The Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Gaming Association (AGA) and the European Casino Association (ECA) for collaboration on global gaming industry issues.
Key priorities of the three parties in the partnership include illegal gambling, responsible gaming, innovation and security, as the MOU aims to create a platform for joint research projects and shared expertise amongst each organisation’s staff and members.
“This partnership marks a new chapter in our shared vision to build a world-class, trusted and sustainable betting and gaming industry,” commented Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting & Gaming Council.
“BGC members are rightly proud of their reputation as global leaders, and they know the power of collaboration. Working together with the AGA and ECA, I am confident our shared knowledge and expertise will be vital to bolstering safer gambling standards while tackling the threat of the growing and unsafe unregulated gambling black market in the UK.”
Scheduled for next January, the collaboration’s first initiative will be a law enforcement roundtable focused on combating illegal gambling, bringing together industry leaders, law enforcement officials and regulators.
Stakeholders at this roundtable will discuss illegal gambling’s impact on legal operators, consumer safety and the global financial system, in addition to examining strategies for improving cross-jurisdictional communication and developing actionable solutions to address these challenges.
“The European Casino Association stands united with the AGA and BGC in its commitment to addressing the key issues facing all gaming industry stakeholders”, stated Erwin van Lambaart, Chair of the European Casino Association.
“The ECA fully backs this initiative and supports the ongoing efforts to rigorously combat illegality within our industry, continuously strengthen player protections and security, and ensure the creation of an environment that fosters innovation and growth within the gaming community.
“On behalf of the ECA, I look forward to participating in the forthcoming law enforcement roundtable and to sharing the benefits of these learnings with our members.”
Bill Miller, CEO and President of the American Gaming Association, added: “This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe.
“By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices.
“By fostering dialogue and cooperation across borders, the AGA, ECA, and BGC are taking a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of the legal gaming industry and ensuring its continued growth and success.”
Flutter Entertainment and Octoplay have launched another collaborative online casino title as Cod Chaos has been made available on PaddyPower, Betfair and Sky Vegas.
The new Cod Chaos title signals the third collaborative slot release between Octoplay and Flutter Entertainment, strengthening the ties between the Malta-based supplier and the tier-one operator.
Joseph Williams, Gaming Content Manager at Sky Betting & Gaming, stated: “Octoplay has consistently impressed us with their ability to create games that truly connect with our audience.
“We enjoy working with partners who listen to what customer’s say and are responsive to their needs. Octoplay continues to deliver on this front and we are looking forward to doing more with them in the future.”
Launching Cod Chaos with Flutter will allow Octoplay to gain increased visibility in the UK market, extending the reach of its in-house content to Betfair, Paddy Power and Sky Vegas’ extensive player bases in the nation.
While the move sees Octoplay enhance its position in the UK, the igaming supplier also holds licences in “key jurisdictions” such as Slovakia, Sweden, Malta, Ontario, Greece and Romania.
Carl Ejlertsson, CEO at Octoplay, added: “Despite its size and global reach, working with Flutter has been an incredible experience, as they remain as nimble and innovative as ever.
“I think the collaboration between us has been so successful because we share the same values, building strong, lasting partnerships and leveraging each other’s strengths to provide value to the customer.
“What is most exciting however, is that we are only scratching the surface of what is possible between the two companies.”
