UK

UK gambling operator Ladbrokes Plc urged the UK Government to rethink its plans to increase tax levied on profits generated from fixed odds betting terminals (FOBT’s). The operator claimed that unfair tax levying on the UK bookmakers could cost the industry around £75 million a year. The tax rate issued on FOBT’s is set to rise from 20% to 25% …

Betfred owner Fred Done may just be the most generous man in gambling. This March Done, a lifelong Manchester United fan, ordered Betfred management to refund £200,000 to Manchester United fans who had high hopes on their football club retaining the Barclays Premier League title. This week Betfred announced that Fred Done would sponsor the Bolton Hospice’s eighth annual Midnight …

A team of 21 volunteers, the majority from bookmaking companies, will trek the Sahara Desert this week to raise funds for the UK’s leading problem gambling treatment charity. The team will be walking for 5 days from the “Door of the Desert” at Achbarou to Anoun El Fraolia, crossing 100 kilometres of dunes and open desert. The volunteers aim to …

Israeli based igaming marketing services company XL Media has begun trading on the London Alternative Investment Market (AIM) following an oversubscribed placing which raised $69.5m (£41.8m). The company commented that its initial placing had been significantly oversubscribed, XL Media who specialize in igaming player acquisition debut today on the London AIM with a share price listing of 0.49 pence per share. …

The UK’s main gambling trade associations have joined forces to establish the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG) – a new body that formalises the responsible gambling work that the associations carry out.  The IGRG provides a structure to better promote socially responsible gambling in the British gambling market. Building on existing relationships and work streams, it will also provide …

Richard Glynn CEO of troubled gambling operator -Ladbrokes PLC,  has been awarded a  staggering 85% total remuneration rise as the firm’s operating profits plunged by a reported 33%.The news comes as a surprise to the gambling and sports betting industry, as Glynn’s position as the head of Ladbrokes operations, has come into question with many industry commentators forecasting the CEO’s …

Paddy Power has been warned over its future conduct by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) following its investigation into the bookmaker’s newspaper advert in The Sun on Sunday around the Oscar Pistorius trial. The advert, which offered ‘money back if he walks’, promoted a market on whether the South African Olympian would be found guilty or not of the accusation …

The Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) claims that Chancellor George Osborne’s increase in tax on B2 Gaming Machines to 25% could see 30 per cent of the country’s betting shops in jeopardy. The organisation said in a statement: “The impact of the new Machine Games Duty (MGD) which came into effect last year and cost the industry an extra £50 …