Europe

The board of Entain Plc are reported to be in ‘advanced discussions’ to appoint Danish executive Jette Nygaard-Andersen as new chief executive of the FTSE100 betting group.   Sky News reports that Nygaard-Andersen, the former EMEA Chief Executive of Swedish media conglomerate Modern Times Group, leads the pack to replace Shay Segev who announced his resignation last week, joining global OTT …

GamCare has called for participants to help the University of Lincoln carry out research into ‘gambling and crime’. The University is conducting research interviews of ‘participants that have committed a crime as a result of gambling’ on behalf of the Howard League – the UK’s leading charity and organisation on penal reform. The interviews will form part of the Howard …

The Daily Mail has reported that the UK racing industry has been dealt another ‘hammer blow’ after the government has refused to review the duties and timetable of the Betting levy.  The newspaper cited a letter from DCMS sports minister Nigel Huddleston, who claims that he has ‘made it clear’ that a review of levy terms will not form any …

The Football Association’s (FA) appeal to extend Kieran Tripper’s match suspension for betting violations has been unsuccessful. As a result the Atlético Madrid and England national team defender can resume playing in La Liga fixtures from 28 February, it has been confirmed. Trippier was handed a 10 week match ban by the FA after it came to light he had encouraged …

The Gallagher Premiership, England’s top division of professional rugby union, has postponed matches by two weeks following a similar decision by its European counterparts. The league had been given the go-ahead by the UK government, as it is counted as ‘elite sports’ and therefore excluded from the prohibition of sporting activities as part of the country’s latest lockdown. However, as …

The board of GambleAware has completed its executive search after confirming that Zoë Osmond will be promoted as new CEO of the gambling harm-prevention charity.  Osmond, who currently serves as GambleAware’s Communications and Engagement Director, will replace incumbent Marc Etches, whose tenure as CEO finishes in March. GambleAware highlighted Osmond’s outstanding results in spearheading the charity’s multi-million pound safer gambling …

SBC checks in on how bookmakers’ nerves are faring as we move through the craziest Premier League season of all time, which week-to-week is producing shocks and trauma.  SBC: As it stands, the Premier League table sees seven teams separated by just seven points and no clubs showing any consistency in their form. Is 2020/2021 the Premier League’s craziest ever …

Justin King (CBE) has become the latest British business figurehead to join SAZKA Group’s bid to ‘refresh and revitalise’ the National Lottery.  The former Group CEO of Sainsbury’s Plc (2004-2015) will sit on the SAZKA ‘advisory board’ to provide counsel to Sir Keith Mills’ ‘bid team’, which is competing to win the government’s Fourth National Lottery Competition. King will play …

Gambling Integrity has strengthened its board via the recent addition of highly experienced Clive Hawkswood to its team. Hawkswood’s career has seen him work extensively in the development of industry best practice across a range of regulatory and social responsibility issues. This included regular dialogue with the British Gambling Commission and UK government..  “It is always better to seek out …

Groupe FDJ has announced a number of boardroom changes impacting the governance of Française des Jeux – France’s national lottery operator. The Paris Euronext firm confirmed the appointment of former IBM France and ManPower Southern Europe chief executive Françoise Gri as a new independent director, replacing Marie-Ange Debon for the remainder of her tenure (expiring 2023). Gri will fulfil Debon’s …