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GamCare Warns Public to be Aware of Gambling Risks This Christmas

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GamCare has launched a seasonal campaign urging the public to be aware of “signs that someone may be struggling with problem gambling over the Christmas period”.

During the festive period, GamCare aims to remind audiences of its helpline services offering treatment support for vulnerable people who may be at risk of gambling harm.

Christmas 2019 saw GamCare’s Helpline record an 18% increase in referrals into treatment prior to the first COVID-19 national lockdown – with staff also reporting an increase in safeguarding issues around the festive period.

GamCare advisers warn that during Christmas, the vulnerable will feel financial and social anxieties that will compound their mental health difficulties leading to harm.

Furthermore, an early December payday can add extra temptation to gamble with other triggers including the influence of alcohol, changes in routine and an increase in sporting events to bet on.

“With more financial and family pressures, we know that the festive holidays can be a tough time for people trying to control their gambling,” said Fiona Macleod, Director of Clinical and Communities.

“During December, along with an early wage, there are more sporting events in close succession, heavy advertising from gambling companies, coupled with many people having free, unstructured time away from work.”

The festive campaign is launched following new research by GamCare that in the lead up to Christmas over six million Brits know someone with a gambling issue.

Of utmost concern, one in five Brits (20%) have used either their Christmas pay or bonus on placing a bet, with 8% saying they do it regularly. A quarter of Brits (25%) have regretted placing a bet before.

GamCare reminds audiences that its help and support are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the National Gambling Helpline over the festive period.

Common signs of troubled behaviour include being withdrawn, sleeping disorders, mood swings and lying about their financial circumstances.

“We are always here to listen and support you when you might feel you have no other options. A message of hope – that is essentially what we’re giving people. Our phone line is open 24/7 over the Christmas period,” Macleod concluded.

“In lockdowns, we have seen an increase in people opting for our live chat option. We want to remind people that this is still available if privacy is a concern.”

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Spinomenal releases Outlaw’s Redemption

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Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has released its new Western-themed action-adventure game, Outlaw’s Redemption.

The 5×3 game unfolds in a dusty frontier town under a twilight sky that is lit by lanterns hanging along a row of wooden cabins. A soft guitar riff is complemented by maracas, building tension on the reels populated with Golden Horseshoes, Whiskey Barrels, Longhorn Skulls, Cowboy Boots, and Revolvers.

There are two Wilds in play, a countdown revolver cartridge and a menacing outlaw, which count for any symbols except Free Spins and Bonus symbols. If five of either appear on a winning line then players will see their win multiplied by 1,000. Scattered Free Spins symbols are represented by a glamorous saloon girl and three or more will launch Free Games. In the base game only, Free Spins symbols will appear only on reels 1, 3 and 5. The Wild symbol will expand on one of the reels and remain until the end of the spins. Before the Free Spins begin, players choose between five options to decide where the Stacked Wild is located – the amount of Free Spins will change accordingly.

After the reels have come to rest, if there are any countdown Wild symbols on screen, the game will enter Respins mode. This means the Countdown Wild will stay for the next re-spin and its count will decrease by 1. When there are no Countdown Wilds with a count greater than or equal to 1, the Respin mode finishes. There are also Mystery symbols that are represented by saloon doors hiding one random symbol aside from Bonus, Wild or Free Spins.

The Bonus game is activated with three or more Wheel of Fortune Scattered Bonus symbols. Once in the Bonus game, players face a three level Wheel of Fortune, and have three attempts at spinning the wheel to win prizes including multipliers, extra spins or level up. In addition, the level up awards an extra spin and once these are gone, the sum of wins collected will be awarded.

Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Outlaw’s Redemption is a gritty Western adventure that is packed with entertaining features like Countdown Wilds and the Wheel of Fortune Bonus. Players will love this ride on the reels, hoping for a shot at glory.”

The post Spinomenal releases Outlaw’s Redemption appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Belatra releases arcade adventure: Cyber Gypsies

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Belatra, a leading developer of innovative online slots, has released its retro reels ride, Cyber Gypsies. This latest hit from Belatra carries players into a bright world where digital technology blends with the spirit of console gaming.

Taking inspiration from the look and feel of retro video games, Cyber Gypsies offers a classic 5-reel, 20-line layout packed with modern twists. A joyfully electro soundtrack puts the finishing touches on a game bursting with dynamic features, accumulating multipliers, and slick gameplay. Each spin holds the potential for thrilling wins. Wild symbols may appear on reels 2, 3, and 4 and substitute for all standard symbols to form winning combinations. Multipliers hold the true power with their ability to boost returns. During the base game, and normal Free Games, Wilds can carry x2 or x3 multipliers.

Hot Mode means these values increase to x3, x5, or even x8. When multiple Wilds land on a payline, their multipliers are added together – so a combination of x2 and x3 becomes x5 – leading to boosted wins. Hack Mode may activate in any base game spin to unleash a burst of Wild symbols onto the reels in real time that can create or enhance winning combinations. Players who can’t wait to amp up the action can also access Hack Mode directly via the Bonus Buy feature.

Free Games will be triggered with three Scatters landing on reels 1, 3, and 5. Players will automatically earn five Free Games, but before beginning, they must pick one of the eccentric heroes, each offering a unique volatility and bonus power. The next step is choosing the number of Free Games to play – ranging from 7 to 20. Once active, every Wild symbol uncovered becomes sticky and remains in place for the rest of the bonus round – significantly raising the chances of hitting frequent and big wins.

Sergey Chernyavski, Belatra Games’ CCO, said: “Cyber Gypsies is more than just a slot—it’s a raucous, retro reels adventure. It’s a celebration of the timeless thrill of classic games, reimagined with modern mechanics. With Sticky Wilds, flexible Free Games, and multiple ways to boost wins, the game offers a perfectly-balanced mix of nostalgia and innovation.”

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Build or Buy? SOFTSWISS Solves Operators’ Biggest Dilemma

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SOFTSWISS, a global provider of iGaming software solutions, announces the release of its latest playbook, which helps operators make smarter, long-term platform decisions. The new iGaming Software: Build vs Buy Playbook breaks down the pros and cons of two main options: 5 million euro and up to 24 months for building a proprietary platform, or 1 million euro and six months for a third-party B2B solution. 

The SOFTSWISS Playbook offers a practical framework for operators, affiliates, and investors making one of the industry’s most critical decisions. Comparing the long-term effects of in-house development versus licensed turnkey solutions sheds light on essential decision-making paths. The study delivers actionable insights into cost structures, timelines, operational risks, and scalability challenges facing online casino and sportsbook operators.

The study highlights key time-to-market comparisons:

  • Building a standalone in-house platform that fully meets operational requirements may demand an investment of 2.5 million to 5 million euro on average and an MVP launch timeline of 12 to 24 months. And that’s without taking into account the significant responsibility for maintaining security, compliance, and continuous improvement of the system.
  • Opting for a B2B platform can cut your rollout period to just six months. Estimated first-year expenses, including upfront costs, range from 500 thousand to 1 million euro. However, it requires thorough provider selection to balance limitations in customisation and scalability.
  • Hybrid approaches combining vendor technology with custom feature development are becoming popular among ambitious brands that want to stand out from their competitors without investing a lot of money.
  • Compliance, scalability, and technical expertise are the decisive factors impacting long-term success.

These are just general points – the real answer lies in the details. The Playbook offers a deeper dive into timelines, cost breakdowns, risk factors, and what these variables actually mean when launching an iGaming project.

Denis Romanovskiy, Deputy CTO at SOFTSWISS, added: “Building an in-house platform guarantees total control, yet the cost and complexity of re-creating every core feature of other platforms can stall innovation. Choosing a reliable B2B solution provides essential functionality from day one, enabling teams to concentrate on brand positioning, player experience, and strategic growth.”

The iGaming Software: Build vs Buy Playbook also includes a salary index for key iGaming development roles split by region, sample cost calculations, and operational checklists, making it a crucial tool for strategic decision-making in 2025.

The Playbook helps operators establish clear paths in launching their projects. It guides them to create sustainable and profitable strategies in a fast-changing iGaming market.

The full guide is available for free download on the SOFTSWISS Reports page.

 

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 30,000 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team counts over 2,000 employees.

The post Build or Buy? SOFTSWISS Solves Operators’ Biggest Dilemma appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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