Ahead of this week’s Royal Ascot (16-20 June), the UK Tote Group has confirmed that its Tote Superpools markets will be available for all 36 festival races. Tote Superpools offer pools that are combined with those from Hong Kong and other major racetracks, boosting prize pool liquidity for punters. The Tote has since outlined plans to expand Tote Superpools to …
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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) will launch the betting industry’s latest charity initiative on Gold Cup Day (Thursday 18 June) at Royal Ascot. Regarded as the festival’s ‘biggest wagering day’, the BGC confirmed that 13 UK betting brands will commit to donating all win and each-way profits taken from the heritage handicap Britannia Stakes (race-start: 16:10 BST). Profits raised …
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DCMS has confirmed that operators of UK ‘adult gaming centres’ (AGCs) in England will not be allowed to reopen their venues as anticipated on Monday 15 June. Listed as retail venues, UK arcades had been scheduled to reopen from the start of next week alongside betting shop counterparts, a decision previously communicated by the government on the weekend of 23 …
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Citing novel coronavirus impacts across its European network, Czech gambling and lottery conglomerate SAZKA Group saw its consolidated Q1 revenues decline by 11% to €405m (Q1 2019: €458m). In an overview of Q1 performance, the group cited trading under unprecedented circumstances, in which subsidiaries OPAP Greece, Casinos Austria and LOTTO Italia have been forced to suspend their entire retail presence …
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Finland’s national gambling monopoly Veikkaus OY is looking for a new sports betting chief, after long-term Vice President of Wagering Sami Kauhanen departed the organisation to lead Finnish horseracing. This June, Suomen Hippos – Finland’s horseracing and stud breeding association – confirmed the appointment of Kauhanen as inbound President and CEO effective 1 September 2020. Hippos underlined Kauhanen’s credentials as the …
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Athens-listed gambling technology and lottery systems provider Intralot SA has confirmed the promotion of US executive Byron Boothe as Chief Executive of its North American subsidiary INTRALOT Inc. Since 2019, Boothe has led the firm’s US operations as Interim CEO of INTRALOT Inc. The 13-year company executive has formerly served as INTRALOT Inc’s Vice President of Government Relations, leading the …
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OPAP SA has disclosed double-digit declines across all core operating metrics as a result of closing its entire retail network (betting shops, gaming venues and lottery stalls) following Coronavirus restrictions enforced across Greece and Cyprus. Publishing its Q1 2020 results, OPAP recorded group revenues of €328m down 17% on corresponding 2019’s €396m, as the Athens-listed gambling group disclosed that first-quarter …
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The New Zealand Transport and Infrastructure Select Committee has proposed that changes are made to the charges imposed for the use of betting information in a bid to limit data used by offshore bookmakers. Over 30 changes to the Racing Industry Bill were proposed by the Select Committee as it submitted its report to the House of Parliament, with the …
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The BBC has added its Northern Ireland’s ‘True North – Big Night at the Bingo’ episode to its ‘Our Lives’ social documentary series available on the iPlayer platform for all UK audiences. First broadcast in January on BBC’s Northern Ireland network, Big Night at the Bingo follows the patrons and employees of West Belfast’s ‘Westway Bingo Hall’ on its busiest …
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Arena Racing Company (ARC) has confirmed that greyhound racing at Belle Vue greyhound stadium has been temporarily suspended. The racing group revealed that the lack of crowds has meant that fixtures have become ‘uneconomical’ to operate during the pandemic. As a result, Belle Vue’s existing BAGS fixtures will be moved to sister tracks within the ARC group. Rachel Corden, Greyhound …
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