Europe

Africa’s sports betting sector has been booming over the last few years, with countries like Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa leading the way in the region.  While still heavily dependent on an ecosystem of retail shops and agents, online betting and gaming is seeing significant growth in many parts of the continent, driven in large part by improved internet accessibility …

GVC Holdings has confirmed that the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has expanded its investigation into the company’s former online subsidiary in Turkey. The investigation, which began on 28 November 2019, was launched in relation to former third party suppliers, which the operator understood to be related ‘to the processing of payments for online gambling in Turkey’. In 2017, GVC …

Scottish bookmakers have warned First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that hundreds of jobs could be at risk if the government does not implement a business rates relief to help them cope with the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic. Unlike in England, Holyrood opted to exclude betting shops from its business relief scheme, which was designed to support businesses which had seen …

GambleAware has published its ‘quarterly briefing note’, highlighting the work the charity has undertaken with diverse organisations in reducing problem gambling harms across the UK. The briefing note provides industry stakeholders with an update on GambleAware’s commissioning of directives to support the delivery of the National Gambling Treatment Service. Furthermore, the charity providers an update on, national public health campaigns …

The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has handed a 20-month suspension and $6,000 fine to Greek tournament director Antonis Kalaitzakis after he admitted to ‘betting on tennis and failing to report knowledge of, or suspicion of corruption’ to the TIU. The suspension follows on from an investigation which found that Kalaitzakis used online betting accounts to place 127 bets on tennis …

The board of 888 Holdings has expanded its governance advisory, confirming the appointment of Limor Ganot as a corporate non-executive director. A seasoned executive in corporate financing and strategic planning for technology enterprises, Ganot is the Managing Partner of US/Israeli venture capital fund Gefen Capital. An Israeli business figurehead, Ganot has further served as CO-CEO and VP of Business Development …

Camelot Group, the operating company of the National Lottery, has faced media and political backlash following reports that 16 and 17-year-olds have spent £47 million on National Lottery games.  The Sunday Times accused Camelot of ‘exploiting a loophole’ in UK gambling laws, allowing children to wager on National Lottery instant-win products without any form of intervention.  Quoting ‘latest figures’, the …