collaboration with ODIPY and we are delighted that we will be given the opportunity to achieve, through our coordination, the utilisation of know-how and the avoidance of bureaucratic obstacles, effective solutions to a problem with significant social and economic impacts,” he said.
The intervention arrives at a critical time for the country, with authorities working to combat teenage addiction. According to self-reported data, Greek teenagers have easy access to alcohol and cannabis, with 92% stating they can obtain alcohol without difficulty. The EPIPSY study also found a sharp rise in vaping among 16-year-olds, increasing from 43% in 2019 to 54% in 2024.
The research points to broader behavioural risks among Greek youth, including rising exposure to alcohol and drugs, and a growing preference for e-cigarettes and gambling. Experts warn that aggressive marketing and ease of access are key drivers behind these escalating trends.
These developments highlight the urgent need for coordinated public health and regulatory measures to mitigate the long-term consequences of youth addiction behaviours in Greece.
Both chambers of the Nevada legislature have now passed a bill that would equip the state with the means to further target and act against unapproved gambling operators. Sen. Rochelle Nguyen’s SB 256 passed in the Assembly by a 42-0 vote on Thursday, a few weeks after it also got unanimous approval in the Senate. The Assembly amended the bill before voting on it, meaning that…
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has taken action against an amusement centre in West Yorkshire for failing to protect players through a gambling harm reduction initiative.
After being found to have failed to participate in the initiative while also failing to have a complaints and disputes process in place, Wyke Gaming & Amusement Centre in Bradford has had its operator licence suspended by the UKGC with immediate effect.
According to the UKGC, the venue failed to participate in a multi operator self-exclusion scheme that was put in place to allow problem gamblers to self-exclude from one or more venues in their area.
In addition to the failure to implement this self-exclusion scheme, Wyke Gaming & Amusement Centre was also found to have no arrangements in place for customers to be able to refer any dispute to an alternative dispute resolution entity.
To make matters worse for the Bradfordian adult gaming venue, the operator was not compliant with section 172(1) of the Gambling Act. This statute states that Category B gaming machines must not exceed 20% of the total number of gaming machines which are available for use on the premises.
Wyke Gaming & Amusement Centre’s suspension will remain in place until the Commission has been able to verify that the Licensee’s facilities are operating compliantly.
UKGC not letting up on enforcement actions
A series of incidents this year show that the UKGC is just as committed to enforcing compliance with UK betting laws and regulations as ever before. This comes against the backdrop of continuing political pressure on the sector, particularly around player protection.
In recent regulatory action taken by the UKGC, Spreadex Limited received a £2m penalty due to failings in anti-money laundering (AML) procedures and social responsibility safeguards.
The Commission’s investigation underscored a “breakdown in risk assessment” on the Spreadex.com platform, which was criticised for failing to consider core risk factors such as customer profiles, transaction methods and geographic exposure, as required under official AML guidance.
This was not the operator’s first reprimand with the regulator. In 2022, Spreadex paid a £1.36m settlement for similar AML and safer gambling failings.
Dr Maris Catania has published a paper detailing the effect of problem gambling on wives and partners of former gambling addicts. The study addresses the wide-ranging harms faced by female affected others, spanning from financial consequences,including extreme cases of bankruptcy, and to physical mental health issues. The study conducted in-depth interviews with six affected individuals.…
The UK’s Gambling Commission has announced that it will not be introducing any affordability checks in an industry update on its ongoing pilot of financial risk assessments. Director of Major Policy Projects Helen Rhodes felt impelled to spell out the difference after it was presumed by most observers that “financial risk assessments” were just a…
The Wave-4 datasets of the second year of the Gambling Survey of Great Britain (GSGB) have been published as the principal research project of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
The GSGB was developed over a two-year period to implement a new research design for UK gambling, aimed at providing all relevant stakeholders with more frequent and consistent data on gambling prevalence and changing trends.
Wave-4 research of the GSGB was conducted by NatCen on a nationally representative sample of 5,191 adults aged 18 and over, during the period from September 2024 to January 2025.
According to headline findings, 46% of adults gambled during the previous four weeks, down from 49% in the previous wave.
Approximately one-fifth of participants (19%) engaged solely with lottery draws, including the National Lottery and charity lotteries. The overall gambling prevalence remains at 28% since 2024 when lottery-only players are excluded from the analysis.
This distinction is critical for understanding consumer risk. The 28% group consists of participants engaging in higher-risk products, whereas lottery draws are generally viewed as lower-risk gambling activities.
Riskier verticals attract younger male cohorts
The data show significant usage of products typically associated with higher gambling risk. The three most frequently used non-lottery activities were scratchcards (12%), sports betting (10%), and online instant win games (7%).
A total of 7% of survey participants who bet on sports chose to wager on live football matches, with young male participants showing the highest levels of engagement. These players also show a strong preference for betting exchanges, in-play betting, and virtual racing — products that require repeated player interaction.
Online casino activities are captured under categories such as online instant win and in-play betting, as they do not have a distinct headline designation. Harm reduction groups flag these verticals due to their rapid gameplay mechanics and highly engaging design features.
Demographic trends: younger, more digital
The age distribution shifts significantly once lottery-only participants are excluded. While gambling prevalence is highest among males aged 35–64 overall, males aged 18–24 become the most active group, with a 47% participation rate.
This younger demographic is more inclined to use digital platforms. Online gambling participation was recorded at 37% across the full sample, but this fell to 17% when lottery-only players were excluded — highlighting how lottery participation inflates digital engagement figures.
The core gambling participation rates in Wave 4 of the GSGB indicate a trend towards stabilisation. However, deeper analysis reveals a younger cohort engaging more heavily with higher-risk gambling activities. These findings offer crucial insights for future UKGC regulatory actions, helping to define patterns in modern digital gambling behaviour.