Europe

The Czech Republic’s finance minister Alena Schillerová has confirmed that the country will be hiking taxes on gambling operators, set to come into effect from January 2020. Announced on Twitter, Schillerová confirmed: “The government has just approved a long-awaited Tariff package for tobacco, hard alcohol, and gambling taxation by the Ministry of Health and the National Drug Coordinator. It responds …

Belgium’s government has approved a further directive of CDV Minister (Christian Democrat) Koen Geens ‘gambling protection mandate’, which sanctions the Belgium Gaming Commission (BGC) to implement a tougher advertising code on licensed gambling operators. From 1 June, advertising of online casino services and gambling products will no longer be broadcast across Belgian TV networks. The measure forms part of Koen …

Bet365 is set to be the latest operator to implement the marketing compliance screening tool, GiG Comply after inking a new deal with Gaming Innovation Group Inc (GiG). The compliance tool software is able to scan up to 30,000 web pages daily and will offer Bet365 a thorough list of locations where any of its brands are mentioned is compiled …

Lottomatica’s Ludovici Calvi has been reappointed as the President of the Global Lottery Monitoring System (GLMS) at the association’s most recent AGM in Antwerp. Joining Calvi, a number of other members have been elected to the Executive Committee for the upcoming 2019-2021 term. Kauhanen Sami from Veikkaus OY has been appointed, alongside EL Mechrafi Younes from MDJS as well as …

Gibraltar online gambling group Mansion continues its support of boxing, with its flagship sportsbook property MansionBet sponsoring the ‘Pound for Pound’ podcast. Considered boxing’s ‘number 1 podcast’, Pound for Pound is hosted by actor Jake Wood and ex European Super Bantamweight Champion Spencer Oliver. Published each Wednesday, Pound for Pound features in-depth analysis of boxing fights, news, events, plus exclusive …

Kommunal Landspensjonskasse (KLP) Norway’s €70 billion public pension fund has confirmed that it will no longer invest in gambling or alcohol-related enterprises. Business news sources have reported that KLP governance has sanctioned a complete sale of its holdings in gambling and alcohol businesses, impacting around 90 firms. Moving forward, KLP states that it will no longer invest in companies that …

Industry platform and software services provider EveryMatrix has confirmed that it has agreed to sell its B2C brand Jetbull to Swedish igaming group AMGO AB for €2 million. Jetbull has served as EveryMatrix’s B2C brand since 2010, primarily servicing online sportsbook and casino provisions. Updating the market, EveryMatrix Founder & Chief Executive Ebbe Groes stated that the transaction was undertaken …

The chair of the new Responsible Affiliates in Gambling (RAIG) trade body Clive Hawkswood is already making meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the necessity for affiliate-specific regulations, as the marketing sector looks to protect its image. In an interview with AffiliateINSIDER, Hawkswood was asked if gambling affiliates and affiliate marketing practices were misrepresented within existing UK advertising codes. “There …

The governance of FTSE100 gambling group Paddy Power Betfair Plc has confirmed that it has officially sanctioned the firm’s corporate rebrand to ‘Flutter Entertainment Plc’. The Flutter Entertainment rebrand was approved outright (99%) by company shareholders at the firm’s 15 May 2019 AGM. As previously communicated, the FTSE betting group undertakes the rebrand to ‘better reflect its broader business’ within …