The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has moved to temporarily suspend the operating license of interactive TV gambling operator Smart Live Gaming (www.smartlivegaming.com). Issuing a market update on Friday 8 August, the UKGC declared that it was undertaking a review of parent company Smart TV Broadcasting Limited. Acting under section 116 of the UK Gambling Act, the regulator stated that it …

Sportech Plc subsidiary The Football Pools has confirmed that it will integrate a second screen live betting experience by BetUP produced by igaming UX specialists Commologic. Adding BetUP mechanisms, The Football Pools games will bring a in-play betting to customers for the first time and further add new game functions to its increasing product portfolio at footballpools.com. BetUp will be rolled …

Two developments have occurred over the last month that have provided some considerable insight into the Gambling Commission’s present and future regulatory priorities. The first is publication of the Commission’s Annual Report for 2015/16. The second is a speech entitled “Gambling: Getting the balance right” given by Philip Graf at the Royal Society of Arts as he comes to the …

A better than expected Euro 2016, which generated £36 million gross-win has helped William Hill Plc steady its 2016 financial performance, following its worst ever Cheltenham Festival results. Presenting its H1 2016 results (period ending 30 June), William Hill governance stated that the company remains on track to hit its revised full-year guidance of £260-280 million. The FTSE-listed operator would …

Independent bookmaker bet365 has reduced its Australian market losses to AUS 10.9 million (£6.3 million) for the 12-month period ending 27 March. The figure represents a marked improvement on its fiscal 2015 market losses of AUS $31 million. Since beginning its operations in Australia under a Darwin license in 2012, the Stoke-based bookmaker has accumulated losses of AUS $133 million …

New UK online betting operator Sun Bets, the joint business venture of Tabcorp Holdings and News UK, has launched its online casino offering in partnership with market leading software supplier Playtech. Sun Bets who officially launched this week, will be complemented by a comprehensive Playtech serviced online and live casino product. Playtech continues to strengthen its services partnership with News …

English Premier League Champions Leicester City FC have announced Amaya Inc online betting subsidiary BetStars as its official European Betting Partner as the Foxes make their Champions League debut in season 2016/17. Announcing the partnership this morning, Leicester City management detailed that the BetStars brand would receive high coverage placement throughout The King Power Stadium (capacity: 32,000) during season 2016/17 …

Footing a legal bill of AUS $20 million (£11.5 million) Australian ASX-listed gambling operator Tabcorp Holdings (Tabcorp) has witnessed its full-year 2016 net profits decline 49% to AUS $169 million (FY 2015: AUS $334 million). Presenting its FY 2016 results (financial period ending 30 June), Tabcorp governance stated that 2016 business conditions had been ‘Volatile.’ The gambling operator would report …

Publishing its H1 2016 results (period ending 30 June), Ladbrokes Plc governance has stated that its ongoing corporate strategy has seen it deliver an ‘accelerated multi-channel’ growth on all core metrics. The FTSE-listed bookmaker would close H1 2016, recording group revenues of £661 million up +13% on corresponding H1 2015’s £585 million. The revenue uplift would see the operator post …

Birmingham Championship football club Aston Villa FC has confirmed EnergyBet as its official UK and Europe betting partner for season 2016/17. Announcing its partnership with the Villians, the soon to launch EnergyBet brand will receive high visibility match day coverage throughout Villa Park stadium (capacity – 42,000).  The EnergyBet brand will receive additional coverage on Aston Villa’s digital and social …