SAZKA Group has hired London public affairs consultancy Flint Global to serve as a ‘special advisor’ as the Czech gambling conglomerate bids to become the new operating firm of the National Lottery in 2023. This story featured in today’s SBC News 90. To view the latest round-up, watch today’s edition here. Co-founded by Sir Simon Fraser, the former Head of the …
Read More »
STS has completed the takeover of Czech betting software company Betsys, already its main provider of IT solutions for both online and retail channels in Poland. For STS, the largest bookmaker in Poland with over 47% market share, this takeover represents the next stage of its ‘dynamic development’. Having dominated the betting industry in Poland, STS expanded its business to …
Read More »
As reported by The Daily Telegraph, a six-month contract extension is set to be granted to National Lottery license holder Camelot Group as regulators look to temporarily suspend the tender for the rights to run the contest. The official decision of Camelot’s license extension is now expected to be formally announced by the UKGC within the coming weeks according to …
Read More »
Citing novel coronavirus impacts across its European network, Czech gambling and lottery conglomerate SAZKA Group saw its consolidated Q1 revenues decline by 11% to €405m (Q1 2019: €458m). In an overview of Q1 performance, the group cited trading under unprecedented circumstances, in which subsidiaries OPAP Greece, Casinos Austria and LOTTO Italia have been forced to suspend their entire retail presence …
Read More »
Czech gambling conglomerate SAZKA Group has agreed to terms on a ‘cooperation agreement’ with Austrian state fund Österreichische Beteiligungs (ÖBAG) related to the ownership structure of Casinos Austria. ÖBAG had come under fire from Austrian political parties for not using its ‘pre-emption rights’ to challenge SAZKA’s bid to secure a majority +50% stake in Casinos Austria. Last summer, maintaining a 37% …
Read More »
Australia ASX-listed Tabcorp Holdings will renew an ambition to establish its presence within UK gambling, as it prepares to bid for the 2023 National Lottery operating contract. The Daily Telegraph reports that Tabcorp governance has held discussions with investment bank Rothschild, one of four strategic advisors forming the UKGC’s tender evaluation body. A turbulent 2019 saw Tabcorp governance criticized by …
Read More »
Czech gambling conglomerate SAZKA Group has confirmed the appointment of Kenneth Morton as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective from 1 February 2020. Morton is the former Head of Corporate Finance for SAZKA Group’s main investor KKGC – a private equity vehicle led by Czech billionaire Karel Komarek. As a KKGC executive, Morton is reported to have spearheaded a number of …
Read More »
Industry observers will be monitoring closely the first publication of Française des Jeux (FDJ) corporate results as a public enterprise, scheduled for release on Thursday 13 February 2020. Closing 2019, the French government hailed the success of FDJ’s oversubscribed IPO on the Paris Euronext Exchange, as the French lottery operator doubled its corporate valuation to €3.8 billion. Raising capital of …
Read More »
SAZKA Group Chief Executive Robert Chvátal has confirmed that the growth-hungry gambling conglomerate will launch an official 2020 bid competing to win the UK’s fourth National Lottery contract starting in 2023. Stating SAZKA’s intent, Chvátal underlined that ‘investing in the UK is the next stop’, following a busy 2019 in which the Czech gambling fund secured majority shareholdings in OPAP …
Read More »
Novomatic AG has agreed to sell its 17% stake in Casinos Austria to Czech gambling conglomerate SAZKA Group. Issuing a short statement, Novomatic confirms that it has reached a binding agreement with SAZKA dependent on regulatory approvals. The transaction will see SAZKA increase its shareholding in Casinos Austria to 55% (formerly 38%), after securing majority investment rights in the leading …
Read More »
SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry