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We must be guided by the education sector to deliver effective prevention programmes to young people

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YGAM Chief Executive Lee Willows reflects on some of the key topics to emerge from three reports published last week and highlights the valuable contribution the charity is making.

Last week was a significant week for everyone connected the gambling industry. Reading the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling (ABSG) annual progress report; The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report and the Lords Select Committee report, it was pleasing to read these reports all featured insight from people with direct experience of the tragic harm that gambling can cause some individuals, such as the YGAM Founders. As Chief Executive of the YGAM charity and personally as someone who lost everything to a gambling addiction, I was grateful for the opportunity to contribute my insight and experiences. Such inclusion would have been unheard of five-years ago. Having three incredibly helpful reports published in quick succession over a period of five days is in many ways helpful and timely as YGAM continues to evolve our strategy. I congratulate everyone involved in producing three fascinating reports that will inform the debate moving forward.

At YGAM, we strongly believe that prevention, including education is an essential component to reduce gambling-related harms. We engage with the education sector daily and we are constantly listening to the needs of teachers, practitioners and young people. It is very clear from these conversations that teachers and practitioners need and appreciate our resources more than ever. The feedback we get from teachers, practitioners and young people and the insight from external evaluations is overwhelmingly positive and there is an enormous demand for information on gambling and gaming. Whilst it was pleasing to see education feature in all three reports, the voices of the professionals working in that sector should also be taken into consideration. We must continue to be guided by professionals working in the education sector to deliver effective prevention programmes to young people.

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The focus on the blurred lines between gaming and gambling is welcomed. The YGAM workshops help build digital resilience and educate people on the different types of games accessible to children. We agree with the DCMS Select Committee and the Children’s Commissioner that loot boxes that contain the element of chance should not be sold to children under 18. The concern about allowing children to access loot boxes is that it is conditioning them to gambling behaviour from an early age. Building on our discussions with DCMS we look forward to contributing to the government’s call to action on loot boxes which will hopefully lead to consideration of an appropriate regulatory intervention.

The debate around gambling advertising and the impact it has on younger generations is imperative. You do not have to work in this sector to notice that gambling adverts dominate the promotional spaces at most sporting events. The YGAM resources tackle this topic head on as we continue to raise awareness of the potential harms and the support available. We believe concerns about marketing and sponsorship should be addressed by evidence-based analysis that puts the safety of young people first and we look forward to contributing to this debate.

When the Gambling Commission launched the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling-Related Harms, there was real hope for change and there has been some positive change; yes more can be done and some actions need to move in a more expedient manner, but change does take time. I also worry that in the desire to affect structural change, or radically change strategic direction part way through a national strategy may result in valuable insight being lost. I do see many people and organisations coming together to deliver the strategy which is superb and that is where we will continue to have a relentless focus.

Certainly in my time in YGAM I have seen Safer Gambling teams within operators increase from one employee, who led Safer Gambling work on a part-time bases, to now large Safer Gambling teams with twenty plus employees working full-time in this area of work. In that time, I have also seen and been fortunate to work alongside others who have been affected by gambling-harms set up their own organisations and I have witnessed the rise of passionate campaigners who demand change, often following tragic circumstances. At the heart of all this work is a shared commitment to reduce-harms and it would be so oxygenating if more time can be spent finding common goals and delivering the national strategy.

As a prevention charity we will continue to focus on the delivery of education, building and sharing insight and demonstrating impact. This is a crucial period for the future of this sector and everyone at YGAM looks forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholder groups to ensure all young and vulnerable people are safe from gaming and gambling related harms.

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Finally, YGAM has published its strategic plan 2019 – 2021 and within our annual review filed with the Charity Commission and Companies House we share progress against our strategic goals and insight. However next week, we will have a dedicated page on our website which will also show this progress, insight, and our impact in a succinct manner. I am incredibly proud of the YGAM team and many colleagues from all parts of the sector (inc charities, trade bodies, operators, regulators, ABSG, DCMS, teachers, young people, EbEs); working hard to make a difference in this space.

Lee Willows
Chief Executive, YGAM

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Love is… RocketPlay Edition: 500+ moments of joy in gaming!

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This Valentine’s Day, RocketPlay Casino brought love and gaming together with a unique and engaging campaign: Love is… RocketPlay Edition. Realizing how online gaming can strengthen romantic connections, RocketPlay encouraged players to creatively showcase their vision of love in gaming.

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to reflect that online casinos can positively influence romantic relationships. Recent research conducted by EE has confirmed that online gaming can actually help strengthen romantic connections, as more couples are exploring new ways to share positive experiences together. RocketPlay Casino has decided to take it a step further and ask players to show their vision of love in gaming.

To celebrate Valentine’s Day 2025, RocketPlay launched a special campaign, Love is…RocketPlay Edition. The activity encouraged players to show their creative vision of love in gaming by recreating one of the famous “Love is” scenarios with their own personal casino twist, capturing the moment in a photo or short video.

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The campaign ran from February 6th to 12th, 2025, and, despite the short timeframe, RocketPlay received an impressive 500+ creative entries. This overwhelming response highlighted the excitement and enthusiasm of RocketPlay’s community. Participants have shared heartfelt and fun moments of gaming with their loved ones, making this Valentine’s Day truly special. On February 14th, the winners will be announced on RocketPlay’s social media.

43% of participants shared photos with their soulmates, showcasing the joy of hitting the jackpot together. This theme turned out to be the most popular.

“RocketPlay’s Love is… campaign was such a fun idea! We adore spinning together, and our emotions are completely different: during jackpot moments, he stays extra calm, while I get super emotional! It was such a great way to share our unique gaming moments”, mentioned Anna K., participant.

This Valentine’s Day was filled with positivity and excitement, and the team looks forward to continuing to create more engaging, fun-filled moments with the RocketPlay community. After all, love and gaming go hand in hand!

RocketPlay is a trusted online casino offering over 3 000 slots from top providers like BGaming, Endorphina, and Yggdrasil. With high ratings on platforms such as CasinoGuru (9.8/10), AskGamblers (9.06/10), and Trustpilot (4.4/5), it has earned recognition for its quality and reliability. The casino holds trust certificates from Chipy.com, Casino.guru, and AskGamblers, reflecting its commitment to secure and enjoyable gaming. RocketPlay also offers a variety of bonuses, tournaments, and promotions to keep players engaged.

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For upcoming events, visit RocketPlay website or follow us on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook.

The post Love is… RocketPlay Edition: 500+ moments of joy in gaming! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Ygam Statement: Response to the Appointment of OHID as Prevention Commissioner

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Ygam has issued the following statement in response to the appointment of OHID as prevention commissioner.

“Ygam welcomes the announcement that the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will assume the pivotal role of Prevention Commissioner within the new levy system for addressing gambling harms.

“We welcome the announcement that the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) will assume the pivotal role of Prevention Commissioner within the new statutory system for addressing gambling harms. This appointment brings much-needed clarity, and we stand ready and committed to working closely with the new commissioning team to build upon the successes of the existing system.

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“The increased allocation of funding for prevention represents a significant and necessary step forward. We fully support the Government’s commitment to safeguarding children and young people and while gambling harm prevention must be multifaceted, education must remain a central pillar of this strategy. We have consistently advocated for greater investment in universal education and early intervention, equipping young people with the knowledge and resilience to navigate the digital world. Long-term, sustainable funding for services that facilitate prevention education is essential to delivering a comprehensive public health response to this issue.

“An effective prevention strategy must also extend beyond the classroom, ensuring that safeguarding leads, parents, youth workers, and other trusted individuals have access to evidence-based training and resources to support and protect young people effectively.

“The third sector plays an indispensable role in delivering high-quality prevention work. The expertise within specialist charities must be embraced and fully integrated into the new commissioning framework. It is imperative that existing good practice and demonstrable impact are recognised and retained. Charities have been instrumental in driving progress, and sustained investment in their work will be crucial to achieving our collective goals.

“We look forward to collaborating with OHID, policymakers, and sector partners to shape this new era of prevention. Through cooperation, innovation, and accountability, we can establish a world-leading infrastructure that effectively reduces gambling harms and safeguards future generations.”

The post Ygam Statement: Response to the Appointment of OHID as Prevention Commissioner appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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1spin4win marks strong 2024 performance with 66% GGR growth

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1spin4win, a quickly evolving online slots provider, announced impressive growth across all key business metrics, fueling strong results with a 66% increase in GGR for 2024 compared to the previous year.

This success results from a combination of factors, from expanding its game portfolio to strengthening partnerships with over 500 casino operators worldwide, making 1spin4win a more recognized and reliable player in the iGaming space.

Olga Hlukhovskaya, Business Development Director at 1spin4win, commented, “Seeing this kind of progress is truly rewarding. Every step we’ve taken has contributed to this achievement, with our team’s hard work making it all possible. I’m proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to continuing our growth in 2025.”

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With over 130 titles now in its portfolio, the studio has grown its game offerings significantly. Seasonal and holiday-themed slots, including those for Christmas, Easter, and Halloween, have been a strong focus for a while, strengthening player interest. As a result, the bet count has increased by 42%, directly impacting GGR.

Another factor behind the GGR growth is 1spin4win’s commitment to network promotions. Recent Cash & Drops campaigns, such as the ‘New Year Prize Rush’ and ‘Oktoberfest Fortune,’ have boosted player engagement and deepened connections with partners. These easy-to-integrate promotions offer exciting prizes for players while enhancing brand loyalty for operators, further contributing to 1spin4win’s continued success.

The studio’s ability to stay flexible with its game portfolio while fostering strong relationships with casino operators is proving to be a successful strategy. With a solid 2024 behind it, the provider is ready to expand even further in 2025 and beyond.

Learn more about 1spin4win and explore its offerings at the official website.

The post 1spin4win marks strong 2024 performance with 66% GGR growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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