UK

MERKUR UK has formed an academic partnership with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) to advance the development of its gaming machines and related technologies. The British arcade operator, part of the German gambling conglomerate Gauselmann Group, MERKUR UK, has partnered with UCLan’s technology department to launch a research project titled ‘The Next Generation of Gaming Technology’. As announced, MERKUR …

Bacta, a retail gaming trade association, has begun discussions with the new 335 MPs placed in power following the General Election. The organisation is working to map out constituency MPs for its member venues via a ‘deep-dive into the UK’s political terrain’. By doing so, Bacta hopes to strengthen the amusements industry’s relations with MPs and relevant parliamentary Committees. The …

Digitain has launched its Centrivo CRM platform to bolster the marketing and customer engagement for its global client portfolio. The igaming solutions firm stated that the Centrivo CRM platform will allow operators to “seamlessly unify all player-related touchpoints in one hub, personalise player engagement, manage player preferences, gather transactional activity, behavioural data, and more for player lifecycle segmentation, communication and marketing …

There’s renewed optimism for stability within the UK gambling sector, as the appointment of Stephanie Peacock to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as a step on the path to certainty for the sector moving forward. It also increases the inevitability that she will become the new gambling minister, as the department awaits its brief for the next steps forward for …

William Hill has revealed that bookmakers such as itself could face losses of tens of millions if England wins the Euros. The company explained England were “heavily backed” on its platform as pre-tournament favourites at odds of 4/1, with it concurrently offering a Top Price Guarantee throughout the event. William Hill spokesperson, Lee Phelps, commented: “As we have been Top …

A mobile game advertisement by Electronic Arts has been flagged down by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for the lack of clear loot box messaging.  The game in question, Golf Clash, was promoted on various social media channels back in March. Despite featuring a piece of text saying “Includes optional in-game purchases (includes random items)”, the ad was reported by …

Genius Sports has notified investors that private equity fund Apax Partners LLP has fully monetised its equity interest in the NYSE sports data, media rights, and technology supplier. The announcement sees Apax conclude its six-year tenure as Genius Sports’ biggest investor/shareholder, in which the fund supported the “company through a period of transformational growth over the last six years.” The …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has clarified data and insights related to the format of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB). Sanctioned in 2020, the Commission undertook two years of pilot tests and fieldwork on methodologies to develop a new format for its survey collecting data on gambling prevalence in Great Britain. The survey is carried out independently by …

GamCare has confirmed the appointment of Tim Hodgetts as Director of Clinical Operations of the UK’s leading charity providing treatment support services for problem gambling. Hodgetts brings 22 years of experience to the role, having served in multiple leadership roles within the NHS, in which he specialised in the design, management, and efficiency of healthcare networks. Most recently, Hodgetts served …

GambleAware has appointed Professor Sian Griffiths (CBE) as the new Chair of Trustees for its gambling harms prevention programmes in the UK. Griffiths takes over from Baroness Kate Lampard (CBE), who is leading a government inquiry into the death of mental health inpatients in Essex. Griffiths has been Deputy Chair of Trustees at GambleAware and Chair of the charity’s Performance …