UK

Financial spread betting operator IG Group Plc has today announced that Tim Howkins is to step down and as its CEO and director following the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for October.Peter Hetherington, a Board member since 2002 and currently Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of Interim Chief Executive, subject to regulatory approval. The news of Howkins …

GVC Holdings is considering its options regarding its takeover bid for bwin.party Entertainment, after the FTSE listed operator announced last Friday that it had agreed a deal with acquisition competitor 888 Holdings. In a statement GVC governance commented that there was no certainty that it would make a fresh bid for bwin.party. GVC who had created a special purpose vehicle …

Coral has been made the subject of a BBC three part documentary named “Britain at the Bookies”. The documentary will air tonight on BBC One at 21:00, and will focus on the daily trials and tribulations faced by staff of a Coral betting shop in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire. The bookmaker agreed to the filming of the BBC documentary in …

Aim listed B2B mobile gaming platform provider Nektan Plc, has issued it’s a preliminary trading update for its full year results ending 30 June. Nektan governance expects full year 2015 net gaming revenue to be approximately £0.5 million, with the adjusted EBITDA loss (excluding listing costs, exchange differences and non-cash charges relating to share based payments) to be better than …

Multiple London business news sources have disclosed that Gala Coral and Ladbrokes are close to agreeing terms on a £3.5 billion merger, which would create the UK’s biggest bookmaker with over 4000 betting shops. Ladbrokes who are being advised on the merger terms by investment banks’ Greenhill Capital and UBS are expected to issue new share placements in order to …

EIG 2015 the gambling sectors leading knowledge led and innovation focused conference returns to the Arena Halle Berlin (20-22 October) Following a year of seismic change for the gambling sector which is witnessing operators, service providers and various stakeholders adjust to new demands and market conditions. Outlining the conference key discussions and agenda, Team SBC caught up with Clarion Gaming’s Jo …

Paddy Power marketing has decided to withdraw a planned Ashes billboard advertisement featuring convicted sex offender Rolf Harris. Images of the controversial advert, which carries the image of Australian entertainer and convicted sex offender Rolf Harris and the message “The Only Aussie We Don’t Want to Get Out” were leaked this weekend on Twitter. It is believed that Paddy Power …

Marathonbet has announced that it has become the official regional betting partner of Liverpool FC. The partnership represents Marathonbet’s biggest investment in UK marketing and promotion of its brand. The three year deal will see the Marathonbet brand promoted throughout Liverpool’s 45,500 capacity Anfield stadium. The bookmaker further confirmed that it would have access to club players and Liverpool legends …

The Conservative government has rejected calls to reduce maximum wager on gambling machines to £2. The bid to lower maximum wagers on the machines was led by Newham Council, in order to minimise the increase in betting shops opening within particularly deprived areas. The council would try to attach the proposal to new provisions introduced on the monitoring of betting …

Betway has confirmed its renewal its sponsorship of the Weekend Sports Breakfast show on talkSPORT. The deal sees Betway remain the official betting partner of the iconic programme hosted by Georgie Bingham and Micky Quinn until July 2016. On air Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7am to 11am, the show will feature Betway’s Alan Alger discussing the latest odds and will include a number of giveaways …