LONDON — Labour leader Keir Starmer officially became British prime minister on Friday hours after his Labour Party swept to power in a landslide victory after more than a decade in opposition.
Starmer was elevated to the nation’s leader after a private ceremony with King Charles III in Buckingham Palace.
In the merciless choreography of British politics, Starmer is taking charge in 10 Downing St. shortly after Conservative leader Rishi Sunak and his family left the official residence and King Charles III accepted his resignation at Buckingham Palace.
“This is a difficult day, but I leave this job honored to have been prime minister of the best country in the world,” Sunak said in his farewell address.
Sunak had conceded defeat earlier in the morning, saying the voters had delivered a “sobering verdict.”
In a reflective farewell speech in the same place where he had called for the snap election six weeks earlier, Sunak wished Starmer all the best but also acknowledged his missteps.
“I have heard your anger, your disappointment, and I take responsibility for this loss,” Sunak said. “To all the Conservative candidates and campaigners who worked tirelessly but without success, I’m sorry that we could not deliver what your efforts deserved.”
Labour’s triumph and challenges
With almost all the results in, Labour had won 410 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons and the Conservatives 118.
“A mandate like this comes with a great responsibility,” Starmer acknowledged in a speech to supporters, saying the fight to regain people’s trust after years of disillusionment “is the battle that defines our age.”
Speaking as dawn broke in London, he said Labour would offer “the sunlight of hope, pale at first but getting stronger through the day.”
For Starmer, it’s a massive triumph that will bring huge challenges, as he faces a weary electorate impatient for change against a gloomy backdrop of economic malaise, mounting distrust in institutions and a fraying social fabric.
“Nothing has gone well in the last 14 years,” said London voter James Erskine, who was optimistic for change in the hours before polls closed. “I just see this as the potential for a seismic shift, and that’s what I’m hoping for.”
And that’s what Starmer promised, saying “change begins now.”
Anand Menon, professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London, said British voters were about to see a marked change in political atmosphere from the tumultuous “politics as pantomime” of the last few years.
“I think we’re going to have to get used again to relatively stable government, with ministers staying in power for quite a long time, and with government being able to think beyond the very short term to medium-term objectives,” he said.
Britain has experienced a run of turbulent years – some of it of the Conservatives’ own making and some of it not – that has left many voters pessimistic about their country’s future. The U.K. divorce from the European Union followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine battered the economy, while lockdown-breaching parties held by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff caused widespread anger.
Rising poverty, crumbling infrastructure and overstretched National Health Service have led to gripes about “Broken Britain.”
Johnson’s successor, Liz Truss, rocked the economy further with a package of drastic tax cuts and lasted just 49 days in office. Truss, who lost her seat to Labour, was one of a slew of senior Tories kicked out in a stark electoral reckoning.
While the result appears to buck recent rightward electoral shifts in Europe, including in France and Italy, many of those same populist undercurrents flow in Britain. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage roiled the race with his party’s anti-immigrant “take our country back” sentiment and undercut support for the Conservatives and even grabbed some voters from Labour.
Conservative vote collapses as smaller parties surge
The result is a catastrophe for the Conservatives as voters punished them for 14 years of presiding over austerity, Brexit, a pandemic, political scandals and internecine conflict.
The historic defeat – the smallest number of seats in the party’s two-century history – leaves it depleted and in disarray and will spark an immediate contest to replace Sunak, who said he would step down as leader.
In a sign of the volatile public mood and anger at the system, the incoming Parliament will be more fractured and ideologically diverse than any for years. Smaller parties picked up millions of votes, including the centrist Liberal Democrats and Farage’s Reform UK. It won four seats, including one for Farage in the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea, securing a place in Parliament on his eighth attempt.
The Liberal Democrats won about 70 seats, on a slightly lower share of the vote than Reform because its votes were more efficiently distributed. In Britain’s first-past-the-post system, the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins.
The Green Party won four seats, up from just one before the election.
One of the biggest losers was the Scottish National Party, which held most of Scotland’s 57 seats before the election but looked set to lose all but handful, mostly to Labour.
Labour was cautious but reliable
Labour did not set pulses racing with its pledges to get the sluggish economy growing, invest in infrastructure and make Britain a “clean energy superpower.”
But the party’s cautious, safety-first campaign delivered the desired result. The party won the support of large chunks of the business community and endorsements from traditionally conservative newspapers, including the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun tabloid, which praised Starmer for “dragging his party back to the center ground of British politics.”
Conservative missteps
The Conservative campaign, meanwhile, was plagued by gaffes. The campaign got off to an inauspicious start when rain drenched Sunak as he made the announcement outside 10 Downing St. Then, Sunak went home early from commemorations in France marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Several Conservatives close to Sunak are being investigated over suspicions they used inside information to place bets on the date of the election before it was announced.
In Henley-on-Thames, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of London, voters like Patricia Mulcahy, who is retired, sensed the nation was looking for something different. The community, which has long voted Conservative, flipped to the Liberal Democrats this time.
“The younger generation are far more interested in change,” Mulcahy said ahead of the results. “But whoever gets in, they’ve got a heck of a job ahead of them. It’s not going to be easy.”
The NHS app could not only allow appointments to be made, but also let patients receive notifications about vaccine campaigns, health tests, cancer screening, and even upcoming clinical trials. “Clinical trials can use genomics to identify patients who will benefit from the latest treatments, but they struggle to recruit—not for a lack of people willing to take part, but because they can’t access basic data,” he said. He promised that Labour would clamp down on bureaucracy and allow clinical trials to recruit volunteers via the app. “During the pandemic, half a million people signed up to the vaccine trials registry,” he says. “If we can do it to defeat Covid, we can do it to cure cancer.”
At the core of Labour’s plan is patient data. Recently, the NHS has announced the launch of a federated data platform that would centralize hospital data, but would not include general practice or social care data. “The NHS has struck gold here, yet it’s leaving it in the ground,” Streeting says. “General practice data is key to unlocking better population health outcomes.”
Streeting promises that a Labour government would ensure a transparent process about what aspects of patient data would be shared and with whom, as well as the necessary safeguards to ensure patient confidentiality. As for those who oppose it on the grounds of privacy concerns, he has a simple message: “It’s a fight that a Labour government is willing to have,” he says. “While the tinfoil hat brigade takes to TikTok to urge followers to opt out of sharing their data with the NHS—the irony isn’t lost on me—the government refuses to take on their fear mongering.”
He recalled when, last January, he met the parents of a 2-year-old boy at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. “They have been through hell,” he says. “In his short life, he has already had five operations on his heart.” When he asked them what their main frustration had been, however, the answer surprised him: technology. “Their local GP couldn’t access the notes from Alder Hey and the hospital couldn’t read the records held by their GP. It meant that on every appointment they had to repeat themselves again and again. The health service should be lessening their worry, not adding to their stress.”
This article appears in the July/August 2024 issue ofWIRED UK magazine.
While many streamers have a global subscriber base, some have stuck to North America. Tubi, the Fox Corporation’s free ad-supported streaming service, is no longer in that second camp with the streamer announcing it will launch in the United Kingdom.
Tubi will arrive with over 20,000 TV episodes and movies on-demand, from the likes of Disney and Sony Pictures Entertainment, along with Tubi Originals. “We are launching with one of the largest and most diverse content libraries in the UK, designed to indulge viewers in everything from blockbusters to original stories to hidden gems,” Anjali Sud, CEO of Tubi, stated in the company’s announcement. “Most importantly, we’re committed to listening to what resonates with UK fans, and bringing them more and more of what they love.” Tubi will offer UK users Hollywood films, British classics, Bollywoods, Nollywoods and Arthouse Cinema — to name a few.
The streamer claims to have nearly 80 million monthly active users and clearly hopes to grow that number significantly with a UK audience. It will be available on iOS and Android smartphones, major connected TV platforms and the web.
Newcastle United, a professional soccer club in Newcastle, has extended its partnership with LeoVegas Group and its BetMGM betting brand. Originally formed last year, the deal will build on the successful relationship between the popular Premier League team and the leading betting operator.
Cementing BetMGM as Newcastle United’s official betting partner, the extended deal will deepen the two parties relationship and introduce new fan-oriented initiatives.
As before, the club will continue to promote its partner’s brand, allowing it to reach millions of soccer fans all over the world. As per the original deal, the gambling company’s brand will feature across St. James’ Park’s LED boards, screens and advertising spaces.
Additionally, BetMGM has secured the rights to create exclusive content featuring the Magpies and their beloved players. Such activations will allow BetMGM to tap into the club’s fanbase while engaging Newcastle United aficionados with memorable content and experiences.
BetMGM UK has firmly cemented itself as one of Britain’s leading wagering companies. In addition to other perks, the company offers some of the largest jackpots in the UK gambling sector, with one of the biggest ones currently totaling £15.4 million.
The Deal Will Drive Brand Awareness and Fan Engagement
Newcastle United’s chief commercial officer, Peter Silverstone, was excited about the opportunity to deepen the club’s relationship with BetMGM. In an official statement, he said that the two parties have already enjoyed an exceptional first year together and are looking forward to continuing the partnership.
Silverstone noted that the Magpies have helped BetMGM to “drive brand awareness and engagement in key markets,” while underpinning its ambition to provide exceptional iGaming experiences.
This new agreement is testament to how effective the club’s profile and support have been to BetMGM, and we are delighted to enhance our support of one another on the next step of our exciting journeys.
Peter Silverstone, CCO, Newcastle United
Sam Behar, UK director at BetMGM, was similarly pleased about the partnership, expressing his delight about the opportunity to build on this “fruitful collaboration.”
The club is incredibly ambitious, and their drive perfectly aligns with our Group’s core values. I can’t wait to get this season started and see Newcastle United continue on their journey.
Sam Behar, UK director, BetMGM
Speaking of BetMGM and the Euro 2024, a British bettor was inches away from hitting a $2.5 million prize with BetMGM UK. Unfortunately, Portugal failed to score the extra goal needed to make it a winning bet.
Sunak walks back into Number 10 Downing Street on Wednesday. Carl Court/Getty Images
Sunak’s speech was delayed by over 10 minutes. Speculation among those standing around on Downing Street was that he was waiting for the rain to clear.
A let-up in the weather was shortly followed by the prime minister’s emergence from his official residence. The heavens almost immediately opened again, drenching Sunak.
His back luck continued as protesters outside blasted the song “Things Can Only Get Better” by D-Ream, the anthem of Labour’s 1997 victorious election campaign. At this point it was virtually impossible to hear the PM.
If his tone was flat, his message was somewhat uninspiring. Big speeches on Downing Street are usually surround by a buzz of excitement. Such speeches are reserved for big moments in politics: resignations, major policy announcements, or indeed, calling elections.
This was a list of what Sunak sees as his biggest selling point: a safe pair of hands at a difficult time.
He spoke of his first major political intervention, when he implemented a furlough scheme to pay the wages of those who could not go to work during Covid lockdowns. He elaborated on how as the world becomes less secure, he is the stable hand that Britain needs.
It was a riff on a speech he made last week, in which he outlined the challenges Britain faces, from a belligerent Russia waging war on the continent to the threats posed by AI.
And he said that the opposition Labour Party doesn’t have a plan and cannot be trusted. It was all quite negative, but that might be all that Sunak and his party have left after 14 years in power.
He is trying to pitch himself as a change candidate with fresh ideas, which might be the case.
But the key question any voter will now ask ahead of this long-awaited election is: why should you be given another go?
Britain’s Betting and Gaming Council announced that its members are expected to contribute a record £105 million ($133.6 million) in levy payments to the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) for last year. This figure would mark an increase of £5 million and is notably the third consecutive year of year-on-year increase.
For context, the BGC’s levy contributions for 2021/22 and 2022/23 were £97 million and £100 million respectively. According to the HBLB, this year’s total of £105 million is “derived from the receipt of provisional end of year submissions from most levy-paying bookmakers.”
Thanks to this increase in funding in 2023/24, the HBLB announced an increase of £3.2 million to £70.5 million in its prize money contribution for 2024. For comparison, the board’s prize money contribution for 2023 stood at £67.3 million.
Michael Dugher, the BGC chief executive officer said that this record contribution is “extremely welcome news.” He said that the figure highlights the “enduring, mission-critical support” that the gambling industry provides to the betting sector.
The Horseracing Sector Has Been on a Decline
Despite being the second biggest spectator sport in the UK, horseracing has been in decline since 2007. Whereas 17% of the population enjoyed wagering on racing that year, only 10% did so in 2018. Racecourse attendance, on the other hand, has declined 14% since 2019.
The BGC, however, remains bullish on revitalizing the sector. Dugher said that there is still hope, despite the double-digit decline in horserace betting turnover over the past years. He expressed confidence that the increase in contributions will be a boon to horseracing. Dugher also pointed out that betting remains the lifeline of the racing sector.
Dugher added that the BGC members remain committed to the sector’s success. He praised horseracing’s contribution to rural economies and said that the BGC hopes that the sector will be able to reverse its decline.
Attention must now turn to how we challenge vested interests, introduce real change and reform the sport, ensuring we reverse the current decline and provide racing with a genuinely long-term sustainable future.
Michael Dugher, CEO & chair, BGC
The BGC Is Committed to Supporting the Racing Sector
In an effort to protect the sector, the BGC made serious efforts to reduce the negative impact of the government’s ongoing gambling reforms. To that end, the BGC recently introduced a new voluntary industry Code on Customer Checks in hopes of raising standards without infringing on customers’ privacy.
The code was developed in collaboration with the UKGC and was backed by the government. As announced earlier, the Code will operate as a voluntary interim scheme until the government is able to test and implement the controversial affordability checks outlined in the white paper.
It is not uncommon for UK MPs to accept consultancy roles with licensed gambling operators in the country. Similar to other income opportunities, as well as benefits such as gifts and hospitality from UK sources, such earnings are registered with the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. One such registered earning concerning the Tory MP Philip Davies undoubtedly raised eyebrows.
Davies accepted a consultant role with Merkur Gaming UK Limited, one of the leading slot machine operators in the country. This became evident thanks to information from the Register of Members’ Financial Interests which shows the earnings were registered on April 18, 2024.
Agreeing to “provide strategic advice,” the MP accepted £500 ($625) per hour remuneration from Merkur. Per the recently released data, Davies will work 2 hours per month for the gambling operator and collect £1,000 ($1,250) remuneration for his services.
Currently, Merkur Gaming is the second-largest slot venue operator in the UK. The company, which is a part of the German giant, Merkur, operates more than 200 locations across the country. According to data released by The Guardian, in 2023 alone, Merkur opened 38 new slot locations around the UK. This strategic expansion was a part of its plan for growth in the country and the 38 new venues that opened its doors last year came in addition to the 36 that opened back in 2022.
The company’s name was tangled in a scandal earlier this year after one of its subsidiaries fell under scrutiny over alleged exploitation of a vulnerable individual. At the time, Merkur confirmed that it had “fully investigated” the case in question before handing it over to the UK’s gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission.
Recent Gambling Scandal Impacts MP
Back in March, Tory MP Scott Benton announced his decision to resign. The departure came approximately a year after the Blackpool South MP was embroiled in a gambling lobbying scandal. Upon announcing his departure, Benton said that he always worked in Blackpool’s best interest.
Accusations against him stemmed from a meeting with representatives of a gambling business. At the time, Benton allegedly made a number of controversial promises to the representatives, including the possibility of granting them access to the White Paper, following the review of the Gambling Act, ahead of its publication.
He allegedly suggested lobbying on behalf of the gambling business in exchange for £4,000 ($5,000). However, what the Blackpool South MP didn’t know at the time was that the gambling industry representatives were in fact undercover reporters who recorded all of the encounters and promises he made.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine feels like a really pivotal moment in this narrative. In the autumn of 2022, energy prices in the UK were skyrocketing, and yet the response of Liz Truss, prime minister at the time, was to double down on oil and gas exploration and refuse to ask people to cut down their energy usage. It was the absolute opposite approach to many European nations facing the same problem.
At the time [the invasion] happened, it was obviously a genuine crisis and I thought climate was going to come down the priority list. But in my technocratic mind, I was also thinking this was going to create the incentive to get off high-carbon fuels—if you want to know what the world looks like with a high carbon price, we’re about to find out.
What I didn’t expect is that the green arguments were too late out of the blocks because the fossil arguments stepped in immediately to say, “This is why we need a domestic fossil fuel supply.” That really important argument, to act on this because fossil fuels are so price-volatile and so expensive, was slightly missed in the political ether at the time, and we jumped to a different narrative of what the country needed to do.
The irony of that whole period is we’re running out of oil and gas. So it’s not going to be a credible strategy in the long run to try and pump prime oil and gas licenses in the North Sea.
A year later, Truss’ successor, Rishi Sunak, made a big speech rolling back key climate policies, most notably pushing back the 2030 deadline banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.
If you look at it purely as a policy speech, there was more pro-climate policy than there was delayed climate policy. It was the one where he talks about accelerating green investment, for example. And the electric vehicle thing [pushing back the 2030 deadline] wasn’t that much of a shift, since we were already allowing hybrids until 2035.
But what did the country hear? They heard, “Don’t worry, now’s not the time to switch to electric vehicles.” It’s hard to tie anything back to a single speech, but if you look at the share of electric vehicles being sold in the UK, it has flatlined since September. I’m sure there are other factors here, but there will be people who thought, “Oh well, maybe I don’t need to get that electric car right now.”
It seems that this government has decided to make appealing to motorists a key campaigning strategy. In July 2023, the Labour Party narrowly lost the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, and a lot of commentators thought that the Conservative candidate won that election because of his opposition to the Ultra Low Emission Zone.
What happened there was interesting. The Labour Party also accepted the narrative that ULEZ was why they didn’t win that constituency. Inevitably, in any election there are a host of issues at play, but if all parties think it’s about environmental policies, it’s no surprise that that becomes one of the dominant themes in politics after that.
Three-time world champion Mark Williams beaten 10-9 by 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui at the Crucible; Welshman’s exit means six seeds have now fallen in the first round so far; Ronnie O’Sullivan begins bid for eighth title against Jackson Page on Wednesday afternoon
Last Updated: 23/04/24 6:23pm
Mark Williams lost 10-9 to Si Jiahui in the first round of the World Snooker Championship
Mark Williams’ quest for a fourth World Snooker Championship title ended in the first round as he lost a last-frame thriller to 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui.
Sixth seed Williams – world champion in 2000, 2003 and 2018 – led 5-4 after Monday’s opening session but then found himself 8-5 down as Si reeled off four frames in a row on Tuesday afternoon.
The 49-year-old then recovered from 9-7 down to force a decider but his Chinese opponent, 21, knocked in a nerveless break of 77 in the 19th frame to secure a second-round meeting with fellow qualifier Jak Jones.
Si lost to Luca Brecel in the 2023 semi-finals in Sheffield
Williams’ exit takes the number of seeds eliminated in the first round to six, with defending champion Luca Brecel, four-time winner Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Gary Wilson and Zhang Anda also dispatched.
O’Sullivan plays first match on Wednesday afternoon
Williams was hoping to become the oldest champion in the tournament’s history, a record held by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who was 46 years and 148 days when he won the most recent of his seven Crucible trophies in 2022.
O’Sullivan begins his bid for an outright record eighth world title against Jackson Page at 2.30pm on Wednesday, with that match then concluding from 1pm the following day.
Jak Jones is Si’s second-round opponent this year after he beat 11th seed Zhang Anda at the weekend
Si led Luca Brecel 14-5 in last year’s semi-final, only to lose the match 17-15 as Brecel won 12 of the next 13 frames in a Crucible-record comeback.
Si’s clash with Williams was viewed as one of the ties of the first round, with Williams winning the previous tournament on the calendar, the Tour Championship in Manchester.
Williams, 49, defeated Judd Trump, Mark Allen and O’Sullivan – the top three players in the world rankings – in successive matches to claim his second ranking title of the season, after the British Open in Cheltenham in October.
Dominic Dale is playing at The Crucible for the first time in 10 years
What else happened on Tuesday?
Elsewhere, 2020 finalist Kyren Wilson surged into an 8-1 lead over Dominic Dale.
Dale, who is the oldest player at this year’s competition at the age of 52 and playing at the Crucible for the first time in 10 years, had one moment to cheer against Wilson – a sublime 120 clearance.
World No 17 Jack Liswoski leads seventh seed and 2016 finalist Ding Junhui 5-4, while Mark Allen romped into a 7-2 advantage over Robbie Williams.
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A 33 man from Rotherham who was first introduced to gambling when he was eight years old during a family holiday, has asked for stricter regulations concerning gambling advertisements.
As presented by the BBC, the man, who reportedly had his first encounter with fruit machines and penny slots at a seaside amusement arcade when he was a child, also issued warnings on the potential cost of living crisis that could trigger widespread issues for players at the start of the year.
Harmless Fun Turned Into Serious Addiction
Over the course of the next two decades, what started as a seemingly innocent harness fun time at the arcades became a serious problem for the former player.
As he got older, he began asking his family members to place bets for him before he could personally visit fixed-odds betting terminals when he turned 18.
His new habit of repeatedly placing bets of hundreds of pounds eventually started leading to trouble, spiraling into overdose and homelessness issues.
In 2018, the man, who is now a lorry driver, managed to give up his addictive gambling habit, expressing feelings of “content” following the state of “absolute chaos” that he was in.
“I Saw It As a Warm and Safe Environment”
Speaking about the way his addiction started, the ex-player explained he was “immediately” lured in by the “bright lights of the arcades, the sounds of the machines and the coins dropping.” He added that he regarded the arcades as “a warm and safe environment.”
Throughout his “gambling career,” he estimates that he lost over £100,000 ($124,600) and he continues to owe around £30,000 ($37,000).
At the moment, he is incapable of getting a mortgage loan or a mobile phone contract.
While emphasizing the financial implications gambling can potentially trigger in the long run, the former addict also spoke about the time he lost “when he was not present.”
The Turning Point
Six years ago, the man reached his turning point when he believed he had three critical choices left: go to prison, take his own life, or give up gambling.
He explained he was “just so tired and fed up and knew deep down, it was time” to let go.
His wife was also affected by his addiction, suffering a mental breakdown because of his gambling, which he considered was one of his lowest points.
He decided to ask for support from the National Gambling Helpline which he described as “lovely and non-judgemental.” While recovery happened gradually, sometimes occurring minutes at a time,“ at the moment, the former player says he is “in a good place.”
The Need for Better Education for Parents
Gambling With Lives, a charity in the UK, speaks about approximately 500 suicides connected to gambling-related issues each year in England, as well as 80,000 children who are at risk, or already suffering from gambling addiction.
The ex-gambler himself has a three-year-old daughter. While he does not blame his parents or the adults in his life for allowing him to gamble from a young age, he does acknowledge that gambling was “normalized” around him.
For this reason, he is asking for better education for parents concerning the potential perils of gambling, along with stricter sets of rules regarding gambling advertising.
The former player also hopes his life story will be used as a warning for the next generation regarding the potential harm of gambling, with hopes to one day make a documentary.
Recently, a Bristol University on social media gambling advertisements has asked for a series of regulatory changes in the UK.
GambleAware announced that support for people experiencing problems with their gambling is faster than ever. According to the latest National Gambling Support Network figures, problem players were offered treatment sessions with a trained professional in three and a half days on average between October and December 2023.
Additionally, organizations within the network that are highlighting free support ahead of the Grand National, provided support in just 1.3 days on average in the last three months of 2023.
Data from the National Gambling Helpline, meanwhile, highlighted a record-breaking number of calls (4,815) in January 2024, marking the sixth time this record was broken since the beginning of 2023. The helpline added that it has provided support via brief interventions to more than 28,175 people since April 2023.
GambleAware added that a recent YouGov survey of over 5,000 UK participants showed that people are most likely to choose weekly support sessions with trained professionals to reduce gambling harm.
Former Addicts Highlight the Importance of Availability
David Quinty, who previously received help from organizations within the National Gambling Support Network, praised the availability of support in the UK, saying that such organizations can really help people “rebuild their lives.”
Talking to a professional each week about what I was experiencing was an enormous step to help understand my relationship with gambling and, ultimately, help me recover from it.
David Quinty
Quinty urged everyone who believes they might be experiencing problems with their gambling to contact a professional.
Quinty’s words were echoed by Matt Burgiss – another former problem player. Having started gambling as a teen, he eventually became addicted and lost large amounts of money. Burgiss, who now helps others, said that the speed and availability of gambling support cannot be understated.
GambleAware Wants to Make a Positive Impact
GambleAware’s chief commissioning officer, Anna Hargrave, said that the National Gambling Support Network’s point is to prevent the escalation of gambling harms. The treatment and support it provides are available to everyone in the UK, allowing the network to make a positive impact on people across the country.
These essential third sector providers play a vital role for people across the country, and we look forward to continuing to share this expertise and experience alongside the NHS under the new system once a levy is introduced.
Anna Hargrave, chief commissioning officer, GambleAware
Stuart Andrew, the UK’s gambling minister, praised the good work, saying that it is good for struggling players to know that there is someone whom they can call when things spiral out of control.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced a significant amendment to license condition 15.3.1, mandating that all license holders submit regulatory returns quarterly. This decision follows the UKGC’s Autumn 2023 Consultation on proposed Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) changes and represents a positive step towards improved gambling harm prevention.
A Quarterly Approach Has Substantial Benefits
The LCCP will now be modified to require licensee submissions every three months. This change aims to provide more timely insights into gambling harms, facilitate better evaluation of public health interventions, and ensure that the data received is relevant. Additionally, quarterly returns should promote greater efficiencies among licensees with multiple license types by aligning remote and non-remote submission dates.
All submissions will be aligned to the same reporting period, which will make the process more efficient for operators.
UKGC statement
The decision to implement quarterly returns was informed by feedback from industry stakeholders, with 49% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposal. Respondents highlighted the potential for quarterly reporting to enable an enhanced understanding of the ever-evolving gambling behaviors, improving response times in case of unexpected challenges.
The UKGC released a statement outlining the advantages of quarterly reporting, including improved budgeting capabilities, a deeper understanding of income levels, and a more accurate picture of the gambling sector. Quarterly returns also align with the Commission’s aspirations and the intentions of the government’s White Paper, which should bring the country’s gambling regulations up-to-date with industry developments.
The Changes Align with the UKGC’s Broader Objectives
Despite concerns from some licensees, the Commission believes that the benefits of quarterly reporting outweigh any potential administrative burdens. Quarterly returns will support the Commission’s aim to be a risk-based, evidence-led, and outcomes-focused regulator, enabling better market condition monitoring and informing accurate regulatory changes targeting emerging problems before they pose a danger to consumers.
By aligning reporting periods across the industry, the quality of our data will improve as we will no longer need to apportion data from each operator to the financial year.
UKGC statement
The Commission addressed stakeholder concerns, noting it had streamlined regulatory returns by removing approximately 600 fields across all license types. Many of these questions relate to non-GB information, workforce inquiries, and some information on gaming machine technical and gambling software. These amendments aim to outweigh the administrative burden of the new quarterly reporting requirements.
The period mandated for submitting regulatory returns will be 28 days, consistent with the current requirement window for quarterly returns. The Commission plans to comprehensively communicate these changes and improvements, supporting all affected stakeholders leading to the 1 July 2024 implementation date. The extra data should ultimately benefit the ongoing White Paper revisions, contributing to an improved and future-oriented regulatory framework.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the Royal Wedding on April 29, 2011 in London, England. John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images
Kate and William, whom she praised for the “comfort and reassurance” he had given her after her diagnosis, have been a couple for more than two decades.
Prince Louis holds his hands over his ears as jets roar over Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade with other members of they Royal family in London in June 2022. From left are Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Queen Elizabeth II; Louis; Catherine; Charlotte; George; and William.
They met while studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and initially struck up a friendship. They began dating in 2003, around Christmas time, after she walked down the runway for a university charity fashion show wearing a see-through dress that, as the well-known story goes, captured the young prince’s attention.
After graduating in 2005 with a degree in art history, Kate briefly worked as an accessories buyer for British women’s fashion chain Jigsaw, continuing to date William amid frenzied media attention until they split up in 2007.
Their split lasted only a few months, however, and they publicly announced their engagement in November 2010. Kate’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring originally belonged to Princess Diana.
The couple cheers on the English rugby team during the Six Nations Championship match in London in February 2007. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Media coverage at the time focused on Kate’s middle-class upbringing in Berkshire, southeast England, the Middleton family, and her mother Carole’s career journey from flight attendant to successful entrepreneur, spinning a “fairytale” narrative of the first commoner in more than 350 years to marry a prince in the direct line of succession to the throne.
Much pageantry and fanfare accompanied their wedding at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. Kate wore a custom-made Alexander McQueen dress, complete with such precise detailing that seamstresses had to replace their sewing needles every three hours, according to British Vogue.
Around 1,900 guests attended the ceremony while the British public were granted an extra public holiday to mark the occasion. Across the country, 24 million viewers — about a third of the population — tuned in to watch.The US viewership was estimated around 22.8 million.
THE gulf between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the rest of the Royal Family seems to widen every week.
And it wasn’t helped yesterday by the Duchess of Sussex unveiling her new home, food, garden and lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard shortly before Prince William was due to speak at his late mother’s Legacy Award event in London.
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Prince William paid tribute to the winners of the Legacy Awards last nightCredit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala
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Meghan’s brand logo appeared online shortly before Wills’ speechCredit: Instgram/americanrivieraorchard
The move was slammed by slammed by royal experts as yet another attempt to steal the limelight, with one branding it “calculated” and another claiming it would have “saddened Diana.”
Meghan’s glitzy Instagram post showing off her new crest surfaced an hour before William delivered an emotional speech at the Diana Awards at London’s Science Museum, where Harry later appeared via video link.
Meghan and Harry also chose yesterday to announce the winner of their $100,000 (£78,500) NAACP – Archewell Foundation Digital Civil Rights Award.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams slammed the timing, saying there was “nothing accidental” about them, adding: “The announcement of the new brand is totally consistent with the timing of all the Sussexes’ announcements.”
Here we take a look at all the times the couple have shamelessly stolen the royals’ thunder.
Spare bombshell interviews
Ahead of the publication of Prince Harry’s controversial memoir Spare, he sat down for long interviews with ITV’s Tom Bradby and Anderson Cooper, for US channel CBS, in January last year – the day before the Princess of Wales’ 41st birthday.
In a series of shocking accusations against his family, he claimed royals sought to protect their own reputation “to the detriment” of the Sussexes and that they were “complicit” in their “pain and suffering”.
He also detailed the alleged tense relationship between Kate and Meghan in the interviews.
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Prince Harry gave the bombshell interview on the eve of Kate’s birthdayCredit: ITV
Everything we know about Meghan’s new business
MEGHAN Markle has launched a new Instagram brand called American Riviera Orchard.
Industry insiders said the site will focus on home, food, garden and lifestyle goods.
A source told the Mail: “It’s a lifestyle and cooking brand called American Riviera Orchard.
“The brand is meant to coincide with the launch of a new cookery show for Netflix.
“Meghan will be making, and selling, products such as jams. And at some point there will be a book and blog etc.”
As the interviews made global headlines, the official Royal Family’s social media channels posted a simple birthday wish for Kate, writing: “Wishing the Princess of Wales a very happy birthday.”
But the timing didn’t escape the attention of royal fans, with one tweeting: “I can’t believe Harry is doing this to Kate on the eve of her birthday…”
Meghan Markle is using Princess Diana’s legacy to promote her new business – it’s opportunism at its worst
Another wrote: “Prince Harry: I love Kate! Also Harry: I’m releasing this book on your birthday darling.”
Netflix trailer
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Harry and Meghan’s Netflix trailer dropped as William and Kate took on engagements in BostonCredit: Netflix
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William and Kate ignored the issue on their US tripCredit: Splash
Angela Levin told The Sun: “I think that the day seems chosen to ruin Kate and William’s trip – to take away everything from that.
“To pile it on. There was no need to do it that day. It was done deliberately to spoil their visit.”
‘Pregnancy announcement’ at wedding
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Meghan and Harry told family members they were expecting ArchieCredit: AFP
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Eugenie was not impressed by Meghan’s news on her big dayCredit: PA
Princess Eugenie walked down the aisle with Jack Brooksbank in October 2018, just months after Harry and Meghan tied the knot.
But when news of Meghan’s pregnancy broke days later, it was claimed the couple had upstaged the bride by breaking the happy news to the Queen, Prince Charles and the rest of the family at the wedding reception.
Pictures showed Harry speaking to the late Queen, fuelling speculation that this was the moment he broke the news.
A source later claimed the Queen already knew, but had not seen her grandson in person to congratulate him, and that the bride and groom had also been told in advance.
But it is thought that the royal get-together was the first time most of the family learned she was expecting their first child.
And in Finding Freedom, the sympathetic biography of the Sussexes, a source reveals Eugenie was “upset” by the couple going public on her big day.
The Princess “told friends she felt the couple should have waited to share the news”, the books claimed, adding that it “did not go down particularly well”.
Meghan’s career relaunch
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry have been busy since stepping back as senior working royals.
Meghan has signed with American podcast network Lemonada Media to create new content, and her old 12-episode Archetypes episodes will also be distributed by the firm.
The couple still have their deal with Netflix, where they have created shows like their Harry & Meghan documentary, and the Duke of Sussex’s Heart of Invictus show.
And Meghan has enlisted Beverly Hills talent agency William Morris Endeavour ahead of her long-planned relaunch.
The cameo appearance sees the former Suits star doing multiple roles at coffee company Clevr Blends, including packing, working on the digital team, and on the operations team.
Bombshell Oprah interview
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Meghan and Harry’s bombshell Oprah interview contained sensational claimsCredit: AP
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It was broadcast on the day of the Queen’s Commonwealth addressCredit: Getty
The couple used the platform to make bombshell claims against the Royal Family, including a charge of racist comments made about the colour of son Archie’s skin, allegedly made by a senior royal before his birth.
Meghan also claimed she had been “silenced” by the Royal Family and left depressed, with suicidal thoughts, by her treatment.
But the decision to air on March 7, 2021, just hours after the Queen’s annual Commonwealth Day Speech aired on the BBC, was criticised in royal circles.
One expert claimed the clash could have been avoided had the Sussexes forewarned the Palace about the interview, calling the decision to grab the headlines on the day of the Queen’s speech “disrespectful”.
Harry’s job announcement
Harry, once extremely close to cousin Princess Eugenie, risked upsetting her again when he chose her birthday to make a job announcement.
Buckingham Palace released two pictures to celebrate Eugenie’s 31st birthday, on March 23 2021.
Just hours later The Wall Street Journal released news that the Duke – keen to show he could stand on his own two feet – had landed a high-paid job in Silicon Valley as “Chief Impact Officer” at health tech company Better Inc.
Prince Harry ‘pain’ podcast
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Kate and William visited various charities for Mental Health Awareness WeekCredit: Splash
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Harry talked about his ‘pain’ with Dax Shepherd on a podcast that same weekCredit: armchairexpertpod.com
In the pre-split days, when the brothers and their wives were known as the Fab Four, they were joint advocates for mental health awareness, appearing together at a Royal Foundation event on the issue.
But in May 2021, as Kate and William attended numerous charity events for Mental Health Awareness Week, Prince Harry dropped a devastating podcast talking about a “cycle of pain and suffering” – suggesting he was treated badly by his father because “that’s the way he was treated”.
“I don’t think we should be pointing the finger or blaming anybody, but certainly when it comes to parenting, if I’ve experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered, I’m going to make sure I break that cycle so that I don’t pass it on,” he said.
At the time, William – whose own tireless work for mental health charities was drowned out by Harry’s complaints – was said to be “very shocked” by his brother’s claims.
Book clash
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Meghan’s book was announced in May 2021Credit: Rex
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Kate’s book came out days laterCredit: PA
In the same month, Meghan was accused of “trying to upstage Kate” by announcing the release of her children’s book days before Kate’s photography album was released.
On May 4, 2021, Meghan announced she would be publishing The Bench, an illustrated story inspired by son Archie and husband Harry.
But some pointed out the announcement came just days before publication of a photography book that Kate had been working on for a year.
The book, Hold Still, captured life in the UK under lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic.
One furious Kate fan tweeted: “So now just as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, has the HOLD STILL book about to be released on May 7, [Meghan] chooses to release a book she wrote in 2019. Connect the dots, people!”
Christmas card row
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This Christmas image revealed Lilibet for the first timeCredit: Alexi Lubomirski
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The Queen’s image was released the same dayCredit: Getty
Last Christmas, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex caused a sensation when they shared the first glimpse of their daughter Lilibet and the first real look at son Archie’s face on their festive card.
But the post on social media came just hours before Buckingham Palace published an image of the Queen from her annual speech, ahead of its Christmas Day airing.
The much-anticipated speech was the first since the late monarch lost her beloved husband, Prince Philip, in April 2021.
The couple were accused of overshadowing the event, with Kate Garraway suggesting they were trying to “usurp” the Queen.
Queen’s birthday row
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Harry talked about the ‘pain’ of being a royal kidCredit: NBC
On the eve of the nation’s celebrations for the Queen’s 96th birthday, in April 2022, Harry once again angered the royal circle by giving a cringeworthy interview in which he claimed he was her protector.
In an interview with US news channel NBC, broadcast the night before her birthday, he said: “I’m just making sure that she’s protected and got the right people around her.”
Members of the royal household were said to be shocked and angered by the comments.
Angela Levin called for him to be banned from the Jubilee celebrations later that year, commenting: “Harry’s comment on US TV about him checking the Queen is protected is a gross insult to Prince Charles and William.”
Upstaging Dad
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The King’s first official family portrait excluded the coupleCredit: AP
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The new portrait was released days laterCredit: AFP
On October 1 2022, Buckingham Palace shared the first official snap of the recently ascended King Charles, the Queen Consort and the Prince and Princess of Wales, as the mourning period for the Queen came to an end.
Harry and Meghan, notably absent from the family scene despite being in the UK at the time it was taken, chose to make their own statement two days later, by releasing two new portraits of themselves at the One Young World conference in Manchester.
New Archie pics
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Meghan and mum Doria Ragland with ArchieCredit: Harris_Duchess/Twitter
In November 2022, a new image of rarely-seen Archie, sitting on Meghan’s knee during a Zoom chat, was released as Kate and William touched down in the US.
The image – which sent fans into frenzy over the unrecognisable toddler – was released by Professor Duchess Harris.
Royal fans suggested the timing was a deliberate attempt to divert from the Wales’ Earthshot mission.
One tweeted: “Notice Rachel Markle [Meghan’s birth name] puts this out to try and distract from Prince William and princesses of Wales!”
Markle sparkle: Duchess’ business ventures from wellness blog The Tig to kids’ book The Bench
ALONG with her well-known acting career Meghan Markle has also carved out something of a career in the business world as well.
Before getting engaged to Prince Harry, the Suits actress had her lifestyle blog The Tig but this was closed down when she got engaged in 2017.
The Tig, named after her favourite wine Tignanello, was seen as something as a rival to Gwyneth Paltrow‘s £200million Goop, which offers similar wellness and “conscious living” content.
She previously described it as a “passion project” which “evolved into an amazing community of inspiration, support, fun and frivolity”.
Since stepping down as senior royals, the couple have produced a podcast, Netflix documentary and memoir, as well as several high-profile interviews between them.
Speaking in docuseries Harry & Meghan, the mum-of-two said of the blog: “It wasn’t just a hobby, it became a really successful business.
“I’ve never really been the type of person to do only one thing. I guess that’s how my website was born.
“There was fashion, tons of food, and travel – all the things that I loved.”
Rumours emerged in March last year that Meghan was going to relaunch the blog.
Meghan also ventured into the world of children’s books with the launch of The Bench in June 2021.
Inside Meghan’s 34-page book The Bench, the illustrations give a fresh glimpse into the Sussexes’ “authentic” life at their LA home – featuring their then newborn daughter.
The publication was a commerical success with it becoming a number one bestseller on Amazon’s chart.
Meghan dedicated her book to the “man and boy who make my heart go pump-pump” in a sweet note for her husband Prince Harry and son Archie.
The mum was “inspired” to write the book after originally creating a poem for Harry’s first Father’s Day.
The royal couple have also been reported to be planning an Oprah-style media empire after registering a series of new entertainment businesses.
They appear to have names which are meaningful to the couple, with one – Cloverdale Inc – bearing the same name as the street that the Duchess lived on with her mother in Los Angeles when she was young.
Both Cloverdale and a second company, Riversoul Productions Inc, are set up explicitly in the “entertainment” industry, and join companies Hampshire LLC, Bridgemont LLC and IPHW LLC.
The couple are already using name Archewell Productions for their Netflix and Spotify deals.
The way the UK government has been tagging migrants with GPS trackers is illegal, the country’s privacy regulator ruled on Friday, in a rebuke to officials who have been experimenting with migrant-surveillance tech in both the UK and the US.
As part of an 18-month pilot that concluded in December, the UK interior ministry, known as the Home Office, forced up to 600 people who arrived in the country without permission to wear ankle tags that continuously tracked their locations. However, that pilot broke UK data protection law because it did not properly assess the privacy intrusion of GPS tracking or give migrants clear information about the data that was being collected, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said today. The ruling means the Home Office has 28 days to update its policies around GPS tracking.
Friday’s decision also means the ICO could fine the Home Office up to £17.5 million ($22 million) or 4 percent of its turnover—whichever is higher—if it resumes tagging people who arrive on the UK south coast in small boats from Europe. In 2023, over 29,000 people arrived using this often perilous route. Earlier this week, French rescue services said one person had died and two were missing after attempting to cross the English Channel, the stretch of water that separates England and France.
Critics of the GPS tags welcomed the decision. “Blanket 24/7 GPS surveillance of asylum seekers arriving in the UK runs diametrically opposed to data protection and privacy rights,” says Jonah Mendelsohn, a lawyer at Privacy International, a digital rights group that has campaigned against the tag. “The UK government’s gung-ho, Wild West approach in deploying deeply intrusive technology has through today’s decision collided with a rules-based system that we all have recourse to, regardless of our immigration status.” The Home Office did not respond to WIRED’s request for comment.
“Having access to a person’s 24/7 movements is highly intrusive, as it is likely to reveal a lot of information about them, including the potential to infer sensitive information such as their religion, sexuality, or health status,” said John Edwards, the UK information commissioner, in a statement. “Lack of clarity on how this information will be used can also inadvertently inhibit people’s movements and freedom to take part in day-to-day activities.”
The ICO did not rule that the Home Office had to delete migrants’ GPS data already stored in its systems. The regulator also left open the possibility that there may be a legal way to monitor migrants electronically, but not without data protections in place.
In UK courts, at least two cases revolving around GPS tags are awaiting judgment. In one, a 25-year-old former asylum seeker from Sudan, who was tagged by the Home Office as part of the pilot scheme after arriving in the UK via a small boat in May 2022, is challenging the regime for its disproportionate interference with his right to family and private life. Wearing the tag brought up painful memories of being bound and tortured during his journey to the UK, according to his lawyers at London firm Duncan Lewis, adding that his tag has since been removed.
Another case revolves around car mechanic Mark Nelson, who told WIRED that his experience wearing a GPS tag had been dehumanizing. “Our firm represents numerous individuals like Mark who are being electronically monitored,” says Katie Schwarzmann, a human rights lawyer at Wilsons Solicitors, who is representing Nelson. “In virtually all cases the Home Office has failed to provide evidence they have considered less-intrusive methods or explain why this draconian regime is necessary for immigration control.”
The UK is not the only country that is using GPS tracking devices as an alternative to immigration detention centers. Last year, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency also announced it would start tracking migrants using GPS ankle tags and specially designed smartwatches.
Racing TV has secured exclusive British broadcasting rights to the richest horse racing event in the world, the $20 million Saudi Cup in Riyadh. The race, which is set to kick off tomorrow, will be exclusively broadcast in the UK by Racing TV.
The race will include a run over 1,800 meters and is set to take place at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse. The race will feature many of the best thoroughbreds from all over the world, promising to be a spectacular and memorable horse racing event.
Participants will include the gray colt-bred White Abarrio, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic 2023, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Classic runner-up, Derma Sotogake. As the two horses and their jockeys prepare to face off again, fans should also look out for Ushba Tesoro, a thoroughbred horse that won the Dubai World Cup 2023.
Racing TV also shared that Rick Dutrow, who returned to the racing sector after a 10-year suspension for medication and administration violations, is optimistic about White Abarrio’s performance.
“I feel if he is on his game and runs his race, he is going to be tough to beat,” Dutrow told Racing TV.
British Fans Can See the Race on Racing TV
The Saudi Cup will sport a total prize pool of a whopping $37.35 million. In addition to the main race, there will be two additional Group 2 races, as well as three Group 3 races. Racing fans can also look forward to two Group 1 contests reserved for purebred Arabians.
Racing TV is set to broadcast the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia’s official World Feed program, which will be presented by Racing TV’s Tom Stanley and Nick Luck.
British fans who wish to see the spectacular race will be able to do so on Racing TV, allowing them to immerse themselves in the action. For reference, Racing TV is available on Virgin 536 in Britain, as well as on 411 and Vodafone in Ireland. The leading horse racing channel is also available on Apple TV and Sky 424.
Virgin Bet has introduced its inaugural Women’s Day event – a celebration that will provide appreciation to the women in racing and nurture an inclusive environment.
The social event will take place at the Virgin Bet Raceday on March 9 at Ayr Racecourse, allowing the operator to extensively promote its message. The Women’s Day event is notably a part of the gambling company’s A Good Bet initiative, showcasing the operator’s commitment to promoting inclusivity.
The new event will see Virgin Bet empower women in racing. The operator will therefore offer a variety of exclusive experiences to players, such as providing female visitors with the opportunity to pick the Best Turned Out Award before each race and present the trophies to the eventual victors.
In addition, Virgin Bet will team up with WalkSafe, an app developed to help women feel safe when walking alone. The operator will also make a donation to Ayr Racecourse’s charity partner, Ayrshire Cancer Support.
Virgin Bet Wants to Celebrate the Uncelebrated
In addition to other activations, Virgin Bet has also teamed up with presenter Natalie Pike who agreed to host the Women’s Day events. Commenting on the matter, Pike said that she is excited to be a part of this project and hopes to inspire “the next generation of incredible women working in horse racing.”
Sport is for everyone, and activations such as this are crucial to ensuring inclusivity and safety for women at events, and ultimately heroing the brilliant people who work in the sport.
Natalie Pike
Virgin Bet’s marketing director, Ric Leask, also commented on the initiative, saying that his team wants to provide exposure and support to the many women in the horse racing industry. According to Leask, these women are, sadly, often uncelebrated and un-thanked.
Leask concluded: “At Virgin Bet, as part of our “A Good Bet” brand campaign, we want to make sport more accessible and to highlight brilliance, no matter who the subject, and this initiative is doing exactly that.”
Phishing attacks have wreaked havoc in the crypto industry. In a recent move to combat cyber fraud, the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) in the United Kingdom announced the blocking of 43 web domains associated with fraudulent activities.
Spearheaded by the City of London Police, this crackdown follows the discovery of a spoof email address masquerading as the legitimate crypto site blockchain.com.
43 Suspicious Web Domains Blocked
According to Pete O’Doherty, the temporary commissioner of the City of London Police, 42 additional suspicious web domains, such as “actionfraud.info” and “department-fraud.com,” were blocked upon detection.
The NFIB highlighted the importance of promptly reporting cybercrimes through their official channels and hotline, urging victims to come forward.
As of December 2023, the NFIB has already removed nearly 300,000 malicious websites, demonstrating the scale of the ongoing threat.
Among the various fraudulent schemes, some attempts even resort to claiming unsuspecting recipients have won prizes like a Tupperware set, highlighting the diverse tactics used by cybercriminals.
Even with proactive actions taken, phishing continues to pose a persistent threat in the industry. However, following best practices for cold wallet usage, protecting seed phrases, conducting regular security audits and updates, refraining from clicking on unfamiliar links and staying vigilant can help in safeguarding assets.
Increasing Phishing Attacks
Scam Sniffer’s latest analysis indicated an increase in phishing attacks in January coinciding with heightened activity within crypto communities following a series of airdrops in the previous month.
Data reveals that scammers set up more than 11,400 phishing websites in January, posing as platforms like Manta Network, Frame, SatoshiVM, AltLayer, Dymension, zkSync, Pyth, OpenSea, Optimism, Blast, and others.
These efforts yielded substantial gains as cybercriminals managed to steal nearly $55 million worth of digital assets across Ethereum Virtual Machine-based networks, with the top seven victims collectively losing $17 million.
A similar analysis by SlowMist’s security team revealed that nearly 80% of comments under tweets of prominent projects were phishing scam accounts.
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A month ago, Gamesys, a leading international online gaming operator, was fined in the United Kingdom over AML and social responsibility violations. Now, Gambling with Lives, a charity set up by families bereaved by gambling, seeks to convince the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to revoke the licenses of companies that commit serious violations.
Gambling with Lives launched a petition, asking the UKGC to be less benevolent to operators that violate its rules. Dubbed “Stop reckless gambling firms,” the petition urges stricter enforcement of the UK’s social responsibility rules since fines are easily paid by huge gambling companies.
Gambling with Lives argues that unregulated gambling can sometimes lead to suicides. As a result, fines that multibillion companies can easily pay are not a proportional punishment, the organization said. Citing recent statistics, the charity pointed out that a whopping 496 people in Britain take their lives because of gambling addiction every year.
Big Companies Will Never Change Unless Forced to
According to Gambling with Lives, big gambling operators earn billions of pounds a year, meaning that even fines in the realm of millions are easily payable. The charity said that, for many of these companies, fines are nothing more than a cost of business.
Because of this, multi-billion-pound gambling companies do not feel the need to change, the charity pointed out. Gambling with Lives cited Gamesys’ recent fine as an example, noting that the operator had promoted new games and promotions to a customer who had just lost £10,000.
These violations earned Gamesys a £6 million fine. However, its parent company, Bally’s, earns almost £2 billion a year.
Because of that, Gambling with Lives believes that operators should risk something more than a slap on the wrist.
The big gambling firms will never change their ways unless forced to. If they knew they could be shut down, they would be forced to behave better.
Gambling with Lives statement
Now, Gambling with Lives is seeking public support as it hopes to convince the UKGC to revoke the licenses of serious violators and help prevent gambling-related deaths in Britain.
The petition was launched yesterday and already has 1,117 of its target 2,000 signatures.
The Rank Group released its latest interim results, uncovering details regarding its progress over the six months ended December 31, 2023. The company referred to the period as H1 2023/24, with results pointing to an increase in net gaming revenue (NGR) year-over-year. Besides financial data, Rank Group released details regarding its expectations for 2024 in key markets.
Focusing on the UK, John O’Reilly, the company’s chief executive, explained that the business is positioned well for further growth, boosted by the upcoming regulatory changes within the retail gambling sector in the country. The changes are expected to come into effect at some point this year, according to the company, possibly around the summer. “These reforms cannot come soon enough in enabling us to modernize our proposition to better meet our customers’ expectations,” added O’Reilly.
“We are well positioned to optimize the opportunities afforded by the UK Government’s planned land-based regulatory reforms which will hopefully be implemented through the passing of secondary legislation in the summer of 2024.“
John O’Reilly, chief executive of The Rank Group
Last year, the Gambling Act review white paper was released, outlining a number of suggestions that are expected to completely overhaul the gambling industry across the country. Among the proposed changes are the implementation of limits for online slots, changes in the ratio of B and C gambling devices, as well as implementation of affordability checks, among other improvements.
Yet, so far the government hasn’t set a deadline for the implementation of the changes, while consultations with stakeholders on certain topics are still ongoing. Ultimately, the review of the Gambling Act 2005 is expected to ensure that the laws in the country fit the digital age.
The Company Posts Strong Results Despite Challenges
When it comes to financial results, Rank Group posted £362.6 million ($460 million) in NGR for H1 2023/24. This figure, compared to the £338.9 million ($430 million) reported for the corresponding period a year ago, showed an increase of 7%. Additionally, Rank Group confirmed that its operating profit for the latest trading period was £16.2 million ($20.6 million).
“Whilst it remains a challenging economic environment, we are positive about the future and expect LFL operating profit for the year ending 30 June 2024 to be in line with our expectations,“
reads a statement released by The Rank Group
While the company acknowledged that the economic environment remains challenging, it was still optimistic about its future performance. Rank Group said that it anticipates its upcoming financial results for the year ending June 30, 2024, to coincide with its initial expectations.
