Retail

The European Casino Association (ECA) a trade body representing land-based casino enterprises operating across Europe, has confirmed that Philip Easthill has chosen to end his tenure as Secretary General. Confirming its leadership departure, the ECA details that Easthill has chosen to join Brussels based marine leisure trade body ‘European Boating industry’ serving as the organisation’s Secretary General. The ECA and …

Publishing its H1 2019 interim results (period ending 30 June), Bolsa Madrid-listed gambling group Codere SA improves its trading stability, reducing corporate losses by 78% to €8.5 million (H12018: -€39m). As communicated in August, the Spanish gambling group’s period performance would be impacted by Argentina’s volatile economic conditions, which sees Codere record a 6% decrease in group revenues to €712 …

The governance of Athens-listed gambling group OPAP SA publishes its 2019 interim results (period ending 30 June), confident of delivering on its future prospects, serving the mandate of its 2020 corporate vision. Updating the market, OPAP records a 6% increase in group gross gambling revenues (GGR) to €779 million (H1 2018: €737m), driven the significant improvement of its upgraded retail …

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) plans to celebrate its upcoming Melbourne Cup Day (5 November) in pomp and style, confirming that ten-time Grammy winner and record-breaking pop sensation Taylor Swift will perform live at the Flemington Racecourse. Announcing a major coup for Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival, VRC management announces that it has secured Taylor Swift’s only public appearance in Australia …

The impact of stake reductions on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) is continuing to have a ‘profound impact’ upon UK bookmakers as the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) anticipates further shop closures by the end of the year. The statement comes after retailers and unions have urged the government to take action over the rate of shop closures on UK …

French casino trade union ‘Casinos de France’ has written to the En Marche government demanding that its planned sale of state-owned gambling/lottery operator Francaise des Jeux (FDJ) be undertaken on specific terms which do not hinder national casino incumbents. The trade union, which represents staff working across forty French private/independent casino operators including Groupe Barrière, Partouche and Tranchant, states that FDJ’s …

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sports (DCMS) has confirmed the appointment of Helen Whately MP for Faversham and Mid Kent as its minister overseeing UK gambling. The Conservative government undertakes a reshuffle of departments and personnel, following the expulsion of twenty-one of its MPs and further senior cabinet resignations, having opposed the party’s stance over PM Boris Johnson‘s Brexit …

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has sanctioned of £1.8 million fine and licence warning to London casino operator Silverbond Enterprises Ltd in relation to social responsibility failures and money laundering violations. Silverbond is the operating company of the ‘Park Lane Club’ casino in Mayfair a property which the UKGC has placed under review since February 2016, under section 116 of …

Down Royal racecourse has named Ladbrokes as the new sponsor for its first Grade 1 of this year’s jumps season, with the deal estimated to be the largest in Down Royal’s history. The race, which will now be called the Ladbrokes Champion Chase, comes as part of a six-figure deal between the racecourse and operator, with prize-money tipped at €140,000. …

The Football Association (FA) has issued a fresh crackdown on breaches of its betting rules after issuing both Yerry Mina and Jordan Stevens with fines and subsequent warnings. Mina has been handed a £10,000 fine and a warning over his future conduct, while Stevens was also fined £1,200 and a six-week ban from the sport.  An FA regulatory commission found …