Month: October 2021

Overall gambling revenue in September amounted to $453.6m, up from $323.3m in the corresponding month last year and 6.1% higher than $427.7m in August this year.

New Jersey’s sports betting market experienced the most significant year-on-year growth in September, with revenue here up 82.9% to $82.4m.

Consumers wagered a total of $1.01bn on sports in December, a new monthly-high for the state, surpassed the previous record of $966.3m set in December 2020. A total of $918.4m was spent with online sportsbook, while the remaining $92.7m was wagered at retail sites.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

In the role, Hooper will be responsible for developing and implementing FanDuel’s long-term strategy in Canada, in keeping with the nation’s regulatory and legalization process within each province.

Hooper joins FanDuel from Deloitte Canada, where was most recently a partner focused on the cannabis industry. Prior to this, he served as president and chief executive of Cannabis Compliance Inc. (CCI) until December 2019, when the business was acquired by Deloitte.

Before joining CCI, Hooper held a number of leadership roles at Rogers Communications, including chief brand officer, a position in which he helped deliver all key business, customer satisfaction, and brand metrics over a three-year turnaround period.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

Some 65 alerts were registered in the three months to the end of September, down from 76 in the corresponding period last year, but 71% higher than 38 in the second quarter of this year.

Tennis accounted for 23 of all alerts in the quarter, ahead of football on 18 and table tennis with 17 alerts. Two alerts were also registered for esports, with one each for handball, cricket, squash, futsal and basketball.

Europe was responsible for more than half of all alerts in Q3, with 39 alerts registered across the continent during the quarter.

Croatia was the leading source of alerts in Europe, with 12 alerts in the country in relation to table tennis. A further four table tennis alerts originated in Russia, while another alert came from Germany.

Some 15 alerts in Europe were related to tennis events, six for football and a single alert for handball.

Asia saw 10 alerts registered in Q3, six of which came from Kazakhstan – four for football and two for tennis – while a total of eight alerts originated in Africa, three of which were in Egypt.

North America registered three alerts in Q3, two for tennis and one for cricket, while South America also had three alerts, all of which were in Brazil – two for football and one for futsal.

For the year to date, the IBIA reported 167 alerts during the nine months through to the end of September, down 17% on the same point last year (202 alerts).

IBIA chief executive Khalid Ali also noted that during the quarter, governments and regulators had taken major steps to protect integrity by requiring operators to join an integrity body such as IBIA;

“The benefits of being part of an international integrity monitoring body continue to be recognised; the association welcomes the decision of the Ontario authorities to require all licensed betting operators to be part of an integrity monitoring body, a position which is already in force in the recently opened market in the Netherlands. IBIA members are well-placed in those markets,” Ali said.

One extra row, two new symbols, and three more letters is all it takes to land a big fish. Well, that and a big wide net. Bigger Bass Bonanza, the sequel to Big Bass Bonanza captures a podium spot in the charts, a feat not achieved by any sequel to date.

A bit more of the RTP is doled out at the top end for a max win of 4000x and the soundtrack has had a funky uplift. But otherwise, the look and feel is true to the original and a clear response to the question of how far sequels should seek to imitate or innovate.

Top 20 games by distribution

Also making the charts in their debut month were Dynamite Riches Megaways (Red Tiger), Starlight Princess (Pragmatic Play), Big Boom Riches (Just For The Win) plus newcomer Northern Lights Gaming’s title God Of Fire, distributed via Microgaming. NetEnt’s Fruit Shop Megaways has been a solid performer for many months and finally made the cut this month.

Salsa Technology and iSoftBet continue to plug in yet more content but so too did SoftSwiss who still sit atop our chart of the busiest aggregators over the last six months.

Biggest aggregator dealmakers

The studio/aggregator Pariplay retakes top spot as studio dealmaker this month, having sealed three distribution deals for its own titles.

Biggest studio dealmakers

Casting that net wide and far is good for business – provided of course, you can get a permit!

* Please note these are live charts which update every month so please ensure the month of September is selected in the drop-downs to match the analysis

**Data on deals by month was collected from April 2020 onwards. Deal relationships between companies from all time are available on other charts. Note that only deals reported on company websites or in the gaming press are collated.

***The games chart here excludes live games and table games. Game rankings are determined by the number of game appearances on the casino homepages of more than 1,000 casino sites. To access many other charts including game rankings, live and table games, positions on subpages or to filter by operator type and size, ask for our demo from our partner, egamingmonitor.com, which covers 32,000 games, 1,200 suppliers and 1,000 operators.

Revenue from the soon-to-be-demerged Lotteries and Keno business came to $3.20bn, a 10% year-on-year increase.

“This was a record profit result, driven by well executed game changes, effective marketing and continued focus on the customer experience and digital innovation,” Tabcorp chair Steven Gregg said.

“As you can imagine, light entertainment has become even more important for many Australians. We saw this in our customer numbers, with active registered customers rising to 3.8 million players”

Wagering and media revenue, meanwhile, was $2.3bn.

“Unlike newsagents and fuel/convenience which could trade in times of COVID-19 restrictions, hotels, clubs and TAB agencies had to shut their doors for extended periods,” Gregg said. “Nonetheless, it was pleasing to see strong revenue growth across each of the three lines of business – wagering, media and international.”

The gaming services division, on the other hand, saw revenue decline 17% to $183m.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) was $1.1bn, an 11% year-on-year increase.

Tabcorp’s net profit after tax, meanwhile, was $269m, as the business returned to profit following an $870m loss in 2019-20.

Through its operations, Tabcorp was able to distribute $4.2bn in taxes, levies and payments to state governments.

Tabcorp also provided more information about its upcoming demerger of its lottery operations from the remainder of the business.

The operator launched an operational review in March, looking at a number of options, including potentially selling off its Wagering and Media or Lotteries and Keno business.

After this review, which saw online giant Entain bid for the wagering and media business, Tabcorp decided that the best option would be to keep the wagering arm and to spin off Lotteries and Keno into a new business.

Tabcorp chairman David Attenbrough (pictured) said the demerger would turn Tabcorp into two highly successful businesses.

“This decision to set up two market-leading businesses, will deliver a range of operational and strategic benefits,” he said.

“Through the Tabcorp-Tatts combination, the foundations were laid for both Lotteries & KenoCo and Wagering & GamingCo to deliver long-term growth.

“Lotteries & KenoCo is expected to be a significant business in the lottery category. Its infrastructure-like qualities, low capital intensity, and upside from continuing digital growth make it an attractive business.

“Similarly, Wagering & GamingCo will operate some of Australia’s best-known wagering and gaming brands – TAB, Sky Racing and MAX. It has a strong platform for organic growth supported by its domestic scale and diversified assets and well established and profitable international businesses.”

Gregg will serve as chair of the Lotteries and Keno business, while Tabcorp managing director Sue van der Merwe will be its chief executive. Adam Newman will be the company’s chief financial officer and Patrick McGlinchey its chief legal and risk officer and co-company secretary.

Tabcorp director Bruce Akhurst will be chair of the wagering and gaming business, while Adam Rytenskild – currently managing director for the wagering and media business – will become chief executive when David Attenbrough steps down. Dan Renshaw will be chief financial officer after the demerger.

“Dan has deep experience in wagering, finance and commercial roles and has been with Tabcorp since 2012,” Gregg said.

Kristensen was a coach for the Heroic team which, alongside fellow coach Nicolai Petersen – who was banned by ESIC for his exploitation of the spectator bug during professional play.

This bug allowed coaches to see any position on the map, allowing them to provide competitive information about opposing teams that otherwise would not have been known.

Petersen – who was also a subject of an investigation regarding sharing tactics with competitors – alleged that his fellow coaches were aware of his conduct, which triggered a further ESIC investigation into the actions of Kristensen, Rene Madsen, Casper Moller, Johannes Borup and Martin Lund.

Petersen supplied evidence including screenshots of text conversations between the group, voice recordings and transcripts of his conversations with Kristensen, screenshots of messages with an anonymous individual known as ‘Robert’, and an unsigned non-disclosure agreement relating to the spectator bug incident.

However, ESIC said it remains sympathetic to Kristensen, who has ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome, believing that Petersen manipulated him into the situation.

ESIC Commissioner Ian Smith said: “I have found myself increasingly sympathetic to Mr. Kristensen’s position in this matter in light of his conditions and personality. In particular, I believe that the much-publicised text and phone conversations in July 2021 with Mr. Petersen demonstrates that Mr. Kristensen was ruthlessly manipulated and set up by Mr. Petersen in an attempt to force Mr. Kristensen to verbally commit to a position which would incriminate both himself and his former teammates.”

Smith suggests that the conversation shows that Kristensen was “being set up to aid Mr. Petersen’s agenda to cause harm to Heroic”.

With regards to Madsen, Moller, Borup and Lund, ESIC found insufficient evidence to suggest they were guilty of any offence under the ESIC Integrity Programme. Petersen’s allegations against the individuals were found to lack substance, so they were found to be innocent during the investigation.

Kristensen however admitted his complicity in Petersen’s actions, and thus was deemed to have committed to level four offences against the ESIC Code of Conduct.

In addition to a warning about his future conduct and a severe public reprimand for his behaviour, Kristensen has been ordered to attend two mandatory one on one education sessions with
the ESIC Commissioner lasting 30 mins each. He also must complete a minimum 15-minute check in with the Commissioner every month for a minimum of six months to ensure he has understood
and is complying with the ESIC Integrity Program.

Smith added: “I expected a flood of “evidence” of other teams’ players being complicit in their coaches cheating with the coach bug, but this has not happened. I believe I have explained why I think this is: that the players did not need to know, but I also accept that there were players that, like niko (Kristensen), did know and should have come forward, but didn’t.
“I hope this changes in future as people know that ESIC will investigate fairly and sympathetically in the best interests of esports. Competitive integrity is key to the sustainability and increased commerciality of professional elite esports. If people lose faith in the product, it is the players that will suffer most and I hope all players accept that we are all in this together and that ESIC is here to protect them.”

The hearings will form part of a review into the Star’s practices that began four weeks ago.

The review began after Adam Bell SC was appointed to conduct it by the ILGA.

The investigation will examine The Star’s compliance to the Casino Control Act 1992 and the Casino Control Regulation 2019, as well as compliance regarding licensing and legal agreements between The Star and the NSW Authority.

In part, the NSW Authority will focus on evidence given by The Star on August 4 2020 before the Bergin Inquiry into rival resort operator Crown Resorts. In this evidence, The Star stated that it was continuing to work with junket operators, which had been a major source of the investigation into Crown. Crown had been ordered to stop working with these businesses through the inquiry.

Bell advised the ILGA that the public hearings will focus on The Star’s administration and maintenance of anti-money laundering and anti-organised crime measures.

The hearings are expected to be held in March 2022, with a publicly available report published by the ILGA by 30 June 2022.

The last review of The Star and its practices took place in 2016, and was conducted by Jonathan Horton QC.

In May, Star proposed a merger with Crown Resorts, which would create a combined Aus$12.00bn (£6.71bn/€7.76bn/US$9.43bn) business operation. However, it was rivaled by a bid by private equity group Blackstone for Aus$8.02bn (£4.47bn/€5.21bn/US$6.19bn).

A New South Wales Casino inquiry into Crown resort in February found evidence of money laundering and criminal activity.

Last week, The Star denied claims that it had ignored a report from KPMG that focused on anti-money laundering an terrorist financing. Days prior, The Star branded media allegations of money-laundering as “misleading”.

Perkovic (pictured) started at The Stars Group in 2011, serving through the business’ acquisition by Flutter. She was appointed senior compliance manager in 2020.

“Huddle is building something really special, and I’m thrilled to join,” she said. “The three founders and the wider team are experts in their fields and are developing very exciting products that will answer many pain points being felt across the betting and gaming industry through their over reliance on legacy systems.”

Software proivider Huddle was founded in 2020 by Francesco Borgosano, Leo Gaspar and Mario Zdelican – all of Simplebet – who raised $3m to power the supplier’s growth.

 “I’m delighted to welcome Zeljka to Huddle,” Borgosano said. “She brings great experience from her many years in the sector and will be a hugely valuable member of our growing team. 

Borgosano added that Perkovic is the latest Huddle hire to come from a big name within the industry, with others coming from businesses such as Kambi, Entain and William Hill.

“We are attracting some serious talent at Huddle, with people drawn to the unique product capabilities and culture we are building, and I’m really looking forward to working with Zeljka and our many new senior hires.”

In a trading update, 888 said total revenue for the three months to 30 September amounted to £229.9m (€271.7m/$316.7m), up 7% from £215.6m in the same period last year.

B2C revenue was 7% higher at £220.3m, with B2C gaming by far the main source of income after generating £193.5m in the third quarter, up 11% year-on-year. The operator said this growth was led by its online casino offering, which was expanded in Q3 with the addition of more than 150 new games.

While B2C betting revenue fell 15% to £26.8m, 888 said this was down to what it described as a “very strong” comparable performance in Q3 last year, during which it benefitted from a condensed calendar of sporting events following disruption to the sports calendar earlier in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

B2C betting revenue was up 21% when compared with Q3 levels in 2019.

Turning to B2B, revenue was 4% higher at £9.6m, with 888 reporting “moderate growth” across its bingo and US operational segments. Q3 also saw the launch of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) brand in Pennsylvania via a partnership with Caesars Interactive, with this set to be expanded to Michigan in the coming weeks.

Other business activity in Q3 included the roll out of a new sportsbook in Colorado, together with sports magazine Sports Illustrated, as well as a launch in the regulated German market under a newly issued sport licence.

In addition, September saw 888 agree a deal worth £2.2bn to acquire William Hill’s non-US assets from Caesars Entertainment. 888 said the deal would significantly enhance the enlarged group’s scale and create leading positions in several key regulated markets. 

“Q3 2021 was a period of outstanding strategic progress for 888,” 888 chief executive Itai Pazner said. “During the period we announced the transformational acquisition of William Hill International, successfully launched SI Sportsbook in the US, and began operating 888sport under a new licence in Germany as we continued to execute our plan to build a global online betting and gaming leader.

“Alongside these important strategic milestones, I am pleased with the group’s continued positive trading, particularly as we lap very tough comparative periods. 

“This performance reflects the continued success of our data-driven investments and execution against our product-leadership plan that delivers ongoing improvements in the usability, quality and safety of our sports betting and gaming products.”

For the year to date, revenue in the nine months to the end of September was 28% higher at £758.3m.

B2C revenue hiked 28% to £729.4m, with B2C gaming revenue up 27% to £622.3m and B2C betting revenue 41% higher at £107.1m. B1B revenue was also up by 7% to £28.9m.

888 said the group’s performance was in line with the board’s expectations and is currently on track to reach full-year targets, despite its decision to halt operations in the Netherlands.

On 1 October, the Netherlands opened its regulated market, with only 10 operators having been issued licences, with 888 not among those to be licensed, As such, 888 said it would block Dutch players until it secured a licence in the country.

While 888 said the timing of any licence award in the Netherlands remains unclear, it aims to be operational in the country during the second half of 2022. 

The operator added that the temporary closure is expected to negatively impact its 2022 EBITDA – post certain mitigations at group level – by approximately $10m, with no change in the group’s expectations for 2023 and beyond.

“Underpinned by our advanced technology, leading products, and strong brands, as well as the increased scale, talent and diversification that the group will benefit from as a result of its combination with William Hill International, we have a very exciting platform for long-term growth,” Pazner added.

Financial terms of the deal, which was announced in August, remain undisclosed, but Entain said the agreement paves the way for it to launch new esports products in 2022.

Entain said Unikrn’s 50-strong international team of staff would stay with the business and spearhead its esports launch on a global scale.  

Justin Dellario, who recently joined Entain from Twitch as managing director of Esports, will head up Entain’s expansion within the esports market.

“Entain is all about creating exciting and innovative products for our customers,” Dellario said. “With Unikrn, we’ll now be able to offer competitive gamers and esports fans alike rewarding experiences surrounding the games and events they love.

Founded in 2014 as an esports betting operator, Unikrn offers a range of products including U-Mode that allows gamers to bet on their own ranked matches, as well as Streamer Bet, Unikrn’s AI-powered real-time for updating odds for betting on Twitch streams.

The acquisition will see Entain extend its safer gaming initiatives and player protections to new customers across skills-based wagering in sports and interactive entertainment products. 

In addition, Entain, via its not-for-profit Entain Foundation, has forged partnerships with external organisations to provide education and support to players at potential risk of gaming disorder in esports, including the Counter-Strike Professional Players Association, which represents professional players across esports.

The deal comes after Entain last month also confirmed it had received a takeover proposal from US betting giant DraftKings.

After an initial bid was rejected by Entain, DraftKings returned with a new proposal of £28.00 per share, which would comprise a cash portion of £6.30, with the rest made up of Class A common shares, and represented a 46.2% premium on Entain’s closing share price on 20 September.

Based on the 585,591,361 Entain shares in issue as of 30 June 2021, this would value the business at £16.40bn.

This week, Entain reported a 4% year-on-year increase in group net gaming revenue for the third quarter of its 2021 financial year. putting this down primarily to growth in its online sports betting division.