Retail

UK racing and sports betting have been dealt another blow this week with the ‘Randox Health Grand National’ cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Jockey Club Racecourses, which owns Aintree, confirmed that the three-day event will not take place next month after new government measures announced yesterday emphasised that the UK should ‘avoid non-essential contact and unnecessary travel’. Sandy Dudgeon, …

In line with the Irish government’s social-isolation policy due to COVID-19, independent bookmaker BoyleSports has confirmed that it will be closing its entire retail estate across the Republic of Ireland. The closure, which will impact 278 retail shops, will come into effect from 8pm on 18 March, and will remain in effect until after 29 March, at the earliest. Conor …

Spanish state-owned lottery operator Sociedad Estatal Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (SELAE) has issued a country-wide suspension on the sale of tickets across all points of sale and online. The suspension comes after Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he was imposing drastic measures to fight the coronavirus, including a national lockdown. As of Sunday, the sale of all tickets …

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Australia’s Racing Victoria (RV) has confirmed that racing across the state will take place behind closed doors. From tomorrow ‘until at least Monday 13 April’, only licensed trainers, registered stablehands, licensed jockeys, RV officials, club staff and essential personnel will be permitted to attend race meetings. RV has confirmed that temperature checks will …

GVC Holdings Plc has followed industry precedent by issuing a corporate update on  COVID-19 impacts, following the subsequent cancellation/postponement of major sporting events.   For the period of 1 January to 23 February 2020, GVC has underlined that trading for the year-to-date has remained strong, with group NGR at +5%, reporting a 16% increase in online gambling benefiting from strong sports …

Racing content and data services provider Sports Information Services (SIS) has strengthened its presence in the Russian market after securing a new deal with Poolbet.ru.  The new agreement will see SIS distribute its World Greyhound Tote Pool, allowing Poolbet.ru to accept and transfer bets into the pool of British greyhound racing content by integrating the end-to-end solution, which consists of …

As the COVID-19 outbreak has continued to disrupt the sporting world, the racing industry has ramped up preparations for the sport to be held behind closed doors. Taking place later today, the sport’s tripartite leadership, including racecourses, participants and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), will discuss an approach recommended by the industry’s COVID-19 Steering Group. In a statement, the BHA …

Issuing a corporate update, Stockholm-listed sports betting platform and systems provider Kambi Group Plc has disclosed that it has ‘temporarily suspended’ its contract with Bulgarian operator National Lottery AD. Kambi’s action is undertaken, following National Lottery AD’s ‘voluntary decision’ to hand back its operating licence to Bulgaria’s State Gambling Commission (BGC). Since 2017, Kambi has served as lead sportsbook supplier to …