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NICE Recommends Healthcare Professionals Ask People About Gambling at Health Checks and GP Appointments

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The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that general practitioners (GPs) in the UK to ask patients about their gambling habits during health checks and appointments.

The recommendation is included in the first clinical guideline on gambling-related harms: identification, assessment and management.

“Gambling-related harms” is the term used to describe the negative impacts of gambling on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, communities and society. These harms affect people’s finances, relationships and health (particularly mental health).

The new guideline advises healthcare professionals and social service workers to ask about gambling in various situations. This includes appointments related to depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal thoughts or potential addictions such as alcohol or drug dependence. These groups may be at higher risk of gambling-related harm. NICE recommends identifying these risks as early as possible.

People may also be at increased risk of gambling-related harm for several other reasons, including if they are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), personality disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Taking medication that may affect impulse control, experiencing safeguarding issues or violence or a family history of gambling that harms could also increase a person’s level of risk.

People should be encouraged to assess the severity of their gambling-related harms by completing a questionnaire available on the NHS website. This is based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), a standardised measure for at-risk behaviour. A score of 8 or above indicates that they should seek support and treatment from a specialist gambling treatment service, while those with lower scores may also benefit from available support.

Healthcare professionals and social care practitioners must recognise and take action to ensure that stigma, shame and fear of disclosure does not prevent people experiencing gambling-related harms from seeking and accessing support and treatment.

It recommends using a tailored approach to meet the needs of each person, which could include providing them with access to vocation-specific services, such as veterans’ groups, or that take account of their ethnic background and religion. Treatments for gambling-related harms should also be provided in separate locations from services for alcohol or substance dependence.

The guidance recommends healthcare professionals consider involving a partner, family member or other person close to the person experiencing gambling-related harms in their treatment, if that is what they both want.

Gambling related harm has a devastating impact on those who experience it, and the people close to them. The useful and usable guideline will help healthcare professionals and others to identify those needing help earlier and ensure they get the treatment and support they need.

National Clinical Director for Primary Care, Dr Claire Fuller, said: “We welcome NICE’s decision as gambling can have a massive impact on people’s lives and the lives of the people that care for them, and as healthcare professionals, we need the right tools to help tackle gambling-related harms.

“Over the past few years, the NHS has made significant progress in expanding treatment for gambling addiction with the rollout of 15 specialist clinics across the country. So, if you’re worried about your gambling, there is support available, and you can directly refer yourself to your local NHS gambling clinic.”

Minister for Gambling Baroness Twycross said: “We welcome this guidance from NICE on identifying, assessing, and managing gambling-related harms, which will support those experiencing harmful gambling to get access to the right support.

“We know that clinical treatment is not necessarily right for everyone, but it is important that there is a full spectrum of support as we strengthen treatment options.

“The Government’s plans to introduce a statutory levy, which will generate £100 million each year, will provide the investment needed to further expand the support and treatment on offer for those in need.”

The Gambling Survey for Great Britain (2023), which collects data from 20,000 respondents each year, reported that 2.5% of the survey population aged 18 years and older living in Great Britain participate in “problem gambling” (defined as a PGSI score of 8 or more), with an additional 12% of the survey population participating in gambling with an elevated risk of harm (PGSI score 1 to 7). Overall, 2.8% of participants who had gambled in the past 12 months reported experiencing at least one severe consequence, such as the breakdown of a relationship. Rates were higher among male participants and were also higher among younger adults (those aged 18 to 34) than older adults (those aged 55 and over).

NHS England has opened 15 gambling clinics across the country since 2019 – seven of which opened in 2024. These clinics are expected to see 3000 people a year. All specialist clinics are fully NHS-commissioned and funded.

As set out in government’s response to the consultation on the structure, distribution and governance of the statutory levy on gambling operators, published in November 2024, the new statutory levy will provide a significant increase in investment for support and treatment services for gambling-related harm.

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André Fufuca Brazil’s Minister of Sport

Brazilian Ministry of Sports and Sportradar Partner to Strengthen Integrity in Sports in Region

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The Brazilian Ministry of Sports and Sportradar Group AG formalized a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) focused on protecting the integrity of sports betting in the country. The partnership provides for the exchange of information related to the betting market and the implementation of joint initiatives to combat match-fixing.

Sportradar will provide specialized support to the Brazilian Ministry of Sports, including the reporting of potentially suspicious activity detected by its industry-leading Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS). In addition, Sportradar will provide education and training for Ministry of Sports personnel and staff focused on best practices in monitoring, identifying and investigating suspicious activities. The first workshop will be held on May 15 and include the Brazilian Ministry of Finance, a recent partner with whom Sportradar also signed an ACT.

André Fufuca, Brazil’s Minister of Sport, said: “Today we signed a milestone agreement in the fight against match-fixing in Brazilian sports. Integrity must be a constant principle when it comes to transparency, ethics, and, above all, the fairness of sports results. With this agreement, we will have tools to curb this practice and ensure greater transparency in competitions. This way, athletes, clubs, organizations, fans, and the entire population will be able to trust the fairness of the outcomes and, in turn, have the confidence to unlock the full potential of Brazilian sports.”

Andreas Krannich, EVP, Integrity and Regulatory Services, Sportradar said: “Establishing this partnership with the Ministry of Sports is an important milestone in strengthening sports integrity in Brazil. As a global integrity leader, leveraging cutting-edge technology to prevent and combat match-fixing, we believe that protecting competitions requires coordinated action between the public and private sectors. Through this collaboration, Sportradar continues to reaffirm its commitment to a more transparent and safer sports environment for the athletes and all the stakeholders involved in Brazilian sport.

This ACT adds to Sportradar’s growing number of integrity services partnerships in Brazil that include recent agreements signed with the Goiás State Attorney’s Office, the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV) and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), as well as existing relationships with soccer federations in 17 Brazilian states, creating a strong network focused on protecting the integrity of sport in the country.

The post Brazilian Ministry of Sports and Sportradar Partner to Strengthen Integrity in Sports in Region appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Aquisitions/Mergers

MAKE AGENCY INCREASES SPORTS BETTING AND iGAMING POSITION WITH STRATEGIC ACQUISITION OF INDUSTRY SPECIALIST TWO-UP

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Make Agency (in conjunction with DXG Group), through its subsidiary, Two Up Investments, Ltd, has announced the acquisition of the assets of digital product agency Two-Up.

Make Agency, a leading London-based digital creative agency, has strategically acquired the assets of Two-Up Agency, a specialist digital product business renowned for its work within the sports, sports betting, and iGaming sectors. This acquisition significantly expands Make Agency’s capabilities and reinforces its commitment to delivering cutting-edge digital solutions to clients within these key industries.

The acquisition brings Two-Up’s established expertise and track record in creating innovative digital products to Make Agency. Based in London and Poland, Two-Up provides technical solutions to prominent online gaming brands, offering best-in-class technology tools and in-depth market knowledge to clients including Stats Perform, At The Races, and NewsUK.

Two-Up’s proficiency in user experience, user interface, design and development – alongside a deep understanding of the specific demands of the sports-betting and iGaming sector – perfectly complements Make Agency’s existing creative and strategic marketing strengths.

Industry experts join forces

The acquisition unites two industry experts: Robbie Morris, the former CEO of Two-Up, and Eugene Delaney, the COO of Make Agency, who will now also take on the role of Managing Director for Two-Up.(Ex-Podium/PA Media, Spotlight Sports Group and Flutter).

“We are pleased to integrate the valuable assets and expertise of Two-Up into the Make Agency family,” said Eugene Delaney. “Their specialised knowledge and impressive portfolio within the sports, betting, and iGaming sectors will be invaluable as we continue to grow and enhance our offerings in these key verticals. This acquisition allows us to provide our clients with an even more comprehensive suite of digital solutions, specifically tailored to the unique demands of this dynamic market.”

Robbie Morris added, “Joining forces with Make Agency represents an exciting new chapter. We are eager to integrate our expertise and collaborate with their talented team to deliver exceptional digital experiences for clients within the sports and gaming landscape. We believe this union will create significant synergies and allow us to continue to deliver innovative solutions in this specialised area.”

The post MAKE AGENCY INCREASES SPORTS BETTING AND iGAMING POSITION WITH STRATEGIC ACQUISITION OF INDUSTRY SPECIALIST TWO-UP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

AOJND and FEDBET to Appoint Expert Task Force to Support ONJN in Combating the Illegal Gambling Market

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The Association of Remote Gambling Operators (AOJND) and the Federation of Gambling Organizers (FEDBET) — the two leading representative organizations of the gambling industry in Romania — have announced a joint initiative to form a multidisciplinary team of experts. This team will support the National Gambling Office (ONJN) in efforts to combat the illegal gambling market.

At the same time, both organizations are calling on their members — licensed gambling operators in Romania — as well as the general public, to actively contribute any relevant information that may assist authorities in addressing this issue. To facilitate this, an email address has been created: [email protected], where individuals can report gambling activities carried out without the necessary licenses and authorizations. All reports will be collected, verified, and forwarded promptly to ONJN.

This initiative comes in response to a recent ONJN statement reiterating that it is illegal to directly or indirectly provide services related to gambling to entities lacking a Class I license issued by ONJN, particularly if they offer access to players residing in Romania or to Romanian citizens without tax residency in another country.

“AOJND members are firmly committed to combating the illegal gambling market — a growing phenomenon that harms not only legitimate operators but, more importantly, players, who become vulnerable and unprotected. Our members — licensed operators — are focused on building honest and sustainable businesses, and that begins with ensuring safe conditions for players,” said Odeta Nestor, President of AOJND.

“For FEDBET, eliminating the black market in gambling is a top priority — not just to protect the interests of our members, but to ensure a fair and secure market for all players. Unlicensed operators directly undermine market stability by violating regulations and attracting players into unregulated environments. The consequences are severe: increased player vulnerability, losses to the state budget, and additional fiscal pressure on licensed operators. We fully support the authorities and are committed to using all available resources to identify and report illegal practices,” said Alexandru Domșa, General Director of FEDBET.

Both FEDBET and AOJND emphasize that only through active collaboration between industry stakeholders, authorities, and civil society can Romania maintain a legal, fair, and secure gambling market that provides both consumer protection and regulatory safeguards for society at large.

The black market in gambling presents serious challenges: a complete lack of legal protection for players — especially those in vulnerable groups — tax evasion, disruption of fair competition, and the generation of funds for criminal groups, fueling their influence, corruption, and ultimately leading to the loss of thousands of jobs.

In this spirit, the two organizations remain open to dialogue and cooperation with all relevant stakeholders in support of building a responsible, sustainable, and transparent gambling industry in Romania.

The post AOJND and FEDBET to Appoint Expert Task Force to Support ONJN in Combating the Illegal Gambling Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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