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New Study Shows Online Gambling Soared During Lockdown, Especially Among Regular Gamblers
According to a new research, regular gamblers were more than six times more likely to gamble online compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study, led by the University of Bristol and published on May 17 in the Journal of Gambling Studies, showed regular male gamblers were particularly prone to gambling more often online during the public lockdown in the UK, compared to their previously reported gambling habits.
Although overall men and women gambled less frequently during the lockdown, partly due to betting shops being closed, some forms of gambling increased. For instance, usage of online gambling, including poker, bingo, and casino games, grew six-fold among regular gamblers. Respondents who gambled occasionally were still found to be more than twice as likely than before to gamble online.
Lead author Professor Alan Emond, of the University of Bristol’s Medical School, said: “This study provides unique real time insights into how people’s attitudes and gambling behaviour changed during lockdown, when everyone was stuck inside and unable to participate in most social activities. The findings reveal that although many forms of gambling were restricted, a minority of regular gamblers significantly increased their gambling and betting online. As with so many repercussions of the pandemic, inequalities have been exacerbated and particularly vulnerable groups were worse affected.”
The comparative research used two online questionnaires during the first lockdown in 2020, which surveyed the same group of adults, aged 28 years on average, who had previously been asked similar questions about gambling before the pandemic as part of the renowned Children of the 90s study, also known as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).
More than 2600 adults responded and results revealed that during lockdown men were three times more likely than women to gamble regularly, defined as more than once a week. Drinking heavily, defined as more than six units in a session (equivalent to more than three pints of beer) at least once a week, was strongly linked to regular gambling among men and women. These trends are likely to be much greater in reality, as the majority (70%) of respondents to the surveys in lockdown were women.
Professor Emond, a public health expert, said: “The strong link between binge drinking and regular gambling is of particular concern, as they are both addictive behaviours which can have serious health and social consequences. With the wider availability of gambling through different online channels, vulnerable groups could get caught in a destructive cycle. A public health approach is needed to minimise gambling harms.”
Online advertising expert and co-author Agnes Nairn, Professor of Marketing at the University of Bristol’s School of Management, said: “The results of this study and trends being reported more widely are quite alarming. As gambling habits shift online, vulnerable groups including children and adults who drink heavily may be more easily sucked into these channels. The increased prevalence of home working is also an important consideration for future policy making, as the temptation to gamble online, amplified by clever advertising, is always there. Children are also falling prey to this advertising, especially for esports, on social media and could get locked into addictive habits from an early age. Stricter regulation is needed in this growing field to protect unwitting consumers.”
Alison Clare, Research, Information and Knowledge Director at GambleAware, said: “We know that gambling is part of the daily lives of children, young people and vulnerable adults and this research sheds further light on the impact Covid-19 and lockdown has had on gambling habits for young people. GambleAware is committed to ensuring all those affected by gambling harm have access to the necessary information and advice. All organisations, including National Health Services and charities need to work together to reduce stigma and raise awareness of the help and support that is available via the National Gambling Treatment Service.”
Industry Awards
Awards Up For Grabs: ELA Games Shortlisted in Two Categories at SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025

The studio continues its momentum with two new nominations
ELA Games, a dynamic game development studio, is proud to announce its double nomination at the upcoming SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025 in the “Best Game Studio” and “Best Slot Game Provider” categories.
These nominations for two of the most prestigious categories at the event highlight a milestone year for ELA Games, marked by innovative developments, a growing portfolio, and key partnerships. Central to this recognition are standout titles including Shoot Happens, Juicy Crystal, and Joker Winpot. Each title has showcased the studio’s balance of creativity, visually rich design, and technical excellence.
Shoot Happens is a prime example of ELA Games’ progression as a game development studio. It’s a high-energy game that breaks from traditional game formats to give players more agency over their gameplay. Players face off against increasingly tougher and valuable opponents to fill up their “Winpot,” which they can then choose when to cash out. Shoot Happens reflects ELA Games’ ambitions to offer new experiences that connect with modern player preferences and provide high-performing content for operators.
Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented on the nominations, “The team has been in overdrive working on new titles and rethinking the online gaming landscape. Being nominated for two of the biggest categories at the SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025 is a testament to the entire team’s efforts to create engaging, visually rich content that’s genuinely fun to play. We look forward to the award ceremony results and continuing to push creative boundaries with new, exciting games!”
Voting is open for the SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025.
The post Awards Up For Grabs: ELA Games Shortlisted in Two Categories at SiGMA Euro-Med Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GCC Workplace Awards 2025
Scientific Games Wins Top Honors for Organizational Excellence in India

Scientific Games has been honored with the Top GCC award in the Organizational Excellence category at the GCC Workplace Awards 2025. Held on July 11, in Bengaluru, India, these awards recognize global capability centers in India that are transforming the future of work through innovation, culture and forward-thinking strategies.
This honors marks the third award in the past year for Scientific Games’ India operations, building on its 2024 Great Place to Work certification and inclusion in Jombay’s WOW Workplaces of 2025.
“Scientific Games India has proven once again that we are creating a high-performance, future-focused workplace. Our team in India plays an important role in supporting and enhancing the way we deliver technology solutions across our global lottery business,” said Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games.
The GCC Workplace Award highlights Scientific Games’ exceptional progress in building a high-performance, people-first workplace supporting both business outcomes and employee well-being. The company’s Bengaluru-based operations serve as a strategic hub for software development, technology operations, research, and quality assurance.
“What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it reflects how we’ve grown as a team, scaling up in capabilities while staying true to our company culture. Over the past year, we’ve sharpened our focus on leadership development, cross-functional collaboration and building an environment where people feel trusted to solve complex challenges,” said Mahesh Nanjundappa, Managing Director of Scientific Games India.
The GCC Workplace Awards celebrate organizations in India that are redefining what a great workplace looks like. Scientific Games was recognized from a competitive pool of 450 nominated organizations. The selection involved a rigorous, multi-stage process, including quantitative reviews, qualitative assessments of internal policies and programs and benchmarking against peer organizations. Key evaluation areas included leadership and culture, diversity and inclusion, employee well-being, innovation, and external reputation.
The judges awarded the company 5 out of 5 ratings for employee engagement and well-being, as well as workplace culture, citing strong leadership support and structured feedback mechanisms. Its formal rewards and recognition programs, comprehensive benefits including health, dental and vision coverage and diversity and inclusion efforts.
Scientific Games’ India location contributes to delivering the company’s high-performance lottery and sports betting solutions to government-regulated lotteries in 50 countries.
The post Scientific Games Wins Top Honors for Organizational Excellence in India appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Joe Solosky
NASCAR and nVenue, Bring Groundbreaking Live Probabilities to In-Season Challenge Broadcast for Fans Watching Live Racing

The past month marked a pivotal moment in NASCAR’s push toward innovation as NASCAR and nVenue worked to deliver a new way to watch the race. Using nVenue’s in-race betting product to focus on head-to-head matchups, nVenue’s real-time predictive probabilities for each matchup were integrated into the race broadcast.
NASCAR and nVenue have worked together since 2023 and recently reached a multi-year agreement to extend their partnership. As a data partner, nVenue has built a live betting product that allows fans to bet on hundreds of markets during races. nVenue worked with NASCAR to build out live head-to-head markets for each matchup of the In-Season Challenge.
nVenue integrated its proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning platform for live sports with the In-Season Challenge broadcasts. The integration kicked off during the opening race of the In-Season Challenge and continued throughout the Challenge, delivering a new level of real-time insight directly into the broadcast experience.
At the same time, fans across the world were able to place bets in real-time on head-to-head driver matchups, stage winners, and dozens of new in-race markets, marking a historic first for the sport.
Behind the scenes, nVenue’s commitment to execution was on full display. Co-Founder and Chief Sports Officer, Bruce Sears, was in the production control room for the opening race, working hand-in-hand with multiple teams and resources required to bring the integration to the air.
“nVenue has been a fantastic data partner. One of the great things about nVenue’s partnership is in addition to the live betting product it has built, nVenue has the ability to turn odds into probabilities that can be shown on live broadcasts to further promote fan engagement. This lined up well with the format of the In-Season Challenge, allowing us to provide fans with a way to follow the live probabilities of each matchup throughout every lap of the race,” said Joe Solosky, NASCAR, Managing Director, Sports Betting.
“nVenue’s real-time predictive probabilities came to life during live NASCAR racing to provide a richer experience of the sport, for fans watching, betting, or both. The nVenue platform meets the incredibly demanding speed and precision required for motorsports, but also sets a new standard for fan engagement and in-race betting. It’s a testament to our team’s unparalleled expertise in bringing such complex, data-driven innovation to market at scale. Innovation has only just begun, and we are excited to continue this work with leagues, media, and sports betting to bring these worlds together for the best experiences in live sports,” said Sears.
With broadcast, betting, and data now converging on race day, this collaboration between NASCAR and nVenue is signaling the future of how fans engage with the sport, one lap at a time.
The post NASCAR and nVenue, Bring Groundbreaking Live Probabilities to In-Season Challenge Broadcast for Fans Watching Live Racing appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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