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Charity launches new best practice guide to help banks step up action to reduce gambling harms

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4 years ago

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The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute has today launched a new best practice guide to help banks and building societies step up efforts to support the growing number of customers affected by gambling harms.

Money and Mental Health’s research shows that banks and building societies can play a crucial role in reducing gambling harms, thanks to the unique insight they have into customer’s spending behaviours.

The new guide sets out ideas and advice on how banks can better identify and reach out to customers at risk, and empower them with support and tools to manage their financial situation. It has been produced to help banks follow the Financial Conduct Authority’s guidance on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers, with recommended actions all relating to relevant sections of the FCA guidance.

Developed in collaboration with financial services professionals — and drawing on the testimonies of people with lived experience of gambling problems — the guide focuses on three key areas where banks can make the biggest difference in supporting those at risk:

 

  • Creating a culture of support, and ensuring staff are equipped to help. Suggested actions here include making gambling a focus in plans to help vulnerable customers, providing frontline staff with training on gambling problems, and putting in place internal systems and resources to help staff support customers at risk.

  • Identifying and reaching out to those at risk. The guide offered advice on how banks can use customer transaction data in an appropriate and ethical way to spot those at risk, and ensure that their communications about problem gambling are as supportive and effective as possible.

  • Supporting and empowering those at risk. The guide lists measures firms should consider to support and empower those identified as being at risk — from providing signposting to external sources of help, to offering tools such as settings to block gambling transactions on cards and other kinds of spending controls to help them manage their finances.

 

Recognising that different firms have made varying degrees of progress in supporting customers with gambling problems, the guide is designed to offer ideas and encouragement to all banks on actions they can take. It sets out three levels of actions that firms can take: essential first steps all banks should start with, more advanced measures they could consider and actions they can take to lead the sector in tackling gambling harms.

Helen Undy, Chief Executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said:

“Gambling problems can cause utter devastation for those affected and their loved ones. Banks are in a unique position to help, and we have been hugely encouraged by the progress made in recent years, especially with the increasing number of banks offering the option for customers to block gambling on their cards.

“But there are still important opportunities for banks to build on this progress and to step up support for those at risk. We hope this guide can equip firms with the practical advice and ideas they need to take the next steps in improving support for customers, no matter how advanced or otherwise they are in this work.

“We’ve worked closely with frontline financial services professionals, and people affected by gambling problems, to ensure this guide is as relevant and practical as possible. But we’ve also set out ambitious ideas for how the sector can go further in making a real difference in reducing the harms that gambling problems can cause.”

Tim Miller, Executive Director at the Gambling Commission (the regulator for the gambling industry), said:

“To have a real and lasting impact on tackling gambling harms there must be a multi-sector partnership approach, and the financial sector has a particularly important role to play. This guide sets out useful ideas and steps firms can take to help protect those at risk, building on the progress they have made over recent years. We hope it will help financial services firms to continue to have a meaningful impact in reducing the financial and other harms which can result from gambling problems.”

Money and Mental Health’s guide is published as part of a two year programme of work the charity is undertaking, aimed at increasing action among financial firms towards reducing gambling related harm. The charity has secured funding through a Regulatory Settlement approved by the Gambling Commission to support this work.

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Adventure Awaits in Boat Bonanza CrocoNile!

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19 hours ago

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May 2, 2025

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Play’n GO takes players on an unforgettable expedition to Egypt’s legendary Nile in Boat Bonanza CrocoNile!, filled with thrills, spills, and crocodile chills!

Captain Jim and Jane Bonanza are here, sailing into the exotic and mysterious waters of the Nile. Legend speaks of untold treasures hidden beneath its waters, guarded fiercely by crocodiles and the ominous Curse of Sobek. Fans of the Bonanza series and Egyptian adventures will find plenty to love in this latest journey packed with intriguing gameplay and captivating storytelling.

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George Olekszy, Head of Game Retention at Play’n GO, said:

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The post Adventure Awaits in Boat Bonanza CrocoNile! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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WinSpirit Casino Earns AskGamblers Certificate of Trust

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19 hours ago

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May 2, 2025

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WinSpirit is proud to announce that it has officially received the Certificate of Trust from AskGamblers—one of the most respected accolades an online casino can achieve. This certificate is awarded only to platforms that demonstrate exceptional standards in key areas such as fast payouts, high player ratings, and a strong commitment to responsible gambling. It reflects WinSpirit’s dedication to player satisfaction and further strengthens the brand’s reputation as a trustworthy, high-performing casino.

With this recognition, WinSpirit reaffirms its promise to players: that their funds and personal data are protected, their rights are upheld, and their experience is both fair and rewarding.

“Receiving the Certificate of Trust is not just a badge of honour – it reflects the daily effort we put into building a casino that players and partners can rely on” — says Kate Van Engelen, PR Manager at WinSpirit.

“It motivates us to continue setting the bar high in fairness, support, and transparency,” she added.

AskGamblers is an acclaimed casino affiliate website, renowned for offering players unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date information about online casinos. The AskGamblers Certificate of Trust now takes pride of place on the WinSpirit website, serving as a clear symbol of quality, reliability, and transparency.

With over 17,000 games, a wide range of payment methods, 24/7 customer support, and generous bonuses, WinSpirit continues to set the standard for excellence in online gaming.

The post WinSpirit Casino Earns AskGamblers Certificate of Trust appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Ebbe Groes

EveryMatrix set for another standout year with strong Q1 performance

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20 hours ago

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May 2, 2025

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EveryMatrix has kicked off 2025 with powerful momentum, reporting a standout first quarter of exceptional revenue growth and profitability.

The tier-1 iGaming technology platform supplier delivered a very strong first quarter performance, with net revenue reaching €54 million, up 39% Year-on-Year (YoY), and EBITDA increasing to €28m, up 27% YoY, driven by strong growth from existing clients and innovative product launches.

EBITDA margin reached 52%, making it the eighth consecutive quarter above 50%, as the company continues to scale its platform and casino content technologies while maintaining strong financial discipline.

The last twelve months’ EBITDA reached €107m, up 50% YoY, building on 2024’s milestone achievement of surpassing €100 million in annual EBITDA.

Q1 MILESTONES SIGNAL POWERHOUSE YEAR AHEAD

A highlight of the first quarter was the successful migration of Bet600 – the first full turnkey FSB Technologies customer in the UK – to the EveryMatrix platform. The company aim remains to have all clients fully migrated in 2025 thereby realizing large cost synergies from this key acquisition.

EveryMatrix launched its cutting-edge proprietary Horse Racing solution by combining FSB’s proven knowledge and experience in Horse Racing with the innovation of OddsMatrix development teams. It provides global horse racing coverage with 10k+ monthly events, full system bets offering with bonusing capabilities and configurations and a purpose-built Horse Racing front end with rich Racecard content & live streaming integrations among some of the features.

A landmark deal was signed to deliver a full casino turnkey platform solution to SkyCity Entertainment Group.  SkyCity is one of New Zealand’s largest entertainment companies owning five land-based casinos across both NZ and Australia and the online casino brand SkyCitycasino.com. SkyCity migrates from their current provider to EveryMatrix later this year.

SPORTS SURGE AND STRONG CASINO & PLATFORM GROWTH

Q1 2025 saw the company’s sports division deliver exceptional growth, with quarterly sports turnover rising 30% YoY to €1.7b, while GGR climbing 60% YoY to €154m on the back of continued strong trading margins. The last twelve months (LTM) turnover hit €6.3b, reflecting a 48% YoY increase, with GGR rising by 92% YoY to €505m. Part of the growth came from reaching a record number of nearly 600,000 live events, a 24% YoY increase.

Casino experienced the strongest quarterly financial results to date, with net revenue climbing to €28.6m, up 44% YoY, while EBITDA reached €16.8m, up 29% YoY. Casino GGR reached €753m, a 22% YoY increase, with the LTM reaching €2.9b, a 38% YoY increase.

GamMatrix, the company’s Gaming and Player Account Management Platform, experienced a net revenue increase of €8.6m, up 18% YoY, while EBITDA landed at €2.4m, a 23% decrease YoY. The decrease in EBITDA margin is related to a change in internal revenue allocation.

Ebbe Groes, Group CEO of EveryMatrix, said: “I’m very excited for 2025. Q1 was a solid quarter, a great start, and the rest of the year looks just as promising. We had a phenomenal year in 2024, which will be hard to beat, but thanks to the momentum we’ve set in motion during the last few years, I’m sure we’ll be able to do it.

“Our sports division never ceases to amaze me, breaking record after record. This quarter, we managed to reach 600,000 live events, all thanks to our ability to expand our coverage and add new products and features even while experiencing this much continuous growth.”

Q1 2025 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Reached net revenue of €54m, up 39% YoY, with EBITDA at €28m, up 27% YoY, driven primarily by strong growth from existing clients.
  • EBITDA margin reached 52%. Last twelve months’ EBITDA reached €107m, up 50% YoY.
  • Migrated Bet600 from FSB to EveryMatrix platform, the company’s first such migration.
  • OddsMatrix’s brand new Horse Racing product went live with this launch.
  • Signed New Zealand’s SkyCity Entertainment Group to deliver a full casino turnkey platform solution.
  • First three dedicated blackjack tables went live, another step up for the business’ PlayMatrix live dealer product.
  • Launched OddsMatrix feeds for LeoVegas Group to enhance their global sportsbook offering.
  • Won Norsk Tipping’s Casino and eInstant RFP, the largest-ever SlotMatrix deal, delivering aggregation, in-house and bespoke content.
  • Launched SlotMatrix casino content with Caesars Entertainment across five U.S. states, expanding U.S. presence (post-quarter).
  • Introduced New Odds Models for Football and Handball and enhanced retail Self Service Betting Terminals (SSBTs).
  • Introduced real-time Rakeback through LoyalityEngine, the company’s Newly Launched Cross-Vertical Loyalty Program.
  • Integrated 14 new casino vendors, now totalling 185+ and 345+ content providers.
  • Signed 20 new PartnerMatrix clients.

 

Read the full Q1 2025 Update on EveryMatrix.com 

The post EveryMatrix set for another standout year with strong Q1 performance appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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