Castle Leisure rides out the rising costs with a strong 2025

Cardiff-based bingo operator Castle Leisure Ltd has reported revenue for 2025 rose 4.5 percent, while “2026 has started positively,” with the directors poised to continue riding out the inflationary trends that impacted profit for the last fin...

“Seaside arcades need Easter boost”: report warns of a decade of decline and tough going

New research by CEBR paints an alarming picture of the clouds looming over the UK’s coastal economies. With turnover down a quarter in the last decade, the traditional heart and soul of the British seaside experience is under threat. We may li...

DCMS scrambles out new three-month transitional fund as levy distribution chaos continues

The stories of failed gambling harm charity applications just keep flooding in as the new grants system under the Statutory Levy hits the panic button. They were handed a mess by the outgoing GambleAware regime, but the new crop have done them...

Hostility from hospitality: industry berates government’s “good ideas about how to destroy business”

Raising taxes, raising business rates and raising the cost of employing staff – it’s not a good look for a Government seeking to drive growth in the economy. And the industry once singled out as the force behind that growth is turning on the v...

Parkdean donates £180,000 of holidays to military families

Parkdean Resorts has announced it will donate 240 free holidays worth over £180,000 to military families in 2026, part of an ongoing partnership with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, RAF Benevolent Fund, and the Army Central Fund. 

Trade bodies warn Commission against implementation of FRAs 

The Betting and Gaming Council and the British Horseracing Authority have urged the Gambling Commission to pause and reassess the proposed introduction of financial risk assessments, over concerns added regulation will drive bettors to the bla...

Real Fun puts company culture first in its drive to “make clubs fun again”

Real Fun Group has reiterated its intention to “make bingo clubs fun again” by focusing on providing its existing venue teams with the support to build community and excel.

“Crackers”: pub chief slams government’s £3k youth employment incentive proposal

The CEO of pub operator Shepherd Neame has criticised the government’s proposal to offer businesses £3,000 when they employ young benefit claimants, stating the plan is “crackers” in the face of rising taxes.

“We all saw it coming a mile off”: GLEN highlights failure of Levy funding allocation

Oh dear. If you thought GambleAware were useless, it looks like the third sector might have its work cut out with its successor as well. It may be early days of the Gambling Levy funds process, but things can only get better as the first tranc...

MPs raise conflict of interest concerns as Rhodes looks to join industry

Andrew Rhodes’ plan to remain in the industry after stepping down as CEO of the Gambling Commission has obviously ruffled some feathers. So much so that his possible step across the divide to the industry side has been questioned by Shadow Min...

“It’s wonderful news”: Serena Silcock-Prince welcomes approval of £20m Southport Pier restoration

Group head of operations at Silcock Leisure, Serena Silcock-Prince, has welcomed the government’s decision to approve Growth Mission Funding for the £20m renovation of Southport Pier as “wonderful news” for the town, during a period of “really...

Bacta Charitable Trust  confirms branding opportunities at sold-out summer ball

As the great and the good of the industry prepare for what promises to be the social highlight of the year the Bacta Charitable Trust (BCT) has announced a programme of ‘pledges’ which have been created to help brands and businesses build thei...

Is Aim to Permit in the hot seat? 

The recent House of Commons debate is a useful reminder that one of the cornerstones of the Gambling Act 2005 continues to attract attention and criticism, says David Inzani, partner at licensing law firm Poppleston Allen.

GBG unveils its High Street Hub agenda with the focus on player protection and facial recognition standards

The Gambling Business Group has released its High Street Hub seminar programme to be held at ARE Expo, highlighting player protection, compliance and the introduction of new facial recognition standards.

Showmen’s Guild launches landmark TV campaign to promote Easter fairs

The Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain has commissioned its first primetime TV advertising campaign to promote the 160-plus fairs taking place across the country this Easter, with an accompanying webpage giving visitors all the information neede...

Gambling Commission appoints senior civil servant as director of operations amid its leadership overhaul

It’s all change at the Gambling Commission at the moment with a new operations director joining the regulator from HMRC. Sue Young takes over the senior role as the regulator continues its search for a new chairman and chief executive.

Hospitality insolvencies jump 9 percent between December and January

Hospitality insolvencies jumped 9 percent between December 2025 and January 2026, as businesses continue to face economic headwinds including high VAT and alcohol duties, as well as rising staff and supply costs.

Blueprint secures a new machine supply agreement with iconic Clacton Pier

Best in class products befitting a best-in-class venue has seen Blueprint Operations (BPO) secure a major presence at the Clacton Pier arcade and Joywheel high street gaming centre. The major business win also reflects positively on BPO’s cons...

CIAs to become GIAs as government seeks to appease prohibitionist MPs by tightening up local authority licensing

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage has tabled an amendment to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill proposing the introduction of cumulative impact assessments – renamed as “gambling impact assessments” – which focus on giving local ...

Over 90 percent of Bacta members believe government doesn’t understand the sector

Bacta’s Pulse initiative is doing exactly what was intended, and that’s to build a multi-layered picture of the issues that are keeping members awake at night and which undermine the vitality of the industry. This week’s sentiment survey shows...

Game Nation’s got talent: former table tennis international puts a fresh spin on CHIPS fundraising

Scratch the surface of any organisation and you will find individuals with unusual claims to fame. Such is the case at Game Nation where it transpires that engineer Leonard Benissan has represented Togo, his country of birth, at table tennis b...

Club 3000 Bingo invests £3m in refurbishment of flagship Coatbridge club 

Club 3000 Bingo is to invest more than £3m in refurbishing its flagship Coatbridge club, marking a major milestone in the club’s continued commitment to delivering “an exceptional bingo and entertainment experience.”

On the road with Brad Royce: Boomerang’s country-wide training programme puts the Jigsaw Entertainment System centre stage

Ahead of the UK holiday park season swinging into full gear, Boomerang Digital’s Brad Royce has been traversing the country ensuring that the sector’s entertainment teams are fully up to speed with the capabilities of its Jigsaw Entertainment ...

Parkdean Resorts to recruit 4,000 staff for summer season

Parkdean Resorts has announced it will hire 4,000 new staff this season for a range of roles across its 65 holiday parks, following “strong bookings for 2026.”

Just say no: the industry has nine days left to lodge its opposition to a 30pc hike in Gambling Commission licence fees

Given the options put forward, it would seem that a massive increase in Gambling Commission fees are on their way. But not definitely. The industry has a compelling case to see the rise reduced, at least, and halted at best. Coinslot offers up...