Gambling charity YGAM (Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust) has called for more education on gambling and for a mandatory levy on the industry.
Following charities GambleAware and GamCare, YGAM has published its submission to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) review of the Gambling Act 2005.
In its submission, YGAM highlighted the importance of education on gambling and the risks and harm associated with it. It also urged the UK Government to dedicate more resources to the education of gambling.
YGAM also stressed the need for engagement and communication between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education, and it said that gambling addiction should be viewed and treated like other public health issues, such as alcohol and drugs.
The charity also urged the UK Government to introduce a mandatory levy on licensed operators to increase the funding for the research, treatment, and education of gambling.
James Matthewson, YGAM’s Marketing and Communications Manager, said in a statement to FocusGN: “The Gambling Act review presents a much-needed opportunity for the regulation to catch up but also an opportunity to demonstrate the ongoing progress being made to educate and safeguard future generations.
“This review will scrutinise all aspects of regulation and, as an education charity, we do not claim to have the expertise to contribute to most of these intricate policy decisions.”
He added: “We believe keeping our young people safe should be the key focus of any outcomes from this review. Prevention is a better solution than treatment and we want [the] Government to recognise that education has a vital role to play.”
Earlier this week, fellow charity GambleAware published its submission for the Gambling Act review. In it, the charity criticised current legislation that allows operators to donate as much or as little as they want and called for a mandatory levy on the gambling industry.
GamCare, meanwhile, called for more investment into the research, education and treatment of problem gambling. It also suggested in its submission that more investment should be used to ensure that victims of problem gambling are given access to free and confidential services.
Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr. has been named as the Cultural Ambassador for gambling website PokerStars.net.
Neymar joined the PokerStars website last December as part of an “exciting new partnership”, and his newly announced position at Cultural Ambassador is a continuation of their joint partnership.
As Cultural Ambassador, Neymar will reportedly work with the website on a range of creative projects related to various forms of culture, such as art, design, and music too.
Neymar’s first project in the role has seen the popular footballer create a series of playlists for PokerStars customers, which the website says provides “the ultimate soundtrack for every poker game”.
According to CasinoBeats, a new advertisement featuring Neymar was released this week, and to celebrate the new role, PokerStars.net has launched a new promotion in which customers can win $1 million in cash prizes or other rewards, like signed merchandise or clothing, VIP experiences, and more.
Speaking about his new position as Cultural Ambassador, Neymar Jr. said: “Poker is so much more than just the game. It is a community and a culture and that is what I love about it.
“I am excited to start this next chapter with PokerStars, and we are already collaborating on a number of key areas. Music is a real passion of mine, so that was first on the list, but there is much more to come. I am excited for you to see what else we have in store.”
Martin Nieri, the Global Director of Brand and Creative at PokerStars, added: “Neyman Jr. is not just a globally recognised sports star, he is also a proven creative with a deep interest in the culture around him.
“This new role marks the start of something exciting for the PokerStars community, a merging of two worlds, where poker meets culture. In a first for the industry, together we’ll be creating moments to truly shake up poker and rewarding those who get involved in all that’s to come.”
Finally, game developer MGA Games has announced a content agreement with leading casino operator SkillOnNet.
Under the brand new agreement, MGA Games will provide SkillOnNet brands with a selection of its online casino games. The content will launch with well-known SkillOnNet brands like PlayOJO, Bacanaplay, and Spanish site PlayUZU.
The games will reportedly launch in countries such as Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, and other markets too, allowing MGA Games to maintain its position as a leading content provider in the Spanish market and launch in new markets too.
Joan Sanahuja, the CEO and Founder of MGA Games, said in a statement: “The agreement with SkillOnNet is one more step in the plan to expand into new markets that we have identified for 2021.
“In this plan, the location continues to be our different element. At MGA Games, we adhere to our Act Local, Think Global concept, with the view to becoming the main provider of localised digital content for global operators in the sector.”
Michael Golembo, the Sales and Marketing Director at SkillOnNet, added: “MGA Games productions stand out for their high quality and understanding of operators and players’ preferences in each market.
“Something that we value very much at SkillOnNet. We are sure our users will be delighted with the new content and that they’ll be enthusiastic about its characters, prizes, and ease of use.”
The news comes as SkillOnNet continues to build on its portfolio of games after striking a similar partnership with Push Gaming back in February this year.
