The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has made the decision to halt all horse racing across British racecourses on 7 February following the outbreak of Equine Influenza, casting worries about this year’s Cheltenham Festival. The shut down follows the Animal Health Trust confirming three positive cases of the virus in vaccinated horses at an active race yard. Horses from the infected …
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Simon Banks: Star Sports – Delivering on talent resources amid changing industry values
With the aim of diversifying its business portfolio, Star Sports launched its new recruitment contingent Star Recruitment back in January with the aim of providing tailored staffing solutions to the global gambling industry. SBC caught up with Simon Banks, a sector resourcing and talent development veteran, who is heading up the new vertical as its Chief Executive Officer. We asked …
Read More »Matthew Imi: Sky Racing – The first month and adapting to industry challenges
On 1 January of this year, Sky UK launched its new channel, Sky Racing , which took Sky’s dedicated sports channel tally up to 11, has been broadcasting race fixtures from both the UK and around the world. It has been headed by the long term At the Races chief executive, Matthew Imi. SBC caught up with Imi to discuss how Sky …
Read More »Expanded profile & responsibilities see Sportradar appoint Tony Aquila as Global Chairman
Leading sports data, content and media rights distributor Sportradar has restructured and expanded its board of governance, reflecting the firm’s ongoing international growth strategy and the broadening of its core sports stakeholder base. Updating the market, Sportradar confirms the appointment of renowned US enterprise executive Tony Aquila as new ‘Global Chairman of Sportradar Group’. A leading figurehead in technology venture …
Read More »Commercial restructure sees Playtech BGT promote John Pettit to CCO
Playtech BGT Sports, the sportsbook software and technology development division of FTSE100 Playtech Plc, has moved to restructure its commercial leadership, confirming the promotion of John Pettit to the position of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Pettit has formerly served as Managing Director of Playtech BGT for UK, Ireland and Australia since 2015, securing the division a number of new client wins …
Read More »Sportech completes acquisition of LOT.TO
London Stock Exchange (LSE) listed Sportech PLC has completed its outright acquisition of iLottery systems and games provider LOT.TO. The acquisition is set to provide Sportech with a new digital gaming vertical for iLottery, as well as enhancing its internal capacities incorporating LOT.TO’s product proven technology development teams. It intends to cement the racing and wagering systems provider’s global gaming …
Read More »Lega-5Star toughens policing code against gambling bad actors
As anticipated the Lega-5Star coalition government has turned up the heat on illegal gambling enterprises and black-market actors, moving to introduce Italy’s hardest stance on unlicensed gambling activities. Last week the Italian assembly confirmed that the government could move forward with its tax charge increases across all gambling verticals, announced during the year-end close of 2018. In its update, Lega-5Star …
Read More »Danske Spil launches Perform’s Watch & Bet Retail service
Danske Spil will bring premium live sports video to customers throughout shop opening hours after launching the new new high resolution Watch & Bet Retail service from Perform across its land-based retail estate. The service includes thousands of premium and well-timed streams for Danish bettors, including La Liga, KHL and WTA tennis, along with stats to aid betting decisions and …
Read More »Paddy Power Betfair enters Georgian market with Adjarabet acquisition
FTSE100 Paddy Power Betfair (PPB) has expanded its reach into the Georgian regulated gambling market acquiring a 51 per cent shareholding in leading betting and gaming group Adjarabet. The initial cash consideration put forward for Adjarabet’s majority shareholding totals £101m, with the UK operator granted first right to acquire the remaining 49 per cent within a period of three years. …
Read More »Industry taken to task over use of ‘gagging orders’ in settlements
The Gambling Commission has warned the gambling industry that the indiscriminate use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in settlements with customers over problem gambling issues will not be tolerated. Last year, stories broke in the national media about some major bookmakers adding ‘gagging orders’ to deals with their customers preventing them from going to the Commission with a complaint against any …
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