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We must be guided by the education sector to deliver effective prevention programmes to young people
YGAM Chief Executive Lee Willows reflects on some of the key topics to emerge from three reports published last week and highlights the valuable contribution the charity is making.
Last week was a significant week for everyone connected the gambling industry. Reading the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) annual progress report; The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report and the Lords Select Committee report, it was pleasing to read these reports all featured insight from people with direct experience of the tragic harm that gambling can cause some individuals, such as the YGAM Founders. As Chief Executive of the YGAM charity and personally as someone who lost everything to a gambling addiction, I was grateful for the opportunity to contribute my insight and experiences. Such inclusion would have been unheard of five-years ago. Having three incredibly helpful reports published in quick succession over a period of five days is in many ways helpful and timely as YGAM continues to evolve our strategy. I congratulate everyone involved in producing three fascinating reports that will inform the debate moving forward.
At YGAM, we strongly believe that prevention, including education is an essential component to reduce gambling-related harms. We engage with the education sector daily and we are constantly listening to the needs of teachers, practitioners and young people. It is very clear from these conversations that teachers and practitioners need and appreciate our resources more than ever. The feedback we get from teachers, practitioners and young people and the insight from external evaluations is overwhelmingly positive and there is an enormous demand for information on gambling and gaming. Whilst it was pleasing to see education feature in all three reports, the voices of the professionals working in that sector should also be taken into consideration. We must continue to be guided by professionals working in the education sector to deliver effective prevention programmes to young people.
The focus on the blurred lines between gaming and gambling is welcomed. The YGAM workshops help build digital resilience and educate people on the different types of games accessible to children. We agree with the DCMS Select Committee and the Children’s Commissioner that loot boxes that contain the element of chance should not be sold to children under 18. The concern about allowing children to access loot boxes is that it is conditioning them to gambling behaviour from an early age. Building on our discussions with DCMS we look forward to contributing to the government’s call to action on loot boxes which will hopefully lead to consideration of an appropriate regulatory intervention.
The debate around gambling advertising and the impact it has on younger generations is imperative. You do not have to work in this sector to notice that gambling adverts dominate the promotional spaces at most sporting events. The YGAM resources tackle this topic head on as we continue to raise awareness of the potential harms and the support available. We believe concerns about marketing and sponsorship should be addressed by evidence-based analysis that puts the safety of young people first and we look forward to contributing to this debate.
When the Gambling Commission launched the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling-Related Harms, there was real hope for change and there has been some positive change; yes more can be done and some actions need to move in a more expedient manner, but change does take time. I also worry that in the desire to affect structural change, or radically change strategic direction part way through a national strategy may result in valuable insight being lost. I do see many people and organisations coming together to deliver the strategy which is superb and that is where we will continue to have a relentless focus.
Certainly in my time in YGAM I have seen Safer Gambling teams within operators increase from one employee, who led Safer Gambling work on a part-time bases, to now large Safer Gambling teams with twenty plus employees working full-time in this area of work. In that time, I have also seen and been fortunate to work alongside others who have been affected by gambling-harms set up their own organisations and I have witnessed the rise of passionate campaigners who demand change, often following tragic circumstances. At the heart of all this work is a shared commitment to reduce-harms and it would be so oxygenating if more time can be spent finding common goals and delivering the national strategy.
As a prevention charity we will continue to focus on the delivery of education, building and sharing insight and demonstrating impact. This is a crucial period for the future of this sector and everyone at YGAM looks forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholder groups to ensure all young and vulnerable people are safe from gaming and gambling related harms.
Finally, YGAM has published its strategic plan 2019 – 2021 and within our annual review filed with the Charity Commission and Companies House we share progress against our strategic goals and insight. However next week, we will have a dedicated page on our website which will also show this progress, insight, and our impact in a succinct manner. I am incredibly proud of the YGAM team and many colleagues from all parts of the sector (inc charities, trade bodies, operators, regulators, ABSG, DCMS, teachers, young people, EbEs); working hard to make a difference in this space.
Lee Willows
Chief Executive, YGAM
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ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona
The news that January’s ICE Barcelona will include a major new feature dedicated to global gaming’s most influential trade associations has been welcomed by organisations in Europe and abroad.
Making full use of the additional space at the Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, the first ICE Association Assembly has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography, including both the Brussels-based European Casino Association (ECA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the global trade association for gaming equipment suppliers with its primary headquarters in Las Vegas.
Erwin Van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA confirmed: “Our members are already planning their week in Barcelona and they will be at this historic edition of ICE in great numbers. ICE is a pivotal event for the global gaming community and having a show floor feature which will enable us to engage directly with all sectors is a unique opportunity.
“Traditionally, our association’s involvement at ICE and its Conference program has primarily centred around networking and product development orientation—connecting with our members, regulators, suppliers, and fellow trade bodies. However, ICE 2025 marks a significant milestone. For the first time, the ECA will have the chance to fully interface with the global industry supply chain in its entirety. We are looking forward to this unique opportunity to articulate our vision for the future to a diverse and comprehensive audience, where innovation, responsibility and significant partnerships for guest and customer centricity will have centre stage.”
Daron Dorsey, CEO of AGEM added: “We represent the interests of our gaming suppliers whose well-known brands are global in reach, so to be given the opportunity to explain our agenda and engage with what is a truly international audience of association colleagues on the ICE show floor is invaluable.”
January’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will occupy 120,000sqm of space compared to the 100,00sqm at ICE 2024. In a major endorsement of the opportunities offered by the relocation to Barcelona 72% of the 25 biggest exhibitors will have an increased stand presence at ICE 2025.
The post ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aviatrix
Aviatrix expands into Venezuela with FacilitoBet
Aviatrix, the innovative crash game that is quickly growing in popularity across Latin America and elsewhere, has added FacilitoBet to its portfolio of operator partners.
The deal sees FacilitoBet integrate Aviatrix into its proprietary GEO VES platform, making the game available to its players across Venezuela.
This is a major move by Aviatrix’s into the Venezuelan market, following numerous deals elsewhere in Latin America over the past 12 months.
Gabriela Novello, Head of Business Development LATAM at Aviatrix, said: “We want to bring Aviatrix to the most respected brands across Latin America, and FacilitoBet absolutely meets those criteria. By integrating us into their own platform, we’re able to work directly with the FacilitoBet team to bring a truly world-class experience to players across Venezuela. This is another important step in the Aviatrix journey.”
Henry Sanchez, Director of FacilitoBet, said: “Crash games have become a true phenomenon over the last couple of years, and we love Aviatrix because it brings something unique to the genre. The game is engaging, and their team is extremely helpful when it comes to onboarding to our own GEO VES platform. We are sure Aviatrix will be a big success among our players.”
Aviatrix is quickly becoming Latin America’s favourite crash game, following integrations with NGX, Salsa Technology, Vibra Gaming, Cactus Gaming, RedCap, Virtualsoft, Casa de Apostas, Portugabet and many more.
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Atlaslive and Alea Partner to Revolutionize Casino Offerings with Data-Driven Player Insights
Atlaslive, a leading B2B software provider in the global iGaming industry, has announced an exciting partnership with Alea, a data-driven casino game aggregator. Together, the two companies will deliver highly customized, data-focused gaming experiences designed to boost player engagement and drive operator success.
Atlaslive’s multi-functional platform empowers sports betting and casino operators with a customizable, scalable solution. Partners have the freedom to tailor the platform to their brand style and market preferences, whether they’re focused on a regional niche or a global audience.
With over 15,000 games in Atlaslive’s casino library, which includes slots, live casino games, table games, virtual games, lotteries, and more, operators can offer a diverse selection to match any player demographic. This vast collection will now be complemented by Alea’s aggregation, creating an unmatched selection of casino content.
Lidiia Vakulenko, COO of Atlaslive, commented on the collaboration: “At Atlaslive, our goal is to provide operators with not only a powerful platform but also the tools and content they need to stand out in a competitive market. Our partnership with Alea enhances our already robust casino offering with even more game diversity, while adding sophisticated data insights that help our partners design player experiences tailored to their audience. This partnership is a game-changer for both companies and our partners.”
In addition to its extensive game portfolio, Atlaslive’s platform provides operators with advanced tools to create custom segments and automated marketing triggers. This allows operators to design personalized campaigns and offers based on player behavior, boosting engagement, retention, and ultimately, revenue.
Jordi Sendra, CEO of Alea, also commented on the collaboration: “We are thrilled to partner with Atlaslive, a company that shares our vision of using data and technology to drive innovation in iGaming. Together, we can offer operators not just a vast range of top-tier games, but the deep player insights they need to refine their strategies and maximize engagement. We believe this partnership will open up new possibilities for both companies and the operators we serve globally.”
By bringing together Atlaslive’s dynamic platform and Alea’s data-driven approach, this partnership is set to transform the way casinos operate, providing powerful tools that will help them grow and thrive in the competitive iGaming landscape.
The post Atlaslive and Alea Partner to Revolutionize Casino Offerings with Data-Driven Player Insights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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