Latest News
AMIQUS & Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame launch new EDI Platform, Empower Up
Award-winning specialist games recruitment agency Amiqus and Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame initiative have today launched Empower Up, a comprehensive platform to equip games companies of all sizes with the knowledge, frameworks, guidance and resources they need to establish, improve or grow their Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) policies, practices and processes.
Empower Up is suitable for all games companies, wherever they are on their EDI journey. For those looking to gain more understanding about what EDI is and why it’s important, the Intro To EDI section provides an overview. It also provides a summary of different Diversity Characteristics and Under-Represented Groups, along with some specific advice and guidance on each.
At the heart of Empower Up is a practical Health Check tool that enables games companies to benchmark where they are on their EDI journey. This will then signpost those companies and individuals to specific areas of the website where they can gain relevant advice and actionable steps on how to move forwards.
The EDI Journey section provides just that information and guidance, covering a number of areas, including:
- Getting Started
- Your Workplace Culture
- Recruitment & Hiring
- Staff Development & Retention
- Marketing & Communications
- Accessibility & Representation
- Activities & Outreach
- Legal Requirements
Meanwhile, a Resources section will provide inspirational Case Studies from studios already doing great work in EDI; a Directory of EDI organisations and initiatives; and a Glossary of Terms area. News and Events will also be regularly updated.
Studios and individuals are encouraged to sign up to become Empower Up Members, which will provide additional benefits, namely:
- Take the Health Check and save results, allowing you to monitor your progress
- Access to informative Case Studies from other games businesses and organisations
- Bookmark articles to save in your personal Reading List
- Downloadable resources, such as document and policy templates
- Receive a monthly newsletter
- VIP invitations to Empower Up events
Empower Up is a not-for-profit, industry-led platform from Amiqus and #RaiseTheGame.
Amiqus is headed up by Business Manager Liz Prince. With 20 years industry experience as a woman in games, she is also the force behind the G Into Gaming campaign, a pro bono initiative to drive more diversity and promote gender balance in the games industry. She is also a Women in Games Ambassador and a regular speaker on EDI topics at industry events. She said:
“There are many studios and employees who know that making their organisations a more inclusive, equal and welcoming place is the right thing to do – but often they just don’t know where to start, or how to progress. That is where the idea for Empower Up was created. There are some brilliant organisations and initiatives out there, but nothing that pulls everything together in one place to help studios to take actionable steps in this area. Empower Up has been a real labour of love, and we’re really proud and happy that it’s now ready to help games companies in the UK push forward with their EDI efforts.”
Ukie’s #RaiseTheGame initiative aims to get games businesses of all sizes to pledge to improve EDI through diverse recruiting practices, building inclusive working environments and representing voices in their games. Dom Shaw is the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator for Ukie, as well as managing #RaiseTheGame. He said:
“It’s really exciting to see Empower Up come to life, and we thank both Amiqus and our leading #RaiseTheGame partners for supporting this important project. We want the games industry to be a more diverse and inclusive community, in which people from all backgrounds are welcome, valued and can flourish in their careers. Empower Up exists to empower organisations and individuals in the UK games industry to take their EDI knowledge and practices to the next level, through measurable and actionable steps. We look forward to seeing it in action in studios around the UK.”
Latest News
GAMSTOP reports surge in self-exclusion amongst under-25s
- 31% increase in 16-24-olds registering with national online self-exclusion scheme
- GAMSTOP heat map reveals UK postcodes with highest percentages of registration
GAMSTOP, the national self-exclusion scheme for online gambling, has reported a 31% year-on-year increase in under-25s registering with the service in the second half of 2024.
Consumers aged 16-24 now account for nearly one in four (24%) of new GAMSTOP registrants, a significant trend in a record year for the self-exclusion service, which featured major global sporting events including the Euros and the Olympics.
With a 14% year-on-year increase, the second half of 2024 saw record volumes, as well as bucking the usual trend of higher registrations in the first half of the year.
In total, 532,484 people have registered with GAMSTOP between its launch in April 2018 and December 31st, 2024, which equates to over 1% of the adult UK population.
GAMSTOP has for the first time analysed detailed data to provide a regional breakdown of registration, which will help local authorities to target their services. The postcode area with the highest proportion of GAMSTOP registrants is Hull (HU), equating to 1.5% of the local population, followed by Teesside (TS) and Sunderland (SR) on 1.4%, with Doncaster and Blackpool also in the top five for self-exclusions.
In the second half of 2024, nearly half of GAMSTOP registrants (48%) signed up for a five-year exclusion – the longest timeframe available. Consumers can also choose to self-exclude for shorter periods of six months or one year.
Last month, GAMSTOP introduced a new ‘5 years with auto-renewal’ exclusion, for vulnerable consumers looking to extend their exclusion from gambling websites and apps. The new 5 -year auto-renewal option was developed in direct response to feedback from users.
Fiona Palmer, CEO of GAMSTOP, said: “The increase in the number of under-25s registering for GAMSTOP has become an accelerating trend, with a 31% year-on-year increase in the second half of 2024, following a 12% increase in the first half of the year. There is a clear need for targeted education and support aimed at this group which is why we continue to put so much emphasis on collaborating with Ygam and Gamcare reaching out to students. We go to where they are to ensure they are aware of tools, such as self-exclusion, which can help to prevent gambling harm.
GAMSTOP allows vulnerable consumers to take a break from gambling and we want to raise awareness of the service amongst those who need it most. Our detailed regional data has highlighted the postcodes where self-exclusion has been most widely adopted, and we hope this will help local authorities and other bodies to target appropriate support in the areas where the need is greatest”.
The post GAMSTOP reports surge in self-exclusion amongst under-25s appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Playzia Signs Major Deal with SOFTSWISS, Expanding Reach with Top Aggregator Platform
Playzia’s thrilling portfolio of games, including Billionaire Wolf and Billionaire Rhino, as well as upcoming highly anticipated Love Island series, set to go live on SOFTSWISS award-winning platform
Playzia, one of the fastest-growing game providers to the iGaming industry, is thrilled to announce a new partnership with SOFTSWISS, a recognised industry leader in iGaming software solutions development. This collaboration will see Playzia’s portfolio of innovative and thrilling games go live on SOFTSWISS award-winning aggregation platform, offering operators worldwide access to Playzia’s exciting content.
The partnership marks a significant milestone in Playzia’s continued expansion into global markets. Exciting titles from the dynamic studio developer, including Billionaire Wolf, Cosmos Cash, Sweet Candy Fortune, The Great Fishing Adventure, along with the newly released Volcanic Coins and Billionaire Rhino, are now available on the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator. In addition to the steady rollout of 3 exciting titles per month, Playzia is committed to delivering unique branded content, including a recently announced series with ITV, inspired by the global phenomenon Love Island. This marks just the beginning of the Playzia’s ongoing growth and development in the iGaming industry.
Penning the agreement with SOFTSWISS and expanding its network of partners allows the fast-paced studio to further its mission of bringing its thrilling and innovative games to an even broader audience, ensuring players around the world who Love to Play can enjoy top-tier, one-of-a-kind gaming experiences.
“We are delighted to partner with SOFTSWISS and make our games accessible to operators through their renowned aggregation platform,” said Vlad Modorcea, CPO at Playzia. “This collaboration represents an exciting opportunity to reach new markets, and we’re confident that players will enjoy the high-quality content we bring to the table. Our games are designed to captivate, and we can’t wait to share them with SOFTSWISS global network.”
Nikita Keino, Head of Partnerships at SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator added: ‘We welcome Playzia as our new partner, and we are proud to expand our portfolio with new games. We have already surpassed the 27,000 games mark and are excited to offer the market the best and most diverse games from the wide range available.’
Beginning this year, Playzia is gearing up to unveil an exciting roadmap, with three new games launching each month. Looking ahead, partners and players can anticipate the introduction of trademarked mechanics, innovative new game types including crash, table, instant, and probability games, along with exciting jackpots and tournaments, all designed to elevate the gaming experience to new heights.
The post Playzia Signs Major Deal with SOFTSWISS, Expanding Reach with Top Aggregator Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Anna Mackney US Head of Region at Play’n GO
Play’n GO announces Delaware license award
Legendary studio’s games now live with Rush Street Interactive brand BetRivers in US state
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced the receipt of a sixth US state license, this time in the state of Delaware.
Having entered the US market in 2022, Play’n GO has gone live in West Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, and now Delaware, where some classic Play’n GO titles, such as Piggy Blitz will now be available to BetRivers players in the state affectionately known as the First State.
Play’n GO added Pennsylvania and Connecticut to its list of regulated markets in 2024, and have a publicly stated goal of being active in every regulated market in the world, a goal that has seen the Swedish gaming giant release a portfolio of over 350 premium games in over 35 regulated markets to date.
Anna Mackney, US Head of Region at Play’n GO added “It’s fantastic to begin the year by adding yet another new regulated market in the US, this time in the shape of Delaware. Our expansion into the state marks yet another significant step in our US growth strategy. Play’n GO continues to lead the charge in regulated markets, and we are committed to delivering our premium content to players across the country.
“We’ve already established an excellent relationship with BetRivers across the United States and we are confident that our partnership will continue to be mutually beneficial to both businesses as we enter yet another new market together. US players have clearly demonstrated their demand for our games, and we will continue to deliver.”
The post Play’n GO announces Delaware license award appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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