Hungary: Prime Minister’s friend granted 35 year casino license in secret bne IntelliNews · September 9, 2021 at 7:44 am The concessions of Hungary’s five most valuable casinos, owned by businessmen with close ties to the ruling Fidesz party, have been renewed for 35 years without a call for bids, news site Telex reported on September 8. The existing licences were due to expire in 2024. The extension was made possible by an amendment to the relevant legislation adopted earlier this year. Casino operation was … [Read more...]
IGT creates Digital and Betting division in corporate restructure Ted Orme-Claye, SBC News · September 8, 2021 at 6:45 pm IGT has announced a commercial re-organisation, creating a Digital and Betting business segment out of the igaming and sports betting divisions formerly part of its Global Gaming department. The third quarter of 2021 will see the group operate the business segments of the firm, which include the newly created Digital & Betting, the aforementioned Global Gaming and Global Lottery, with the … [Read more...]
Kenyan lawmakers propose ban on gambling programmes on broadcast media Marese O'Hagan, iGaming Business · September 8, 2021 at 6:43 pm Kenya's ICT House Committee has announced that Kenya's National Assembly could soon adopt measures that restrict or ban gambling and betting-themed television programmes. This could be put in place if the House considers a host of recommendations made by gambling regulators. The announcement comes two months after Kenya’s Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB) set out Kenya’s guidelines … [Read more...]
Flutter joins European Gaming and Betting Association Tim Poole, Gambling Insider · September 8, 2021 at 6:42 pm Akin to a reverse Brexit, Flutter Entertainment has officially joined the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA). The betting giant, which owns Paddy Power, Betfair, FanDuel, Pokerstars, Sky Betting & Gaming and many other brands, has now chosen to join the association, placing particular emphasis on "fostering a stronger culture of safer gambling in Europe." While plenty of … [Read more...]
OPINION: Personalized gambling ads are a troubling new trend Jamie Torrance, The Conversation · September 7, 2021 at 5:40 pm There’s a new type of gambling advert being used online and on social media to try and appeal to viewers, recent research has shown. Unlike on television, these online advertisements can be more personalised, interactive and may be harder to distinguish from other content. For example, gambling companies will use methods like taking polls on the winning team of a football match to entice users … [Read more...]
Betway finds route back to LaLiga market with Atlético de Madrid sponsorship Matthew Williams, SportBusiness · September 7, 2021 at 5:22 pm Spanish club Atlético de Madrid has signed up gambling platform Betway as a sponsor in a two-year deal, covering all international territories excluding Spain and Asia. The Spanish government’s passing of betting advertising restrictions as part of its Royal Decree on the Commercial Communications of Gambling Activities means that gambling sponsorships are now banned in Spain, which put an end … [Read more...]
New initiative to teach Scottish pupils of the dangers of gambling Judith Duffy, The National · September 7, 2021 at 5:14 pm A programme is being developed for schools in Glasgow to help educate young people about gambling harms, as part of efforts to tackle it as a public health issue. The initiative has been revealed as a major summit is being held by the city council to examine how to address problem gambling. Glasgow has the most betting shops in the UK with one for every 3264 people, a recent report by the … [Read more...]
888 closes in on deal to buy William Hill’s European operations Thomas Seal, Bloomberg · September 7, 2021 at 5:09 pm Online gambling company 888 Holdings Plc said it is in advanced talks to buy rival William Hill’s non-U.S. operations after beating off rival bids from private equity. The discussions with William Hill’s owner, Caesars Entertainment Inc., are not certain to result in a takeover, 888 said in a filing Tuesday. The Times of London reported earlier that 888 had won the auction with an estimated bid … [Read more...]
Japan ex-official gets prison term in casino bribery case Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press · September 7, 2021 at 8:54 am TOKYO (AP) - A Tokyo court on Tuesday sentenced to four years in prison a former top government official for taking bribes from a gambling company, in a high-profile case that has added to the political woes of Japan's outgoing prime minister ahead of elections this year. The Tokyo District Court found Tsukasa Akimoto, who was a vice-minister in charge of tourism and casino promotions, guilty … [Read more...]
Flutter sets monthly net deposit limit for under-25s to £500 in UK and Ireland Ted Orme-Claye, SBC News · September 6, 2021 at 5:37 pm Flutter Entertainment has announced the reduction of its net deposit limit for all customers under 25 years old – setting the figure at £500 per month. The group’s new policy will be implemented across its UK and Irish Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Betting & Gaming brands, as part of a general move to ‘further enhance protections for younger customers and encourage sensible spending across … [Read more...]
