Retail

Svenska Spel has appointed Forsman & Bodenfors as its new lead advertising agency for ‘strategic and creative marketing’. The Swedish state-owned lottery and sports betting operator launched an agency tender at the start of the year, reviewing its current strategic marketing and brand development frameworks. Following a ‘careful evaluation’ of agency pitches, Svenska Spel has confirmed Gothenburg-based Forsman & Bodenfors …

The Racecourse Media Group (RMG) has promoted Martin Stevenson to the position of CEO, with the former Finance Director bringing considerable accounting and media experience to the role. Stevenson joined RMG as Finance Director in 2007, and has since developed ‘deep and intimate knowledge’ of the company’s business and operations. “I am extremely excited and honoured to take up the …

This year’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas Day at Newmarket and the Derby Day at Epsom Downs will be classified as World Pool events, according to an announcement by a coalition of horse racing leaders. The Hong Kong Jockey Club, UK Tote Group, The Jockey Club and its media rights partner, Racecourse Media Group (RMG), confirmed this morning [8 March] that the …

An opinion poll commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has uncovered public opposition to government-mandated betting limits. The poll, conducted by YouGov, surveyed 1,683 adults from across the UK, finding that 51% were in opposition to the establishment of arbitrary bet limits by politicians, with 27% in favour. A second question also revealed that 59% of respondents agreed …

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has extended the tenures of John Baillie and Catharine Seddon as commissioners of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for a further year.  Baillie and Seddon have served on the UKGC board since 2016, having been appointed by former DCMS Secretary John Whittingdale under the cabinet of PM David Cameron. A former …

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, the new CEO at Entain, made her debut corporate statement this morning by stating that she wishes to pursue a ‘customer centric’ strategy across the FTSE100 global gambling portfolio.  Joining Entain in January 2021, the CEO has ‘immersed’ herself in the company to become familiar with the ‘people, operations and customers’, having already known ‘a fair bit about …

William Hill Plc has branded 2020 as a ‘challenging but transformative year’, as the heritage bookmaker moved to finalise its £2.9 billion takeover by US partner Caesars Entertainment. Adjusting for the H1 closure of its UK retail betting estates, William Hill recorded a full-year net revenue decline to £1.3 billion, down 16% on corresponding 2019 results of £1.5 billion.  Nevertheless, …

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has joined wider leisure and hospitality trade bodies in welcoming Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s COVID business support and economic measures.  This lunchtime’s Budget announcement saw the government extend its much-needed rates relief on highstreet retail and hospitality venues – a decision welcomed by the BGC on behalf of England’s betting shops. Also positively received was …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has cited a successful first meeting of its Lived Experience Advisory Panel, which will maintain a prominent role in how the Commission reshapes its public policies.  This week, panel members held their first meetings with the Commission’s Experts by Experience Group, providing first-hand accounts of lived consequences of gambling harms and addiction. Established as a …