Retail

Irish bookmakers to reopen on 29 June

SBC News Irish bookmakers to reopen on 29 June

Irish bookmakers will reopen their doors on 29 June, as the country enters phase three of the Government’s strategy to ease COVID-19 measures. The confirmation follows a meeting of Irish Bookmakers Association (IBA) members, which revealed that an agreement has been reached to reopen 755 of the nation’s 814 betting shops. Ireland closed its betting shops in mid-March, for a …

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CIRSA focuses on Spanish reopening following Q1 wipeout

SBC News CIRSA focuses on Spanish reopening following Q1 wipeout

CIRSA has reported that strong January and February growth was wiped-out by Coronavirus circumstances, which forced the Spanish gambling operator to shut down its entire retail gambling presence. The Blackstone Group owned operator reported that company performance had been in-line with expectations until March, as Q1 operating revenues declined by 6% to €355 million. Publishing its top-line results, CIRSA revealed …

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SIS reintroduces Towcester service as it resumes full greyhound schedule

SBC News SIS reintroduces Towcester service as it resumes full greyhound schedule

Sports Information Services (SIS) has confirmed that it will be resuming a full greyhound schedule of 42 fixtures per week from 1 June. The resumption of its schedule will cover races from eight UK greyhound tracks, including Central Park, Crayford, Doncaster, Harlow, Henlow, Hove, Monmore and Romford. In addition, SIS will reintroduce its service to Towcester. Paul Witten, Product Director …

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DGOJ adds venue requirements to Spain’s lockdown easing

SBC News DGOJ adds venue requirements to Spain’s lockdown easing

Spain’s DGOJ has issued new guidance related to gambling venues reopening their business premises. Since mid-May, Spain’s federal council has enabled provincial governments to gradually ease lockdown restrictions, allowing retail and leisure businesses to reopen on the condition that they obey strict social distancing orders.  Having reviewed the government’s ‘phase 2’ arrangements, the DGOJ has now published new guidance adding …

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Racing Post returns to print upbeat by summer prospects

SBC News Racing Post returns to print upbeat by summer prospects

The Racing Post has confirmed that it will resume its print format and nationwide distribution of its newspaper on 1 June, coinciding with the resumption of UK racing. Since 26 March, the Racing Post has frozen its printing operations, as the racing publishing group adjusted to global business disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During ‘downtime’, Racing Post has published …

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UK government eyes staged retail reopening from 15 June

SBC News UK government eyes staged retail reopening from 15 June

Hosting the UK government’s COVID-19 update yesterday evening, PM Boris Johnson announced the government’s provisional plans to re-open all non-essential retail businesses on 15 June. PM Johnson laid out the UK government’s plans to reopen England’s highstreet stores, obeying strict social distancing orders and ensuring that businesses can maintain employee safety. The government will manage a ‘staged reopening’, allowing outdoor …

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Codere Chairman pursues final options to save the company 

SBC News Codere Chairman pursues final options to save the company 

Codere SA is pursuing emergency financing options having failed to convince investors to back its business recovery plans, according to Spanish business news source La Razon.  The embattled Bolsa Madrid gambling group has failed to secure a further €100m credit line to keep it’s Spanish and LaTam retail business units afloat during lockdown. On the edge of bankruptcy, Codere is …

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Scientific Games confirms Michael Eklund as inbound Group CFO 

TrueLayer

Scientific Games Corporation (SGC) has confirmed the inbound appointment of Michael Eklund as Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Eklund will join SGC’s executive leadership team on 1 June, taking control of the Nasdaq technology group’s financial planning, auditing and capitalisation structures. The appointment sees SGC secure a leading CFO for large scale technology enterprises, with Eklund having previously led diverse …

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ITV Racing begins contract renegotiations with UK Racing 

ITV's Ed Chamberlin and Ollie Jackson during filming in a branded Cheltenham Festival taxi during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham Racecourse.

ITV Racing has begun renegotiations of its broadcast contract with UK racing, in which it is claiming £1.5 million in compensation for the postponement of this year’s Aintree Grand National.  Seeking to renew its contract, ITV Racing is reportedly trying to reduce its current broadcast fee of £7.5 million per season in view of this year’s disruptions.  Racecourse Media Group …

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Svenska Spel delivers major venue upgrade by going cashless with IGTPay 

Svenska Spel trials ‘coupon free’ paperless purchase as next retail innovation 

Svenska Spel has ushered in a ‘new era of gaming’ by announcing that it has deployed IGT’s ‘IGTPay’ cashless payment provisions across its venues.  Sweden’s gambling monopoly has amplified its venue payments capacity, having recently upgraded its VLT operating platform to IGT’s ‘INTELLIGEN’ and Quasar systems. The upgrade enables Svenska Spel customers to have the option to transact safely and …

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