Retail

GVC Holdings betting exchange property BETDAQ will significantly increase its coverage and brand presence within UK racing, confirming that it has agreed to sponsor the starting stalls of nine Arena Racing Company (ARC) UK racecourses in 2018. The marketing deal, which covers up to 1,000 races, will allow BETDAQ’s brand to be shown on starting stalls at any unsponsored flat …

The Arena Racing Company (ARC) and Vermantia have announced the official launch of the European Racing Channel, which both parties describe as “the most complete offering of its kind worldwide”. Available via both satellite and streaming services, the new channel is set to feature a daily schedule compromising of at least 40,000 live premier thoroughbred and greyhound races per year. …

Royal Ascot arrived last week amidst its usual fanfare, as people flocked in their droves to the Berkshire racecourse for what Oddschecker describes as “a fairly standard affair” on the face of it, with the trend of the previous two year continuing with seven winning favourites. From a margin perspective it is detailed bookies enjoyed a successful week, with Friday’s …

Norwegian state-owned gambling group Norsk Tipping has moved to restructure its senior executive leadership team adding two new appointments to lead the firm’s future enterprise strategy. In its update,  Norsk Tipping confirms the appointment of Eirill Holtvedt as new Director of Corporate Strategy and Development. A former senior finance and venture funding executive for DNB Norway, Holtvedt joins Norsk Tipping leadership …

The governance of Swedish state-owned gambling enterprise Svenska Spel ends its six-month executive search to replace outgoing leader Lennart Käll, confirming the appointment of Patrik Hofbauer as new Group CEO. A seasoned media executive, Hofbauer joins Svenska Spel’s leadership team, from leading Scandinavian telecoms operator Telenor Sverige where he most recently served as CEO (2014-2018). Entering 2018, Svenska Spel confirmed the …

SG Digital, the new technology division of Nasdaq-listed Scientific Games Corporation (SGC) continues to make progress on its US agenda, confirming that it has completed mandatory pre-compliance testing set by the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Updating the market, SG Digital confirms that its ‘OpenBet – Sportsbook Retail Platform’ has fulfilled all requirements of the Mississippi Gaming Commission’s ‘GLI-33 Event Wagering Systems’ …

Racing equine welfare group, The European Horse Network (EHN) has called for the EU Parliament to ‘preserve equine policy’ within the future structure of Europe’s ‘Common Agricultural Policy’ (CAP). Led by French MEP Jean Arthuis, EHN representatives expressed concerns about the proposals put forward by the ‘Future of the Common Agricultural Policy’ which would see equine welfare removed from the …

Gauselmann Group has moved to restructure the executive leadership of its UK arcade entertainment subsidiary Praesepe, confirming the appointments of Stefan Bruns as new CEO accompanied by Börris Lüngen as CFO. The duo will succeed current Praesepe leadership incumbent Nick Harding (CEO), who will take a UK market advisory position within Gauselmann Group. A senior partner of Gauselmann since 2014, Stefan …

Forming a strategic partnership, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), Totepool and Ascot Racecourse will move to launch ‘The Ascot World Pool’ product for Royal Ascot 2019. The three-way partnership will see the development of a new pari-mutuels product for the UK and Asian markets furthering the international appeal of Royal Ascot’s festival week. Maximising wagering liquidity, The Ascot World …

This weekend Rhode Island became the third US state to legislate for sports betting services following May’s Supreme Court repeal of PASPA’s federal mandate. Rhode Island (population 1 million) follows its east coast neighbours of Delaware and New Jersey in moving to allow sports betting services within licensed casino premises. On Friday, state governor Gina Raimondo (D) signed off on …