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Issuing a market update, the governance of Stockholm-listed Cherry AB has informed that it expects its Q1 2018 revenue and earnings results to be ‘better than anticipated’. Upping its Q1 2018 forecasts, Cherry governance expects to deliver period corporate revenues of SEK 675 million, combined with a group EBITDA of SEK 188 million. The Stockholm enterprise details a significant improvement …

After a breathtaking week of Champions League football, this edition of On The Ball analyses the repercussions of the latest round of European fixtures, as well as looking at some of Europe’s top clubs. Esports expansion for Manchester City After crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of Liverpool, Manchester City announced a new partnership with renowned Korean …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has this morning confirmed the appointment of Neil McArthur as Chief Executive. Since March, McArthur has been acting as UKGC interim CEO, following the departure of former Commission leader Sarah Harrison MBE. In previous executive roles for UKGC McArthur has served as the Commission’s General Counsel, leading the regulatory body’s legal oversight on licensing, enforcement …

UK marketing news source The Drum has reported that FTSE100 betting group Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) has appointed Leo Burnett London as new creative lead for its Betfair brand. This February, Betfair marketing called for a creative review as PPB’s new leadership team moved to restructure the group’s marketing agency set-up, preferring for its lead brands to be serviced by …

The governance of the PGA Tour, the leading professional golf organisation for North America has stated its support for licensed US sports betting. Speaking to USA Today, PGA Tour Chief Commissioner Jay Monahan stated that should the Supreme Court repeal PASPA federal laws, the ‘landscape of US sports would change forever’. As a US pro sports stakeholder, Monahan believes that …

Stockholm-listed Kindred Group Plc has detailed its concerns related to Svenska Spel’s potential influence on the future dynamics of a newly regulated Swedish gambling market. Last week the Swedish government published the updated provisions for its long-awaited revamped national gambling framework. In its update the Swedish government will split the gambling sector into three business compartments; Open/Competitive – For new licensed …

Kenyan news sources report that SportPesa expects to end its blackout of sports sponsorships, despite its ongoing betting tax dispute with the Uhuru Kenyatta government. Entering 2018, SportPesa Chief Executive Ronald Karauri withdrew all active sports sponsorships, following through on his previous warnings to Kenyan Parliament which had implemented a blanket gambling tax revenue charge of 35% (previous 7.5%). SportPesa’s …

International friendlies frustrate more than they satisfy, but in a World Cup year they take on great importance for those coaches hoping to make an impression in Russia this summer. They also provide a final chance for fringe players to force their way into the reckoning for the main event. Undoubtedly, there will be players, perhaps still under the radar, …

Showcasing an appetite for expansive and varied sponsorship deals, the National Basketball Association (NBA) recently signed a groundbreaking partnership with YouTube TV, making it the first-ever presenting partner of the NBA Finals. In a multiyear partnership, that Wendell Scott, Senior Vice President, Multimedia Sales, ESPN described as “creative and innovative”, YouTube TV will be the presenting partner of The Finals …

French news sources report that Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche government is planning to sell a 50% stake in national gambling operator Francaise des Jeux (FDJ). The sale forms part of Macron’s modernisation of French enterprise, where En Marche will seek to privatise a number of state-owned assets. For a number of years, French policymakers have mooted the sale of FDJ, …