Europe

There was much ado about something after Leicester City earned their place in the Champions League Quarter Finals under new manager Craig Shakespeare. Following the draw earlier today the Premier League champions must now prepare for a showdown with Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. The Spaniards have reached the final twice in the past four years, but have fallen at the …

Pariplay has announced a deal with Betsson, which will see the industry provider roll out its portfolio of online slot content across the Stockholm-based operator’s online casino offering. The deal, which follows on quickly from a similar agreement with Interwetten, was facilitated by Pariplay’s ongoing strategic partnership with iSoftBet, an existing software partner for Betsson. Pariplay and iSoftBet, a London-based …

Speaking on Newstalk’s ‘Breakfast Business’ show, Mark O’Neil Chief Financial Officer of Irish independent bookmaker Boylesports stated his firm’s intent on growing its UK retail network. O’Neil detailed that despite losing its bid to takeover Ladbrokes-Coral merger betting shop ‘offcuts’ which would have given his firm a ‘solid retail platform’, BoyleSports will move to pursue its long awaited plans of …

Despite being deemed a ‘non-viable solution’ by the European Commission, the German Bundestag (lower-house) yesterday approved the progression of 2nd Modified State Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspieländerungsstaatsvertrag). Progressing the treaty, which allows a ‘transitional arrangement’ for bookmakers to offer online betting services as the German government revamps its national gambling framework expected in 2018. Last October, German officials presented the Second …

The bookies may have enjoyed the upper hand across the first two days at Cheltenham, but the punters struck back thanks to an incredible Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins quadruple on day three. After heading into the day without a victory, the famous horse racing duo made a quick start by prevailing in the JLT Novices’ Chase on Yorkhill (6/4), …

The German Betting Association (DSWV) has made an appeal to the government regarding the terms of the latest Gambling Treaty Amendment. This forms a part of the lengthy and ongoing battle to reform and better regulate sports betting in Germany. The amendment to the State Treaty provides the introduction of a quality approval system for sports betting providers. This followed …

Fortuna Entertainment continues its M&A expansion within the licensed Romanian gambling market. The Eastern European bookmaker confirmed this week that it was closing in on the acquisition of Fortbet Holdings gambling assets. Updating the market, Fortuna detailed that it was in the final stages of negotiations for the Fortbet properties of Bet Active Concept SRL, Bet Zone SRL, Public Slots SRL and Slot Arena SR. …

Bookmakers already celebrating a successful start to Cheltenham week will have further cause for celebration with the news that the betting industry will continue to be exempt from European money laundering rules. There was a real danger that the Fourth EU Money Laundering Directive would encompass bookmakers given the classification of gambling as a high risk area for money laundering. …

The UK Government is set to get tougher on money laundering and criminal financing activities by creating new watchdog the ‘Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision’ (OPBAS).  The body will act alongside the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the government seeks to introduce new, stricter money laundering regulations to meet global finance standards. The government will aim to set …