UK

888poker has signed middleweight boxer Chris Eubank Jr as a cultural ambassador, with the deal coinciding with the 20th anniversary of its launch.  In celebration of its two decades of operations, the 888 Holdings online poker brand intends to host various events over the next 12 months, including a series of player-focused sessions with the number one ranked middleweight.  The …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has stood by the progress of its ‘multi-agency approach’ that has been applied through its National Strategy to reduce gambling harms launched in 2019.  An update by Rob Burkitt, the Commission’s policy lead on shared regulation, underscored the importance of local authorities’ support of the National Strategy to achieve a shared objective to reduce gambling …

The total prize fund for this year’s Randox Grand National will return to £1 million for the first time since the pre-pandemic period, as reported by the Racing Post. The horse racing and betting news outlet was informed by Aintree racecourse on Wednesday that not only will the total value of the 9 April race return to pre-COVID levels, but …

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has ended the 20-year run of bookmakers title sponsoring its flagship World Darts Championship.  On Monday, Matchroom Sports – the event organiser of the PDC – confirmed that online car buying platform Cazoo would replace William Hill as title sponsor of the World Darts Championship in 2023. The sponsorship forms part of a comprehensive multi-year …

DAZN is nearing its objective to acquire BT Sport, with the aim to become a major sports broadcaster within the UK, showcasing Premier League and UEFA Champions League matches.  Citing sources ‘familiar with the matter’, Reuters reports that DAZN is finalising a deal in the region of $800 million (£580m) to acquire BT Sport, the network that has challenged Sky …

  The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has secured formal accreditation for its ‘Mindful Resilience’ initiative from the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). Operated in collaboration with Betknowmore UK and Bournemouth University, Mindful Resilience functions as a specialist programme aimed at supporting health professionals with gambling treatment.  The programme equips these health specialists with the ‘knowledge and …

Sky Betting & Gaming (Sky Bet) has been recognised as one of the UK’s ‘best places to work’, having been awarded the Glassdoor ‘Employees Choice Award’. Maintaining its fifth straight year on Glassdoor’s top-50 workplace index – Sky Bet ranked as the UK’s 29th best employer, based on the feedback of current and former employees anonymously rating businesses via Glassdoor’s …

Boris Johnson’s premiership is ‘on the ropes’ as the PM faces mounting pressure from his party, the media and public to confess that he broke COVID national lockdown rules by attending a ‘bring your own booze’ party at Number 10 last May.  Monitoring Down Street developments, Smarkets Politics cites that PM Johnson has reached his shortest price of 1.70 (58% …

The FA will no longer allow bookmakers to stream any live FA Cup matches, as the governing body finalises the sale of a new TV rights deal for its flagship competition. The governing body aims to amend its 2017 deal that allowed sports media rights agency IMG to sell individual FA Cup live stream packages to six bookmakers.  Last Christmas, …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has reminded industry stakeholders that its consultation on its approach to licensing, compliance and enforcement policy will close on Wednesday 9 February 2022.  Launched on 17 November, the Commission seeks guidance on its ‘Statement of Principles’ that have led UK gambling’s regulatory policy with regards to risk assessment, licensing operators and key personnel, carrying out …