As I write this, I am greatly looking forward to moderating the “Brand Control – Working with Affiliates” panel session during the “Digital Marketing Day” of the ground-breaking SBC Digital Summit. This will be a highly topical session because, looking back on what has happened in gaming regulatory terms since the commencement of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK and …
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A programme outlining the races that will take place once horseracing resumes in the UK is due to be released next week, with prize money facing a significant reduction due to retail closures. The sport has been on hold since 17 March, however, the Resumption of Racing Group has stated that it will develop a provisional programme for the first …
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Carolyn Harris MP has called for the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) to expand on its suspension of TV and radio gaming advertising during the COVID-19 lockdown ‘to truly protect vulnerable people at this time’. The Chair of the Gambling Related Harm APPG released a letter sent to Brigid Simmonds OBE, Chair of the BGC, which welcomed the recent decision …
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Samuel Barrett, Director of Gaming at Trustly, believes that moving towards cashless environments will be a main component in helping players in retail make payments when businesses return to normal after the COVID-19 crisis. Delivering the day-four keynote at this week’s SBC Digital Summit, kicking off the Neosurf sponsored Payments Day track, Barrett bemoaned that while the online gambling industry …
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A new FTSE100 gambling giant was formed this morning, as Flutter Entertainment Plc confirmed the outright completion of its $11 billion merger with The Stars Group Inc (TSG). Flutter has completed its six-month merger pursuit of TSG ‘on schedule’, securing all regulatory (Australia, UK and US) and shareholder approvals during the first half of 2020 trading. Updating its timetable, the …
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Stats Perform has significantly expanded its betting-related content to help bookmaker clients navigate lockdown complexities, facing the global downturn in live sports content. The sports-tech innovation studio detailed that it will amplify its Watch&Bet service for bookmakers by adding new esports and PDC Darts programming. Securing a partnership with leading pro-esports organisation BLAST, Watch&Bet will showcase the popular BLAST CS:GO …
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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has transferred £9 million in industry penalties to help its problem gambling, support, research and treatment charities cope with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The UKGC has directly allocated £9 million to lead gambling-harm prevention charity GambleAware, who will be tasked with distributing funds to its partner network. The UKGC and GambleAware have prioritised ensuring that …
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Health Secretary Matt Hancock has publicly defended the decision to allow Cheltenham Festival to take place, reiterating that the government ‘took the right measures at the right time’. Speaking on a phone-in on LBC Radio, Hancock was asked by a Cheltenham resident whether the festival should have taken place and whether the government would be committing to a future inquiry …
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Achieving product differentiation is arguably more important now than ever as sportsbook and casino operators face the challenge of staying relevant, writes Will Whitehead (pictured), Associate Director – Accounts at mkodo. This remarkable period triggered by the outbreak of COVID-19 has stressed the importance of having dynamic and agile digital products and has likely rang alarm bells for many over …
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Catena Media said it has been able to navigate first-stage COVID-19 business complexities, as the company recorded a strong opening to year trading. Reporting top-line growth across all core metrics, Stockholm-listed Catena recorded a 2% increase in corporate revenues to €26.7 million (Q12019: €26.1m). Revenue performance was maintained by its casino segment, which contributed 61% of revenues during first quarter …
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