bet365, Entain and Flutter join new global gambling industry alliance in Switzerland. Xenia Luch 12 October 2026 [Maarten Haijer, CEO of the WGBA] A new international organisation, the World Gaming and Betting Alliance (WGBA), has been established in Switzerland to represent the interests of licensed betting operators and casinos in discussions on gambling regulation worldwide. This was reported by Next.io. Although the WGBA was only publicly announced in October, the organisation was established earlier in the summer. According to the Swiss commercial register, it was founded on July 9, 2026, and officially registered on July 30. The alliance lists some of the world's largest gambling companies among its members, including bet365, Entain, Flutter Entertainment and FDJ United. The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) is also listed as a member. However, the operators themselves have yet to issue separate public statements confirming their involvement. The alliance plans to focus on several key areas: * Working with governments and regulators; * Protecting players; * Improving transparency across the gambling industry; * Combating illegal gambling operators; * Producing research to help governments make informed decisions on gambling regulation. Maarten Haijer has been appointed CEO of the alliance. He previously led the EGBA for more than 13 years before stepping down in September 2026. Earlier in his career, he also worked at the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Netherlands' Permanent Representation to the European Union. According to Haijer, gambling regulations are changing rapidly around the world. He believes it is increasingly important to highlight the benefits of regulated gambling markets and ensure that gambling remains a legitimate form of entertainment for adults. The WGBA's official launch is scheduled for November 2026 in Geneva, where the organisation also plans to present its first major research report. Xenia Luch | Journalist Professional journalist (journalism degree) | Esports journalist & analyst | Active esports competitor | Pump darts athlete | Competitive scene insider

The Big Leagues launches sports-focused prize draw platform for UK market. Successful £500,000 seed funding sees operator combine prize draws and free-to-play prediction games to offer top-tier sports prizes The Big Leagues has officially gone live in the UK with its new prize draw platform, bu... Oct 07, 2026 · 3:38 AM · Wladimir P. Successful £500,000 seed funding sees operator combine prize draws and free-to-play prediction games to offer top-tier sports prizes The Big Leagues has officially gone live in the UK with its new prize draw platform, built exclusively for sports fans that gives them the chance to win a variety of top-tier sports prizes. Designed to make the overall sports experience more fun and entertaining, The Big Leagues has a variety of unique rewards up for grabs, from holidays and sports hospitality packages to season tickets and ownership share of a racehorse. The online community provides two ways for sports fans to win. Players can enter directly through the prize draws platform by purchasing tickets or earn free entries within free-to-play prediction games that test their knowledge on the outcomes of major sporting events. The Big Leagues was founded by Adam Shaw, who has 15 years' experience in the betting and gaming industry with a strong track record of scaling major B2C brands. Shaw most recently served as Chief Revenue Officer at Superbet and was previously International Director at Flutter Entertainment. Its proprietary tech platform was developed in-house by Hunch co-founders Daniel Williams and Alexander Wall, who specialise in sports gamification and fan engagement. The launch follows a £500,000 seed funding raise, with the company exploring further strategic investment opportunities to match its strong ambitions to grow the online community. Additionally, the operator is actively seeking partnerships with brands, sports organisations and charities which are sourcing new ways to engage and monetise their audiences, as well as collaborating with major sports inventory suppliers. Adam Shaw, Founder of The Big Leagues, said: "The prize draw market is missing a real challenger brand who puts the sports fan first and provides them with a genuine reason to return. With The Big Leagues, Gaming Newsroom is offering them the chance to win prizes they genuinely want within a frictionless user journey. "Through our attractive prize draws and wide range of free-to-play prediction games across multiple sports, we're building a community that brings sports fans together for increased entertainment. We're incredibly ambitious and are keen to explore further investment and partnerships that will accelerate our business growth." Wladimir P. Content Editor that covers a large variety of industries.