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GamCare highlights sharp rise in gambling-related issues this Christmas, new research reveals
People with gambling issues are more likely to be turning to the activity this festive period than last year, according to new research from the gambling support charity, GamCare.
In a recent survey from YouGov of over 4,000 UK adults, commissioned by the charity, three-fifths (59%) of those who experience problems due to their gambling** say they are more likely to gamble at Christmas than other times of the year – up from 37% last year.
Advisers on GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline are highlighting how the festive period can be a testing time for those struggling with their gambling, as well as family and friends affected.
Last December, the Helpline saw a 39% increase in calls and online chats compared to the same month in the previous year, making it the busiest Christmas period on record.
Additionally, the survey highlights:
- Over half (53%) of people gambling at harmful levels say they have spent money intended for presents, food, or other seasonal expenses on gambling.
- Nearly three in five people gambling at harmful levels (59%) are more likely to gamble during the festive season compared to just 6% of people who gamble without issues.
- For those gambling at harmful levels more than half (53%) reporting increased feelings of stress or anxiety due to gambling and 56% said that gambling made them feel more isolated.
- Two in three (65%) people gambling at harmful levels have concerns someone in their family or household might overspend on gambling during the festive period. This compares to one in 25 (4%) of those who are not.
Mark Weiss, Deputy Chief Executive, at GamCare said: “The festive period can be a difficult time for those struggling with gambling, but it can also provide a good opportunity to open up about the issues you’re facing. Our new research shows that there has been an increase in people who already have gambling issues saying they are more likely to gamble over the festive period than at other times of the year.
“GamCare’s National Gambling Helpline provides free confidential support 24/7, 365 days of the year – including Christmas Day and the whole of the festive season. There are many ways you can get support, whether it’s calling an Adviser or using our live chat and WhatsApp features in case you are concerned about privacy while family and friends are around.”
GamCare Helpline Advisers often hear about the financial strain caused by early December paydays. One Helpline Adviser said: “An extra temptation to gamble can stem from most people having an early December payday. This, alongside the added financial pressures associated with Christmas, the influence of alcohol, changes in routine, and high-profile sporting events, can conflate the struggles someone with gambling harms may already be going through.”
Another Helpline Adviser said: “There’s a lot of image consciousness around Christmas and people feel the pressure to go further than they can financially afford. Whether it’s presents, food, or family spending, all of these things can lead to debt.
“The anxieties and pressures of Christmas creates a drive to find additional funds. Therefore, some people may be thinking about using gambling to fund the financial pressures that Christmas brings.”
GamCare’s Helpline Advisers are available one-to-one over the phone or on live chat 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133. People can also get free one-to-one support sessions through the National Gambling Support Network, wherever they are in Great Britain.
The post GamCare highlights sharp rise in gambling-related issues this Christmas, new research reveals appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Online slots provider 1spin4win comes out with Classic Christmas Hold and Win, a 3×3 retro fruit experience reminiscent of land-based slot machines. The nostalgia-filled holiday-themed slot releases December 19.
Classic Christmas Hold and Win invites players to experience an authentic holiday feel bolstered by nostalgic retro fruit symbols, flaming sevens, and jolly golden bells. The game’s most helpful symbol is a gift-wrapped Wild box, which lies along with other symbols on the festive reels that light up like a Christmas tree when a win occurs.
The title gives out exciting double payouts when all 9 reel cells are filled with one and the same fruit symbol and has an x1,000 Mega Jackpot and x100 Minipot on offer in the player-popular Bonus round mode.
27 paylines ensure enough gameplay variety, while the x1,500 max win will be attractive to a vast player pool. The slot’s 97.10% RTP is a safe bet for casinos that guarantees players will enjoy the balance and return for more.
“A week earlier, we released Christmas Gems Hold and Win, a more modern-looking festive slot with contemporary gem symbols and well-polished HD visuals audiences are now accustomed to,” shares Olga Bogdanova, Art Director at 1spin4win. “This week, Classic Christmas Hold and Win debuts an old-fashioned slot with the goal of taking players on a journey back in time to the well-known security of device-free celebrations and land-based gambling. By switching up our art style and adding different lighting, we offer players a chance to cozy up and take a break from the fast-paced world we live in.”
Coming up with season-themed slots during holidays is a tradition that started at 1spin4win with Lucky Xmas 20 in early 2022. Later that year, Lucky Eve 100 and Lucky Christmas 243 delivered bundles of joy to players. In 2023, the online casino provider released Northern Gold Rush, Lucky Snowlight, and Fruity Christmas, focusing on Christmas themes throughout the month. This year is a little different: Cash’n Fruits Fortune 100 spruced up the December game list to give operators an opportunity to feature a new non-Christmas-themed game along with Christmas Gems Hold and Win and Classic Christmas Hold and Win.
The slot studio prioritizes releases tied to seasonal celebrations because they have proven to attract new players, re-engage existing ones, and increase player sessions overall, which is what every operator strives for.
Explore all holiday-themed slots from 1spin4win in their portfolio.
The post 1spin4win Unveils Classic Christmas Hold and Win to Honor Yearly Tradition appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GR8 Tech has successfully closed the year – a 25% year-on-year increase in turnover, dozens of new clients signed, and a significant boost in client revenue. Throughout the year, the company developed nearly 200 new features and improvements, continually enhancing the functionality of its platform. With over 12.4 billion bets placed in 2024 (a 125% increase year-on-year), GR8 Tech has proven its ability to scale and deliver consistent performance, even during the busiest events.
“Our primary focus in 2024 was to empower operators with tools for seamless platform customization and streamlined management. We introduced geo-specific solutions that enable faster market launches, adapting platforms to meet local demands—whether through bonus mechanics, payment methods, or tailored content for sportsbook and casino. At the same time, we strengthened our offerings with enhanced sportsbook features, new games in the casino vertical, and innovative gamification mechanics to drive player engagement,” said Denys Parkhomenko, Chief Product Officer at GR8 Tech.
GR8 Tech demonstrated its robust scalability by handling 21.5 million bets during the IPL 2024 alone. With the capacity to process 20,000 bets and 54,000 wallet transactions per second, the platform consistently performs even during high-traffic periods.
In 2024, GR8 Tech signed numerous long-term partnerships, bringing its total number of projects worldwide to 45+ and proving the growing demand for customizable iGaming solutions. The company also received industry-wide acclaim, securing multiple prestigious awards, such as Silver as the Best Platform Provider of the Year at SBC Awards, “Best Online Sportsbook Provider” at SiGMA Eurasia, “Best Workplace” at SiGMA Americas, and “Rising Star Provider of the Year” at the Affpapa iGaming Awards 2024.
Building on its achievements, GR8 Tech is set for another successful year, continuing to deliver industry-leading solutions for operators around the world.
“Improvement and excellence are about consistently staying ahead. A trend might emerge and then disappear tomorrow, but improving your product – making it better than the competition – has lasting value. Whether it’s through better personalization, risk management, recommendations, or any other aspect, improvement is essential. And in this industry, you don’t really have a choice. It’s so fast-paced that if something new and valuable appears, you need to adopt it immediately. The mindset of constant improvement is what keeps a product relevant and competitive,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech.
GR8 Tech heads into 2025 with a continued commitment to driving high-performance results, leading industry trends, and challenging the norm.
The post The Power of High Performance: GR8 Tech Achieves 25% Turnover Growth in 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Expanding into new markets and unveiling innovative products, SOFTSWISS, a leading tech company with over 15 years of iGaming expertise, looks back on the milestones of its anniversary year.
Tech Achievements
This year, SOFTSWISS enriched its portfolio with three new products: the Lotto Software, the Retail Betting Solution, and a Horse Racing module integrated into the Sportsbook. These new products give operators flexible and secure tools to expand their lottery and betting services.
With over 23,500 games from more than 280 providers, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator has become the largest game hub in the industry. Equipped with unique player engagement tools, it supports over 1,200 iGaming brands, setting a benchmark for innovation and scale.
Uniting Expertise and Efforts for Global Impact
By acquiring a majority stake in South Africa’s Turfsport, SOFTSWISS is combining the expertise of both companies to provide top-tier iGaming solutions in the African region. Securing a significant share in Germany’s Ously Games, the driving force behind the rapidly growing European social casino SpinArena.net, has opened a new niche for SOFTSWISS in the promising social entertainment market.
SOFTSWISS welcomed Formula 1 legend Rubens Barrichello as its Non-Executive Director for LatAm, bolstering the company’s presence in the Brazilian market. By merging expertise from two dynamic industries – iGaming and racing – SOFTSWISS delivers unparalleled insights to drive boundless business growth for its clients.
Amid the devastating floods in Brazil, SOFTSWISS launched the ‘Help Brazil’ campaign, rallying industry players to support those in need. The initiative gained widespread backing from the iGaming media and was honoured as the Socially Responsible Initiative of the Year at the SBC Latinoamérica Awards.
Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence
Marking its 15th year in the iGaming industry with significant achievements, SOFTSWISS honoured this milestone with the Grand Anniversary party. The event took place in Lisbon and united around 600 guests.
SOFTSWISS team also celebrated gaining 22 industry accolades in 2024. Software Supplier, Best Platform Provider, Aggregator of the Year, Crypto Company of the Year, Affiliate Software Supplier, Innovation in iGaming Technology, and Responsible Gaming Award – to name just a few in product categories.
Andrey Starovoitov, Co-CEO at SOFTSWISS, summarises: “New Year’s Eve is a time-honoured moment for reflecting, celebrating achievements, and learning from challenges. At this moment, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, clients, and our incredible team, whose dedication and hard work made this year truly remarkable.”
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in 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 23,500 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, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Biggest Game Portfolio and 3 New Products: SOFTSWISS 2024 Overview appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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