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GamCare Provides Report on its Services During Lockdown
Responsible gambling charity GamCare has provided a report on its services during lockdown. The report also highlights how COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people experiencing gambling harms.
The National Gambling Helpline During Lockdown report shows that despite lockdown exacerbating existing anxieties surrounding finances and isolation amongst gamblers, their ability to seek help was limited as they struggled for privacy.
Privacy concerns also drove a switch to more live chats than phone calls, as this channel can offer more discretion if families or housemates are in close proximity – many people contacting the Helpline have not yet spoken to their loved ones about what they are going through and want to know how to broach the subject.
Engagement with online group chatrooms increased. Anxieties about COVID were key themes of online conversations, alongside gambling-related issues. Staff on the Helpline flagged increased concern around domestic abuse being experienced by callers.
At the start of lockdown, there was a significant minority of calls asking for self-exclusion via GAMSTOP– highlighting that callers were seeking to gamble again despite previously removing the temptation. This trend has since abated. The report also mentions that, although existing engagement with GamCare treatment services remained high, the number of people beginning treatment during this period was lower than the previous year.
Research from the Gambling Commission, published alongside the report, shows the although overall gambling participation has dropped nationally, 18-34-year-olds and the most “engaged gamblers” have both reported increased time or money spent on gambling, plus using online gambling products they had not tried before.
Anna Hemmings, Chief Executive of GamCare, says:
“There is no doubt that the pandemic has impacted people’s help seeking, particularly in the initial phase of the pandemic when our daily lives were immeasurably changed. Our service users are speaking to us about increasing anxiety, isolation and money worries.
As we now look at further lockdowns across various areas, we need to be aware of the impact and risks for gamblers experiencing harm. We need to be more vocal about encouraging people to seek help despite the external pressures, and to remind people that we’re here to help as we did in the summer with our #ReadyToTalk campaign.
There is no doubt that gamblers and their loved ones will continue to need support, perhaps increasingly so. GamCare is doing all it can to be flexible and tailor its services to meet those complex and changing needs during the pandemic and beyond. From the very first contact you have with us, we can make a difference – if you’re worried about your gambling or anyone else’s, talk to us now.”
Soft2Bet will be showcasing its industry-leading iGaming turnkey solutions during meetings with partners, industry panels and new workshop sessions at ICE 2025 from 20-22 January in Barcelona at Stand 2C30.
Soft2Bet’s Senior Sales Manager Ben Scopbie-Trumper will present the group’s latest casino gamification features and mechanics during the workshop “Gamification: what’s next?”, on 21 January at 2PM at the Soft2Bet stand.
The workshop will provide an in-depth perspective into MEGA’s player engagement strategies and how they boost customer lifetime values, screentime and revenues, all the while providing sustainable business models and returns.
- Soft2Bet’s turnkey solutions provide comprehensive online gaming and betting product portfolios to its B2B partners. The services are implemented to deliver full differentiation that increases LTVs through enhanced personalisation.
- Available through off-the-shelf or bespoke packages that maintain operators’ flexibility, Soft2Bet’s data-driven insights optimise customer retention.
- MEGA’s unique gamification options are delivered through a simple API-led integration process.
- The ‘Gamification: what’s next?’ workshop is a unique opportunity to discover how the iGaming industry’s leading gamification solution raises performance levels at the same time as it drives sustainable profitability and major revenue increases for operators.
The past 12 months have seen Soft2Bet obtain licences in major markets such as Mexico, Ontario in Canada, Sweden, Greece and Romania. This regulatory and commercial expansion has been carried out in coordination with the launch of our brands in those countries and further extending our technology services to these territories to serve other partners. The group will be following all this up with swift expansions into new markets in 2025
The next 12 months will also see Soft2Bet focus on New Jersey, a key iGaming state in the US, and Spain, an important European market.
Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer at Soft2Bet, commented: “At the start of 2024 we wanted to focus on commercial growth and regulatory expansion and I’m delighted to say that we have achieved and in many cases surpassed those objectives. Our MEGA workshop will feature even more updates and insights into how gamification drives revenues for our partners. See you there!”
The post Soft2Bet to showcase turnkey and gamification solutions at ICE 2025 in Barcelona appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Gambling in the USA
Gambling.com Group Completes Acquisition of Odds Holdings, Inc., Parent Company of OddsJam
Gambling.com Group Limited (Nasdaq: GAMB) (“Gambling.com Group” or the “Company”), a leading provider of digital marketing services for the global online gambling industry, announced today that it completed the previously announced acquisition of Odds Holdings, Inc., the parent company of OddsJam, on January 1, 2025, as planned and on schedule.
The completion of this acquisition underscores Gambling.com Group’s ability to execute strategic transactions efficiently and without delay. This acquisition expands Gambling.com Group’s footprint in the online gambling ecosystem by adding complementary recurring revenue streams from consumer subscription products and enterprise clients. The Odds Holdings platform, powered by state-of-the-art technology for real-time odds data, strengthens the Company’s position as a leader in the global online gambling ecosystem.
Stake, the global betting operator and sportsbook, can proudly announce the approval of its Casino and a Sportsbook licence application in Brazil, showcasing their expansion into the gaming industry and regulated markets.
Stake demonstrates its dominance after its successful and rapid incursion in new regulated markets in Colombia, Peru, and the acquisition of IdealBet in Italy. This development enhances Stake’s global footprint and positions the company to deliver its product offerings to a rapidly growing audience.
Stake considers Brazil one of its crucial markets, ranking it as their second-largest worldwide. To solidify their commitment and provide top-tier experience, the operator’s centre of operations is located in São Paulo. Stake is focusing on reinforcing local operations, bringing the cutting-edge innovation Stake is known for, and world-class entertainment for Brazilian players.
“For Stake the licence means a further step in its global expansion into regulated markets. In this case, the relevance of the market and the speed in which we have achieved it is a good example of how we work. Stake Brazil users can expect a similar experience to Stake.com; the best customer service, good product, good games and in general what we have always been known for which is to put the customer at the centre of all operations, marketing, and product decisions,”said Brais Pena, Chief Strategy Officer at Stake.
Along with the news of the licence, Stake is hitting this market with a local Country Manager with Thomas Carvalhaes joining the team alongside 10 employees, supported by Stake’s global team of 1000. As the foundational team, they are fully committed to deliver localised experiences that resonate with players while working within the regulatory framework.
“We are very excited about the regulated environment and everything that is happening in the Brazilian market, its growth and the way it is establishing itself. I am taking the lead of a brand that has the ability to innovate and find the right opportunities to speak with the right audience, that is something really powerful and definitely a winning combination,” expresses Thomas Carvalhaes, Brazil Country Manager.
“Looking ahead to next year, we will continue to expand our local team and operations. Stake is already a prominent name in Brazil, with partnerships like Juventude Football club, the UFC, and the Fittipaldi brothers Pietro and Enzo, and we’re optimistic about replicating our successful formula across Latin America.”
Soft2Bet to showcase turnkey and gamification solutions at ICE 2025 in Barcelona
Gambling.com Group Completes Acquisition of Odds Holdings, Inc., Parent Company of OddsJam
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