Press Releases

UKGC: Experts by Experience interim group created

Published

5 years ago

June 22, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The UK Gambling Commission has announced that it is working with an interim Experts by Experience Group who will provide advice, evidence and recommendations to the Commission to help inform decision making and raise standards, along with co-creating a permanent Experts by Experience Advisory Group to advise the regulator on a more established basis.

The creation of the interim forum follows a workshop in March, in which people with lived experience were asked to offer perspectives on key topics including High Value Customers, Advertising Technology and Safe Game design – three areas the regulator had challenged the industry to make progress on quickly. The Commission also publishes a report on these areas of work which includes Expert by Experience input on progress made so far.

The group also discussed ideas about how the Commission could better work with people with lived experience and the need for more effective engagement and collaboration to benefit consumers, working together to prevent harm and make gambling safer.

Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

Gambling Commission Chief Executive, Neil McArthur, said: “Our goal is to make gambling safer for consumers and the creation of the interim group is another important step in helping us bring a wider range of perspectives into our work.

“We will work with the interim group to co-create a formal Advisory Board, which will allow us to involve Experts by Experience more closely in the development of our regulatory framework.

“I am really grateful for the open and constructive way in which members of the interim group have shared their personal experiences of gambling related harm and for everyone’s commitment to work together to tackle these important issues. It is early days and we are learning along the way to ensure that feedback and advice is utilised in the most effective way. This week we looked at the subject of affordability and we’ll be focused on other areas of player protection online in the weeks ahead.’

A spokesperson for the Interim Group said: “The Interim Group comprises a group of people who have suffered a wide range of gambling harms, including recovering gambling addicts, family and partners of addicts, and those who have lost children to gambling suicides.

“The role that is too often allocated to Experts by Experience (EbEs) of telling our stories and commenting on narrowly defined questions is ineffective, so the establishment of the group is long overdue.

“We are determined that EbEs should play a continuing and much more active role in the deliberations and decision making across the whole remit of the Commission as part of the National Strategy to reduce gambling harms. We bring a new and vital perspective on key issues of regulation and even how the Commission itself works.

“We and they are learning how we can best work together, but we feel that there is a genuine commitment all round to make it work. Some of our comments were incorporated into the progress update on the industry-led working groups, but in future we may issue our own comments on issues that we have consulted with the Commission. We appreciate that the Commission recognises the value of our input, but we differ on certain key issues. Notably on how far and how fast improvements can be made. We look forward to working with the Commission.”

The interim group will be in place for at least the next six months, when the Commission plans to move to a permanent Advisory Group, which will add to other advice that the regulator receives through groups such as the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling and the Digital Advisory Panel.

This valuable input will add to the Commission’s other approaches currently used to include the views of consumers in their work. This includes information and feedback received from the consumer contact centre, online consumer research panels and engagement and consultations on regulatory changes.

Industry News

Americas Online Gambling Market To Soon Eclipse Europe’s, Finds Vixio Forecasts

Published

9 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Peter Tolan

americas-online-gambling-market-to-soon-eclipse-europe’s,-finds-vixio-forecasts

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Vixio forecasts that regulated online GGR in North and Latin America will grow at a compound annual rate of 3 percent from US$22.3bn in 2023 to US$56.3bn by 2028, drawing level with regulated European market.

Vixio, a leading provider of regulatory intelligence solutions, ahead of SBC Americas forecasts that the regulated online gambling market in the Americas to be worth US$32.5bn by 2026, compared to US$15.6bn in 2022, more than doubling in size in a period of four years. This growth rate is more than double the equivalent in Europe, with the European regulated online gambling market projected to be worth €37.3bn in 2026, up from just under €30bn in 2022.

By 2028, regulated online gambling markets in the U.S., Canada and Latin American countries are expected to generate US$56.3bn, drawing level with Europe or potentially surpassing it depending on currency fluctuations.

“Prior to 2018, the regulated online gambling market was highly euro-centric but legalization of sports betting and iGaming in various U.S. states as well as the major markets of Ontario and Brazil has coincided with stricter regulations in European countries that has restricted growth in a number of cases,” said James Kilsby, Chief Analyst, Vixio.

Vixio will be showcasing its data forecasting and regulatory intelligence solutions in more detail at the SBC Summit Americas 2026 at stand B175, with additional information in its Latin America Online Outlook report, available at vixio.com/research/latin-america-outlook-2025.

Vixio forecasts that regulated online GGR in North and Latin America will grow at a compound annual rate of 20.3 percent from US$22.3bn in 2023 to US$56.3bn by 2028, drawing level with regulated European market.

Providing further insight into one of the most closely watched online gambling markets globally, Kilsby, Vixio’s award-winning analyst, will be speaking during a panel session titled “Brazil 2025: A Surge in Licensing and Lessons So Far.” James was recently recognized as a Silver Stevie® Award Winner for Thought Leader of the Year in the 2025 American Business Awards®. The panel will take place on Wednesday, May 14, at 11 a.m. in conference room four.

In addition, Vixio has been shortlisted for Compliance Solution of the Year at the 2025 SBC Awards, which will be announced on the second day of the conference.

Visit us at stand B175 at SBC Summit Americas to learn more about how Vixio can help your business navigate the regulatory challenges of the gaming industry.

For more information, or to book a meeting with a Vixio representative at SBC Americas, visit vixio.com.

The post Americas Online Gambling Market To Soon Eclipse Europe’s, Finds Vixio Forecasts appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

poker

ACR POKER’S FANTASY POKER LEAGUE RETURNS FOR VEGAS’ HOTTEST SUMMER SERIES

Published

10 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Peter Tolan

acr-poker’s-fantasy-poker-league-returns-for-vegas’-hottest-summer-series

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Drafting opens from today through Monday, May 26th, giving players the chance to compete for cash rewards

ACR Poker is bringing back its fan-favorite Fantasy Poker League promotion this month, offering players the chance to cash-in on Vegas’ biggest summer series without playing a single hand.

Building on the success of 2024’s inaugural Vegas edition, where over 700 teams were created, the Fantasy Poker League: Vegas 2025 gives fans and players worldwide a unique opportunity to engage with the action by drafting their ultimate lineup of poker pros and competing for cash prizes, glory and bragging rights.

“Fantasy sports are wildly popular, and after last year’s epic Vegas edition, bringing the Fantasy Poker League back was a no-brainer,” said 2003 WSOP Main Event champion and ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “Whether you’re railing your favorite pros or competing with friends, it’s the best way to stay connected to all the hot poker action in Vegas this summer.”

The drafting period for the Fantasy Poker League kicks off today and runs until Monday, May 26th (12pm ET). From Tuesday, May 27th through Wednesday, July 16th, participants will earn points every time their drafted players cash in live poker events during Sin City’s hottest summer series.

Here’s how the 2025 Fantasy Poker League works:

Draft your fantasy squad(s) (between 4 to 8 players), staying within the $300 salary cap (May 12th–26th)
Choose between three fantasy league buy-in options: $20, $100, and $500 (May 12th–26th)
Check the leaderboard daily to see how your selected team(s) are performing against the competition (May 27th–July 16th)

In addition to the Public League, ACR Poker is enhancing this year’s Vegas edition with the introduction of Private Leagues. Players now have the ability to design their own custom league experience with friends and choose their own buy-ins, salary caps, and participation limits to create the perfect competition.

Moneymaker also noted that participants can easily register and assemble their dream poker team(s) by visiting the My Account page – Rewards tab in the ACR Poker client. Plus, they can enter as many teams as they like.

Alongside the Fantasy Poker League, players looking for more poker action this May can jump into ACR Poker’s largest Online Super Series XL, guaranteeing over $50 Million. Plus, the ‘Moneymaker May-Hem’ offers players a chance to join Chris Moneymaker in Las Vegas for the $10K Main Event when they play in any $109 Sunday Moneymaker Tournament this month.

To learn more about the Fantasy Poker League: Vegas, visit ACRPoker.eu.

The post ACR POKER’S FANTASY POKER LEAGUE RETURNS FOR VEGAS’ HOTTEST SUMMER SERIES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Press Releases

Rapid growth in sports traffic and 400+ participating teams – the Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 results.

Published

14 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Adrienn Sarkany

rapid-growth-in-sports-traffic-and-400+-participating-teams-–-the-golden-boomerang-awards-2025-results.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Golden Boomerang Awards 2025, a global affiliate traffic tournament hosted by Boomerang Partners, has officially concluded after three thrilling months of intense competition. From February 3 to May 11, the tournament brought hundreds of affiliate teams across two dynamic leaderboards: Sports betting and Casino.

Boomerang shared some impressive numbers and results from the tournament:

Over 400 affiliate teams from around the world participated (last year, 226)
The share of sports traffic to the Boomerang portfolio brands increased by 39% during the competition;
Sports traffic attracted to the active segment during the competition remained at 86%;
The top sports event during the contest period was the Champions League semi-final match between Barcelona and Inter;
During the same period, the top game on the casino leaderboard was the Sugar Rush 1000

In addition to awards in 11 categories (these will be awarded to the winners in May at a special ceremony), Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 participants competed for exclusive prizes in monthly drawings. There were a total of four such drawings:

Month 1 winner — RevPanda. They attended AC Milan vs Inter.
Month 2 winner — HighRoller Gaming. The prize was a trip to F1.
Month 3 winner — Boring Seo. The Boomerang Partners team will fulfil their wish.

Boomerang also held a special competition as part of GBA 2025. It was timed to coincide with the Champions League semi-finals. The winner was team FUMMA, which will receive the coveted ‘Home Stadium Fan’ VIP experience.

With the competition closed, the Top 30 affiliate teams are receiving official invitations to an exclusive award ceremony and networking event at the legendary San Siro Stadium in Milan. As the Official Regional Betting Partner of AC Milan, Boomerang Partners is proud to host the winners in true Italian style — with a show-stopping evening that combines recognition, entertainment, and football heritage. At the center of the celebration will be Andrea Pirlo, football icon and AC Milan legend, who will personally present the award nominations to the top-performing teams.

More details about the final event and winners will follow soon.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global brand offering a wide range of services. Boomerang is the Official Regional Betting Partner of AC Milan and collaborates with women’s football star and influencer Alisha Lehmann. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards 2024, the first annual global affiliate tournament. Boomerang Partners’ betting segment surged 5x, and gambling — 2x in 2024. Its affiliate program demonstrated a 120% increase in partners, and the number of sports betting offers surged more than 6 times. Six new products were launched by Boomerang in 2024, which contributed to an almost 1.5-fold increase in product users.

Boomerang’s portfolio contains 15+ gambling brands, including sportsbooks. They cover over 35 GEOs and offer a wide range of betting options with favorable odds. These products provide personalized bonuses and 24/7 multilingual support.

The post Rapid growth in sports traffic and 400+ participating teams – the Golden Boomerang Awards 2025 results. appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.