Month: November 2021

Open to all ECA member employees, the initiative is now its fourth year, with successful candidates securing a place on the Executive Development Programme (EDP) gaming leadership course.

It is jointly sponsored by the association, alongside the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), Clarion Gaming and the University of Nevada Las Vegas’ (UNLV) International Gaming Institute.

The EDP is run in partnership with the UNLV’s International Gaming Institute and the University of Nevada’s Reno College of Business and Extended Studies. The ECA’s Diversity Scholarship covers the full cost of the EDP initiative.

This year, the ECA selected Joanna Petit, American games supervisor for Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco and Shalini Kolling, human resources manager at Casino Cosmopol in Sweden. Jan Pecha, casino general manager for Olympic Casino in Slovakia, and Darko Devic, table games manager at Casino Mond in Slovenia were the other successful recipients of the scholarship. 

“The ECA scholarship programme recognises the contribution individuals have made within their daily roles that embody the inclusive nature of our profession,” ECA chairman Per Jaldung said.

“The ECA has awarded four candidates working in Monaco, Slovakia, Sweden and Slovenia to take part in the programme to promote the individual growth of the gaming professionals who, through their actions, have supported and enhanced diversity and inclusion within the industry.”

ECA secretary Hermann Pamminger added: “Each of this year’s recipients personify the values of this award, having a passion for the industry and an understanding and empathy for the diverse make-up of both front and back-of-house in the European casino business. 

“The EDP is a perfect reward for such dedication to further their personal and professional growth.”

TLCBet will continue to serve as the team’s official Asia betting partner, with the club also gaining access to exclusive content, offers and experiences from the operator.

Sevilla will also work with TLCBet to promote Sevilla across the Far East and China, where the club is seeking to expand its presence. 

“In keeping with Sevilla FC’s grand project of international growth, it’s vital for us to couple our brand with growing, innovative companies like TLCBet,” the club’s general manager Jorge Paradela said.

“This enduring Asia betting partner deal marks another important step for our club and another key building block internationally, even against the challenging economic backdrop which is facing many elite clubs across the planet.”

TLCBet added: “We’re thrilled to bolster our ongoing association with one of the most decorated European sides of recent times in Sevilla.

“Working alongside a club that boasts such a track record of sustained success at the elite level underscores our ongoing commitment to growing Spanish La Liga followers.”

As the deal is focused on Asia, it in line with new laws in Spain, with the country having introduced a ban on sports clubs striking advertising deals with gambling operators. 

Clubs were forced to end Spanish-facing deals at the end of the 2020-21 season and banned from agreeing new partnerships.

The bill amends several aspects of the Thüringian Casino Law 2004 to create the Thüringian Law on Casino and Online Casino (ThürSpbkOCG). This new document would set out operating conditions for online table games, which are restricted under Germany’s state treaty on gambling, the Glücksspielneuregulieringsstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStV).

Implemented from 1 July, the treaty facilitated the roll-out of online slots for all licensees, but limits each state to issuing as many table games licences as it has land-based casinos. For states such as Thüringia, which has no such facilities, it can grant the state lottery sole rights to the products.

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“The approval of virtual slot machine games under a permit system for private providers in [the GlüNeuRStV] makes it necessary to limit the online casino offerings and to organise them in a monopoly,” the bill explained, adding that this would create a clear distinction between the slot and table games offerings.

Per the draft bill, the table games licence holder could apply for a ten-year licence. This could be Lotto Thüringen, which the bill noted would generate additional income for the state if it is allowed to expand into the vertical.

The bill text outlines an “increased risk of manipulation” in online table games, an the organiser also acts as the banker. Therefore, a high level of provisional detail must be provided by applicants in order to attain the exclusive rights.

The bill has also been notified to the European Commission, who must approve it before it becomes law. The bill is currently in a standstill period until 24 February 2022.

The eight new self service betting kiosks, powered by OpenBet’s retail technology and solutions, will allow We-Ko-Pa customers to place various bets on sports matches, and the profits from winning tickets can be used to place additional wagers.

Four of the kiosks can be found across the casino floor, while the remainder are located in the resort’s dining outlet WKP Sports & Entertainment, where live sports matches are broadcast.

“When designing the We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation wanted it to be the place to be for local residents and area visitors interested in the latest-and-greatest gaming options,” We-Ko-Pa Casino general manager Mary Ketterling said.

“Adding sports betting further helps us make our beautiful casino the one-stop gaming destination they envisioned.”

Arizona’s sports betting market officially opened in September after the US Department of Interior signed off on an amended tribal gaming compact.

Betfred had secured market access in Arizona prior to the launch via its partnership with Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, with plans to introduce sports betting with a retail sportsbook in addition to mobile and online offerings.

Betfred Sports’ chief operating officer Bryan Bennett added: “We are now one step closer to offering Arizona sports bettors a great betting experience with the new self-service kiosks at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort.

“We look forward to opening the complete Betfred Sportsbook early next year.”

Arizona’s sports betting market officially opened in September after the US Department of Interior signed off on an amended tribal gaming compact. The roll-out did face a challenge from the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe, which submitted a complaint requesting the courts to suspend the launch of sports betting.

However, the Maricopa County Superior Court rejected the tribe’s request for an injunction.

The 2022 budget also represents a 7.8% increase on 2019’s figure, prior to disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

France’s retail horse race betting monopoly Pari-Mutuel Urbain (PMU) contributed €740m to France Galop coffers, below the €805m initially budgeted. This was in spite of issues relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, such as curfews and lockdowns – when France Galop was recording monthly losses of €15m.

Following the re-opening of points of sale, and the introduction of a Covid pass in August, the organisation expects to make a profit of €6m for the year. This will be redistributed to owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys whose profits that have had prize money withheld during the current racing season. This has seen 9% of all prize money for races held since 1 March temporarily retained by France Galop.

The funds will be distributed at the start of 2022, taking the total amount of prizes paid out for 2021 to €248M, down from €258M in 2019.

The decrease has been described as “relatively moderate” considering the situation during the first five months of the year. During this period, 3,500 points of sale were closed across the country, resulting in PMU’s turnover decreasing by 15%.

With reopening continuing, PMU’s contribution to flat and steeplechase racing is set to jump to €820m in 2022, a €60m advance on 2019. This is contingent upon no more interruptions to the racing schedule, PMU’s international expansion and the operator reducing costs by €40m.

The fantasy sports betting will be available through Grupo Global’s Cartola FC fantasy sports business, under the Cartola Express brand.

“In Cartola FC, Grupo Globo has built a pioneer in the Brazilian fantasy sports market, offering millions of players access to a first-class entertainment platform which is integrated across a vast sports media portfolio,” said Amy Howe, CEO of FanDuel.

“This exciting initiative allows us to contribute to that success by adding FanDuel’s proven product capabilities and cutting-edge services. We’re looking forward to being a part of this initiative, offering players a new service and the next generation of fantasy sports in Brazil.”

Grupo Global is a major media conglomerate in Brazil, comprising a network of companies across multiple platforms and channels. It claims to reach 99.6% of the country’s population through its news, sports and entertainment programmes.

“Daily fantasy sports is a fast-growing form of entertainment in Brazil and Cartola Express has the potential to take this to the next level,” said Newton Filho, CEO of Cartola Express operator DFS Entretenimento.

“We’re proud to count on the expertise of FanDuel, which has been a leader in this field in the United States for more than 10 years, and we’re confident that our players will enjoy the benefits of their experience.”

The deal has been struck as Brazilian lawmakers work to regulate real-money betting. Legislation was first signed into law in December 2018 by Michel Temer, who was Brazil’s outgoing president at the time.

This allowed the country’s National Congress to develop sports betting regulations in a two-year window, with the option to extend for another two years.

In February 2020, the country’s Secretariat of Evaluation, Planning, Energy and Lottery launched a third consultation on fixed-odds sports betting, which delayed the launch of a legal market due to a change in approach.

Initially, all applicants who met the conditions for a licence were set to receive one. However, this February consultation saw that framework changed to a tender model where only a certain amount of licences were available.

President Jair Bolsonaro then appointed managers to oversee the tender process in August 2020. signed a decree adding it to the country’s Investment Partnership Program.

In July 2021, the Brazilian government passed a regulatory amendment to chapter 30 of Law 13,756, which saw gambling tax implemented on gross gaming revenue instead of turnover.

The new system sees tax calculated after winnings, taxes on winnings, and social security payments are paid out. Prior to this taxes were collected at a rate of 3% from turnover.

This was first approved by the Chamber of Deputies in June.

In her new position, Fitton will be tasked with driving sustainable growth with the aim to strengthen operational effectiveness, streamline processes and improve efficiency on platform delivery.

Fitton has served as director of managed services GIG since joining the business in 2019. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing the operations, CRM and media managed services teams.

Prior to joining GIG, Fitton spent over three years at Betsafe, first as its head of casino and later managing director.

Fitton has also had spells with NetEnt, GVC Group (now Entain) and Sportingbet

“I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with some great people here at GiG for the last 2 and half years and build our successful managed services vertical,” Fitton said. “I’m now looking forward to taking on the new COO role and further developing GiG and rolling out our key strategic plans for 2022.”

GIG said the appointment also forms part of GiG’s wider strategic drive to strengthen its overall business processes. This will also include a series of additional internal department changes, with to be announced in the coming weeks, as well as appointments for director of managed services, director of operations and director of delivery.

“I am very happy to announce the promotion of Nicola to COO. Nicola has been with GiG for over two and a half years and within that time has played a key role in GiG’s success and growth of our partners,”  GiG’s chief commercial officer and managing director of platform, Ben Clemes, said

“This promotion demonstrates the continued maturity of the Platform unit at GiG, and focus on the onboarding and continued delivery to our partners both new and existing. I wish Nicola all the success in her role of COO.”

Issued by the Virginia Lottery, the new licence will enable PointsBet, together with Colonial Downs, to access the state’s legal online sports betting market.

Colonial Downs is a subsidiary of California-based Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and owns six Rosie’s Gaming Emporium locations across the state, as well as the Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent County.

PointsBet’s expansion into Virginia will also be supported through its partnership with NBC Sports.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

FansUnite will pay $58.2m (£43.5m/€51.8m) to acquire the business, which it said would help strengthen its position in the US online betting market and serve as the cornerstone of a wider US affiliate strategy.

American Affiliate is a collection of assets focused on generating new depositing customers for legal sportsbooks, online casinos, online poker site, and adjacent products in the US.

To date, American Affiliate has generated more than 150,000 new depositing customers for major US brands such as DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM PointsBet, Underdog Fantasy and WynnBet.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

Revenue for the three months to 30 September amounted to €470.2m (£395.0m/$528.8m), up 20.3% from €391.0m in the third quarter of 2020.

Lottery remained the main source of revenue for OPAP in the period, though revenue was flat at €178.4m, with 97.7% of this total coming from retail channels.

Sports betting revenue increased 39.1% year-on-year to €141.4m, on the back of what OPAP described as a strong online contribution. Online betting was responsible for 29.8% of all betting revenue in Q3, compared to just 3.9% last year.

Video lottery terminal (VLT) revenue climbed by 5.4% to €84.4m, despite restricted access to the machines from mid-September due to novel coronavirus (Covid-19) measures in Greece. However, instant and passives revenue fell 11.2% to €24.1m as restrictions limited access for players.

Online casino reported the biggest growth in the period, with revenue rocketing to €42.0m, reflecting the contribution of OPAP’s increased stake in Stoiximan. OPAP upped its stake in Stoiximan Group’s Greek and Cypriot operations to 84.48% in November last year.

Turning to expenses, operating costs were 62.1% higher at €93.6m, with spending up across staffing, marketing and other operations, but revenue growth meant earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by 66.7% to €175.0m.

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment costs amounted to €42.0m in the quarter, while after also including €9.6m in financial costs, this left a pre-tax profit of €123.5m, up 80.6% year-on-year.

OPAP paid €27.5m in tax during the quarter, resulting in a net profit of €96.0m, an increase of 83.6% on €52.3m in Q3 of 2020.

“OPAP’s Q3 results affirm our ability to sustain a strong financial performance, while implementing key initiatives of our Fast Forward Strategy,” OPAP chief executive Jan Karas said. “Retail resilience and continuing online growth, clearly aided by Stoiximan’s contribution, were the key drivers.

“During the quarter, we tapped the benefits of our recently launched loyalty program, which is key to further digitalising our offering. We are pleased to see the positive impact of our loyalty program, which has been well received both by our customers and partners. 

“In any case, we remain committed to delivering an even more entertaining customer experience across all our channels, so as to promote OPAP’s long-term growth.”

In terms of year-to-date performance, revenue for the nine months to 30 September was 15.7% higher at €1.04bn, aided by growth across all business areas.

Operating expenses were 47.2% higher at €268.7m, but the rise in revenue meant EBITDA also increased by 83.0% to €379.9m.

After including €108.5m in depreciation, amortisation and impairment costs, as well as €31.1m in finance costs, pre-tax profit was €240.4m, up 157.7% on last year.

Tax payments for the period amounted to €60.8m, meaning OPAP’s net profit for the year to date stands at €179.6m, up 155.1% year-on-year.