Industry strategic consultancy Regulus Partners begins the week by looking at the potential resumption of football across Europe, and an industry-wide shift towards online gambling. Global: soccer and betting – ready for some own goals? While some have been getting to know and love football from Belarus and Nicaragua, the majority of fans, bettors, media companies and betting companies will …
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Rank Group preparing for ‘difficult trading conditions’ following COVID-19 lockdown
Amid COVID-19 disruptions, Rank Group has revealed that it is ‘preparing for difficult trading conditions’ when it reopens its venues. Publishing a trading update for the quarter to 31 March 2020, Rank’s like-for-like net gaming revenue was down 4% for the quarter, while total NGR saw an increase of 5%. Rank Group has predicted that annual underlying operating profit will amount …
Read More »UK racing secures £22m hardship fund
A £22 million ‘hardship fund’ has been launched by The Horserace Betting Levy Board (Levy Board) and the Racing Foundation supporting horseracing stakeholders impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The newly reformed Levy Board acts as a non-departmental public body, in charge of collecting and organising the finances of UK racing through betting taxes, fundraising and further on-course activities. Its counterpart the …
Read More »EFL set to broadcast remaining games whilst behind closed doors
English Football League (EFL) chairman Rick Parry has emphasised in an open letter that plans are put in place to continue its Championship, League 1 and League 2 campaigns behind closed doors, with all remaining matches set to be aired either online or on TV. The plans will commence providing the government issues it is safe to do so, as the …
Read More »RTSmunity: Data is imperative to esports’ success in the betting industry
Esports betting has taken centre stage as a viable alternative for bookmakers during the COVID-19 crisis. However, with this relatively new sector garnering a lot of attention, questions are being raised as to how stable it is compared with traditional sports betting. It is vital that esports betting keeps its integrity during this period as a mistake could derail the …
Read More »Smarkets – Lockdown sees politics take centre stage
Smarkets has seen a ‘considerable uptick’ in wagers on political events this March as punters turn their attention to politics following COVID-19’s postponement of the sports calendar. The online betting exchange detailed that it recorded £1.1 million wagers across its political markets, representing a 95% increase on February trading of £580,000. Excluding months leading up to the UK general elections, …
Read More »SPFL concludes Ladbrokes Championship with COVID crisis plan
Scotland’s Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2 has reached a ‘written resolution’ effective immediately after the SPFL’s COVID-19 crisis plan was passed. The plan, passed by 81 per cent of all SPFL clubs including the Ladbrokes Premiership, has resulted in Dundee United FC being crowned Championship champions. However, Scotland’s top decision has not been affected in the …
Read More »BHA extends racing suspension beyond end of April
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed that the suspension of racing will be extended, with a date for resumption yet to be decided. Racing was initially suspended on March 18 following the government’s decision to introduce the current lockdown measures which seek to protect essential emergency services and the health and safety of the public. But while a new …
Read More »ARC continues financial support for greyhound trainers during COVID-19 shutdown
Arena Racing Company (ARC) has confirmed that it will continue to offer financial support to greyhound trainers based at its five stadia while the sport is suspended. Following the suspension of greyhound racing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ARC will continue to offer £5 per dog per week to trainers from Belle Vue, Newcastle, Nottingham, Perry Barr and Sunderland from …
Read More »Why leading esports titles should not be overlooked as substitutes to real sports
The coronavirus pandemic has proved to be a huge challenge for the entire betting community, and bookmakers have been confronted with a situation which they never thought they’d face. Who expected to see the Belarusian Premier League topping viewing charts across the globe? However, esports has also seen a sharp rise in viewership since the COVID-19 outbreak due to its …
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