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Monica Shafaq, former CEO of mental health charity The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, joins gambling addiction charity Gordon Moody as new CEO

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Gordon Moody, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to providing support and treatment for those suffering from severe gambling harm, is delighted to announce the appointment of Monica Shafaq as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Following an extensive and thorough recruitment process conducted by our board of trustees over recent months, Monica Shafaq will take the helm from January 2024.

Monica brings 13 years’ experience in the charity sector and joins Gordon Moody from The Kaleidoscope Plus Group, a leading charitable organisation focused on mental health and wellbeing, where she has served as CEO since 2010.

Her wealth of experience and dedication to the betterment of individuals’ lives align perfectly with Gordon Moody’s mission. During her time in her previous role, Monica implemented the charity’s rebrand from Sandwell Mind into The Kaleidoscope Plus Group and retained a place on the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work for every year since 2015.

Monica will succeed interim CEO Matthew Hickey, who will continue to support the leadership team at Gordon Moody until the end of the year, ensuring a seamless transition until Monica officially assumes her role in early 2024.

During Matthew’s tenure, Gordon Moody has grown its treatment capacity from 120 to 270 a year; increasing the visibility of the organisation at a national level. He oversaw the opening of the UK’s first women-only residential treatment centre in 2021 and has paved the way for a new West Midlands-based treatment facility due to open in 2024, which will increase the number of bed spaces to 350.

Gordon Moody figures* reveal that applications for their treatment were up 43% last year (from 619 to 885), showing a positive narrative in people seeking help. But there’s still a long way to go as GambleAware has recently identified the true figure for those at risk of gambling harm as significantly more than the industry has previously suggested, and may be as high as 1.5 million.

Commenting on her appointment, Monica said: “It is a huge privilege to have been appointed the new CEO of Gordon Moody. It’s an honour to lead an organisation that is committed to making a positive impact to the lives of those affected by gambling harm and to work with the remarkable team of passionate individuals. Together, we will work tirelessly to raise awareness, provide support, and a path to recovery. I am excited to collaborate with existing partners and stakeholders as well as forging new relationships to drive meaningful change.

“I am leaving The Kaleidoscope Plus Group with a heavy heart but filled with pride for what the team has achieved over the past 13 years. We have done some extraordinary work together fighting for mental health equality and I know that we will remain strong allies going forward.”

Gordon Moody trustee, Claire Arnold, said: “We are delighted to welcome Monica to the Gordon Moody team as our new Chief Executive Officer and we would also like to express our sincere thanks to our departing CEO, Matthew Hickey, who has worked tirelessly to advance our cause over the past four years.

“Monica brings a wealth of experience from her work in the charity sector, most recently from The Kaleidoscope Plus Group and her energy for achieving social change will be a huge asset to Gordon Moody.

“We look forward to the new era of leadership under Monica Shafaq’s guidance and are confident that her expertise will contribute significantly to our mission of addressing gambling harm and its profound impact on individuals and families.”

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Strive Connects SBK and Premier Sports in Multi-Platform Football Tie-Up

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Sports marketing consultancy Strive Sponsorship has brokered a multi-platform content and media partnership between SBK, the fast-growing, data-led sportsbook app, and Premier Sports, the premium sports broadcaster in Ireland and the UK.

The deal sees SBK become the official sponsor of Premier Sports’ ‘Scottish Football Social Club’ podcast – a YouTube and audio series that brings sharp, irreverent takes on all things SPFL. SBK will also support and feature in social media content for LALIGA and Scottish Premiership football throughout the 2025/26 season, marking a major step in SBK’s expansion into Ireland and broader UK football media.

In addition, Premier Sports subscriptions will be offered to SBK customers as part of exclusive promotional packages, enhancing access to premium football content and increasing brand loyalty.

“We’re proud to have connected two smart, fan-focused challenger brands in this deal,” said Malph Minns, Managing Director at Strive Sponsorship.

“This partnership brings together content, distribution and fan utility in a way that few betting brands are doing today. SBK’s focus on value aligns perfectly with Premier Sports’ growing football community and media reach. It’s exactly the type of strategic, insight-led activation we specialise in.”

This partnership follows Strive’s work building SBK’s sport sponsorship portfolio across football clubs across the UK and Ireland — with a consistent focus on content-driven, fan-relevant assets that deliver beyond traditional branding.

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, said:

“This is a really exciting move for us. Being part of Premier Sports’ LALIGA and SPFL social content gives us powerful visibility in key communities. We’re all about giving fans more value, and with Premier Sports subscriptions now available to our customers, this partnership delivers on that promise.

“It’s been great working with Strive on this deal. What sets them apart is their ability to go beyond just brokering deals — they bring structure, insight, and creativity to the whole process. Their work continues to deliver brand value that aligns tightly with our marketing objectives.”

Shane Hogan, Head of Marketing at Premier Sports, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome SBK on board. They bring a fresh approach to the betting space and have a real focus on fan-first activation. This partnership gives our content new momentum, especially on social and podcast platforms, while giving our audience access to great offers and added value. It’s a win-win.

“Strive has been a pleasure to work with. Their expertise was clear from day one. They don’t just connect brands and rights holders — they engineer partnerships that work commercially, creatively, and for the fans. We’re excited about what this one will deliver.”

The post Strive Connects SBK and Premier Sports in Multi-Platform Football Tie-Up appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SOFTSWISS Releases 19-in-1 Market Overview: iGaming in Latin America

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SOFTSWISS, a global tech provider of iGaming software solutions, has unveiled its latest report on Latin America’s iGaming landscape, providing a comprehensive, data-rich guide for operators navigating one of the industry’s fastest-evolving regions. 

After becoming the first certified iGaming software provider in Brazil and obtaining further approval in Peru, SOFTSWISS has deepened its regional expertise to help operators, regulators, and stakeholders better understand and operate within the dynamic LatAm iGaming market.

As the iGaming sector turns its eyes toward emerging markets, Latin America stands out as both a challenge and an opportunity. The newly released Latin America’s iGaming Market Overview from SOFTSWISS offers a detailed, country-by-country analysis of the region’s regulatory frameworks, market potential, and player behaviour. 

The report serves as a starting point for understanding gambling regulation across Latin America. It helps analysts, governmental institutions, and operators solve the problem of scattered and unclear information about the market peculiarities of the region’s countries, equipping stakeholders with the knowledge to build strategies grounded in local realities.

What’s Inside the Report?

The iGaming in Latin America Market Overview examines 19 jurisdictions and outlines their licensing conditions, taxation models, local ownership requirements, and digital infrastructure, which collectively shape the operating landscape. The 2025 edition offers:

  • Detailed regulatory snapshots for land-based and online gambling in LatAm countries
  • In-depth assessments of mobile penetration, payment infrastructure, and demographic trends
  • Analysis of traditional betting culture and its impact on online product strategies
  • Insights into upcoming reforms and their competitive implications

Many local experts note that the Latin American market is highly fragmented, with each country presenting its own unique regulatory landscape for iGaming. From Costa Rica’s legal grey zones to Paraguay’s border casinos and Brazil’s regulatory leap with Law No. 14.790, the report underscores how nuanced and fragmented the market remains. Understanding distinct frameworks is critical for any operator looking to succeed in the region, whose potential is really powerful when approached strategically.

Magnho José, President of Instituto Jogo Legal (IJL), comments: “Costa Rica’s open licensing model has positioned the country as a global hub for online gambling, serving operators from both Latin and North America. Meanwhile, border zones like Ciudad del Este in Paraguay host some of the region’s most established land-based casinos. Latin America’s market isn’t just growing, it’s geographically layered and commercially diverse.”

The SOFTSWISS overview gives operators a clear, data-informed view of where the region stands today – and where it is headed next.

Dario Leiman, Head of Business Development in Latin America at SOFTSWISS, shares his excitement: “With Brazil’s full-scale iGaming regulation now in place, SOFTSWISS is fully ready to operate in the market. In parallel, we’ve been evaluating opportunities in other Latin American countries. This report is more than a regional snapshot – it’s a practical tool for any operator looking to eliminate the guesswork from market entry and make informed decisions.”

The Latin America report is part of a broader effort by SOFTSWISS to deliver strategic, market-specific intelligence for iGaming professionals. Earlier this year, the company released the iGaming in South Africa 2025 report – an in-depth analysis of one of Africa’s most promising regulated markets.

 

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.

The post SOFTSWISS Releases 19-in-1 Market Overview: iGaming in Latin America appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Activate the Heavyweight Experience with GR8 Tech at SBC Lisbon 2025

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GR8 Tech is bringing the fight to SBC Lisbon 2025 with a clear mission: Activate the Heavyweight. Building on the momentum of its Heavyweight Club, GR8 Tech will showcase how elite operators turn ambition into measurable results: through mindset, execution, and technology that wins under pressure.

“The Heavyweight Club is built on results, not rhetoric,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. “After launching it with great success, we’re bringing that momentum to SBC Lisbon 2025 too—this time with an even stronger call to action: Activate the Heavyweight. It’s where we’ll show exactly how GR8 Tech turns ambition into championship results. If you’re ready to lead from the front, we’ll be in your corner every step of the way.”

The Heavyweight Club unites leaders who build for performance, not appearances. Inspired by GR8 Tech’s partnership with Ready to Fight and the discipline and focus of Oleksandr Usyk, the Club champions resilience, clarity, and execution. It’s for operators who value outcomes over promises and expect a partner to match that intensity.

Activate the Heavyweight: What’s on Show in Lisbon

GR8 Tech will run hands-on demos across its high-performance stack, engineered for scale, speed, and profitability with geo-specific precision:

●     Hyper Turnkey — a complete, end-to-end iGaming solution designed for speed and precision. Featuring a no-code, widget-based frontend for instant UI updates, an AI-powered CRM for deep personalization, and geo-specific presets for fast, fully compliant market entry.

●     ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame — customizable, fast-to-market sportsbook that adapts to any brand and market. Launch in days, personalize deeply, and keep margins tight with AI-powered features.

●     Infinite Casino Aggregation — single-API access to a vast content portfolio with powerful promo tools and analytics for smarter monetization.

The Heavyweight Standard: Results Under Pressure

Here’s what Heavyweight performance looks like in practice:

  • Breakeven in under 12 months in Tier-2 and 3 markets with geo-specific presets that launch fast and land right.
  • +30% engagement powered by AI that identifies player preferences with 99% accuracy, driving precision personalization at scale.
  • Retention built in with advanced gamification: quests, leaderboards, and achievements that turn participation into loyalty.
  • 180,000+ in-play events traded monthly on our own tech stack, delivering depth, speed, and control to operators.
  • 96% uptime and lightning-fast load times worldwide thanks to our geo-distributed, high-performance architecture.

Don’t just watch the next era of iGaming leadership—step into the ring.

Meet GR8 Tech at booth C350 during SBC Lisbon 2025, September 16–18, and discover how to scale fast, localize smart, and compete where it’s toughest. Heavyweight results start here.

 

GR8 Tech. Platform for Champions

GR8 Tech is an award-winning provider, delivering high-performance sportsbook and iGaming solutions that empower operators to lead and win in competitive markets. Key elements of GR8 Tech’s comprehensive portfolio include the Hyper Turnkey solution, ULTIM8 Sportsbook iFrame,  Infinite Casino Aggregation, and Platform Acceler8 suite, featuring its proprietary affiliate management platform, Aff.Tech.

With a geo-specific approach to solutions, a focus on practical innovations, and an operator-first mindset, GR8 Tech helps its clients achieve measurable results in their target markets quickly and efficiently. Trusted by top operators worldwide, GR8 Tech has over 100 successful cases and earned multiple recognitions, including the title of the Best Sports Betting Provider in CEE by GamingTECH Awards 2025.

The post Activate the Heavyweight Experience with GR8 Tech at SBC Lisbon 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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