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Affordability checks will undermine the safer gambling success story, argues Gambling Business Group CEO, Peter Hannibal

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Peter Hannibal, chief executive of the cross-sector Gambling Business Group, has warned that the introduction of affordability checks as proposed by the UK Gambling Commission, will jeopardise the current low incidence of problem gambling and in the process undo much of the positive work that’s been achieved by the industry in partnership with its regulator and the wider stakeholder community, including the safer gambling agencies and charities.

Commenting on the Gambling Commission’s proposal that players should be required to provide evidence of affordability based on the highly controversial creation of a monthly discretionary spend ceiling – a figure which the cross-party think-tank the Social Market Foundation has recommended is set at £23 a week (£100 pcm) – Peter Hannibal said: “I would like to stress from the outset that although the Gambling Commission’s affordability proposal has been framed in relation to online players, it would be naïve in the extreme to assume that the principles and philosophy will not be extended to all gambling entertainment activities across all verticals including Adult Gaming Centres, Licensed Betting Offices and Bingo Clubs in some shape or form.

“While this proposal is wrong on virtually every level imaginable, the biggest concern for all those who genuinely care about safer gambling and continuing the UK industry’s internationally acclaimed success story in consistently maintaining problem gambling levels to below 1 percent for the last three decades, is the impact affordability checks will have on driving players away from regulated and responsible sites to unregulated offshore sites.

He added: “Currently the demand to play on unregulated sites is limited but the unintended and I assume unforeseen consequences of affordability checks will be to create such a market and then to sustain it.

“Make no mistake, this is prohibition by another name and wherever you look in the world prohibition has never worked and will never work, more than often creating exactly the set of problems that it sets out to address.”

Hannibal believes there’s a danger a proposal of this significance does not receive the necessary degree of scrutiny particularly in relation to its’ impact on safer gambling. He explained: “In December I contacted DCMS regarding what I feel was a balanced and logical set of Terms of Reference for the Review of Gambling, but pointing out that it was illogical for the Gambling Commission to be continuing their own unilateral consultation into what it refers somewhat euphemistically as ‘customer interaction requirements and guidance’.

“I argued that it would be more logical to include any proposals for controls on consumption – that could have a profound impact on the public – as part of the Government Review. It would also be in the public’s interest for proposals for such intrusions into personal affairs to be subject to the same Aim and Objectives as those DCMS have set out for the Review of the Act which appear free of preconceptions and well considered.

“The affordability proposal raises a huge range of quite fundamental ethical, legal and practical issues – not least a precedent for state intervention in consumer spending alongside a quite startling presumption that gambling entertainment, enjoyed responsibly by 99 percent of consumers, represents a public health issue way beyond that of tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption or obesity. As such it merits much deeper, evidence-based scrutiny.”

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Legacy of Lost Gold: Explore the Depths of the Jungle With ELA Games’ Latest Release

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August 18, 2025

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Swing from the vines, exploring the jungle and its dense foliage for unimaginable riches! Various jungle animals join you in your quest to find gold, where each spin gives you plenty of opportunities. 

ELA Games presents its newest release: Legacy of Lost Gold. Are you ready for the adventure?

The Heroes of the Jungle

Legacy of Lost Gold’s crown jewel is its Hold & Win Bonus Game. Here, various jungle companions and heroes show up in the special top row, each bringing their unique power-up to help players on their quest:

  • Collect all visible coins for an instant payout
  • Boost every coin by +1
  • Upgrade the reel below by +1 to +5
  • Multiply the reel below by x2

 

Additionally, respins will continue as long as new symbols land on the main bonus grid, giving players even more chances to stack their treasures high. Each time a hero arrives, the game’s intensity rises as the chance of juicy rewards increases!

ELA Games’ Latest Expedition

Legacy of Lost Gold is an example of the studio’s approach to game development: high-energy gameplay, visually-rich aesthetics, and engaging mechanics so players can have constant fun from the first spin to the last.

Yaroslav Soloshenko, ELA Games’ Business Development Team Lead, commented on the new release, “The team loves looking for new ways to keep players engaged and invested… not just in winning, but in the journey itself. Legacy of Lost Gold adds to the immersion with characters that help along the way, creating an experience that players resonate with. In this game, you’re not just chasing the next win; you feel like the main character, where each spin could be impactful.”

 

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The gold is out there… just waiting for someone to swoop in and take it. It’s not going to find itself! Play Legacy of Lost Gold today and see if you can discover the hidden riches.

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The post Legacy of Lost Gold: Explore the Depths of the Jungle With ELA Games’ Latest Release appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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247Bet Is Here: Casimba Gaming Unveils New Sportsbook Brand

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55 minutes ago

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August 18, 2025

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Casimba Gaming is proud to announce the launch of 247Bet, a dynamic new sportsbook brand designed to deliver a cutting-edge, multi-channel betting experience.

Casimba Gaming is a leading B2C and B2B iGaming provider, powering more than 20 casino brands with a full-stack platform, including over 6,000 titles from 75+ providers.

Speaking on the launch of 247Bet, Chief Product Officer Jon Liska said, “Building on the success of our leading casino offering, we’re expanding into sports betting to give our customers the ultimate choice in gaming entertainment. 247Bet will offer a seamless customer journey with modern user experiences, giving customers the ability to find the sports, markets, and content they want faster than ever.”

Initially launching under White Hat Gaming’s UKGC licence, 247Bet will cater to the UK market, with strategic plans to expand under the MGA licence to additional markets where Casimba Gaming already operates.

Liska adds, “With 247Bet, we wanted to build a brand that feels fresh, intuitive, and engaging from the very first tap. Our initial focus is the UK, but we will be looking to expand this to wider European markets, key Nordic Sports, principal North American and other global markets.”

Known for its global footprint and with an established integration with White Hat Gaming’s casino platform, Altenar’s platform will be used to power the sportsbook product. Altenar provides a robust solution, equipped with promotional tools and features for a market-leading betting site.

To enhance player engagement, 247Bet is also leveraging Smartico’s industry-leading gamification technology and CRM functionality and is working in partnership with NetRefer to build a high-performing affiliate programme as a key acquisition channel.

Dersim Sylwan, CEO of Casimba Gaming added, “The launch of 247Bet is a proud moment for Casimba Gaming and a natural next step in our evolution. This bold move is part of our vision to create a hero brand with global appeal; delivering a world-class, multi-channel experience that excites players everywhere.”

As part of the long-term strategy, Casimba Gaming is actively hiring a Sportsbook Product Manager to lead the brand’s promotional roadmap, content strategy, and overall performance.

To find out more, visit https://247bet.com/

The post 247Bet Is Here: Casimba Gaming Unveils New Sportsbook Brand appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon Fights off the Competition to Reign as TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion, Securing Back-to-Back EWC Titles

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55 minutes ago

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August 18, 2025

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Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon has claimed the TEKKEN 8 at EWC 25 crown having beaten Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong in a 5-2 grand final finish. His victory secures DN Freecs their first win at EWC 25 as he takes home $250,000 of the $1,000,000 prize pool.

Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon had a strong run at EWC 25, losing just one series against Kim “Kkokkoma” Mu-jong in the first match of the second phase. From that point on, however, he went unbeaten on his way to the grand final, even taking down Kim “Kkokkoma” Mu-jong for revenge on his way back from the lower bracket.

In the semifinals, Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon booked his place in the grand final with a 5-3 finish over Kim “CherryBerryMango” Jae-hyun, securing his second EWC TEKKEN 8 grand final in a row. Ulsan showcased his mastery of Dragunov throughout the grand final, setting the scene with a decisive victory in the first set, before taking the title in the seventh set with a 5-2 win.

His grand final opponent, Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong, took down Team Vitality’s Jeon “JeonDDing” Sang-hyun in a 5-2 finish to lock his place in the grand final. The former EVO champion displayed his Bryan skills throughout the final against Ulsan, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the overall winner.

“I never expected this. I cannot imagine I would win again. I mean, this year I had a rough start; there was a nerf to Dragunov, I had a lot of difficulties – I wanted to prove myself on this stage, and I have done it,” said Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon. “It’s been like a dream to be here. Thank you to those who support me from everywhere, my team, my friends, all my partners, and especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for making this the biggest tournament in the world.”

“I’m still hungry. I just want to make myself a legend,” said Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon.

Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon secured 1000 Club Championship points for DN Freecs, who, as a result, jumped up to joint-eleventh place in the Club Championship standings, with 1200 points. Despite having three players in the top eight, DN Freecs will only receive one lot of points.

It was a disappointing showing from Team Falcons in TEKKEN 8, as all three representatives were eliminated before earning any points. With only a few games left to earn points, Team Falcons had high hopes for TEKKEN 8. Elsewhere, Twisted Minds, who secured victory earlier in the day in PUBG, failed to make it two for two on Saturday, also failing to score points in TEKKEN 8 as Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique was eliminated by overall winner, Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon.

The post Lim “Ulsan” Soo-hoon Fights off the Competition to Reign as TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup Champion, Securing Back-to-Back EWC Titles appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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