日期: 2026年4月20日

(AsiaGameHub) -   The Scottish Greens have committed to implementing a new levy on gambling establishments as part of their 2026 manifesto, with the goal of funding services for addiction prevention, recovery, and support. Under these plans, land-based businesses such as bookmakers and casinos would be subject to an additional surcharge on non-domestic rates. The resulting income would be allocated to public health programs designed to mitigate gambling-related issues. The party stated that this policy is intended to ensure that companies take responsibility for the societal expenses linked to their operations, particularly regarding the effects of problem gambling on local communities. “A significant number of gambling firms generate profit by taking advantage of addiction and vulnerability, while the public sector, families, and communities are left to manage the fallout,” remarked Gillian Mackay, Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens. “What is frequently presented as harmless entertainment can escalate into a much more grave situation. “For many individuals, gambling leads to addictive behaviors that result in debt, intense stress, mental health challenges, and lasting damage to family life. This harm is not confined to the individual; it impacts their relatives, their homes, and their wider neighborhoods. “Our strategy focuses on shifting accountability back to where it belongs. Quite simply, if a firm is profiting from harm and addiction, it should not be permitted to avoid the associated social costs. If a business makes money from activities that cause this level of damage, it must contribute to the cost of the response. This is a matter of fundamental fairness. “With public services already under significant strain, it is not right for the NHS, local areas, and families to carry the burden while gambling firms continue to see profits.” While the Scottish Greens are a smaller political force compared to the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Labour opposition, they still maintain a level of influence. Two Green MPs served in ministerial roles from August 2021 to April 2024 through a coalition with the SNP. The party also strongly backed a bill from an SNP MSP to outlaw greyhound racing, which has since been enacted. The prospect of the party shaping policy is plausible, as recent data suggests the Scottish Greens could potentially win up to 17 seats, becoming the second-largest party in the country. In addition to advocating for higher gambling taxes, the Scottish Greens are also pushing for a total ban on betting sponsorships within the sports industry. This move might find support among certain groups of Scottish football fans—who have frequently voiced their opposition to gambling ads—though it could also represent a financial challenge for clubs. Mackay further stated: “Gambling addiction takes lives and should be addressed with the same urgency as drug addiction. This requires a comprehensive public health strategy centered on recovery and prevention rather than overlooking the extent of the damage. “This is why we are also dedicated to prohibiting gambling sponsorships in sports. When someone is trying to overcome an addiction, they shouldn't be constantly triggered by it during sporting events. Furthermore, those under 18 should not be exposed to a gateway for problem gambling. “On 7 May, a vote for the Scottish Greens is a vote to ensure that businesses profiting from harm are finally held accountable, benefiting all of Scotland rather than just wealthy gambling corporations.” Which sports organizations would feel the impact? Several of Scotland’s most prominent sporting institutions have partnerships with gambling firms. For instance, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) is currently sponsored by William Hill, which is owned by evoke. The nation’s two most successful football clubs—Celtic and Rangers—both feature gambling companies as primary shirt sponsors, with the former partnered with Dafabet and the latter with Unibet. Another significant gambling-related sponsorship in the region is Coral’s association with the Scottish Grand National. Scottish Greens align with similar European initiatives The proposals from the Scottish Greens reflect similar measures taken across Europe, where sports gambling sponsorships have been restricted or banned entirely. A notable example is the Netherlands, which implemented a ban on gambling advertisements and sponsorships for sports competitions and clubs in July of last year. The focus on responsible gambling in the UK is more critical than ever as figures for gambling-related harm continue to rise. The introduction of a new statutory levy has also caused debate, as the government is now tasked with allocating funds for prevention charities, replacing the now-defunct GambleAware. The Scottish Greens' initiative to use gambling revenue for harm prevention charities is likely to be supported by both the public and charitable organizations. Nevertheless, if the Scottish Greens succeed in the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election next month, many sports organizations may find themselves searching for ways to fill a significant financial gap caused by new taxes and the loss of gambling sponsors. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   Campeón Gaming has outlined a bold strategy for its upcoming growth phase. Newly appointed Director of Operational Strategy, Sotiris Pappas, seeks to implement a more defined structure, improved data utilization, and a cohesive strategy throughout the organization. Since joining the firm two months ago, Pappas has rapidly familiarized himself with its operations. His responsibilities cover Customer Support, KYC, Sportsbook and Casino Commercial operations, along with Campeón’s multilingual copywriting units—essentially, all the dynamic components that must function seamlessly together. Friction, he argues, hinders scalability. “Fragmentation poses the greatest hurdle in rapidly expanding sectors,” Pappas stated to iGaming Expert. “We aim to provide clarity and coherence, guaranteeing that the entire operation functions as a unified ecosystem instead of disjointed segments.” The goal is straightforward: transition from reactive workflows to a proactive, data-driven engine that actively fuels partner growth rather than merely offering support. Customer-first – backed by results Sotiris Pappas, Director of Operational Strategy at Campeón Gaming While Campeón’s customer-centric ethos is established, Pappas is intent on redefining its practical application. “We fail to deliver value if our partners' players aren't engaged and retained,” he stated. “Prioritizing the customer isn't just a slogan; it is a quantifiable result.” This entails intensifying personalization efforts by customizing products, content, and engagement tactics for distinct demographics, all while optimizing performance via real-time analytics and feedback mechanisms. Heading into 2026, the firm’s B2B sector is set to be a primary area of concentration, expanding upon its comprehensive platform solutions and fully managed services. Connecting the dots throughout the player journey Delivering a fluid player experience continues to be one of the most critical and difficult hurdles in iGaming. For Campeón Gaming, the key to success involves linking every interaction point, ranging from commercial deals to daily player engagements. “A seamless experience isn't created at a single touchpoint,” Pappas observed. “It is constructed across the full journey, beginning with a profound understanding of the end user.” From product configuration and CRM implementation to support and content, every tier must be synchronized and moving cohesively. He added that consistency fosters trust, and once lost, it is hard to regain. Simply put: if the experience appears fragmented, the player is likely already leaving. Support moves into the spotlight Customer support is being elevated from a back-office task to a frontline driver for growth. Campeón Gaming is moving toward proactive, insight-driven engagement, utilizing data to predict issues before they worsen. The objective is not merely to resolve issues quicker, but to stop them entirely. “Support is no longer solely about managing tickets,” Pappas remarked. “It involves providing superior, more customized interactions that contribute value.” This involves closer collaboration with CRM and product units, as well as greater investment in local knowledge. Artificial intelligence is also being incorporated, as the company investigates methods to boost speed and precision while maintaining the human element. Localisation: beyond simple translation With competition heating up in global markets, localisation has emerged as a critical arena where superficial efforts are no longer sufficient. “Players anticipate more than just translated text,” Pappas clarified. “They expect experiences tailored to their habits and preferences. If it doesn't feel native, it won't succeed.” Campeón Gaming integrates localisation into its products, payment systems, communication styles, and tone of voice, backed by cross-functional teams and native-language experts. The goal is to make every interaction feel pertinent rather than duplicated. Meeting escalating expectations The iGaming industry has transformed swiftly over the last ten years, bringing a shift in operator expectations. In contrast to 2015, Pappas observed that current partners require quicker implementation, higher transparency, and evident performance results, alongside more adaptable and customized solutions. “The standard gets higher annually,” he stated. “Operators seek technology that operates with speed and accuracy, but also solutions that directly enhance performance.” To satisfy these requirements, Campeón Gaming is pouring resources into data architecture, scalable technologies, and more collaborative models, establishing itself as a partner that propels growth instead of just backing operations. Scaling with purpose Looking forward, Campeón’s strategy for the next 12 to 24 months focuses on enhancing agility, scalability, and partner-centricity. This entails sustained investment in personnel and internal frameworks, complemented by technology engineered to provide personalization and localisation on a large scale. Efficiency is also a priority, as the company aims to accelerate operations without compromising quality. The overarching goal is to position Campeón Gaming as one of Europe’s most rapidly expanding and technologically sophisticated B2B suppliers. “Our vision is distinct,” Pappas concluded. “We are constructing an organization that is unified, data-centric, and dedicated to achieving tangible outcomes. With everyone moving in unison, we generate genuine momentum.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

(AsiaGameHub) -   Google has removed hundreds of millions of gambling-related advertisements for violating its policies, with the tech company noting that its safety teams are operating around the clock. Despite these efforts, Google, along with other major technology firms, continues to face regulatory scrutiny regarding the promotion of illegal gambling across various international markets. The Alphabet subsidiary has been utilizing its Gemini AI technology to identify "bad ads"—promotions on the Google Ads network that fail to meet its standards. In 2025, the company blocked or took down 8.3 billion advertisements, a figure roughly equivalent to one banned ad for every person on Earth, based on April 2026 Worldometer projections. Gambling and gaming represented the eighth-largest category of prohibited advertisements, with more than 270.7 million ads removed in 2025. Additionally, the sector accounted for 123.9 million restricted ads, making it the third-largest category in that segment. “Our teams have long used advanced AI to identify and stop scammers, and Gemini takes that work even further,” stated Keerat Sharma, Google’s Vice President and General Manager of Ads Privacy and Safety. “Our models analyse hundreds of billions of signals — including account age, behavioural cues and campaign patterns — to stop threats before they reach people. “Unlike earlier keyword-based systems, our latest models better understand intent, helping us spot malicious content and preemptively block it, even when it’s designed to evade detection.” Whose ads have been removed?… Gambling advertising has increasingly become a focal point for Google over the past year, driven by rising public and political pressure regarding the visibility of betting content—both legal and illegal—across multiple regions. In response to concerns raised in countries including the UK, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Australia, Google has taken action. In January, Google Ireland announced that its advertising policies would be tightened starting in March 2026. The Google Ads team in Ireland informed stakeholders that accounts experiencing repeated policy violations or certification revocations could face permanent loss of certification or the rejection of future applications. Google’s 2025 report also highlighted significant enforcement against publishers, noting 9.7 million policy violations by gambling and gaming publishers, ranking the sector fifth in terms of page volume. However, the report does not clarify whether the gambling platforms being promoted were licensed or unlicensed within their respective target markets. This distinction is critical for gambling regulators demanding accountability from tech companies. The prevalence of unlicensed advertising on social media has been a frequent subject of debate in the UK, particularly regarding regulation and taxation. Meanwhile, in Brazil, the nascent "Bets" market continues to contend with a long-standing black market that existed for decades prior to the formal legalization of the sector on January 1, 2025. On Saturday, April 18, the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP) issued letters to Google Brazil and Apple, demanding clarification regarding the presence of illegal betting applications on the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. According to the MJSP, these applications were not licensed by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), the betting regulator under Brazil’s Ministry of Finance. The apps were identified through monitoring conducted by the General Coordination of Rating Classification of the National Secretariat of Digital Rights (SEDIGI). The MJSP has requested that Google and Apple provide comprehensive details regarding their internal policies, screening processes, and an updated inventory of all lottery, betting, and casino applications available on their platforms. Pressure remains high on Big Tech firms like Google and Apple, as well as social media platforms like Meta and X, to curb the spread of online gambling. Regulators in markets such as the UK and Brazil have also highlighted the use of influencers to promote illegal gambling products. Nevertheless, Google maintains confidence in its ability to police its advertising platform. Emphasizing the effectiveness of the Gemini AI system, Sharma noted that the technology has “dramatically improved our ability to detect and stop bad ads”. “Our systems caught over 99% of policy-violating ads before they ever served, and we’re continuing to evolve our defenses to stay ahead of even the most advanced schemes,” Sharma asserted. This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.