Business

The iGaming market holds huge growth potential for emerging players. iGaming brands are reporting record revenue growth and market expansions every quarter, and as its remarkable growth trajectory continues, it’s influencing digital business models worldwide.

The truth is that players have always looked for more interactive experiences within the iGaming landscape, and as a result, casinos that are not on GamStop are introducing innovative monetization models that blend technology, entertainment, and personalisation.

This write-up delves into how the iGaming industry is reshaping digital entrepreneurship in 2025 to help you understand how it is influencing digital business models worldwide.

The iGaming Boom and Its Impact on Online Business Models

There’s no doubt that the iGaming boom has revolutionised how today’s digital businesses attract, retain, and monetise audiences. The iGaming industry, which has grown far beyond traditional online casinos and sportsbooks, has evolved to become a complex digital ecosystem, and experts attribute this growth to the standardisation of mobile-first platforms, seamless digital payments, and instant account verification.

As a result, businesses in 2025 can easily scale to new regions because this shift has inspired many modern businesses to prioritise speed and convenience.

We can all agree that data is the lifeblood of many digital businesses. Data is now being used to personalise offers and optimise user journeys, and it has had a huge impact on how digital entrepreneurship is conducted in many countries. IGaming companies have been relying on more refined data-driven marketing strategies for many years, an aspect that has set new expectations in today’s digital entrepreneurship.

Subscription, Freemium, and Microtransaction Models

Business models perfected in iGaming are being adopted across eCommerce, apps, and digital services. Subscription tiers cater to diverse customer needs and budgets by offering multiple service levels at different price points.

Under a freemium model, a business will give away a service to its target consumer at no cost, aiming to establish the foundation for future transactions. Finally, in microtransaction models, businesses generate revenue by facilitating small, frequent in-app purchases (IAPs) within a digital product.

Technology Innovations Driving the Transformation

AI, AR/VR, blockchain, and mobile-first design are the technological foundations that have set the stage for the redefinition of how entrepreneurs build online products in 2025. These technologies are commonly used in iGaming, but together, they provide entrepreneurs with frameworks for building digital products that are scalable, secure, and highly interactive.

AI has shown us that there’s a clear connection between digital transformation and business model innovation. This technology has made it easier for brands and companies alike to make things easier and better for their customers by facilitating advanced personalisation, fraud detection, and predictive analytics.

At the same time, AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) have helped brands offer more immersive experiences that have greatly redefined user engagement.

Finally, we’ve all witnessed how blockchain technology has helped improve the financial sector. We can now enjoy borderless transactions seamlessly, as well as more transparent, secure, and trustworthy payments.

AI-Powered Personalization and User Experience

The iGaming sector’s advanced personalisation tools influence UX design as well as customer retention designs used by startups. The use of behavioural data to customise game recommendations, bonuses, and in-platform experiences has been associated with the iGaming industry for years, but now, this trend has spilt over to modern startups, where they utilise the strategy to design user journeys that feel tailored rather than generic.

That’s how many startups have managed to transform digital product experiences. For the most part, they utilise AI systems to collect, analyse, and process vast amounts of user data to improve customer satisfaction and retention.

Blockchain Payments and Web3 Opportunities

Blockchain, the technology behind cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, has opened new opportunities for digital entrepreneurs to build decentralised business models. Blockchain technology offers a transparent and secure way to manage transactions without relying on third parties or intermediaries like banks.

Typically, smart contracts —- self-executing digital agreements built on blockchain technology — offer an extra layer of transparency and security by automating payouts, rewards, and user agreements. The truth is that Web3 tools are and will continue making blockchain-driven models more popular in the years to come.

Marketing Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn from iGaming

The iGaming industry has taught modern entrepreneurs that investing in data-driven marketing is key if they want to offer highly personalised experiences and ensure users keep coming back for more. You see, the iGaming industry excels in performance marketing, where advertisers pay only when specific, measurable actions like clicks, leads, or sales take place, instead of paying upfront for ad placement. SEO, on the other hand, helps in capturing high-intent traffic.

Meanwhile, social media marketing in iGaming and influencer partnerships can help build trust and visibility faster. They typically revolve around forming strategic collaborations to market products and services on the internet.

Finally, gamification and offering personalised offers have played a key role in customer retention in the iGaming industry. In conclusion, savvy entrepreneurs can learn that all these tactics have a proven record of increasing reach and putting the customer first, which in turn builds scalable and engagement-driven digital brands.

Gamification as a Growth Strategy

Gamification as a growth strategy simply means taking something that already exists, like a software application or online community, and using gaming techniques to motivate consistent participation and long-term engagement.

Since iGaming has already perfected gamification, modern entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to transform how they engage customers in other unrelated industries. This included the use of points, challenges, loyalty tiers, and reward mechanisms inspired by the iGaming industry to motivate users to take desired actions, and at the same time, make interactions enjoyable.

Data-Driven Decision Making

In iGaming, the use of analytics, A/B testing, and behavioural insights to improve customer satisfaction and have better strategic planning is very common. Of course, once user experiences are taken care of, the business is able to maximise revenue.

In this case, brands in other unrelated industries can use similar techniques to track player actions, test variations of offers, and analyse engagement patterns to make data-driven decisions instead of relying on intuitions. In essence, data allows brands to scale faster and minimise mistakes, which ultimately boosts business growth and long-term customer retention.

New Business Verticals Emerging Thanks to iGaming

The rapid expansion of the iGaming sector has made ancillary business verticals flourish. Some of the new business verticals that extend beyond traditional gambling include affiliate marketing, content creation, payment solutions, UX consulting, and compliance services.

Affiliate marketing has seen many marketing experts drive traffic and user sign-ups for iGaming operators. It has been a major ecosystem in the iGaming industry for many years, and it’s now being used in other industries to drive growth.

Content creation, which involves producing valuable, relevant content (like blogs, videos, social posts) to attract, engage, and build relationships with a specific audience, has helped build deep audience trust through authentic connection.

Payment solutions have evolved since the introduction of blockchain technology. It has helped resolve the issue of having faster and safer transactions.

At the same time, user experience (UX) is making customer-centricity a core driver of success in modern entrepreneurship, with consultancy firms emerging to offer help to brands seeking better ways to optimise engagement, retention, and accessibility.

Finally, compliance services have helped many brands with a crucial framework for risk mitigation, building trust, and enhancing operational efficiency.

Affiliate Marketing & Influencer Partnerships

Apart from being cost-effective and easy to blend, authentic brand storytelling, affiliate marketing and influencer partnership are among the most profitable niches stemming from the recent iGaming boom.

Digital content creators get to earn a sustainable income through commissions by promoting new betting sites UK players can access on the internet. For entrepreneurs, affiliate marketing allows them to bolster brand visibility — it tends to offer a relatively higher ROI (return on investment) because they are typically performance-based.

Challenges Entrepreneurs Face in the iGaming-Influenced Market

Frequent legal changes, high competition, fast-changing technology, and ethical considerations are some of the main factors founders must account for in 2025. The iGaming industry offers abundant opportunities, but as things stand, there are so many organisations that oppose the idea of marketing gambling-related products, especially gamification in modern entrepreneurship.

Let’s not forget that competition is also intensifying by the day. Player acquisition and retention are becoming more difficult as more established and startups seek customer attention on the internet. At the same time, technology is constantly evolving, which means ethical considerations are a must to ensure that, as companies adapt to new platforms and AI tools, they observe fair practices. This includes avoiding exploitative gamification and protecting user data.

Navigating Regulation and Compliance

Understanding legal frameworks is essential for anyone entering iGaming or iGaming-adjacent industries. That’s because adapting to new challenges means preparing for what may affect your business in the future — in this case, licensing requirements, advertising rules, and responsible gambling regulations that vary widely across jurisdictions.

Many iGaming companies have incurred heavy losses after being fined for violating laws in the jurisdictions in which they operate, affecting their bottom line. So, for startups exploring the lucrative iGaming-adjacent opportunities, they ought to stay informed to ensure they operate legally.

Conclusion

While there may be challenges, the iGaming industry will most likely continue to shape digital entrepreneurship in the years to come, just like in the previous years. Currently, the iGaming landscape is pushing innovation, inspiring new business models, and opening doors for entrepreneurs worldwide.

As everything shifts to mobile and demonstrates how data, gamification, and decentralised systems can engage and retain users, iGaming’s influence will only deepen and inspire more creative, interactive, and technology-driven business ventures globally.

Read more:
How the iGaming Industry is Reshaping Digital Entrepreneurship in 2025

To every business that cares about its reputation, customer conversations matter.

Providing great service has always mattered. Doing it brilliantly and consistently, is where things become hard, particularly for SMEs juggling growth, limited resources and rising customer expectations. At Moneypenny, we exist to solve that challenge. By combining unrivalled people and smart AI, we represent businesses seamlessly, delivering exceptional conversations that protect reputation and drive growth.

That mission has never been more relevant. Customer expectations have shifted dramatically in recent years, changing how people want to engage with businesses of every size, from retail and hospitality to trades, tech, healthcare and property.

Customers now expect the best of both worlds: speed and simplicity for everyday tasks, and real human expertise for the moments that matter. This shift is forcing companies to rethink how they deliver service. Hybrid-service models, which blend human connection with intelligent technology, are fast becoming the new standard. For SMEs, this isn’t just another trend to navigate; it’s a genuine opportunity to compete more confidently with much larger players.

Customers want both: personal expertise and digital convenience

Today’s customers expect seamless experiences. They want reassurance, empathy and expertise when a situation is sensitive or complex, but they also expect quick answers, instant access and zero friction for simpler interactions.

We see this every day across the thousands of businesses we support. Routine enquiries don’t need to wait in a queue, and customers don’t want to repeat themselves or struggle through clunky processes. At the same time, when something really matters, a billing issue, a legal query, a health concern, people want to speak to someone who listens and understands.

Hybrid-service models make this possible. At Moneypenny, our AI Voice Agent can handle routine calls instantly, 24/7, while our people step in for conversations that require judgement, nuance or care. Crucially, the experience is designed around choice. Some customers are perfectly happy to engage with AI for quick answers; others want to speak to a human straight away, and they shouldn’t be made to fight the system to do so. It’s not about choosing between automation and humans. It’s about using both intentionally, and transparently, to create better, more meaningful customer experiences. For SMEs in particular, getting this balance right, and respecting customer preference, can be a powerful point of difference.

Designing a hybrid experience that still feels premium

One common concern for smaller businesses is whether hybrid service will dilute their personal touch. The reality is that it doesn’t, not when the experience is designed with intention.

High-value moments, onboarding calls, consultations, problem-solving and relationship-building, should always feel personal. These are the interactions customers remember and talk about. Meanwhile, routine tasks such as appointment booking, updates or FAQs can often be delivered remotely or through technology without reducing quality.

What customers dislike isn’t the fact that a service is hybrid; it’s confusion. Unclear communication, inconsistent tone and uncertainty about who is handling what quickly erode trust. Setting expectations early, explaining how your service works and being transparent about the customer journey all build confidence. And confidence builds loyalty.

A well-designed hybrid model allows SMEs to deliver a premium experience consistently, even as they scale.

Restructuring teams to support hybrid delivery

Hybrid service doesn’t just change how businesses serve customers; it changes how teams operate internally.

Many SMEs simply don’t have the headcount to manage multiple communication channels or provide round-the-clock responsiveness, but they don’t need to. Outsourcing services such as lead qualification, appointment booking, payment taking, live chat or administrative support is often far more sustainable than hiring in-house. It also frees internal teams to focus on the work that truly drives growth.

When repetitive tasks are removed, people can concentrate on customer care, problem-solving and strategic work, the areas where human expertise really shines. Hybrid models also encourage more specialised roles, improving both efficiency and job satisfaction.

That said, hybrid raises the bar on communication. Clear messaging, consistent tone of voice and strong documentation are essential to delivering a seamless experience across both digital and human touchpoints. Businesses that invest in this groundwork are the ones that see the greatest return.

Pricing differently in a hybrid world

Customer expectations around pricing are evolving too.

Businesses can position high-impact, specialist support at a premium, while tech-enabled or remote elements can be priced more predictably. This opens the door to clearer packages, subscriptions or retainers, models that are particularly attractive to SMEs looking for stable, recurring revenue.

Hybrid delivery can also improve margins. When routine tasks are automated or outsourced, costs become more controllable without compromising service quality. Transparency is critical here. Customers trust businesses that clearly explain where efficiency is gained and where expertise is being applied. When people understand the value, they are far more willing to pay for quality.

Technology should make life easier, not harder

With so many tools on the market, it’s easy for SMEs to feel overwhelmed. But technology adopted for its own sake rarely delivers results. The most successful hybrid businesses start with the outcome they want to achieve for their customers, then select the technology required to enable it, not the other way around. By designing the customer journey first and choosing tools that genuinely enhance it, businesses avoid unnecessary complexity and focus investment where it delivers real impact.

The right technology should reduce admin, integrate smoothly, simplify service delivery and complement your people. If it doesn’t make life easier for your team or your customers, it isn’t the right fit.

At its best, technology fades into the background, enabling businesses to focus on what really matters: building relationships, protecting reputation and delivering great service, every time.

Hybrid isn’t a buzzword, it’s a competitive advantage

For SMEs across every sector, hybrid-service models are no longer optional. They are a strategic advantage. Done well, they improve customer satisfaction, increase operational efficiency, reduce pressure on teams and allow businesses to scale sustainably without losing their personal touch.

At Moneypenny, our role is simple: to be a trusted partner, always in our clients’ corner, helping them deliver exceptional customer conversations that drive growth. By combining brilliant people with smart AI, we empower businesses of all sizes to compete, grow and protect the reputations they’ve worked so hard to build.

Most importantly, hybrid brings together what customers value most: the speed of technology and the humanity of real people. And that combination will define the businesses that thrive in 2026 and beyond.

By Mark Finlay, Chief Commercial Officer, Moneypenny

Read more:
Why hybrid-service models are the future for business in 2026

New multi-AI integration enables real-time cross-verification for translation precision

In the world of AI translation, relying on a single engine has long meant accepting its blind spots. From occasional hallucinations to awkward phrasing or cultural mismatches, many businesses have learned that one engine’s output often isn’t enough.

That’s why MachineTranslation.com is making a decisive shift, introducing five new AI engines to its platform and expanding its lineup to an unprecedented 22 AIs. The goal? Accuracy through consensus, rather than reliance on a single algorithm.

“The problem isn’t a lack of AI options; it is finding the one that truly understands your specific context,” says Ofer Tirosh, CEO of Tomedes, the language services provider behind MachineTranslation.com.

“That is the power of MachineTranslation.com’s SMART option. You don’t have to rely on a single opinion. SMART compares all AIs and automatically selects the translation that the majority agree on per sentence. It is about achieving accuracy through aggregation and consensus.”

From AI Guesswork to AI Agreement

With the addition of Meta’s Llama, Amazon’s Nova, AI21’s Jamba, Moonshot’s Kimi, and Z.ai’s GLM, users now benefit from a system that analyzes each sentence across 22 different engines, instantly surfacing the most consistent translation based on cross-model agreement.

This marks a major enhancement to the platform’s SMART feature, which doesn’t just display multiple outputs but actively compares them to find the best-fit translation. It’s like putting your content through a panel of experts, each with a different linguistic strength.

The result? Internal evaluations show a reduction of 18–22% in obvious translation errors and stylistic drifts compared to single-model usage.

What Makes Each AI Model Unique?

Each newly added engine plays a distinct role in the ensemble:

Meta’s Llama – The “Human” Touch: Offers fluency and naturalness, flagging robotic outputs.
Amazon’s Nova – The Speed Engine: Optimized for processing speed and large-scale content loads.
Moonshot’s Kimi – The Context King: Excels at understanding long documents and maintaining narrative flow.
ai’s GLM – The Deep Thinker: Known for logical clarity and syntactic complexity handling.
AI21’s Jamba – The Professional: Prioritizes formal tone and reliability for business communications.

Each one adds a new dimension to translation review and helps filter out hallucinations, grammatical oddities, or culturally inaccurate phrases.

“These models aren’t just copies of one another; they think differently,” says Shashank Jain, Tech Lead at MachineTranslation.com.

“We’ve optimized the platform so that adding five more AIs doesn’t mean waiting five times as long. It is a seamless, instant experience.”

A Transparent Translation Workflow

One of the core philosophies behind MachineTranslation.com is transparency. Instead of hiding behind opaque algorithms, the platform shows users exactly how each engine interpreted the source.

“We are building a glass box, not a black box,” says Rachelle Garcia, AI Lead at MachineTranslation.com.

“Users deserve to see exactly how different AIs interpret their words so they can move forward with total trust. By adding distinct AIs like Moonshot’s Kimi, AI21’s Jamba, Amazon’s Nova (and more), we give users a wider palette. If Meta’s Llama misses a cultural idiom, Z.ai’s GLM might catch it (and vice versa). It allows for nuance verification in seconds.”

Features like segmented bilingual view, translation quality scores, and side-by-side output comparison help users evaluate and refine translations with more confidence than ever.

Designed for Teams that Need Accuracy at Scale

This upgrade is particularly impactful for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), localization teams, and multilingual content producers managing high-volume workflows.

By enabling cross-verification at the sentence level, teams can quickly detect outliers, flag inconsistencies, and push reliable content forward, without the delays or costs of full manual review.

And thanks to recent backend optimizations, users won’t experience any speed penalties when working with the full set of 22 engines.

Translation Without the Guesswork

The 22-AI update is now live and accessible for all users. Whether you’re localizing marketing content, preparing regulatory documents, or managing large-scale translation projects, you can now cross-check your output across the most comprehensive lineup of AI models in the industry.

Stop guessing. Start comparing.

Visit MachineTranslation.com to explore the enhanced SMART feature and translate with unmatched confidence.

Read more:
MachineTranslation.com Redefines Accuracy in AI Translation with 22-Engine Rollout

Trustly is an open banking payment method that enables you to transfer money directly between your bank account and an online casino.

Rather than using a card or setting up a separate e-wallet, you simply log in through your own bank’s secure interface to authorise a transaction. The process works for both deposits and withdrawals, and because it connects straight to your bank, there’s no middleman holding your funds.

Over the past few years, Trustly has grown significantly in popularity among UK slot players. There are now plenty of Trustly casinos available in the UK for slots fans to choose from, and the payment method ticks a lot of boxes that matter to players. From generous limits to fast cashouts, it offers a combination of features that make it genuinely useful.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key reasons why using Trustly to play slots in the UK has become so popular.

Access to a huge range of slot games

One of the first things every slot player wants to know when considering a new payment method is whether it limits their options. The good news is that casinos with Trustly often have many slots and a lot of variety, resulting in extensive game libraries. This applies to small or niche sites and larger platforms, with many operators choosing to partner with the best software providers in the industry.

That means you’ll usually find thousands of slot games to choose from. Whether you prefer classic fruit machines, Megaways titles with thousands of ways to win, or progressive jackpot slots where the prize pools climb into the millions, Trustly casinos generally have you covered.

Some of the top slot providers you’ll commonly find at these sites include:

Pragmatic Play
NetEnt
Big Time Gaming
Red Tiger
Blueprint Gaming

These developers are responsible for some of the most popular slots on the market, so choosing these sites certainly doesn’t mean compromising on game quality or variety.

Trustly unlocks most slot bonuses

If you’ve spent any time browsing casino bonuses, you’ll know that not all payment methods are eligible. Some options are excluded from triggering welcome bonuses, free spins offers, or ongoing promotions, with PayPal being a common example. While it’s a trusted and widely used e-wallet, many UK casinos restrict bonus eligibility for deposits made through it.

Trustly rarely faces these issues. Because it’s a direct bank transfer rather than an e-wallet, most casinos don’t apply restrictions. That means you can typically claim the full range of promotions on offer, including both packages for new players and any ongoing promotions for existing players.

For slot fans, this matters quite a bit. Free spins are one of the most common bonus types and are available specifically for playing slots, so being locked out of them simply because of your payment method is frustrating. With Trustly, you can usually avoid that problem entirely and take full advantage of whatever catches your eye.

Flexible deposit and withdrawal limits

Different players have different budgets, and a good payment method should work for everyone. Trustly does this well by offering flexible limits at both ends of the scale.

For casual players, the low minimum deposits make it easy to get started without committing too much. Most casino sites set their minimum deposit for Trustly at around £10, though some go even lower. Minimum withdrawal limits are similarly reasonable, usually sitting at £10 or thereabouts. That means if you land a modest win, you can still cash it out without needing to hit a high threshold first.

More experienced players can appreciate the generous maximum limits. You can often deposit up to several thousand pounds in a single transaction, which is higher than many other payment methods allow. The same applies to withdrawals. If you’re fortunate enough to hit a big win, you can usually withdraw larger amounts without needing to split them across multiple transactions over several days.

This makes managing your bankroll far more straightforward, ensuring Trustly is ideal for all types of players.

Quick withdrawals and other perks

Nobody wants to wait days to receive their winnings. One of Trustly’s biggest selling points is that it’s one of the best UK withdrawal methods for casino players, with these transactions often processing within a matter of hours. Some people even report receiving funds instantly. Of course, the exact timing depends on the casino’s own processing procedures, but Trustly itself doesn’t introduce unnecessary delays.

Beyond speed, there are several other practical benefits worth mentioning. First, you don’t need to create a separate account with another service, unlike with e-wallets. You simply use your existing online banking credentials to authorise payments, meaning it’s one less account to manage.

Second, you never share your payment details with a casino site. Every transaction happens through your bank’s own secure login page. For those who are cautious about online security, this is a genuine benefit.

Finally, most of the UK’s banks are supported. This includes major names such as Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC, and Santander, along with many smaller banks. The chances are your current bank is already compatible, so you can start using it straight away without switching accounts or jumping through hoops.

When you add it all up, Trustly offers a genuinely convenient way to fund your slots play. For UK players looking for a reliable and hassle-free payment option, it’s easy to see why so many have made the switch.

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Why Trustly slots are a great option for UK players

Pay by phone casinos let players deposit funds using their mobile number instead of a bank card or e-wallet.

The process is quick: enter your number, confirm via text message, and the deposit gets added to your monthly phone bill or deducted from your pay-as-you-go balance. There’s no need to share banking details with the casino, and the whole thing takes less than a minute.

It’s a method that’s grown steadily in the UK over the past decade. For example, research by UKtechnews.co.uk showed consistent search engine interest from British players looking for simpler ways to fund their accounts. The appeal is obvious – it strips away the friction of traditional payments and works entirely from a mobile device.

But for a sizeable chunk of UK players, paying by phone bill simply isn’t a practical option. Network restrictions, limited casino availability, and strict deposit caps all create barriers that push people towards other methods. Here’s where those gaps exist.

Limited availability at casinos

Despite growing demand, pay by phone bill isn’t available at every UK casino. Plenty of licensed operators haven’t added it to their payment options, whether due to the processing costs involved or because they’ve prioritised other methods.

Players who specifically want this feature often find their choices narrower than expected. For those hunting down compatible sites, resources like Paybyphonebillcasinos.uk list online casinos with the pay by phone bill option. Even so, the selection remains limited compared to what’s available for other payments.

There’s also a practical catch that undermines the convenience factor. Using this method only works for deposits. When it comes to withdrawing winnings, players need a separate method – typically a bank transfer. So while the initial deposit avoids sharing financial details, cashing out still requires exactly that.

Fees add another layer of inconsistency. Mobile networks generally don’t charge for these transactions, but some casinos apply their own fees to cover processing costs. On smaller deposits, these charges can take a noticeable bite out of the funds actually reaching your account.

Individual operators also set their own rules around verification and limits. Some require account checks before enabling phone deposits, while others impose caps lower than what the mobile networks themselves allow. It varies from site to site with little standardisation.

Limited network support

The UK’s four major networks – EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three – all support pay by phone deposits at casinos. If you’re on one of these, the method should work without any issues. But not everyone sticks with the big names.

Virtual network operators have carved out a growing share of the British mobile market. These smaller providers offer competitive pricing and flexible contracts, with Bloomberg.com reporting that these companies now make up 17% of the UK market. This means millions of UK mobile users now sit outside the Big Four.

This is where things get patchy. Some virtual networks support carrier billing because they run on a major network’s infrastructure. Others don’t enable it for third-party services like gambling transactions. There’s no universal rule – it depends on the provider and how they’ve configured their billing systems.

Even when a smaller network technically supports transactions by phone, casino compatibility isn’t guaranteed. The payment aggregators that process these transactions behind the scenes each work with different networks. One casino might use an aggregator that supports your provider; another might use one that doesn’t.

The result is unpredictable. A player on a virtual network might successfully deposit at one site, then find the same method blocked at another. There’s rarely a way to check beforehand without actually attempting a transaction. For anyone who values reliability, this uncertainty pushes them towards payment methods that work consistently everywhere.

Deposit limits rule out certain players

Mobile networks cap how much players can deposit through their phone bills. Most providers set transaction limits around £30 to £40, with daily caps in the same range and monthly ceilings typically around £240. These figures don’t vary dramatically between networks.

The restrictions exist for sensible reasons. They protect carriers from customers racking up large unpaid bills, and they align with responsible gambling principles by naturally limiting how much someone can spend in a short period. For casual players, these caps might even feel helpful – a built-in budgeting tool. But they make paying by phone impractical for anyone who plays differently.

Someone who normally deposits £50 or £100 in a session hits the ceiling straight away. The method simply doesn’t accommodate their habits, forcing them to use alternatives regardless of whether they’d prefer phone billing.

Even players comfortable with smaller amounts can run into friction. Wanting to deposit £60 in a single day means either splitting it across two days or switching to another payment method mid-session. The convenience factor disappears quickly when workarounds become necessary.

The monthly cap creates a harder ceiling. At £240 per month, regular players would burn through their allowance within the first week or two. After that, they’d need a backup method anyway. For this group, paying by phone works as an occasional option at best – not something they can rely on consistently.

Who is pay by phone bill right for?

The method works best for a specific type of player. Someone who deposits smaller amounts occasionally, uses one of the Big Four networks, and doesn’t mind having a separate withdrawal method. For this profile, the convenience genuinely delivers – quick deposits without needing to share bank details.

If that doesn’t describe you, then the barriers above will likely create friction. Pay by phone isn’t flawed, it’s just built for a narrower audience than the marketing suggests.

Read more:
Why pay by phone bill casinos don’t work for everyone

UK businesses have experienced a sharp decline in activity over the past month and expect trading conditions to remain weak until at least March, according to a new survey from the Confederation of British Industry.

The CBI’s latest growth indicator for the private sector showed a weighted balance of -34 per cent, indicating that a significant majority of firms reported falling activity over the past three months. Companies surveyed said they expected the sluggish conditions to persist into the early spring, underscoring continued fragility across the economy.

Economists said the downturn was partly driven by cautious consumers, who reined in spending amid weeks of intense speculation ahead of November’s Budget. Despite that uncertainty now easing, businesses report little evidence of a rebound.

Alpesh Paleja, deputy chief economist at the CBI, said the figures capped a disappointing year for private sector growth. “They mark a continuation of the headwinds that have plagued businesses over the past 12 months: tepid demand conditions, with households cautious around spending, and strong cost pressures squeezing margins,” he said.

Paleja added that pre-Budget uncertainty had delayed investment decisions and major projects, leaving pipelines of work constrained. “The latest growth indicator suggests that the alleviation of this uncertainty hasn’t materially boosted activity,” he said.

The survey echoes other recent data pointing to a fragile economic backdrop. The Office for National Statistics reported earlier this month that the UK economy contracted by 0.1 per cent in October, while retail sales volumes also fell in November despite the annual Black Friday promotions.

Labour market indicators have also weakened. Hiring intentions across the services sector have dropped to their lowest level since July 2020, during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Analysts link the slowdown in recruitment to higher employment costs following the £25 billion rise in employers’ national insurance contributions and a 6.7 per cent increase in the minimum wage, combined with subdued consumer demand.

While inflation has eased — falling to 3.2 per cent in November from 3.6 per cent the previous month — businesses are planning to raise prices more quickly over the coming quarter to offset rising costs. The fall in inflation prompted the Bank of England to deliver its fourth interest rate cut of the year last week, offering some relief to households and firms.

Looking ahead, the outlook remains muted. The International Monetary Fund expects the UK economy to grow by 1.3 per cent in 2026, a pace that remains weak by pre-pandemic standards. Financial markets believe the Bank of England could cut interest rates once or twice more next year, a move that may help support consumer confidence, spending and growth — but for now, businesses appear braced for a challenging start to the year.

Read more:
Firms hit by sharp slowdown in activity as confidence weakens, CBI finds

UK job vacancies fell for a fifth consecutive month in November as employers became increasingly cautious in the run-up to the autumn Budget, according to new figures that underline the growing fragility of the labour market.

Data from Adzuna showed a 6.4 per cent month-on-month drop in advertised roles, with total vacancies falling to 745,448. Compared with November last year, vacancies were down 15 per cent — the sharpest annual decline recorded so far in 2025.

November is typically a strong month for recruitment, particularly as businesses hire ahead of the Christmas trading period. However, weeks of speculation about possible tax rises appear to have prompted firms to delay or cancel recruitment plans, contributing to what Adzuna described as one of the toughest environments for jobseekers in recent years.

Andrew Hunter, co-founder of Adzuna, said the figures reflected a marked shift in employer behaviour. “November is historically a strong month for hiring, so this latest contraction is yet further proof employers are erring on the side of caution,” he said. “The autumn Budget added further uncertainty as we headed into the festive period, and that has weighed heavily on recruitment decisions.”

The slowdown has been particularly severe for those entering the workforce. Adzuna reported a 24 per cent fall in entry-level vacancies, pushing them to their lowest level since 2021. The company said youth unemployment in the UK is now rising at the fastest pace among G7 economies.

Official figures published earlier this month by the Office for National Statistics showed the unemployment rate rising to 5.1 per cent in the three months to October — the highest level since the pandemic. The ONS also confirmed that the UK economy contracted by 0.1 per cent in October, adding to concerns about weakening demand.

The deteriorating outlook helped prompt the Bank of England to cut interest rates to 3.75 per cent from 4 per cent in an effort to stimulate growth and support employment.

Competition for available roles has intensified as vacancies decline. Adzuna estimates there are now more than two candidates for every advertised job, increasing pressure on applicants across most sectors.

While advertised wage growth remains elevated at more than 7 per cent according to Adzuna’s data, this contrasts with official pay figures from the ONS, which show private sector wages rising at closer to 3 per cent — suggesting a disconnect between advertised salaries and actual earnings growth.

Sector-level data points to particularly sharp cutbacks in logistics, where vacancies fell almost 15 per cent over the month. Retail roles dropped by 5 per cent, reflecting weak consumer demand at a critical time of year.

Retailers will be hoping for a late surge in spending to salvage the Christmas period, but the ONS reported last week that retail sales volumes slipped by 0.1 per cent in November despite Black Friday falling within the month — a worrying sign for a sector heavily reliant on year-end trading.

With vacancies continuing to fall and employers remaining cautious, economists warn that the jobs market may remain under pressure into the new year unless confidence improves and demand begins to recover.

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UK job vacancies fall for fifth month as employers rein in hiring

Leonardo has warned the UK government that it may be forced to shut down its helicopter manufacturing operations in Britain if it fails to secure a flagship £1 billion Ministry of Defence contract, a move that would threaten the future of the country’s last remaining helicopter factory.

In a letter to defence secretary John Healey, Roberto Cingolani, chief executive of the Italian defence group, said the contract to replace the long-serving Puma helicopter was central to Leonardo’s long-term commitment to the UK. Without it, the company would be compelled to reassess its entire British footprint, including its historic manufacturing base in Yeovil, Somerset, which employs around 3,300 people.

Leonardo’s AW149 helicopter is currently the sole remaining contender for the programme, after Airbus and Lockheed Martin withdrew from the competition last year. The company submitted its final bid in April, with a decision now resting with ministers.

Cingolani warned that any delay or cancellation of the programme would have serious consequences. In his letter, first reported by the Telegraph, he said the absence of new UK defence contracts would force Leonardo to reconsider further investment in areas such as electronics and cybersecurity, in addition to core helicopter manufacturing.

Leonardo, the successor to Westland Helicopters, has produced military aircraft in Yeovil for decades and currently builds and supports more than 100 helicopters for the British armed forces, including the Merlin and Wildcat fleets. The site also services export orders for customers in the Middle East and North Africa, but senior executives have made clear that overseas work alone cannot sustain the factory indefinitely.

Speaking to investors last month, Cingolani said Leonardo could not “subsidise Yeovil forever”, noting that the company had gone more than a decade without securing a major new helicopter manufacturing contract from the UK government. “At some point we should consider why we keep a plant there for 15 years and don’t get anything,” he said.

The Ministry of Defence has sought to downplay concerns, insisting that no final procurement decision has yet been made. A spokesperson said officials were continuing to assess the business case for the new medium helicopter programme, adding that the tender submitted by Leonardo was still under active evaluation.

Defence minister Luke Pollard reiterated that position in the House of Commons last week, saying that while Leonardo’s bid had been assessed, the process remained commercially sensitive and no details on aircraft numbers, delivery schedules or contract value could yet be disclosed.

The warning comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to significantly increase UK defence spending, committing to raise it to 3 per cent of GDP in the next parliament and to 3.5 per cent by 2035 under Nato obligations. For Leonardo, the Puma replacement contract is seen as a test of whether that rhetoric will translate into sustained investment in Britain’s defence manufacturing base.

Industry figures say the outcome could define the future of sovereign helicopter production in the UK, with Yeovil’s fate hanging on a single decision that could either secure decades of skilled work — or mark the end of an era for British aerospace manufacturing.

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Leonardo warns it could exit UK helicopter manufacturing without £1bn defence contract

Rachel Reeves has ordered a review into the impact of abolishing the UK’s non-domiciled tax status, as questions grow over whether the reforms will deliver the revenues promised by the Treasury.

The chancellor will assess self-assessment tax returns for the 2025–26 tax year, with findings expected to be published in 2026. It marks the first time the government has publicly confirmed that it is formally evaluating the consequences of ending the centuries-old tax regime.

Non-dom status, which was scrapped in April, previously allowed wealthy UK residents to avoid paying British tax on income and assets held overseas by claiming their permanent home was abroad. Reeves replaced the system with a residence-based model, a move that has proved highly controversial among internationally mobile individuals, particularly because of its impact on inheritance tax exposure.

The government has forecast that the reforms will raise £34 billion in additional tax receipts by 2029–30. However, economists and tax advisers have warned that the estimate may be optimistic, citing signs of an accelerating exodus of high-net-worth individuals.

In recent weeks, we have reported that Mohamed Mansour, a long-standing Conservative Party donor, has shifted his residence from the UK to Egypt, while Lakshmi Mittal, the Indian steel magnate, is understood to have moved his tax residency to Switzerland.

Details of the review emerged following a freedom of information request submitted by Chris Walker, an economist at consultancy ChamberlainWalker, who sought payroll data relating to non-doms. HM Revenue & Customs rejected the request, citing an ongoing “review” of the non-dom reforms.

Walker criticised the refusal, saying: “It is deeply troubling that HMRC is still refusing to release this vital payroll data on non-doms at a time when ministers are relying on these reforms to underpin future tax revenues.”

The move builds on groundwork laid by Jeremy Hunt, the former Conservative chancellor, who initiated plans to abolish non-dom status but stopped short of sweeping inheritance tax changes. Reeves went further after taking office, arguing the reforms were necessary to improve fairness and shore up the public finances.

The Treasury now faces mounting pressure to demonstrate that the policy will not ultimately weaken the tax base by driving wealth, and associated economic activity, offshore.

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Rachel Reeves launches review into impact of non-dom tax overhaul

A UK maritime robotics startup led by a 22-year-old founder has raised more than £750,000 to develop autonomous robots designed to clean ships’ hulls, reduce fuel consumption and remove the need for hazardous underwater diving work.

Edinburgh-based ScrubMarine, founded by Rohith Devanathan while he was still a student, has secured the funding in a venture round led by SFC Capital and PXN Ventures. The investment will allow the company to complete its first commercial prototype, expand its engineering team in Whitehaven, grow its Edinburgh operations and move towards live trials with customers.

ScrubMarine is developing autonomous hull-cleaning and inspection robots that target biofouling – the build-up of algae, barnacles and slime on ships’ hulls. This growth increases drag, driving up fuel consumption and emissions. Devanathan estimates biofouling adds more than $100 billion a year to global shipping costs.

“Biofouling is a hidden problem, but it’s a massive one,” he said. “It increases drag on the vessel, which increases fuel burn. That’s a huge cost for operators, and it’s also bad for the environment.”

Traditional hull cleaning often requires ships to be dry-docked or divers to work underwater alongside large vessels, a process that is costly and can be dangerous. “The diving issue isn’t just about cost,” Devanathan said. “It’s also a serious safety concern. Divers do lose their lives in incidents like these, and that’s why we’re building robots to take people away from that risk.”

The company’s first robot, known as the Turtle, is a lightweight autonomous system that clings to a ship’s hull and removes biofouling using cavitation technology. The process uses microscopic water bubbles that implode on the surface to dislodge debris without damaging the vessel’s protective coatings. The robot also captures inspection data in the same pass, allowing operators to assess hull condition at the same time as cleaning.

Unlike many existing systems, which can be the size and weight of a small car, the Turtle weighs less than 50 kilograms. That makes it easier to deploy without cranes or support divers, significantly lowering operational complexity and cost.

ScrubMarine is also developing a larger autonomous deployment vehicle, nicknamed the Whale, designed to transport multiple Turtle units to offshore vessels and retrieve them without the need for crewed boats or port infrastructure. The system is intended to serve ships operating offshore, including in sectors such as offshore wind, oil and gas and superyachts.

The company believes the technology could scale rapidly. Its business plan forecasts annual revenues of £56 million within five years, with applications across global shipping and marine energy markets.

Born in Chennai and raised in Edinburgh, Devanathan began building websites and small businesses as a teenager before enrolling on a robotics degree at Heriot-Watt University at the age of 17. He founded ScrubMarine in 2024 while studying robotics engineering, where he met co-founder Clyne Albertelli, who was researching robotic systems for maritime use.

The funding round was also backed by the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, which supports early-stage companies across the north of England. Private investors include Graham Westgarth, former president of the UK Chamber of Shipping, and Colin Greene, a former Apple country chief executive.

With prototype development nearing completion, ScrubMarine is now preparing for its first commercial trials, as it looks to bring automation, cost savings and safer working practices to one of the shipping industry’s most persistent challenges.

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Edinburgh startup secures £750k to build robots that clean ships’ hulls