Latest News
Kindred Group extend six-year Middlesbrough FC partnership and cements long-term community commitment to supporters
The Kindred Group will remain as Middlesbrough Principal front-of-shirt partner for another two years in a move that will significantly strengthen the club’s outreach work in the local community.
Kindred have partnered with Middlesbrough since 2018 – meaning the partnership will be nearly a decade old by the end of the latest deal, making it one of the most successful and long-running in British football.
Significantly, the partnership will continue to fund Middlesbrough FC Foundation’s (MFCF) delivery of Team Talk – a men’s mental health initiative. The Team Talk platform uses the local club and its players, manager and staff as a mechanism to engage with men about their mental well-being.
The logo of gambling operator Unibet adorns first team shirts in what is another record-breaking partnership for the club. “Zero% Mission”, which is Kindred’s Responsible Gambling message, appears on this season’s shirts.
Kindred have also pledged to donate a percentage of their hospitality and merchandising rights to supporters via competitions and giveaways.
Further, Kindred will donate front-of-shirt sponsorship space to MFC through the season – allowing for the promotion of the club’s charitable initiatives.
MFC Foundation works to raise aspirations and improve the life chances of young people and adults across Teesside. Its work is supported and funded, in part, by the club’s commercial partners, including Kindred Group.
Kindred has always played a central role in the club’s ‘Foundation Weekend’. This forms part of an initiative to highlight the Foundation’s life-changing work for participants of all ages in the local community, as well as how people in the area can access its projects and services.
Sam Mead, UK General Manager, Kindred Group, said: “Kindred’s relationship with Middlesbrough is one of football’s longest running and impactful, so far as community outreach is concerned. That is why we were committed to extending the partnership for another two years.
“We recognise that we are in the privileged position to positively influence clubs and their communities – a responsibility we take seriously. That’s why the basis of this latest partnership will be to help showcase the MFC Foundation’s wide-ranging work, including the men’s mental health initiative Team Talk.”
Liam McGuinness, Head of Commercial, Middlesbrough FC, said: “Everyone at the club is absolutely delighted to extend our partnership with the Kindred Group for another two years. Most importantly, we’d like to thank them for continuing their vital support of the club’s Foundation – especially through the Team Talk mental health initiative.
“The health and wellbeing of our local community is very important to ourselves and Kindred. We are all looking forward to the opportunity to continue driving forward new initiatives that will benefit both our supporters and the people of Teesside”.
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Asia
Xailient and Konami to Debut Privacy-Safe Biometric Innovation for Table Games at G2E Asia 2025

Xailient Inc., the world leader in privacy-safe computer vision AI, announced the debut of a groundbreaking biometric innovation in partnership with global gaming leader Konami Gaming Inc. At G2E Asia 2025, Konami will unveil SYNK Vision Tables, a new addition to its award-winning SYNKROS casino management system, powered by Xailient’s privacy-preserving facial recognition AI technology.
Attendees of G2E Asia 2025 will be among the first to experience SYNK Vision Tables in action, as Konami showcases the new technology at Booth #B1303 at The Venetian Expo in Macau. The solution delivers seamless player recognition, real-time rating and instant rewards—marking a transformational step in the convergence of biometric technology and gaming operations.
This latest innovation extends the success of SYNK Vision Slots to the live table games environment, providing casinos with a unified biometric ecosystem that automatically recognizes players as they sit down—without the need for loyalty cards. For players, the experience is frictionless, secure, and personalized. For operators, it offers powerful real-time insights, reduced fraud risk, and improved player engagement.
“SYNK Vision Tables represents a major leap forward in biometric player tracking. By combining Xailient’s real-time, privacy-safe AI face recognition with Konami’s SYNKROS system, we’re delivering next-generation capabilities that enhance the player experience while upholding the highest standards of privacy and data protection,”said Lars Oleson, CEO of Xailient.
Mallika Patel, VP of Product at Xailient, said: “Face Recognition AI provides triple benefit from a single technology. Responsible gaming, anti-money laundering, and patron loyalty programs all benefit from robust and reliable replacement to carded play.”
“Together with Xailient, we’re enabling operators to unify their slots and tables under a single intelligent ecosystem. With SYNK Vision Tables, operators can improve the accuracy and efficiency of their loyalty programs while providing players with a streamlined, personalized, and cardless experience,” said Joe Mayer, Systems Sales & Operations Manager at Konami Australia Pty Ltd.
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Latest News
Bank of Ireland Introduces Voluntary Gambling Blocks

Bank of Ireland has introduced voluntary blocks on debit cards for customers who want to stop transacting with gambling operators. An analysis of the Bank’s Q1 card spending data revealed that 90% of gambling transactions took place online, with 99% funded via debit cards.
While total Q1 card spending on gambling fell slightly (-2%) year on year, there was a large increase (+19%) amongst 18 to 25 year olds, with a decline of 8% amongst over-65s. 71% of bets placed in Q1 2025 were placed by men, with betting activity rising the most in counties Wicklow (+37%), Kilkenny (+24%), Limerick (+20%) and Laois (+17%) as popular sporting events such as the Cheltenham Festival and the Six Nations took place.
The new card-blocking feature, which also blocks access to online casinos, slot machines and lottery websites can be put in place following a customer request. It stops any payments identified as being made to a gambling operator, improving the financial wellbeing of customers, with problem gambling impacting relationships, finances and mental health.
The block can be requested for both personal and business debit cards and will be extended to include credit cards in the coming months.
Áine McCleary, Chief Customer Officer of Bank of Ireland, said: “Problem gambling can have a devastating effect not just on the person involved, but also on families, friends and loved ones. For those with a gambling addiction it can often seem like help is out of reach. This initiative we are launching is designed to help customers take positive steps to improve control over their finances. It also furthers Bank of Ireland’s ambition to improve the financial wellbeing of our customers and communities, especially those going through difficult times.”
Oisín McConville of GamblingCare.ie said: “Measures such as this are very welcome, as we can see from the latest gambling spend insights that betting amongst younger people is on the rise. In order to combat the scourge of problem gambling, a wide range of supports are essential to prevent the issue becoming overwhelming for those impacted. The introduction by Bank of Ireland of gambling blocks is another step in the right direction and will further safeguard their customers.”
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Greece
Playzia Strengthens Presence in Regulated Markets Through Strategic Partnership with Novibet

Playzia, a rapidly growing force in the iGaming industry, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Novibet, a leading international operator. This collaboration significantly extends Playzia’s footprint in the regulated Greek market and other key regions where Novibet operates.
The expansion marks another milestone in Playzia’s commitment to regulated markets, as it continues to broaden its reach while reinforcing its position as an innovator in the iGaming sector.
As part of this agreement, Novibet players will now have access to Playzia’s extensive and engaging catalog of in-house developed games. The lineup includes fan-favorites such as Billionaire Rhino and Cosmos Cash, as well as recent top-performing releases Medusa Mystic Reels Megaways™, Zeus’s Thunderstrike, and T-Rex Treasure Hunt Megaways™. With focus on innovation, Playzia continues to introduce groundbreaking game mechanics such as Hold and Win & Hold and Win Jackpot, Retrigger & Stacked Wilds in Free Spins, Bonus Hold and Win, Persistent Collection & 50 Symbols, and its highly anticipated Love Island content.
Vlad Modorcea, CPO at Playzia, shared his thoughts on the partnership: “Teaming up with Novibet is a significant milestone for Playzia as we continue to grow our presence in regulated markets. Novibet has a stellar reputation for delivering top-tier gaming experiences, making them an ideal partner for us. We are eager to see players engaging with our games and experiencing the unique entertainment Playzia brings to the table.”
Foteini Matthaiou, Casino Product & CRM Director at Novibet commented: “At Novibet, we are committed to elevating the player experience through strategic alliances. Welcoming Playzia’s dynamic game portfolio is a natural next step in delivering innovative, high-quality content that resonates with our players in Greece and beyond.”
This latest agreement further strengthens Playzia’s standing as a premier game supplier, offering a diverse mix of game formats, including crash, table, instant, and probability-based games. With an exciting roadmap ahead, players can look forward to innovative features, engaging gameplay, and thrilling jackpot opportunities.
The announcement follows Playzia’s recent nomination in two key categories at the prestigious EGR B2B Awards 2025: Slot Supplier (Under 5 Years) and Software Rising Star, further underscoring the company’s momentum and industry recognition.
Playzia is also making waves in the branded content space. The company has secured an exclusive content partnership with ITV, the UK’s leading commercial broadcaster, to develop online games inspired by the global phenomenon Love Island. This upcoming series will blend the excitement of reality TV with Playzia’s signature gaming innovations.
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