Retail

Greece seeks to revamp its gambling laws for foreign investment

SBC News Greece seeks to revamp its gambling laws for foreign investment

The Hellenic Parliament is expected to pass a series of gambling amendments related to VLTs provisions and land-based casino licensing. Last October, Greek news sources reported that the Syriza government had tabled new reforms on industry taxes, licensing arrangements and games provisions, in order to make its national market more attractive to foreign operators. Parliament further seeks to amend existing …

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Strengthened infrastructure delivers positive Q3 results for Greek OPAP

SBC News Strengthened infrastructure delivers positive Q3 results for Greek OPAP

Publishing its Q3 2017 trading update (period ending 30 September), Greek gambling group OPAP has detailed strong gains in its betting products and video lottery terminals (VLTs) as the firm homes in on full-year corporate targets and expectations. Updating the market, OPAP would detail group gross gaming revenues of €357 million up 12% on corresponding Q3 2016’s €319 million. Improved …

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Mexican growth leads Codere corporate recovery

SBC News Mexican growth leads Codere corporate recovery

Refinanced Spanish gambling firm Grupo Codere continues its strong corporate recovery, as the company reports KPI and metric growth for its Q3 2017 trading update (period ending 30 September). Primarily driven by growth in its Spanish and Mexican divisions, Codere would record Q3 2017 group operating profits of €401 million up 3% on corresponding 2016’s €390 million. Despite facing adverse currency …

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IGT write down of North America Interactive unit sees Q3 operating losses of $550m

IGT sheds Italian weight offloading Lottomatica B2C units to Gamenet SPA

Foreign exchange losses combined with a write-down impairment charge of $714 million has seen New York-listed gambling firm IGT Group Plc declare Q3 2017 net losses of $804 million. Publishing its Q3 2017 trading update (period ending 30 September), IGT disclosed a period group operating loss of $556 million, primarily attributed to its $714 million write-down charge of its ‘North …

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New Jersey congressman makes case to end federal sports betting ban

SBC News New Jersey congressman makes case to end federal sports betting ban

New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone has voiced his belief that the federal ban on sports betting should be lifted. Pallone, a member of the Democratic Party, did so during a congressional hearing relating to the safety and regulation of mixed martial arts (MMA) in the state. He used the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the Gaming Accountability & Modernisation …

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Czech Sazka Group eyes London IPO

SBC News Czech Sazka Group eyes London IPO

Updating the market, Czech-based lottery firm Sazka Group has detailed that it may move for a London listing, in order to expand its European market growth ambitions. The lottery group, owned by Czech investment firms’ KKCG Group and EMMA Capital has appointed investment banks Citigroup, Morgan Cazenove and Morgan Stanley as lead coordinators, but states that it has yet to make …

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NYX accuses William Hill of “wrongful conduct” as acquisition dispute escalates

SBC News NYX accuses William Hill of "wrongful conduct" as acquisition dispute escalates

In response to William Hill’s threats to block the acquisition of NYX Gaming Group Limited by Scientific Games,  NYX has launched legal action against the bookmaker. Last week William Hill issued a corporate update, voicing its concerns over the deal and signalling its intention to convert its preference shares into ordinary NYX shares, in order to ensure it had had …

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32Red acquires ‘The Jackal’ as brand ambassador

SBC News 32Red acquires 'The Jackal' as brand ambassador

32Red has announced a multi-fight deal with Carl Frampton, for Northern Ireland’s first two-weight world champion to become a brand ambassador for its online casino brand. As part of the partnership, which kicks off with this Saturday’s ‘Frampton Reborn’ card from The SSE Arena in Belfast, Frampton will provide regular content for the 32Red blog and social channels. Frampton is …

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Ladbrokes Coral digital recovery offsets UK retail declines

SBC News Ladbrokes Coral digital recovery offsets UK retail declines

Publishing its Q3 trading update (period ending 29 October), FTSE-listed sports betting group Ladbrokes Coral Plc continues to record a strong digital momentum, offsetting the year decline of its UK retail betting division. Closing in on its first full-year of post-merger operations, Ladbrokes Coral reports improved Q3 group net revenues of 3%, primarily driven by a 12% net revenue uplift …

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India to review new sports ethics & integrity bill

SBC News India to review new sports ethics & integrity bill

India’s Lower House has cleared the passage for the ‘National Sports Ethics Commission Bill’ to be reviewed by the Delhi ‘Sansad’ Parliament. The sports bill has been developed by former India BCCI cricket Chairman and BJP (India Peoples Party) MP Anurag Thakur, who first tabled the bill in 2016, seeking a stronger ethical code for Indian professional sports. Thakur and …

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