UK

Despite reporting significant growth in its digital operations, retail continues to be the largest sales channel for the UK National Lottery, with 75 per cent of sales coming via the in-store terminals. With over £5,373.3m of sales generated by the retail kiosks, retail has been a driving force for the continued success of Camelot – the UK National Lottery operator …

As part of its trading update for the period from 1 January to 18 May 2019, online gambling group 888 Holdings has reported “strong momentum” across its operation in global regulated markets. Growth, according to the update, was largely driven by sport – which saw a 29 per cent jump for the period – while the group’s Casino branch also …

Some of the leading suppliers to the sports betting industry offered their insights into the future for sportsbook personalisation based on automated customer segmentation, advanced behavioural analysis and predictive AI-driven models. The first round table participant was SBTech, who this week was chosen by Gamesys as platform provider for the new Virgin Bet brand in the UK. The company was …

In its biggest sponsorship deal in over a decade, Birmingham City Football Club has named BoyleSports as its new principal partner until the end of the 2020/21 season. The new agreement will see Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker’s logo displayed on the front of the men’s team playing kit and replica shirts, replacing the current 888Sport logo from the most recent …

Ascot Racecourse has reported that an increased investment in racecourse facilities and prize money contributions have contributed to a successful 2018 for the Berkshire course. The racecourse has released its financial results for the 12 months ending 31st December 2018, in which it recorded a pre-tax profit of £6.1m. Guy Henderson, Chief Executive at Ascot, lauded the positive results for …

In a bid to promote female participation in the horse racing industry, Women in Racing (WiR) is set to offer a new mentoring programme to those working in the industry. The annual mentoring event, taking place at The AllBright in Mayfair on July 9, will boast an international network of both clubs and academies to help support women throughout their …

This weekend’s ‘Super Saturday’ continued to attract mass-interest from UK punters this year, with punters wagering bets on the Epsom Derby, the Champions League Final, and the fight between Anthony Joshua vs Ruiz Jr. The all-English Champions league final between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur attracted the most attention from punters in terms of bets placed, closely followed by the Investec …

Affiliate giant Catena Media beat all comers at Stamford Bridge on 22 May to be crowned champions of the third annual SBC Championship. Over 140 representatives from the sports betting industry made up 16 teams at this year’s tournament, which was sponsored by innovative payments firm Trustly. And it was the Trustly team that was pipped in the final, with …

Independent gaming software developer and operator, The Gamesys Group, has collaborated with SBTech to launch the new Virgin Bet platform. Gamesys had launched a competitive tender process to decide upon the supplier of the Virgin Bet brand, with SBTech chosen for the landmark agreement. Gamesys’ Gibraltar Marketing Director, Simon Mizzi, celebrated the launch of the Virgin Bet brand. He said: …

As the UK retail betting scene contracts, Irish independent bookmaker Boylesports is fulfiling its long-term corporate ambition of entering the market with the acquisition of Midlands bookmaker Wilf Gilbert. Ireland’s second largest betting firm has agreed to acquire UK independent bookmaker Wilf Gilbert’s thirteen retail betting properties, however the two firms are keeping mum on the money involved, only citing an ‘undisclosed sum’ . …