Latest Gambling News
UK Online Casino Operator Betfred Loses £1.5 Million Court Fight Over Former Customer’s Winnings
April 13, 2021 • 3 min read
Back Underground: London Mayor Sadiq Khan Promises to Ban Gambling Adverts on Famous Tube Network
April 13, 2021 • 3 min read
That’s Entainment: Ladbrokes Owner Entain Posts Positive 2020 Report
April 13, 2021 • 3 min read
Financial / A Hill to Climb: Two Hedge Fund Investors to Dispute Caesars’ William Hill Takeover
Billion-dollar-plus hedge funds GWM Asset Management and HBK Capital Management sent a letter to William Hill’s board with the aim of torpedoing the £2.9 billion (almost $4 billion) takeover bid from US casino giant Caesars. We first reported on a potential merger between UK gambling giant William Hill and US casino mainstay Caesars back in September …
Legislation / Level Playing: Dutch Regulator Targets 35 Licenses for Legal Market Opening Later This Year
The Netherlands’ gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), has announced that it expects to issue around 35 licenses before its long-delayed legal market opens later this year. The new regulation, setting the framework for a completely legal market in the country, came into force this month. The regulator will start assessing license applications from April 1, 2021, with …
Financial / Bally’s Corporation to Buy Out UK Online Operator Gamesys; Final Valuation Over $2.5 billion
US land-based casino giant Bally’s Corporation, not to be confused with slot developer Bally Technologies, has confirmed this week it has tabled a $2.7 billion takeover bid for British online casino firm Gamesys. Shortly after, Gamesys’ board told shareholders they intended to accept the offer. Between board members, founders, and other executives, they hold about 30.7% …
Legislation / Protecting Customers: Kindred and William Hill Introduce Voluntary Safer Gambling Measures in US Markets
March Madness is a traditionally massive sports betting weekend in the US. With many operators now moving online in legal markets and offering integrated online casino services besides their sports betting, online operators expect big things this month. But those big things also come with big responsibilities. Thus, two operators with long-standing experience in global …
Financial / Challenging Backdrop: Playtech “Achieved Progress” but Made Losses of €73 Million in 2020
Like almost everybody in the gambling world during the COVID-19 pandemic, Isle of Man-based company Playtech has had a bumpy year. Overall revenues for the company have dropped as much as 25%, although it still managed to bring in over €1 billion ($1.194 billion). That admittedly still large figure was not enough to cover Playtech’s …
News
Gaming the Market: Atari to Open Online Cryptocurrency Casino
March 17, 2021 • 3 min read
In addition to home and arcade video games and – a long time ago – consoles, well-known game developer Atari has dabbled in land-based and online casino gaming. The Atari 2600 console featured one of the world’s first attempts at a virtual slot machine way back in the early 1980s. Although you couldn’t bet with real …
No Dice: Japanese Minister Says Online Casinos Not in the Pipeline
March 17, 2021 • 3 min read
Although they’re moving very slowly, Japan’s integrated resort casino projects are nearing a stage in which actual construction may begin. However, one minister this week quickly shut down any hopes that this might lead to legal online casino gaming any time soon. “Online casinos are not subject to the ‘casino acts’ in the IR Development …
Controversial Appointment: Conservative MP John Whittingdale to Oversee Reform of UK’s Gambling Law
March 10, 2021 • 3 min read
The British Minister for Media and Data, Mr. John Whittingdale, has been selected to head up the UK’s long-awaited reform of Gambling Act 2005. We’ve reported on this subject many times, and many in the industry (and further afield) will be glad to see it finally taking shape. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has …
Held Accountable: Three Caesars UK Managers Lose Personal Licenses in Ongoing UKGC Investigation
March 10, 2021 • 3 min read
This week, UK regulator the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (or UKGC) suspended three PML licenses for management personnel at giant international operator Caesars. Under the UK’s heavy-touch regulation, any gambling industry employees who conduct certain customer-oriented duties must hold a Personal Management Licence – or PML. These duties include but are not limited to: ● Marketing …
Golden Markets: Golden Nugget Online Signs Partnership Deal with New York’s Tioga Downs Racetrack
March 1, 2021 • 3 min read
Golden Nugget Online has become the second US-based online operator to sign a deal in the state of New York – despite the state not having legal online gaming just yet. Golden Nugget Online has signed a 20-year first option deal to provide an online site for Tioga Downs Racetrack, should online betting or casino …
Best Interests: Connecticut Governor Lists Online Gambling on 2022 Budget Assessment, Confirms New Negotiations
March 1, 2021 • 2 min read
The Governor of the US state of Connecticut, Ned Lamont, has confirmed in his most recent budget address that state regulators are in discussions with the Mashantucket Pequot and the Mohegan tribes to help push forward a bill on online casino gambling and sports betting. Democratic governor Mr. Lamont is extremely confident that a deal …
Ahead of the Game: Flutter Entertainment to Block Credit Card Deposits in Ireland
March 1, 2021 • 3 min read
One of the world’s biggest gambling companies, Flutter Entertainment, has announced it will no longer allow credit card deposits from Irish customers. Also to come is a whole load of other changes geared towards a commitment to safer gambling. The news comes after Ireland’s Labour party told the press last week that it wants to …
And Again: UK Tells Online Operator White Hat Gaming to Cough Up £1.3 Million for Customer Protection Breaches
February 22, 2021 • 2 min read
White-label casino operator White Hat Gaming has now seen the details of a £1.3 million ($1.782 million) settlement it reached with UK regulators last month. The above sum will be paid towards various problem gambling charities under the umbrella of the UK’s National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. White Hat Gaming is a global white …
