Category Archives: Betting

UKGC joint-investigation leads to illegal lottery shutdown on Facebook 

A joint investigation by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and law enforcement partners has led to the shutdown of illicit lotteries operating on the social media platform of Facebook.   Formed under the guidance of the Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN), the Gambling Commission led a probe focused on disrupting illegal/unlicensed lotteries targeting UK consumers on …

BGC backs government’s Levelling Up job creation agenda

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has outlined a commitment to investing £20 million on staff training and development across the UK, in support of the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ job booster programme.  In addition to the investment plans, the betting and gaming industry standards association has also pledged to create 5,000 apprenticeships for young people …

Svenska Spel to form ‘interactive’ Beijing 2022 microsite with Spotlight Sports

Spotlight Sports Group (SSG) has introduced a Swedish language interactive Winter Olympics microsite for state-owned gambling company, Svenska Spel.  The enterprise has stated that it will build, host and manage the site which will include SSG’s independent previews, giving Svenska Spel customers betting odds as well as expert analysis. Dan Korhonen, Svenska Spel Head of …

Aristocrat strategy to remain unchanged following Playtech acquisition fall through

Aristocrat CEO and Managing Director, Trevor Croker, has detailed that the company’s ‘commitment to participate in the RNG sector’ as part of its wider strategy will not be altered, following news of the collapse of its acquisition of Playtech. Issuing a statement this morning, Playtech anticipated that the minimum threshold of 75% of shareholders would …

DAZN comes close to acquiring BT Sport and its Premier League rights

DAZN is closing on a deal to buy BT Sport, as the streaming service has now opened talks with the Premier League to seek its approval, according to The Times. With a deal in place until 2025, England football’s top-flight league is currently the broadcasters main TV rights partner, and therefore must give consent to …

SECAP appoints Calderini Rosa as new secretary to clear pathway for sports betting regime

The Ministry of the Economy of Brazil has announced the appointment of Sérgio Ricardo Calderini Rosa as new Secretary General of SECAP – the Ministry’s public policy agency charged with overseeing developments and evaluations for energy, agriculture and lotteries.  The appointment follows the abrupt resignation of former incumbent Gustavo Guimarães, who on 19 January declared …

David Clifton: Thoughts on the APBGG Report on the competence & effectiveness of the UKGC

Back in September last year, the Parliamentary All Party Betting & Gaming Group (APBGG) launched its investigation into the competence and effectiveness of the Gambling Commission. Bearing in mind that the APBGG investigation followed on from heavy criticisms of the regulator by each of the National Audit Office, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, the Gambling Related Harm All …

Playtech reviews alternative options as proxy votes reject Aristocrat takeover

The board of Playtech Plc has this morning communicated that its designated £2.7 billion sale to Aristocrat Leisure will likely be rejected by shareholders. The statement follows proxy votes ahead of today’s official vote on Aristocrat’s bid, that have failed to meet the minimum threshold 75% of votes cast needed for Playtech governance to approve the …

GiG executives granted 1.7m share options

The eight executives of Gaming Innovation Group (GiG) have been granted options to buy up to a total of 1,700,000 shares in the company by its Board of Directors.  Identified as ‘key employees’, the executives – all of whom are also detailed as a ‘primary insider’ of the gaming services firm – will be able …

Gambling.com agrees €60m deal to acquire BonusFinder

Gambling.com Group continues to expand its North American media portfolio, announcing that it has reached a binding agreement to acquire NDC Media, the publisher of BonusFinder.com.  Terms of the transaction will see Gambling.com pay an initial purchase price of €12.5 million ($14m) of which €10 million will be paid as a cash reward. The remaining …