Europe

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has granted a series of derogations (exemptions to the law) related to the acquisition of Sporting Index by Spreadex Limited. As announced on 15 January, the CMA launched an inquiry evaluating Spreadex’s acquisition of its main rival, Sporting Index, and its impact on the UK’s spread betting market. The inquiry will evaluate whether Sporting …

Spain’s General Directorate of Gambling Regulation (DGOJ) has added the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) to the Global Research Service for the monitoring of betting integrity.  By signing the agreement, AFE can now utilise in-depth data flows to submit information about instances of suspicious bets placed on various sporting events.  The DGOJ further clarified that the service is compliant under …

Sweden’s gambling regulator Spelinspektionen has issued bans to two operators for unlicensed activity in the country. The two companies in question – True Polygon Entertainment Limited and Smein Hosting NV – have been accused of providing unobstructed access to gambling on their main and affiliate websites (CSGOBIG, Gamdom) without having the required licence to do so.  These are the first …

As of this morning (24 January 2024), Flutter Entertainment Plc has declared that it has ceased trading of its ordinary shares on the Dublin Euronext Exchange. On Tuesday, 23 January, Flutter concluded its final day of trading on the Dublin Euronext, as the global gambling group prepares to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Monday, 29 January. …

Pferdewetten.de AG has outlined its plans to acquire 25 new betting shops to help expand the retail presence of its Sportwetten.de brand across Germany’s federal states. As disclosed to German media, Düsseldorf-based Pferdewetten announced that it had “signed a declaration of intent” to acquire 25 betting shops from a “renowned company in German sports betting.” Established in 1997, Pferdewetten serves …

There has been an increase in people self-excluding from online gambling, a report by GAMSTOP has shown.  The national self-exclusion scheme revealed that new registrations between 2022 and 2023 have grown by 9.5% year-on-year.  In fact, 2023 was a record year for self-exclusions, with more than 92,000 vulnerable consumers registering with GAMSTOP. May in that year also proved to be …

Parimatch has announced that it is extending its role as the official betting partner to the European Cricket Network (ECN). To kick-start 2024, the pair have now partnered on all ECN men’s and women’s events set to take place early this year, including the European Cricket Series (ECS), European Cricket International (ECI) and the European Cricket League matches.  Daniel Weston, …

Spotlight Sports Group (SSG) has released Greyhound Smart View racecards powered by the Racing Post. Described as a cutting-edge addition to the media company’s Smart View portfolio, the racecards build on the success of Horseracing Smart View racecards, released in 2023, and are similarly designed to ‘simplify’ the Greyhound betting experience.  Entain’s Digital Hubs in the UK, totalling 160 locations, …

Swedish horse racing group Aktiebolaget Trav och Galopp (ATG) has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s plans to increase gambling taxes.  In a blog post, ATG CEO Hasse Lord Skarplöth criticised the decision to raise tax rates for operators from 18% to 22% of their total gross gambling revenue (GGR) from July onwards, calling it a ‘shock’.  In his words, Skarplöth …

Jenningsbet has stated that the UK government’s plans to introduce a mandatory levy as part of the Gambling Act’s White Paper Review will hinder the bookmaker’s ability to continue with its charity work.  The mandatory levy, proposed at up to 1% of annual gross gambling yield (GGY) aims to collect funds for Research, Prevention and Treatment (RET) of gambling harms. …