Consultant Vaughan Lewis writes his latest column on his life in gambling – from boredom to joy, from school to the City, and from chasing losses to doing the maths I placed my first bet when I was four years old.Racing was always around growing up. My dad loved it. After selling a business he’d…
The phrase ‘public health approach’ is frequently used and abused but a new paper argues introducing a systemic approach to preventing gambling harm does not need to be about “banning gambling or regulating the industry out of existence”. The problem with people: Heirene writes: “Gambling operators, like all companies, must grow and retain their customer…
Now that the new system to fund gambling charities is officially in place in the UK, will that prove a solid positive for the sector, or is a bit of convincing still needed to justify the decision?
For those unaware of how gambling harm funding works in the UK, it used to be that voluntary contributions from operators were given to GambleAware, which would commission the funds to charities across the whole of the UK.
However, with GambleAware closing down, this is now history thanks to recommendations made in the 2005 Gambling Act Review White Paper, which mandated a statutory Prevention, Treatment and Research levy to raise £100m annually.
With 50% of the funds allocated to treatment and commissioned by the NHS, and 20% going for research and handled by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), 30% is left for prevention, which is the money meant to go to gambling charities.
This stream, while previously commissioned by GambleAware, is now handled by the Office for Health Improvement and..
In 2026 and beyond, the EU and its regulatory bodies will prioritise “safety by design” of online environments. Legal expert Claire Pinson-Bessonnet anticipates an inevitable collision with Big Tech over its doctrine of “algorithmic control.”
It is long established that Brussels will not follow US courts with regards to the European Union’s (EU) governance of tech giants.
Yet in both continents, sensitivities are rising on the accountability of tech’s biggest platforms to manage their online environments and keep audiences safe from growing risks and harmful content.
Claire Pinson-Bessonnet
In 2026, political attention will turn to the architecture and design of environments brought in by the biggest tech firms, in which liabilities point towards an unavoidable confrontation.
Whether in Brussels or Washington, regulators are beginning to probe the protections offered by tech giants of audiences on their platforms, and how consumer engagements are determined by algorithms designe..
Another day, another dollar for a well-known UK footballer who signs to promote a betting company that’s definitely not supposed to target UK consumers.
With Michael Owen having a Punt Casino partnership on his record, and Teddy Sheringham doing the same with 8xBet, this time around the star of the show is Steven Gerrad – a prominent figure in Liverpool FC’s history.
Gerrard, who lifted the 2004 Champions League trophy with Liverpool, was just announced as the latest brand ambassador of a gambling operator that close to no one in the UK would have heard of, We88.
Not to be confused with W88, the sponsor of Sunderland FC, which is another cog in what has become a major trend of Asia-facing brands not licensed in the UK prominently sponsoring UK-related football clubs and footballers.
Just like W88, We88 is not licensed by the Gambling Commission. Instead, it holds an Anjouan license and is owned by MockingBird Technologies Pte. Ltd. As such, the brand is most definitely made to cate..
Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable and Safer Gambling for Casino Guru, writes for Player Protection Hub’s sister publicartion iGaming Expert, addressing a subject that many shy away from, yet is of the utmost importance when it comes to strengthening safeguards for the industry. I remember when I first heard that we should publish a course on suicide…
In his latest piece for iGaming Expert, Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling at CasinoGuru, reflects on a significant year when it comes to changes in player protection strategies and frameworks.
December provides us with a time to review and reflect on the past year. Instead of the traditional storytelling at the start of my column, I have decided to get straight to the point and summarise the past year’s happenings, initiatives, and projects in the player protection sector through my lens.
Perhaps one thing to acknowledge is that I am undoubtedly biased, and the list below naturally includes projects I have worked on. Although I do my best to stay informed about what is happening around the world, I inevitably miss some excellent work that people are doing. Please don’t take offence; I am simply sharing what caught my attention and resonated with me.
First Quarter
The year has started on a high note for the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Organisation (IPGGC), which has finalised its rebrand and become a full charity. It is a unique organisation that provides certifications to professionals involved in player protection. The initial focus on counsellors and treatment providers is now expanding to other roles and includes video gaming. Furthermore, IPGGC has begun its journey toward international expansion to raise standards and reduce harm from problem gambling and gaming globally.
Switching to a very different but important topic, the Netherlands set significant deposit limits that took effect by the end of 2024. Although the regulator reported in early 2025 that overall player spending had decreased, Casino Guru’s analysis of Google search data shows a sharp rise in searches for illegal brands. Later channelisation reports have demonstrated a substantial increase in offshore gambling, too. It serves as a vital reminder that well-intentioned regulation can produce unintended consequences.
Second Quarter
The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) has been frequently in the limelight this year. In late 2024, they submitted a proposal to establish an independent self-exclusion register to support a comprehensive system across its members. Just two months ago, Lexis Nexis was announced as the chosen company to develop a “multi-state self-exclusion list across all the Association’s members.”
Interestingly, an earlier initiative by IdPair created the National Voluntary Self-Exclusion Programme, which unites self-exclusion registers and operators across US states. If both projects continue to expand, we will ultimately have at least two larger self-exclusion registers in the United States.
Remaining in the US, a notable project is the AI Research Hub at the UNLV International Gaming Institute. Established during the height of spring, the so-called AiR Hub is an interdisciplinary initiative exploring the impact, risks, and opportunities of AI in the gambling industry. Their focus on benchmarking AI-enabled player risk-detection models is particularly compelling, as it will enable objective measurement and evaluation.
Third Quarter
In July, GambleAware announced its planned shutdown. Although this is part of the lengthy transition to a Statutory Levy, it still unsettled me. Amid the uncertainty and heated debate over the new system, it felt like a symbol was collapsing. The new Levy will definitely be implemented in April 2026, but its impact on the UK support sector has already been looming throughout the year. The recent announcement of a surge in gambling tax threatens the future of one of the largest gambling markets.
This year was transformative for the free and anonymous gambling-blocking app, BetBlocker. Its growing presence in the US was evident in August, when it partnered with the ROGA. As a result, all association members will gradually refer their players to BetBlocker. Furthermore, the blocking app introduced several new languages over the past 12 months and expanded into new markets. Finally, its free service has supported an astonishing 300,000 people throughout the year.
Fourth Quarter
Harmonisation and standardisation efforts were significant over the past year, beginning with nothing else but the Self-exclusion Standards. In 2023, Casino Guru teamed up with City, St George’s University of London, to create a universal code for online self-exclusion. The Recommended Code of Practice was published in September and is accessible to regulators and operators to enhance their systems.
Similar efforts were undertaken by the organisers of the Better Gambling Forum, which focuses on addressing gambling-related harm by sharing best practices, advancing policy discussions, and developing solutions that work across jurisdictions. The event has been organised alongside the G7 and the United Nations assembly throughout the year. Interestingly, conclusions from each event contribute to the development of a global responsible gambling practice and policy framework.
The end of the year truly signifies the peak of harmonisation efforts, as the European Committee for Standardisation approved the proposal on markers of harm. An initiative driven by the European Gaming and Betting Association has taken several years. It represents the first agreed EU standard on identifying risky gambling behaviours to support effective prevention of gambling harm.
As a little extra and thanks to Dr Maris Catania, I am adding two research papers that resonated this year. The first paper examines the relationship between gaming microtransactions, such as in-game cosmetics and loot boxes, and problem gambling.
Findings indicate that microtransactions play a role in motivations to gaming, gambling and problematic behaviour. The second paper examines the extensive impact of gambling disorder on affected individuals, their coping strategies and found resilience during the challenging time of their life.
2025 was an exciting year for updates in player protection. In fact, I had to omit a few details because the article would be too long. I am sure the following will be no less productive, and we will move another step closer to a more sustainable gambling industry.
In his latest piece for iGaming Expert, Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling at CasinoGuru, tackles a controversial subject as he examines what the gambling ecosystem would look like in the absence of the illicit sector.
There has been a new type of discussion centred around the positives, or rather, the legitimacy of illegal gambling. Perhaps controversial for some, but definitely interesting. It is a question of principle, law, and morality as well as cause and effect. One thing is sure: the illegal market keeps us on our toes and forces us to collaborate in tackling it.
It reminds me of my university years when I studied international politics. During a lecture on globalisation, someone asked whether it was possible to attain complete unity. The professor responded with cold confidence that it would only happen if there were a substantial external threat, likely from outer space, naturally, aliens.
Fast forward 15 years, and I am no longer so sure about that. You don’t need to be a superintelligent extraterrestrial to understand that people are easily manipulated. Thankfully, there is no propaganda claiming that illegal gambling is here to save us. Still, you must admit that some effects of its presence push the industry forward.
How would the gambling world look if it were not so easy to play at offshore operators? I find it exciting to think about it, but I dare not draw any conclusions. However, I will most probably not be writing this article, and we would know much less about the gambling experience that is exciting, but safe(r) at the same time.
Measuring the threat
After a brief philosophical warm-up, let’s examine the size of the hydra. As I have heard people refer to it recently, because each time you shut down one illegal channel, two new ones emerge. This is especially true in social media environments that are difficult for authorities to regulate but remain popular among younger generations.
Recent global meta-analyses of over 3500 reports show that nearly 18% of adolescents have gambled in the past 12 months. I believe the actual number of those exposed to gambling or gambling features is considerably higher.
Without considering different age groups, the American Gambling Association stated in their report that 48% of respondents had bet on illegal offers. This was in 2022, while a more recent estimate from Yield Sac claims that offshore gambling accounts for 74% of US gross gambling revenue. Additionally, a recent report in Sweden suggests that channelisation rates for online casinos have fallen to between 72% and 82%.
Casino Guru’s analyses of Google searches for specific casino brands reveal that more than half of these are directed towards illegal operators in the Netherlands. Our data shows a rise in such searches following the introduction of deposit limits in October 2024. Other countries are not performing well either, with around 20% of illegal searches in the United Kingdom and Sweden, and nearly a third in Spain.
Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable & Safer Gambling for CasinoGuru, writes his monthly column for PPH sister site iGaming Expert, as he reveals insights from a recent trip to New York and explores a surge in standardisation efforts across global markets. I don’t often travel to North America, as my work is mostly focused on Europe. And since most…
Inevitably, concerns about the black market continued to dominate discussions at the Player Protection Symposium at the SBC Summit in Lisbon this week. However, most of the sessions brought a nuance to the debate with one session even focusing on the player protection policies of black and grey market operators. Safe Bet Show host Martin…