Entering a new season of flat racing, online betting exchange Matchbook (Matchbook.com) has detailed that it will offer ‘commission free wagering on every horse race’ from Sunday to Wednesday until 17 May.  Matchbook, which has a 4/5 performance rating on Bookmaker Ratings, detailed that the promotion was developed in order to highlight ‘just how big an edge’ racing customers can …

Updating the market and media, the UK government has confirmed that 2017’s ‘Horserace Betting Levy Regulations’ has come into law as of the 25 April. The reformed levy marks a new era for the sports’ funding which will see all operators pay a 10% tax on profits generated from customers on UK racing bets regardless of wager vertical (online or …

FTSE-listed Ladbrokes Coral Group Plc has restructured its executive legal team, which will now be led by Lindsay Beardsell who joined the company as Group General Counsel last January. The company has informed that long-term Gala Coral General Counsel and Company Secretary Harry Willits has left the company, choosing not be part of the enlarged operators executive management team. Ladbrokes Coral …

Following this Sunday’s first round ballot, the 2017 French General Election will be decided by two outsiders as centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right populist Marie Le Pen battle in the deciding 2nd round of voting on 7 May. Updating markets, the majority of bookmakers’ have priced Macron as firm 1/8 favourite (implied 90% chance of winning). Pollsters and commentators believe …

In a bid to outmanoeuvre Tabcorp Holdings and derail the firm’s planned AUS $11 billion merger with Tatts Group, the Pacific Consortium has offered Tatts investors a ‘deal sweetener’ should they favour their AUS $7.3 billion all-cash for Tatts assets. The joint-venture investment vehicle headed up London private equity firm Macquarie Group and New York hedge fund Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) will …

Updating the market, New York-listed IGT Group Plc has confirmed the promotion of Fabio Celadon to the position of Senior Vice President of Gaming Portfolios. Celadon who formerly served the company as Managing Director of China and as Asian business lead for IGT International will take on the newly formed executive position reporting directly to Group CEO Marco Sala. IGT …

The governance of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has stated that the snap UK General Election will not delay the introduction of UK racing’s central funding levy system. Last week Nick Rust Chief Executive of the BHA, confirmed that the Levy system had been approved by the European Commission, clearing a final hurdle for racing stakeholders. “With the final, outstanding …

Matt Wilson Co-Founder & Chief Executive of Ball Street a specialist in sports social media engagement and content creation details to SBC the disruptive and often misunderstood nature of Fan Media. Focusing on viewer engagement and participation, Wilson has grown Ball Street’s network to be a leading social media vertical for sports. Wilson details to betting industry stakeholders the power …