UK

Incentive Games and Esports Technologies have entered into a commercial agreement, with the former supplying the esports betting provider with free-to-play games.  The software licence and service agreement deal will see Esports Technologies incorporate a customised suite of free-to-play products into its range of brands, including a number of European operators.  Esports markets covered by the partnership include CS:GO – …

Northern & Shell Plc, the publishing group of Richard Desmond, will appeal the UK Gambling Commission’s (UKGC) decision to award the 4th National Lottery operating contract to Allwyn Group.  According to a Financial Times report, Northern & Shell will join ousted incumbent Camelot UK in launching a High Court appeal against the UKGC’s decision to appoint Allwyn as National Lottery …

The emergence of ‘new, novel products’ that have hit the UK’s online gambling market in recent years have presented a unique challenge for both regulators and operators. Speaking to industry stakeholders at last week’s ICE 2022 London expo, UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) Deputy CEO Sarah Gardner outlined ongoing concerns, noting that many of the products and their engagements are a …

As I write this, the global gambling industry community has this week once more descended on London for the return of the ICE 2022 conference. Many of them may have thought that, by now, the potential future UK gambling regulatory landscape would already have been made clear, bearing in mind initial indications that the Government White Paper on the Gambling …

Racing and Sports PTY (RAS) has announced its first major UK partnership, becoming the new data intelligence partner of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB). Securing a long-term partnership, RAS will overhaul the GBGB’s database capabilities to help the governing body monitor and record all greyhound racing fixtures in the UK. Further to optimising GBGB’s database, RAS will aim …

Entain has extended its contract with Light & Wonder (L&W) through to 2030, continuing to leverage the firm’s retail gaming solution and catalogue of titles.  The contract renewal will see L&W provide Entain with 10,000 gaming terminals, which will be fitted across the international gambling group’s Ladbrokes and Coral high-street licenced betting office (LBO) retail outlets.  Additionally, Entain will also …

Novibet has moved to strengthen its position in horse racing and in the Irish betting space, partnering with champion jockey Brian Hughes.  The agreement is Novibet’s first in the sport of horse racing, whilst the firm is also hopeful that the deal will increase its brand recognition in Irish sports betting markets by partnering with Hughes for the remainder of …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has announced new rules that will require all licensed online gambling operators to actively identify and directly intervene with at-risk/harm players.  Coming into effect from 12 September, remote operators must monitor a “specific range of indicators as a required minimum to identify gambling harms“. New guidance will be issued to operators by June, outlining the …

A report of GamCare’s training sessions for professionals has revealed that 85% of its participants improved their understanding of gambling harms – including how to identify women in need of support.   GamCare’s Women’s Programme looks to create systemic change across policy, research and treatment to address the under-representation of women seeking support and accessing treatment, throughout England, Scotland and Wales. …

This year’s Grand National proved to be another commercial success for the UK’s bookmakers, as Entain detailed that it had taken a ‘record-breaking’ number of wagers.  The Ladbrokes and Coral operator reported that over 12.75 million bets were placed during the three days of the Grand National festival at Aintree racecourse, a substantial increase on the last fixture in 2019.  …