Business
Games such as Omaze and McDonald’s Monopoly ‘normalising gambling’, says charity
Prize draws such as Omaze and McDonald’s Monopoly are normalising gambling, particularly for children and young people, a charity has warned.
GambleAware said survey findings suggested a link between prize draws such as Omaze and McDonald’s Monopoly and gambling harm, with latest data suggesting that 27% of people who gamble are estimated to be experiencing a risk of problems from taking part in such games.
Prize draws are not currently regulated as a licensed form of gambling, but GambleAware said they had “many similarities” to certain types of gambling and people “may not understand the risks associated with them”.
The charity raised its concerns about prize draws as it released its fifth annual Treatment and Support Survey data, finding that demand for treatment and support for gambling problems has almost doubled since 2020.
The YouGov survey found that almost one in three adults (30%) who are experiencing a risk of problems from gambling want treatment, support or advice, compared with around one in five (17%) in 2020.
The data also shows an increase in the proportion of adults who are experiencing problem gambling, up from 2.4% in 2020 to 3.8% in 2024.
The number of people affected by family or friend’s gambling has increased from 6.5% in 2020 to 8.1% in 2024 – an estimated 4.3 million adults.
The charity said estimates based on the YouGov survey suggested that around two million children may be living in households with an adult experiencing problem gambling.
GambleAware chief executive Zoe Osmond said: “Gambling can be highly addictive, with devastating impacts on people’s lives, relationships and financial stability.
“While it is encouraging that more people have sought help, this rise may also point to a growing public health crisis.
“We are increasingly alarmed by how gambling is being normalised and how frequently people – especially young people – are exposed to gambling across Great Britain.
“To reverse this troubling trend, urgent preventative action is needed. This must include tougher regulation of gambling advertising to stop gambling being portrayed as ‘harmless fun’.
“There should also be mandatory health warnings on all gambling ads, stricter controls on digital and social media marketing, and a full ban on gambling promotion in stadiums and sports venues to protect children and young people from harm.”
The report, which also explored attitudes towards children’s exposure to gambling, found widespread support for more restrictions on gambling advertising, with 91% supporting a ban on gambling advertising on TV and video games and 90% supporting a ban on social media.
Kate Gosschalk, YouGov associate director, said: “We are pleased to share the findings from the latest annual Treatment and Support Survey, a substantial online survey of around 18,000 people in addition to interviews with those who gamble.
“The new data provides valuable insight about gambling harm, including an increase in the number of people seeking support or treatment over the past five years.”
An Omaze spokesman said: “Omaze takes consumer safeguarding very seriously. We voluntarily operate an automated monthly spending limit for all customers, and our teams proactively review customer spend patterns to identify whether a customer has multiple subscriptions or if they frequently get close to the cap. This allows us to identify and protect against any potential excessive spend.
“We operate in full compliance with all relevant UK regulations.
“As a part of our commitment to high standards, we are subject to strict requirements under the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) and abide by all of its rules in promoting our products.
“Omaze welcomes the Government’s latest research and plans on the prize draw sector. We are pleased to be working closely with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to develop a voluntary Code of Conduct for the industry, to ensure that Omaze’s high levels of consumer protections are matched across our industry.”
Last Updated:
Lenskart IPO GMP Today: The company’s grey market premium has slightly fallen to 16.5% on Wednesday, compared with over 18% on Tuesday and nearly 27% on Monday.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today: Eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions is set to launch its initial public offer (IPO) on Wednesday, October 31. The price band of the Rs 7,278-crore IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 382-Rs 402 apiece. Analysts have raised valuation concerns with the IPO, which comes at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 230x. According to market observers, the grey market premium or GMP has slightly fallen to 16.5% on Wednesday, compared with over 18% on Tuesday and nearly 27% on Monday.
Lenskart IPO: Opening, Closing, Allotment, Listing Dates
The IPO will be opened on October 31 and closed on November 4. Its allotment will be finalised on November 6, while the stock listing is scheduled to take place on November 10 on both BSE and NSE.
Lenskart IPO GMP Today
According to market observers, unlisted shares of Lenskart Solutions Ltd are currently trading at Rs 468 apiece in the grey market, against the upper IPO price of Rs 402. It means a grey market premium (GMP) of 16.42%, indicating decent listing gains for investors.
The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. ‘Grey market premium’ indicates investors’ readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Lenskart IPO: What Analysts Say
Analysts point towards the high valuation of the company. SBI Securities said that at the upper end of the price band, Lenskart’s valuation stands at 10.1 times its FY25 EV/Sales and 68.7 times EV/EBITDA on a post-issue basis.
The analysts at SBI Securities cautioned that the issue appears stretched on valuation, which may cap potential listing gains. However, they highlighted the company’s strong business model and the significant growth opportunity in India’s expanding eyewear market as key positives.
The brokerage also noted that profitability metrics will need close monitoring as the company continues to scale its operations. Lenskart’s EBITDA margin has notably improved from 7% in FY23 to 14.7% in FY25, reflecting operational efficiency. Considering the company’s long-term prospects, SBI Securities has recommended subscribing to the IPO for the long term at the cut-off price.
Though the Lenskart Solutions IPO is debuting at a steep valuation of around 234 times its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, analysts said assessing the company’s valuation solely on the basis of its P/E ratio may not present a fair picture. They said Lenskart operates in a high-growth segment with significant untapped potential, given the low penetration of eyewear in India.
According to the Redseer Report, Lenskart emerged as the leading seller of prescription eyeglasses by volume in FY25 among organised retailers in India. The company has also expanded its footprint beyond domestic markets, establishing a presence in Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
SBI MF Invests Rs 100 Crore In Lenskart
SBI Optimal Equity Fund (AIF) and SBI Emergent Fund (AIF), invested Rs 100 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions Limited through a pre-IPO transaction at a transfer price of Rs 402 per equity share.
As part of the transaction, Neha Bansal, one of the promoters, who held 7.61% of Lenskart’s pre-offer paid-up equity share capital (fully diluted basis) prior to the transfer, transferred 2,487,561 equity shares. Neha Bansal continues to hold 7.46% of the pre-offer share capital of the Company on a fully diluted basis after the transfer. The share sale does not form part of the IPO Offer for Sale.
The investment comes on the eve of the opening of Lenskart’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) scheduled for Friday, October 31, 2025.
Last week, Billionaire investor Radhakishan Damani, founder of Avenue Supermarts (DMart), invested around Rs 90 crore in eyewear retailer Lenskart through a pre-IPO transaction, according to people familiar with the development.
Lenskart IPO Price Band and Size
The company has fixed the price band at Rs 382-402 per share for its IPO. At the upper end of the price band, Lenskart is seeking a valuation of around $7.91 billion (about Rs 72,700 crore).
The issue includes a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 2,150 crore, while the offer-for-sale (OFS) segment will see promoters and investors offloading more than 12.75 crore equity shares.
Key Selling Shareholders in the OFS
Along with founders and promoters (Peyush Bansal, Neha Bansal, Amit Chaudhary, and Sumeet Kapahi), several major investors are participating in the OFS. These include SoftBank’s SVF II Lightbulb (Cayman), Schroders Capital, PI Opportunities Fund, MacRitchie Investments, Kedaara Capital Fund, and Alpha Wave Ventures.
Notably, Schroders Capital Private Equity Asia (Mauritius) is set to make a complete exit, selling 1.9 crore shares, which represent a 1.13% stake in the company.
About Lenskart
Founded in 2010, Lenskart began as an online eyewear retailer and has since grown into one of India’s leading omnichannel eyewear brands with both online and offline presence. The company was valued at $6.1 billion as of September 2025, according to Tracxn data cited by Reuters.
In June 2025, the company transitioned into a public limited entity — changing its name from Lenskart Solutions Private Limited to Lenskart Solutions Limited after an extraordinary general meeting held on May 30.
Lenskart IPO Lead Managers and Objective
The fresh issue will be used for business expansion, new investments, acquisitions and general corporate purposes.
The IPO will be managed by a consortium of top investment bankers, while the registrar and book-running lead managers will be responsible for allotment and investor coordination.
With strong brand visibility, a robust online-offline model, and solid investor backing, the Lenskart IPO is expected to generate significant interest among both retail and institutional investors.
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h…Read More
Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h… Read More
October 29, 2025, 12:14 IST
Read More
Last Updated:
Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Wednesday, tracking positive global cues.
Sensex Today
Sensex Today: Indian benchmark indices — Sensex and Nifty — ended higher on Wednesday, tracking positive global cues and investor optimism ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy outcome. Sentiment was further lifted by reports suggesting that US President Joe Biden may soon finalise a trade deal with India.
The BSE Sensex climbed 368.97 points, or 0.44%, to close at 84,977.13, while the NSE Nifty50 gained 117.7 points, or 0.45%, to end at 26,053.9.
Broader markets also advanced, with the NSE Midcap 100 rising 0.64% and the Nifty Smallcap 100 up 0.43%.
Barring Nifty Auto, all sectoral indices closed in the green. Nifty Oil & Gas led the gains, up 2.12%, followed by Energy, Metal, Media, Bank, Financial Services, IT, Pharma, FMCG, and Consumer Durables.
Among Sensex constituents, NTPC, Power Grid, Adani Ports, HCL Tech, and Tata Steel were top gainers, while Bharat Electronics, Eternal, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, and Bajaj Finance ended as major laggards.
Ponmudi R, CEO, Enrich Money, said: “The Nifty50 marked its third straight day of gains, reflecting continued bullish sentiment. However, the index faces resistance around the 26,050–26,100 range, with support at 25,900–25,660. As long as it sustains above 25,800, the trend remains positive. A decisive move above 26,100 could drive an extended rally toward 26,250–26,400, while a drop below 25,900 might trigger mild profit-taking at higher levels.”
Global Cues
Asian markets traded mixed on Wednesday as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve’s policy announcement, where a second consecutive 25-basis-point rate cut is widely expected. Markets have nearly priced in the move, which would lower the federal funds rate to 3.75–4.00 per cent.
Japan’s Nikkei climbed over 1 per cent to a fresh record high, while the Topix was flat and South Korea’s Kospi added 0.17 per cent. Australia’s ASX 200 slipped 0.16 per cent after Q3 inflation rose to 3.2 per cent, the fastest pace in over a year. Hong Kong markets remained closed for a public holiday.
On Wall Street, major US indices hit new record highs overnight — the S&P 500 rose 0.23 per cent, Nasdaq gained 0.80 per cent, and the Dow advanced 0.34 per cent — as investors positioned ahead of the Fed decision.
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
October 29, 2025, 09:15 IST
Read More
Keiron TourishBBC News NI north west reporter
BBCIt’s not easy out there for families living through the cost-of-living crisis – and that’s why a new scheme in County Tyrone is offering free baby clothes in a bid to support people facing hardship.
The project in Strabane, funded by the Department for Communities, will be available to any family with children up to five years old.
It will also support people with nappies, baby and family toiletries for a nominal fee, but that can be waived in certain circumstances.
Karen Brown, a health visitor with the Western Trust, said the HiVe Baby Hub and free clothing exchange aims to support families in “one of the most socio-economically deprived areas in the entire UK”.
The project, which involves the Western Trust, the GP Federation and a local community project, will operate from the Grass Roots Centre on John Wesley Street.
Families can be referred to the service through their health visitor, family nurse and social workers or even call into the centre themselves.
The project also aims to reduce the environmental impact of clothing waste through recycling.
What does the Strabane baby clothes scheme offer?
Ms Brown, who came up with the idea, said she sees first-hand the needs of parents locally.
“The cost-of-living crisis has hit an awful lot of families hard, so this is a great initiative where we can help.
“Families who have that wee bit extra can also donate if they like.”
To support struggling families, the project already operates a wellness café and a social supermarket where people can purchase groceries at a discounted price if they are part of the membership scheme.
It also offers help with a range of services from money management to learning how to cook and grow your own vegetables.
Ms Brown said that as well as offering a free clothing exchange, it’s also a hygiene hub, which can “help with baby toiletries, nappies and anything really that a parent is going to need to look after their child”.
Ursula Doherty, from the Strabane Community Project, said people are struggling to meet the cost of baby hygiene products and clothes, and the exchange was a great initiative because it focuses on re-using and recycling.
“We do live in a very throw-away society, so it’s a great project in order to take it from landfill,” she said.
She added that people are going through real hardship.
“More and more families are finding it hard to make ends meet – food, fuel and even baby items.
“That’s right across the board. That’s people who are working and people who are on benefits. Everybody.
“In an ironic way it has equalised us all because everybody is suffering, so it’s always about looking at new initiatives.”
Derry and Strabane Deputy Mayor Niree McMorris said it was an amazing initiative.
“They have things like the clothes exchange, which is taking things out of landfill and putting them back into the community for re-use.
“In the Baby Hub, young families can avail of nappies and hygiene products.
“Everything you need to take care of your child. And also hygiene products for the mammy as well, so I think that’s really important.
“It’s amazing to see the good work that they’re doing here.”
China’s railway freight volume climbs 3.4% in Jan–Sept 2025
Lenskart IPO GMP Today Falls Amid Valuation Concerns: Know Opening Date, Price, Reviews
Jamie Lee Curtis addresses ‘mistranslated’ statement
-
Fashion1 week agoChinese woman charged over gold theft at Paris Natural History Museum
-
Entertainment1 week agoJohn Grisham unveils his first-ever mystery, “The Widow”
-
Tech1 week agoThis Smart Warming Mug Is Marked Down by $60
-
Tech1 week agoEaster Island’s Moai Statues May Have Walked to Where They Now Stand
-
Fashion1 week agoThe North Face and Cecilie Bahnsen launch second collaboration
-
Tech1 week agoOpenAI has slipped shopping into ChatGPT users’ chats—here’s why that matters
-
Politics4 days agoTrump slams ‘dirty’ Canada despite withdrawal of Reagan ad
-
Tech1 week agoAI model could boost robot intelligence via object recognition