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Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling publishes literature review

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An academic literature review has revealed a dearth of knowledge worldwide about the links between crime and problem gambling – so the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling is to embark on a new research programme.

The Commission, set up by the Howard League for Penal Reform, began looking into the issue last year and carried out a literature review, which was published on Monday, 1st of June. The review found that, while millions of people are affected by gambling either directly or indirectly, there appear to be fewer than 50 peer-reviewed papers in the last 25 years that address the links between problem gambling and crime specifically.

In response, the Commission intends to conduct its own research, in three strands: the first project will look at the prevalence of gambling-related crime; the second will consider the lived experience of people caught up in the system; and the third will explore sentencers’ awareness of the issue.

Chaired by Lord Goldsmith QC, the Commission seeks to establish what the links between problem gambling and crime are; what impact they have on communities and wider society; and what steps could be taken to reduce crime and make people safer.

Lord Goldsmith QC, Chair of the Commission on Crime and Problem Gambling, said: “Concern about harmful gambling activity has been growing for some time, but this is the first commission to focus specifically on the relationship between problem gambling and crime.

“From people getting into debt and defrauding family members or employers, to domestic violence and other crimes relating to gambling-related stress, we know anecdotally that police stations, courts and prisons see significant numbers of cases – but only a handful of academic studies have looked at this across the globe.

“The criminal justice system itself does very little work to capture the scale of the challenge and even less in terms of offering interventions like those we see for alcohol or drug problems. This has to change and our Commission can play a key role in improving the response to disordered gambling and crime.”

The literature review covers jurisdictions including Australasia, the US, Canada, Germany, Scandinavia and the UK. It reveals that, while the overall quantity of research is not huge, there is a consistency in findings across all jurisdictions.

Researchers have found high prevalence rates of people committing crimes to fund their gambling. A wide variety of crimes are committed as a result of gambling addiction; not just ‘white collar’ crimes such as theft and fraud, but also offences that occur in public spaces such as street robbery. There is significant evidence of domestic abuse and child neglect linked to problem and pathological gambling.

Studies have indicated that the more complex, prolonged and persistent a gambling problem is, the more likely it is that a crime will be committed and, indeed, that many crimes may result.

Although there has been a growing understanding that gambling addiction is a behavioural disorder, little of this has been translated to sentencing; problem gambling is not considered to be a mitigating factor in sentencing in the way mental health problems or drug and alcohol addiction are.

Research suggests that, in spite of extremely high rates of gambling addiction among prisoners, prisons offer only limited treatment. There is evidence of resistance to undertaking treatment among prisoners.

Several of the studies reviewed agreed that a custodial sentence, especially when no treatment is available for gambling addiction, was not a cost-effective way of avoiding further harm to the individual or society once the sentence is completed.

A small number of specialised gambling courts have been established in the US, with the aim of ensuring that people with gambling addictions who are in trouble with the law receive appropriate treatment. There is limited data on the success or otherwise of these initiatives.

Research is needed into the potential effect of gambling addiction treatment on the rate of recidivism, as well as more general research on how best to help vulnerable populations avoid the criminal justice system.

The literature review was written by Sarah Ramanauskas, Senior Partner at Gambling Integrity, who sits on the Commission.

 

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VentureMax Group support ambitious startups with sponsorship of Pitch iGB

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The VentureMax Group which is reshaping the nature of investments, game design and digital advertising in the iGaming space has been confirmed as headline sponsors of the first Pitch iGB taking place Wednesday 2nd July at ExCeL London.

Celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit which sits at the heart of iGaming the competition is being described as the ‘Ultimate Startup Showdown’ providing an opportunity for five visionary companies to battle it out in front of top investors for the chance to win the prize of £10,000.

Pitch iGB is open to bold, ambitious startups that have been founded within the last three years and who are seeking investment and strategic partnerships. In addition to the £10,000 prize pot, participating in Pitch iGB provides a raft of benefits including massive industry exposure, unparalleled networking opportunities with potential investors/partners and expert feedback from top industry judges. All sectors of the industry are submitting applications including Game Developers, SEO and AI Innovators, Affiliate Tools and Solutions Providers as well as iGaming Disruptors.

Heralding the importance of the initiative Justin Anastasi CEO of the VentureMax Group said: “Pitch events like this are where the future of our industry is born. It’s a space where bold thinkers propel real innovation and show us the kind of grit that turns ideas into market-leading companies. At VentureMax, we back founders who are ready to build something formidable, so I’m genuinely looking forward to judging at Pitch iGB and meeting the startups who will help shape our future. Let’s see who’s going to shake things up this year!”

Naomi Barton, Global Portfolio Director responsible for iGB L!VE added: “Entrepreneurship is in the DNA of the iGaming community and I am delighted that Justin and the VentureMax Group will be supporting the next wave of industry pioneers and helping them to fulfil their potential. Pitch iGB is more than a competition – it’s a launchpad for startups on what is the biggest stage in iGaming.  Quite simply, if you have an innovative, scalable and game-changing idea Pitch iGB is your stage!”

Startups have until May 26 to complete the Pitch iGB application form and upload a two minute YouTube video showcasing their business. Five finalists will make it to the live showdown which will comprise a four-minute pitch and an additional four-minute Q&A with the industry judging panel. One startup will then be crowned Pitch iGB Champion and take home the £10,000 prize pool.

iGB L!VE (2nd– 3rd July, ExCeL London) will welcome a projected 15,000 igaming and affiliate pioneers, helping businesses throughout the online gaming ecosystem to navigate an ever-changing landscape via networking opportunities, cutting-edge innovations and crucial market knowledge-sharing.

The post VentureMax Group support ambitious startups with sponsorship of Pitch iGB appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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TCSJOHNHUXLEY Demonstrates Live Gaming Innovation and Expertise at G2E Asia

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As a global leader in live gaming solutions, we were delighted to showcase our latest advancements and comprehensive product portfolio to the Asian gaming market at G2E Asia 2025, held from May 7th to 9th. Our booth at the Venetian Macao drew significant attention from attendees eager to experience our state-of-the-art solutions and renowned quality firsthand.

A key highlight for us was the revolutionary Velocity Auto Wheel, which generated considerable attention for its cutting-edge automation and seamless integration with the Wheelmate console. Our demonstrations underscored its potential to establish a new benchmark for speed and efficiency in live roulette, enabling operators to enhance table turnover and revenue through an increased number of games per hour. Attendees noted its innovative brushless DC motors and gearless design, which ensure continuous, reliable operation without the requirement for bulky air compressors, as well as its compact design’s adaptability to diverse casino layouts.

Also prominent in our showcase was the Chipper Champ 3, representing the next generation of chip sorting efficiency. Its unique capability to process clay chips, combined with enhanced speed and accuracy, proved to be a significant draw. Operators recognized the potential of this advanced technology to substantially reduce handling time and optimize overall table operations.

Our advanced display technologies also attracted considerable attention. The versatile Ora Table Displays were commended for their clarity, customisation options, and reliable presentation of essential game information. Of particular interest was the launch and demonstration of our groundbreaking Ora Blackjack Vue Display Controller. Seamlessly integrated with the Ora Luxe Winning Number Display, this innovative product employs advanced camera technology for automatic card recognition, providing players with real-time data including dealer hand history, live dealer odds, historical statistics, and the last four dealer Blackjacks. This innovation was acknowledged as a significant advancement in player engagement and Blackjack technology.

We also provided compelling demonstrations of our T-Connect casino management system, a critical tool already utilized by numerous casinos across Asia. The system’s capacity to streamline operations, enhance security protocols, and deliver invaluable data insights resonated strongly with operators aiming to optimise their gaming floors.

The popular Blaze Gaming tables, particularly the Sic Bo variant, effectively illustrated how dynamic LED surface technology can enhance the excitement of traditional games, creating a more engaging and visually appealing environment for players.

Beyond these innovations, our commitment to manufacturing excellence was evident through the display of our world-class core product range. From the precision engineering of our Roulette wheels and the detailed craftsmanship of our Gaming Tables to the dependable performance of our Dice Shakers, visitors could readily observe the superior quality that characterises TCSJOHNHUXLEY products.

“The feedback received from the market has been highly encouraging,” stated Rebecca Kingswell, Global Head of Operations and Managing Director APAC, TCSJOHNHUXLEY. “We were pleased to present both our latest innovations and our established product range at G2E Asia, underscoring our continued commitment to supplying the Asian gaming market with the most advanced and reliable live gaming solutions.”

Our successful participation at G2E Asia 2025 reaffirms TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s position as a leading provider of live gaming solutions, dedicated to supporting the growth and enhancing the player experience for our partners throughout the region.

The post TCSJOHNHUXLEY Demonstrates Live Gaming Innovation and Expertise at G2E Asia appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Continent 8 authorised to deliver second-generation AWS Outposts, ensuring high-speed and high-performance betting and gaming operations

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As an AWS Solution Provider, Continent 8 also offers managed services, including Managed AWS Outposts and Managed Hybrid Networking, available via the AWS Marketplace

Continent 8 Technologies, the leading provider of global cloud hosting, connectivity and cybersecurity solutions for the iGaming and online sports betting industry, announces enhanced AWS support to facilitate the deployment and management of the latest generation AWS Outposts racks, driving secure, ultra-low-latency hybrid cloud infrastructures.

The second-generation AWS Outposts, announced at the end of April 2025, offer significant performance enhancements over their predecessors, including faster processing, higher memory capacity and increased network bandwidth for on-premises workloads. Continent 8 enables customers to capitalise on these advancements through the following offerings:

  • Managed AWS Outposts service provides comprehensive procurement, logistics, workload migration and ongoing management of AWS Outposts, coupled with unrivalled connectivity and seamless access to all AWS Direct Connect (DX) on-ramp locations. This service allows betting and gaming operators and suppliers to focus on value-added, core revenue-generating activities.
  • Managed Hybrid Network service facilitates seamless integration between on-premises infrastructures and AWS Regions, offering the most secure, resilient, hybrid cloud connectivity, bypassing the public internet via a private multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network.

Continent 8 has extensive experience with AWS Outposts, having provided comprehensive support to operators and suppliers with the initial generation of rack platforms. Today, Continent 8 is responsible for over 90% of AWS Outposts deployments within the regulated betting and gaming industry.

Justin Cosnett, Chief Product Officer at Continent 8, stated, “Our strategic partnership with AWS, along with our deep experience with the first-generation AWS Outposts technology, enables us to provide the requisite expertise for delivering seamless AWS experiences. With the launch of the latest generation of AWS Outposts, we are well-positioned to manage the betting and gaming industry’s ‘business as usual’, day-to-day operations and IT infrastructure needs, allowing customers to swiftly benefit from the platform’s latency and performance enhancements for their most demanding gaming projects.”

Continent 8 is a Gold sponsor of the AWS Community Day Malta on 30 May and will be running a session on ‘Future-ready cloud solutions: winning in regulated markets’.

The post Continent 8 authorised to deliver second-generation AWS Outposts, ensuring high-speed and high-performance betting and gaming operations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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