Retail

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 …

IGT Plc states that it has achieved strategic progress on key corporate directives, assisting with the technology group’s performance recovery once stable trading re-emerges.  Publishing its full-year 2020 results, IGT has recorded corporate revenues of $3.1 billion, down 23% on corresponding FY2019’s results of $4 billion. Mirroring industry competitors, the NYSE-listed gambling technology group underlines significant COVID-19 headwinds impacting its …

Italy’s gambling sector has secured no reprieve from a new government, as the office of Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced that gambling venues will remain in lockdown until a further review scheduled for 6 April.  Draghi, who was sworn in as Italy’s new Prime Minister on 13 February following the collapse of the former DP-5Star coalition government, is reported to …

Scientific Games (SG) has reported improved year-end group trading against continued COVID-19 headwinds, impacting the performance of its global commercial pipeline.    The Nasdaq gambling technology group has reported consolidated revenues of US$762 million during Q4 2020 – down 11.7% year-on-year but 8.4% higher than revenue of US$698 million recorded during Q3 trading. A breakdown of business units sees SciPlay, Digital …