CLUBE is a Lisbon-based non-profit organisation supporting youth education, training and employability. The charity has used the donation from BGaming for club premises repairs and organisational needs, as well as to help finance a project supporting children’s skill development. 

Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO at BGaming, said: “Creativity is a proven way to support young children’s development, and we take joy in donating to valuable causes that champion this. Just as BGaming is dedicated to producing the most creative games on the market, we are committed to building strong communities through art.

“The children at The European Intercultural Club are sure to benefit from their time taking part in this semester-long project and we can’t wait to hear about the results.”

The organisation’s ‘Urban Nature Project – A Macro Story’ campaign will hope to help students integrate with the urban environment where they live. Children taking part in the campaign will take part in observatory nature walks before taking advice from local cinematic artist Gonçalo Almeida. 

Almeida will educate participants on the fundamentals of cinema, including narrative, filming and editing techniques with an aim to promote environmental awareness and develop creative skills. 

Ana Quintela, General Coordinator at The European Intercultural Club, added: “We’re happy that BGaming reached out to us, enabling the local school to implement a cinema workshop project.

“This donation came at the perfect time, allowing us to support an educational initiative that aligns with our community’s needs.”

BGaming’s €10,000 donation marks the slot developer’s latest charitable initiative, having recently donated the same amount to a Polish chess school earlier this year. 

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The igaming supplier’s charitable campaign places emphasis on the importance of early detection and efficient prevention, as when an early diagnosis is made the five-year relative survival rate is 99%.

Detection can be supported through monthly breast self-exams and regular clinical breast checks. SOFTSWISS’ campaign will see the supplier offer each of its female employees reimbursements for all ultrasound and mammogram appointments they make across October and November. 

Valentina Bagniya, Chief Marketing Officer at SOFTSWISS, commented: “Health is a crucial value beyond everything. Here, at SOFTSWISS, we aim to help and support our employees’ well-being and health every day. 

“By promoting the Pink October initiative, we want to stress the importance of well-timed self-care and make this issue visible both within the igaming industry and beyond.”

The igaming solutions provider will also host an online webinar on mental health to provide insights for those affected by the disease. Female employees at SOFTSWISS will also participate in a charity race organised by the ‘Butterfly Support Mission’ movement. 

SOFTSWISS is supporting the Pink October initiative for a second year in a row, with the hopes of inspiring employees and their families to take timely action.

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Following a recent campaign to support victims in flood-hit regions in Brazil, the igaming solutions provider has launched a similar initiative in Southern Poland, a region devastated by floods caused by Storm Boris last month.

After dozens of towns were forced to undertake urgent evacuations, SOFTSWISS has made a financial donation to Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy, a Polish charity providing aid for flood victims.    

The provider will also make use of its two development offices based in Poland, with SOFTSWISS employees helping to pack boxes of over 100kg of essential items, such as food, hygiene products, matches, candles and batteries. 

These items were then delivered to Caritas Polska, another charitable organisation focussed on relief efforts in flood-hit areas. 

“Unfortunately, natural disasters happen, and we don’t want to stand idly by. We strive to help in any way we can,” said Natalia Perkowska, Deputy Chief HR Officer at SOFTSWISS.

“This aligns with one of our core values, We See People, which applies not only to our employees. We always see the people beyond the business, and I believe our ESG initiatives reflect this.”

Reaching out to help flood victims in Poland and Brazil forms part of SOFTSWISS’ global ESG strategy. This strategy has also seen the company take part in fundraising initiatives such as World Environment Day, Pink October and Movember. 

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Conducted by The National Centre for Social Research, the analysis uses research from 138 previous studies to explore how socially excluded groups in the UK are impacted by gambling. 

The research looked into several groups, including people who experience or are at risk of homelessness, older people, people living with disabilities, neurodiversity or mental health challenges, criminalised communities and migrants in vulnerable circumstances, such as asylum seekers.

“There needs to be more engagement with these communities to build awareness around the risks of gambling harm”

Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive at GambleAware

The findings identified a common thread across all of the studied groups, suggesting that they often use gambling to cope with other difficulties in life that are driven by social exclusion or discrimination.

Examples of these other difficulties include loneliness, mental health challenges, stress related to the process of migration and assimilating into a new culture, unemployment, challenges relating to job security, working conditions and poverty. 

Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive at GambleAware, said: “Our new report shows how people from marginalised communities, who are already dealing with many different issues in their lives, struggle with gambling harms.

“There needs to be more engagement with these communities to build awareness around the risks of gambling harm, and service providers need to ensure they can appropriately meet the needs of people in different circumstances. 

“This is why we launched our Improving Outcomes Fund, to support organisations which are running programmes to help people from different communities.”

One aspect of the research highlighted the disproportionate concentration of gambling venues in more deprived areas across the UK.

According to the findings, people from marginalised, isolated or criminalised communities are more likely to live in these areas due to socioeconomic disenfranchisement, and are therefore more likely to come across gambling venues in daily life. 

Stigma was also seen as an underlying factor that contributed to the various groups’ gambling activity, and whether they would be likely to reach out for support and treatment in response to gambling harm. 

Underlining the importance of GambleAware’s own campaign to reduce stigma around problem gambling, marginalised communities already face stigma related to drug use, homelessness or mental health issues that intersect both with one another and with stigma from gambling harms.

Natalie, a person with lived experience of gambling harm and homelessness, stated: “To break free from gambling harm you need to have a safe place to live. If you don’t have shelter it makes trying to recover so much harder and it can be difficult to access support without a permanent address. 

“We need improved ease of access for accommodation and support, and to ensure sufficient housing options are available for people experiencing disadvantage from addiction.”

As a result of the research, the report recommends that gambling treatment services need to be accessible for people with different needs to meet the intricacies of marginalised groups and ‘break down barriers for them to access support’. 

Dr Sokratis Dinos, from NatCen’s Centre for Gambling Research, added: “We were pleased to carry out this study for GambleAware. The report is a collection of findings and analysis of six scoping reviews, which were conducted to critically appraise existing evidence on gambling harms among communities in Great Britain who are subject to disproportionate marginalisation, social exclusion or subject to criminalisation.

“The results show how vulnerability to gambling harms for some people in these communities will be driven by compounding inequalities, stigma, exclusion, and discrimination.”

Additionally, a call for more studies into gambling’s links to marginalised groups has been made following the research as there is currently ‘a lack of current evidence and understanding of their needs and the harm they experience’. 

GambleAware has initiated several campaigns to tackle issues of gambling within marginalised groups in the past, having launched a £4m funding programme to improve outcomes for women and minority communities affected by gambling harm.

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Acting as the foundation’s sole financial backer, Kaizen Gaming’s charitable campaign will support organisations in undertaking initiatives across each country the gametech company operates in, including Greece, Malta, Romania, Portugal and Bulgaria.

Kaizen Gaming Co-Founder and CEO, George Daskalakis, commented: ”Since we embarked on Kaizen Gaming’s journey, we have seen a lot of our dreams turn into reality. We are a company with over 2,500 people across the globe. We have supported dozens of athletes trying to conquer their goals. 

“Today we realise one more dream, through the establishment of the Kaizen Foundation, as we are now in the position to contribute to society in a more meaningful way than ever. The inauguration of the foundation is accompanied by the largest donation we have ever made, which will drastically change for the better the lives of children, their families and the hospital personnel.” 

The Kaizen Foundation’s premier initiative will be to support Penteli Children’s General Hospital in Athens, Greece, investing €3.8m in the refurbishment of the hospital’s surgical rooms, as well as first and ground floor clinics.

“On behalf of the Greek state, I would like to extend my gratitude to Kaizen Gaming and the newly established Kaizen Foundation for starting its operation with the renovation of this children’s hospital, which is crucial for the residents of North Athens and the surrounding areas,” stated Adonis Georgiadis, the Greek Minister of Health. 

“Thanks to this initiative, medical professionals will be able to provide a better standard of care, while little patients and their parents will receive high-quality healthcare conditions. Penteli Children’s General Hospital will turn into a jewel of the National Health System.”

This project will also see the implementation of fire safety systems and the renovation of the outdoor areas, representing the ‘most significant upgrade’ to the hospital’s facilities in 80 years. 

Panos Konstantopoulos, President of the Kaizen Foundation, explained: “From the moment it started operating, Kaizen Gaming has worked to make a difference in society. The creation of the Kaizen Foundation is a natural progression, the next step that allows us to implement initiatives on a larger scale, which will have an impact at an international level. 

“We are very touched that we start from Greece and the Penteli Children’s General Hospital. The renovation of this hospital is a step towards improving health care conditions for the children. We want to thank the Ministry of Health, its administration and the hospital employees who embraced this initiative.”

Starting with this project in its home nation of Greece, Kaizen Gaming’s charitable subsidiary will aim to ‘deliver initiatives with long-term impact that foster innovation and improve all aspects of people’s lives’. 

Deputy Minister of Health of Greece, Marios Themistocleous, added: “The collaboration with Kaizen Gaming and the Kaizen Foundation shows how private companies can positively influence the improvement of public health services for our children. 

“We sincerely appreciate their contribution and support in the ongoing endeavours of the Greek government to enhance the National Health System.”

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Writing for CasinoBeats, Dietmar Hermjohannes, Founder and Managing Director at GAMOMAT group, provides an in-depth look into the Gaming for the Climate initiative and how it encapsulates the group’s commitment to environmental responsibility. 

The fight against the climate crisis is a cause we hold close to our hearts. Our Gaming for the Climate initiative launched in December 2021. The scheme ensures a portion of GAMOMAT’s revenue raised from carefully selected games goes directly to support organisations that actively battle climate change and champion environmental conservation. It is anything but a symbolic gesture.

In our view, the igaming industry is brilliantly positioned, with its wide reach, to play a pivotal role in amplifying awareness about climate change and promoting sustainability. But before delving deeper into GAMOMAT’s various collaborations and projects, it’s essential to understand the origins and mechanics of the Gaming for the Climate initiative.  

Once it was introduced in December 2021, it meant that a portion of revenue raised from designated games was redirected towards global organisations on the frontline of the climate battle, those working tirelessly to mitigate the impacts of climate change and preserve our planet’s fragile ecosystems.

The intricate process of selecting the right organisations for partnerships is crucial. Our partnership selection process is shaped by well-defined principles, illustrating the type of organisations we’re enthusiastic about backing and the objectives we’re committed to reaching. We’ve curated a detailed checklist, setting the standard for would-be collaborators. Additionally, there is a customised evaluation framework that all organisations must meet. It’s imperative that the game’s theme and its corresponding environmental project are harmonised.

But it goes beyond funding. The initiative takes it a step further as the theme of each game resonates with a particular environmental issue. By connecting our games with environmental issues, we’re not just entertaining players; we’re also fostering awareness of the challenges our planet faces. This dual approach – of both funding and fostering awareness – strengthens the initiative’s impact, ensuring that each game becomes a catalyst for change.

One key example of collaboration within this initiative was the development of the inaugural game Book of Oasis and the global entity Healthy Seas, one that is dedicated to ridding the oceans of ghost nets and plastic debris. 

Our financial efforts have played a part in preserving over 200,000 hectares of pristine rainforest in Borneo. Additionally, we’ve been able to play a financial part in setting up fire patrol squads and initiating reforestation in devastated areas.

GAMOMAT’s newest partnership is with the wonderful African Wildlife Foundation, focusing on safeguarding lion habitats in Kenya. A portion of our revenues accrued by Lava Lions aids AWF’s mission to deliver long-term sustainability in the Tsavo West and Tsavo East National Parks.

The initiative is growing every year and it’s fun seeing all the different projects joining the cause, supporting different organisations that protect our climate and/or environment.

Looking at GAMOMAT’s broader CSR initiatives, a shining example is our ongoing support for Krisenchat (“Crisis Chat”), a Berlin-based service. Offering free psychological counselling to distressed children and youngsters, Krisenchat is a beacon of hope, and with our current year’s donation, they will be able to assist an additional 500 individuals.

GAMOMAT is also hugely committed to pursuing carbon neutrality. We have worked alongside external experts to study our carbon footprint. Based on the globally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol, we’ve outlined clear, actionable goals to counterbalance our carbon emissions.

But that’s not all. There will also shortly be another significant donation to an organisation that will be announced soon. Without giving away too much: it is also an impressive German organisation that tirelessly advocates for climate neutrality.

Our industry’s extensive reach means we’re in a privileged position to educate and influence a vast audience. By integrating environment-centric themes into our games, we can inspire gamers towards sustainable actions.

I am confident that there is a promising future for GAMOMAT’s Gaming for the Climate initiative. We’re only scratching the surface. Our allegiance to environmental sustainability is steadfast. With each passing year, we aim to introduce more games to this cause-driven initiative. This alignment will guide our path forward, ensuring that gaming is both entertaining and environmentally conscious.

GAMOMAT’s endeavours highlight the transformative power of industries when commerce and conscience converge, illustrating that the world of gaming can indeed be instrumental in shaping a sustainable future. 

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In the final interview of a four piece ‘dog-useries’, Doggo Casino takes us on a tour of the dog sanctuary run by Association for Abandoned Animals.

The video draws upon the insight of Rosalind Aguis, Sanctuary Manager, as she discusses the reasons why animals may end up at the shelter. She began: “One thing that these animals have in common is that they have all been abandoned. Most of these animals come to us either directly as pets that are no longer wanted – we have seen every reason that you can imagine. Some of these animals have been confiscated.

“Those animals are usually the worst cases where we see lots of instances of abuse against the animal. They have been forcefully confiscated by the police and by animal welfare.

“Some also come to us directly from the streets, and have not usually been chipped. Microchipping animals is the law, but some people don’t chip their pets purposefully so they can throw them out on the streets.”

When it comes to running the dog shelter on a day-to-day basis, one of the biggest challenges that the charity faces is ensuring that it has sufficient resources to support the animals in its care.

The shelter receives the vast majority of the food and medication it uses for its animals via donations. By raising awareness of the shelter, Doggo Casino is confident that it can help create a new fundraising drive for the charity.

Aguis continued: “We do have lots of challenges at the sanctuary. I think the biggest challenge, one that makes us really angry, is that the mentality is not really changing. People are still abandoning dogs as if they are nothing.

“Then, as a sanctuary itself, one of the biggest challenges lies in how we are going to afford to pay the rising veterinary bills and to also be able to feed these dogs.It is quite a heartbreaking job to do.

“We accept all kinds of donations. We accept voluntary donations, vouchers for pet shops or pet pharmacies. Everything is very welcome! When you have 80 dogs, you need everything you can get, so we accept donations from everywhere.

“Most of the donations do come here to the sanctuary like food or donations. We do offer tours around the sanctuary. However, if you have no way to come here, we can send volunteers to collect donations.”

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So it comes as no surprise that many betting and gaming companies are finding themselves in a position where they want to show the positive contributions that they are making to the local community – whether that be through charity initiatives or even education initiatives. 

For DoubleUp Group’s Doggo Casino brand, this comes in the form of charitable donations to local animal shelters – as you guessed by their name, their speciality lies in supporting initiatives that rehome dogs across Malta.

In part three of Doggo Casino’s ‘dog-umentary’, DoubleUp Group’s CEO Ale Rallo takes a look at the public perception of online casino companies – a reputation that can often be tainted by stories of big losses.

The video begins with footage from a dog shelter run by the Association for Abandoned Animals, showing some of the animals that can be adopted by the wider public. 

By raising awareness of the charity, Rallo believes that Doggo Casino can help shift the perception of the gaming industry by highlighting the CSR work that the organisation does.

He said: “There isn’t any connection between casinos and dogs, per se. But we don’t see any reason why there shouldn’t be. Casinos have previously been seen as these big, bad monsters that eat people’s money. At Doggo Casino, we’re fully legal, we’re fully regulated. All of our games are certified.

“We really don’t see why initiatives like this should be so rare. We think that we are just doing it right, we truly think that we can help the image of casinos. People will be able to see that we actually are committed to really make the world a better place. Our small contribution [to this] will be for animals.”

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One of America’s largest charity casinos, located near the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border, The Brook provides funds to more than 100 area organisations on a rotating basis. 

“Seeing the potential of New Hampshire’s charity casino model is what brought us home to build The Brook,” said Andre Carrier, CEO of The Brook. “These numbers show how significantly our business can provide for essential service organisations in New Hampshire.”

In 2019, Nevada-based Eureka Casino Resort acquired The Brook and since then, the latter has distributed a total of over $8m to organisations such as Make-A-Wish New Hampshire, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire, Annie’s Angels and Rockingham Nutrition Meals on Wheels.

Carrier continued: “Every day, people are confronted by real problems that need to be solved; from hunger to addiction to suicide prevention. And there are incredible people serving these causes across the Granite State at hundreds of charities. 

“Our 100 per cent employee-owned company has provided millions to these essential charities, and the continued remodel and expansion of The Brook should indicate it is our intention to raise millions more in service to New Hampshire.”

Earlier this year, The Brook unveiled an expanded gaming area and added nearly 500 gaming machines including Buffalo Gold, Ultimate Fire Link and China Shores as it became the first casino in the state to offer Historical Horse Racing machines.

“The Brook motto is ‘Live Free and Play’, Carrier concluded. “These fundraising numbers show how having fun and doing good goes so perfectly hand in hand at The Brook.”

The 75-acre property, which is 40 miles from Boston, also offers table games such as blackjack, roulette, craps, and Cajun Stud, the state’s only Stadium Gaming area with live dealers and digital screens, simulcast racing seven days a week, and an 18-table poker room that runs daily cash games and giveaways.

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Throughout October, Hard Rock’s hotel, casino, cafe and Rock Shop venues hosted fundraising events to help fund national and local breast cancer charities.

Using limited edition menu-items, specially designed merchandise, a song writing contest and more, the 23rd annual fundraising campaign surpassed its previous record by raising over $1m. 

“Pinktober is one of the most highly anticipated and celebrated times of year at Hard Rock,” said Jon Lucas, Chief Operating Officer of Hard Rock International. 

“Each October, our company divisions and properties around the globe truly personify our mottos of “Love All – Serve All” and “Take Time To Be Kind” by joining together to support breast cancer awareness and research.” 

Pinktober efforts included in-app activations by Hard Rock Sportsbook and a free-to-play mobile game, Hard Rock Dice Party. 

Furthermore, Seminole Gaming patrons were able to donate change from redeemable gaming vouchers at any Everi full-service kiosk across the company’s casino floors.

Lucas continued: “This year, we were thrilled to amplify our team’s deep passion through partnerships with Chef Dominique Crenn and musician David Correy, who both share our Pinktober mission and have been personally impacted by breast cancer. 

“We’re appreciative of their support to help raise awareness and donations for the American Cancer Society and related charities within our local communities.”

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