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Licensing association calls on UKGC to work with broader range of stats providers

Steve HoareMay 28, 20250248 views

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.

Greece launches new national strategy to combat teenage addictions

Steve HoareMay 28, 20250226 views

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.

Nevada passes bill to handcuff unauthorized gambling operators

Steve HoareMay 27, 20250242 views

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…

UKGC suspends operator licence in Bradford over responsibility failures

Steve HoareMay 27, 20250226 views

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.

Research reveals full extent of problem gambling on wives and partners of problem gamblers

Steve HoareMay 23, 20250268 views

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.…

Gambling Commission distances itself from affordability checks

Steve HoareMay 23, 20250238 views

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…

UKGC survey reveals demographic shifts beyond National Lottery play

Steve HoareMay 23, 20250219 views

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.

Former anti-EU party domain converted to non-GAMSTOP casino platform

Steve HoareMay 23, 20250211 views

Advertisements for non-GAMSTOP casinos have once again entered the mainstream public domain, further putting UK customers at risk.

In a development that few, if any, could’ve predicted, the website of the Brexit Party – the former political entity of Nigel Farage – is now seemingly acting as an affiliate for casinos that proudly boasts their ‘non-GAMSTOP’ offers.

This implies that the websites promoted will accept users who are excluded from regulated UK gaming sites. All operators holding a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) must provide links to GAMSTOP as part of licensing conditions.

SBC News wrote about a similar promotion last week, where a global PR newswire ran an advertisement about such a casino. The website, MyStake, was easily accessible by anyone in the UK and certainly in breach of any UKGC regulations.

The most recent case however led to even more headscratching, as it is unusual to see a politically-related domain promoting these types of casinos.

The name ‘Brexit Party’ is no longer used by any active UK political parties, with the party itself having undergone a rebrand to Reform UK, and subsequently switched to a new website.

However, the domain name for its previous incarnation remains the same. A likely explanation is that the domain expired after Farage moved on to Reform, and was subsequently auctioned or outright bought by the affiliate who is now running it.

ComposedPix/Shutterstock
Spotlight on self-exclusion due diligence
What is even more interesting though is that the names of casinos listed there include those of Betfair and Betfred – two well-known UK brands that are licensed by the UKGC.

Of importance, both operators have previously fully committed to using GAMSTOP and prevent anyone who has self-excluded from using their services.

The UKGC’s general stance against affiliates promoting non-GAMSTOP casinos is very stringent. There are harsh regulatory punishments for operators found to be working with such affiliates.

If Betfair and Betfred are in fact in a contractual relationship with the affiliate running the former Brexit Party website, this could spell trouble for both.

UKGC guidelines dictate that operators should ensure that the affiliates they’re partnered with have removed self-excluded customers from their brand-specific marketing lists.

This means that both Betfair and Betfred should be able to demonstrate proactive actions to prevent their marketing materials from being sent to such customers.

But as they are not responsible for the rest of the affiliate’s business practices, the question remains – what about the other websites and the wider UK online space?

SBC News has reached out to Betfair, Betfred, the UKGC, and GAMSTOP for comments.

Update: Betfred has responded: “We have no partnership with this site and we have asked for the immediate removal of our logo and link.”

Paf upkeeps social funding despite highest compliance scrutiny

Steve HoareMay 21, 20250211 views

Paf, the sole gaming company of Finland’s autonomous Åland Islands, has raised €21.5m to maintain its social activities, public benefit initiatives and environmental projects.

The funds are the result of strong 2024 results, in which Paf upheld its long-standing social responsibility mandate. Notably, it remains the only European operator to self-impose general annual loss limits on customer accounts, a policy first introduced in 2018 and further tightened in 2024.

Despite the self-imposed restrictions, Paf revenues increased by 3% to €183m (2023: €177m). Group earnings were maintained at €54m, representing a slight decline on FY2023’s €55m.

Leadership views the sustained earnings as a success, particularly in the face of heavier taxation across core markets. In 2024, Finland increased its lottery tax from 5% to 12%, while Sweden raised its gaming tax from 18% to 22%, effective 1 July.

“We had a strong 2024, and we can be really pleased with the year. The trend of increased gambling taxes is bringing down earnings, but this was something we were prepared for,” said CEO Christer Fahlstedt.

Fahlstedt also emphasised the sustainability of Paf’s player base, noting that the company’s focus on lower-spending recreational customers enables it to absorb higher taxation while maintaining profitability:
“Paf is well equipped to handle tax increases thanks to our customer base, which generates long-term income from a large number of players who play for smaller amounts.”

The company made headlines by further reducing its general loss limit to €16,000 per year in March 2025, including additional restrictions for customers aged 20–24.

CEO Fahlstedt criticised Finnish gambling monopoly Veikkaus for moving in the opposite direction and raising its own player loss limits — a decision seen as undermining responsible gambling efforts.

“I am genuinely surprised and a little disappointed that our state-owned counterpart Veikkaus in Finland has chosen to raise its loss limit this spring. But we are going our own way and they are going in a different direction,” he stated.
“At a time when the social harms of gambling are well understood, it’s deeply concerning that a government-owned monopoly would choose to loosen protections rather than strengthen them.”

Paf’s transparent approach to responsible gambling was further demonstrated through its audited breakdown of customer segments.

The company reported a 12.3% increase in revenue from low-risk ‘green’ segment players, underlining its long-term commitment to sustainable operations and player wellbeing.

Moving into 2025, Paf leadership and governance will closely monitor forthcoming regulatory changes in Sweden, and the pending legal settlements for Finland to launch its online gambling market as of 2027.

The company, like other Finnish market stakeholders, has been making preparations for a regulated market launch. A notable recent initiative is a marketing one, with the firm securing a deal with F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen, one of the country’s most notable sports personalities.

Chairman Jan-Mikael von Schantz praised the Paf responsible ethos: “The level of Paf funds that can be maintained year after year, combined with the voluntary measures taken in relation to responsible gaming towards customers, is impressive. There is no other company in the industry that is currently achieving anything similar.”

NI urged to take action as ‘serious gap’ on gambling treatment addressed

Steve HoareMay 21, 20250214 views

Northern Irish politicians have expressed alarm at the levels of gambling harm reported in the 2024 Gambling Prevalence Survey.

One of the most significant findings is the low number of people seeking help, with just 1% of those who partake in gambling accessing support or information from betting or mental health services.

Commissioned by the Department for Communities, the survey has led Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, Chair of The All Party Group on Reducing Harm Related to Gambling, to urge the government to take action amid a political stalemate on gambling reform.

McGuigan said: “The Minister of Health must act without delay to commission dedicated gambling treatment services. With existing addiction services already under pressure, additional funding is essential.

“The findings of this survey point to a serious gap in provision for addiction treatment in the north. The need is clearly there, but people aren’t getting the help they need.”

Concerning numbers and slow politics
A total 3% of the country’s population are experiencing what the report described as severe gambling-related harms, whilst a further 10% are considered low or moderate risk gamblers.

Another important figure to note is the amount of adults who gambled in the past 12 months who admitted to betting more than they could afford to lose, which stands at around one in seven.

McGuigan highlighted that the figures underscore the serious social and public health implications of gambling addiction.

The politician has been a vocal figure in calling for gambling reform in Northern Ireland, where the industry is governed by the decades old Betting, Gaming, Lotteries & Amusements Order of 1985,

“This isn’t just about individuals losing money; it’s about broken families, damaged relationships, and communities struggling with the fallout of gambling harms,” he continued on the findings of the prevalence survey.

Ripple effects
The survey highlighted that one in eight people admitted needing to gamble increasing amounts to achieve a high level of excitement, and nearly one in 12 said gambling had caused stress and anxiety.

Meanwhile, the survey also found that 10% of people affected by gambling had experienced the breakdown of a close relationship due to someone’s gambling.

McGuigan is now asking the Minister for Communities to bring forward the promised levy on land-based gambling operators without delay to address the funding gap.

Additionally, he has criticised the British Government for excluding Northern Ireland from the proceeds of the statutory levy on gambling operators introduced in Britain on 6 April.

Finally, the Chair has urged the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to implement tighter ad restrictions after the survey revealed 66% of respondents believe there are too many gambling promotions, and 71% support a watershed for gambling ads on TV and radio.

As stated above, McGuigan is one of the more notable politicians vocally calling for gambling reform in Northern Ireland. It was only in November last year that McGuigan urged DCMS to intervene and align online gambling advertising protections for Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK.

The demand was made by members of the All-Party Group of the Stormont Assembly on Gambling Harms Reduction, who wrote to Secretary of State Lisa Nandy to “bridge the gap on gambling advertising.”