UK

Betfred is reported to have been rejected in its last-minute attempt to acquire bankrupt South African heritage wagering and racetrack operator Phumelela Gaming & Leisure.  South African racing news sources reported that Phumelela’s bankruptcy auditor refused to review Betfred’s ZAR 900 million (€45m) counteroffer submitted at the end of August as Phumelela closed its window for rescue proposals.  Stating its …

Launching the next wave of its Bet Regret safer gambling campaign, GambleAware has secured new partnerships with Supporters Direct Scotland and MAN v FAT. In addition, the charity has also renewed its existing partnership with both the Football Supporters Association (FSA) and the Scottish Football Supporters Association. The new and extended agreements will focus on promoting safer gambling throughout the …

Advancements to technology in recent years mean that the low latency streaming of live events is now both achievable and cost effective even for betting operators with a huge network of retail shops.  And this is why Vermantia reacted quickly to build out its streaming service, focused on both online and offline delivery, but crucially tailored to the needs of …

Oddspedia has concluded an 18-month project to relaunch its flagship odds comparison portal in “good time” for the return of major global sports events from COVID-19 disruption. Originally launched in 2014, the revamped online portal – localised to languages including German, Portuguese, Spanish and Italian, as well as English – went live on 4 August, less than two weeks before …

GVC Holdings has launched a new ‘multi-million pound investment programme’ which will deliver financial support to grassroot sports organisations. The programme, Pitching In, will be launched with a flagship partnership with The Isthmian, Northern Premier and Southern Leagues – collectively known as The Trident Leagues – which make-up levels seven and eight of the English football league pyramid. Commenting on …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) have taken the joint decision to adopt ‘non-standard race times’ across their respective fixtures schedules on a permanent basis, commencing 1 October 2020. The governing bodies have undertaken the decision to avoid fixture clashes and delayed races, with non-standard race times delivering further fixture clarity to racegoers, trainers and broadcasters. …

Gambless, a gambling harm solutions platform, has made its entry into the UK market after securing an exclusive partnership with online lotto betting site Lottoland. Available to download via the Lottoland UK website as well as Google and Apple app stores, the platform has been designed to identify and prevent behaviours associated with problem gambling. It provides a number of …

Delia Bushell, the chief executive officer of the Jockey Club, has stepped down after an independent inquiry upheld allegations of ‘gross misconduct’. This story featured in today’s SBC News 90. To view the latest round-up, watch today’s edition here. Having joined the organisation in September 2019, an independent barrister upheld allegations relating to bullying, the use of racist comments and …

The UK Tote Group has confirmed the appointment of John Williamson, a director with extensive experience in Asia, as its Non-Executive Chairman from 1 September 2020. Williamson’s appointment is expected to bring “significant international business and financial expertise to the organisation”, and provide timely support for its ambitious growth plans just 10 months after its acquisition of the Tote, the …