Month: January 2022

It sees the deal brought to an end just months after it was struck in August 2021, having originally been due to run until the conclusion of the 2023-24 French football season. 

The operator’s branding will be replaced by the club’s charitable foundation Coeur Marine et Blanc. 

Bordeaux deputy general manager Thomas Jacquemier said the decision to end Winamax’s sponsorship had been made after discussions with the business. 

He explained that recent videos and tweets from the Winamax Sport account had gone against the spirit of the partnership, and the contract signed between the parties. The account has made jokes at the expense of the team, such as responding to a prompt to write a sad story in three or fewer words with “Girondins de Bordeaux”.

After the sponsorship deal was ended, it tweeted, “We have been looking for a good defence for an hour, but like the Girondins, we can’t find it.”

Its replacement, Coeur Marine et Blanc, supports associations and businesses that support health -related projects, young people and social inclusion.

“[We] have been thinking about this project for a long time in order to highlight our foundation and the values of solidarity and commitment that are dear to the club and to [club owner] Gérard Lopez,” Jacquemier explained. 

Lopez, he added, will match each donation to the foundation up to a value of €100,000. 

The team’s first match with Coeur Marine et Blanc ended with Bordeaux losing 6-0 to Rennes on Sunday 14 January. 

The new licence will enable Soft2Bet to provide operators in the Danish market with its online casino games such as slots, roulette, baccarat, punto banco, blackjack, poker and online bingo as well as offering its sports betting platform.

Soft2Bet said its entrance into the Danish market is part of the supplier’s latest strategic move to expand its global footprint across several regulated markets.

“Achieving this license is a monumental moment for Soft2Bet,” said Peter Christian Noer, head of country team at Soft2Bet.

“Our entire team has put in a tremendous amount of effort and worked tirelessly to ensure we met all the requirements and deadlines to achieve this important milestone in our company’s history.”

By entering Denmark, the supplier has further strengthened its expansion into the Nordics, having secured a licence to operate in Sweden in 2019 from the Swedish gambling authority (Spelinspektionen).

Noer said Denmark has a reputation to be one of Europe’s most stringently regulated jurisdictions and highlighted Soft2Bets compliance with the ‘numerous regulatory specifications’.

“We now look forward to launching our innovative igaming brands on the Danish market that have proven successful in other jurisdictions because of their state-of-the-art features, unique game supply, and strong player protection tools.”

“We only launched in Sweden less than two years ago and have taken significant market shares there ever since. We are convinced that we can do the same in the Danish market before long.”

Noer added: “This massive achievement is the product of uncompromising dedication and one more significant accomplishment for our outstanding team to be proud of.”

“It’s also important to thank the Danish Gambling Authority for a positive, collaborative, and helpful dialogue throughout the license application process.”

Havnelid will depart her position during 2022, but is to continue until a successor is appointed.

Norsk Tipping said in a statement that Havnelid has helped to secure and strengthen the Norwegian gambling model since she departed her position as secretary general of the Norwegian Red Cross to take over the state-owned gambling operator in the spring of 2016.

Linda Bernander Silseth, Norsk Tipping’s chair, said “Åsne Havnelid is a goal-oriented, wise and value-based leader who, through her employees, has delivered fantastic results in Norsk Tipping.”

“She has secured and strengthened the important social mission the company has, and I want to thank her on behalf of the board for the good and impressive job she has done.”

“Being a responsible gaming provider is the foremost and most important task, and Havnelid has made Norsk Tipping one of the world’s best in this area. Efficiency is better than ever, with a stable and good profit also in 2021.”

Havnelid said she does not have a new role lined up and will spend some time considering various options. As well as her prior role with the Norwegian Red Cross, she also previously ran the Norges Toppidrettsgymnas education group and was director of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011.

Norsk Tipping recorded revenue of NOK 42.6bn (£3.6bn/$4.84bn/€4.22bn) in 2020, which was up 31.3% on the NOK 32.0bn recorded in 2016, the year Havnelid joined. Net gaming revenue of NOK 8.5bn was up 11.8% compared to 2016.

Havnelid said: “It has been a privilege to lead Norsk Tipping with so many fantastically skilled and committed employees. I have learned a lot and been allowed to help develop the company further in a very exciting time.”

In June 2020, Norway’s Ministry of Culture launched a consultation on a consolidation of the country’s gambling laws into a single Gambling Act, which aimed to maintain Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto’s monopolies in the market while improving customer protections.

Last year, the government submitted the new Gambling Act, which included a promise to impose greater sanctions on unlicensed operators and affiliates who offered unlicensed gaming to customers in the jurisdiction.

Image: Norsk Tipping

The resignation took effect on January 12.

According to Rich Goldman, Mr. Lin stepped down from these roles to focus on personal commitments.

The company’s statement also outlined that Lin has no disputes with the company’s Board and that no part of his stepping down needs to be alerted to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Rich Goldman shareholders.

Ms. Lin Yee Man has been appointed to fulfill each of Mr. Lin’s former positions. This took effect on January 12.

She owns 70.1% of the company through the ownership of 1.35 billion shares.

Ms. Lin has four years of professional experience in investments, and previously held the positions of consultant and vice chairman of a private investment company.

Ms. Lin will hold these positions until she is eligible for re-election at the company’s next annual general meeting.

In recent months, junket operations have been under fire as controversy swells surrounding their practices and alleged links between some junket businesses and illegal activity. In November trading in junket operator SunCity’s shares was suspended following the arrest of company chairman Alvin Chau.

He was arrested along with ten others under suspicion of facilitating an illegal syndicate that allegedly recruited Chinese residents to gamble illegally in Macau. The money was then laundered through junket accounts.

The group faces charges of money laundering, criminal syndicate involvement and illegal gambling.

Chau resigned days after his arrest.

IGT has partnered with Meruelo Gaming, Saharabets’ owner, to supply its trading advisory services and PlaySports technology to the statewide mobile sports betting app.

SaharaBets launched in Arizona this week just days after being announced as a partner of the Arizona Coyotes NHL team. Meruelo Gaming, an affiliate of the Sahara Las Vegas resort and Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, is led by Alex Meruelo, who is also the owner of the Coyotes.

For the full article, visit iGB North America.

The Nasdaq-listed group’s Century Resorts Alberta (CRA) subsidiary has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the land and building it owns in the Canadian city to real estate business Rowanwood Financial Properties for CAD$8.1m (USD$6.5m).

The transaction is expected to close within 30 days, and comes 12 years after Century Casinos paid $10.5m for what was previously the Silver Dollar Casino.

Read the full article on iGB North America.

The bill – Senate Bill 764 – is one of a number of pieces of sports betting legislation in Missouri.

In the House of Representatives, a bill was prefiled last week and read twice, but has not been assigned to a committee. Meanwhile, two other senate bills also received a first reading, but again have not progressed further.

Senate Bill 764 would allow sports betting to take place both at casino boats in Missouri and statewide via online wagering. 

Licensed casino boat operators must pay an application fee $50,000 to the Missouri Gaming Commission to receive sports betting approval, which would allow them to operate retail betting and contract with up to three online operators to offer online betting.

Online operators or platform providers must pay an application fee of $10,000 to be an approved sports betting provider.

Prop bets on college sports would be prohibited under the law. Gross sports betting revenue will be taxed at 6.25%, with tax revenue going towards education. In addition, sports betting licensees must pay an annual administrative fee of $50,000 to the Gaming Commission.

After being read twice, Senate Bill 764 was assigned to the Appropriations Committee. The committee has not yet set a date for its consideration.

The Swedish gaming operator will have its logo featured on the team’s shirt sleeves for both home and away matches throughout the country’s widely watched Primera División.

This comes as part of Betsson’s active sponsorships in Latin America.

Colo Colo is regarded as the most successful club in Chilean football, having won 32 titles in the Chilean First Division- as well as being the only team to have never been relegated.

Andrea Rossi, commercial director for South America at Betsson said, “In our drive of expanding in the region, we are also partnering up with local football clubs which we can support and grow.”

“Besides allowing us to further strengthen our brand awareness in the region, it also gives back to the clubs, allowing them to invest more in their players, staff and facilities and making the sport we all love – football – more electrifying.”

Last year, Betsson was named as the official regional sponsor of Conmebol Copa America, the naming sponsor of Peru’s Liga 1. As well as this, the operator struck a digital partnership with betting group La Roja, covering its FIFA 2022 World Cup campaign.

Samuel Pérez, commercial manager of Colo Colo, added “We are very proud to welcome one of the most important gambling operators in the world, Betsson, to our family of sponsors.”

“We consider this agreement as a milestone and the beginning of a new stage for the club. Associating with a company with 55+ years of international experience will undoubtedly help us to improve Colo Colo’s positioning at a regional and global level.”

The deal will cover the 2022 season, with the possibility of renewal in 2023.

The multi-year partnership will see BetPlay offer exclusive online and retail promotions for NBA fans in Colombia.

BetPlay will also use NBA statistics and branding in its Colombian platform.

In turn, the NBA will promote BetPlay on its digital and social media platforms, including BetPlay’s odds on NBA.com and the NBA app.

“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with BetPlay as we continue to engage our passionate fans in Colombia and enhance the ways in which they consume the NBA,” said Kuljeet Sindhar, associate vice president of International Fantasy & Gaming at the NBA.

“As the gaming landscape continues to grow, we look forward to working collaboratively with BetPlay to offer new opportunities for local fans to display their interest in their favorite players and teams.”

In addition, BetPlay will act as the presenting partner of a local version of the NBA’s prediction game, Pick’Em: Bracket Challenge.

“The NBA has an incredibly enthusiastic fanbase here in Colombia and we are thrilled to partner with the top basketball league in the world,” said Germán Segura, CEO of Corredor Empresarial at BetPlay.

“As an official partner, we hope to build on the NBA’s ongoing commitment to generating excitement in the game of basketball in Latin America.”

The BetPlay and NBA partnership will also promote responsible gambling and advocate for sports integrity.

From February 10, all employees and patrons will need to show proof of full vaccination or a medical exemption to enter SkyCity Adelaide. These venues include the South Australia venue’s casino, hotel and bars and restaurants, which already require wearing face masks, physical distancing and QR code check-in.

Customers will be required to show their Covid-19 digital certificate on their smart device or provide photo identification with a printed certificate. Official medical exemptions will need to be provided by unvaccinated patrons prior to entry.

SkyCity Adelaide continues to operate under a South Australia Health approved COVID Management Plan and is currently restricted to operating at one person per four square metres across the entire property.

David Christian, SkyCity Australia’s chief operating officer, said: “As one of Adelaide’s largest single site entertainment venues and as a significant employer, we need to take measures to help keep everyone safe.”

“While we have existing robust health and safety measures in place to limit the risk of exposure to Covid-19, public health information and research confirms that Covid-19 vaccines provide the best protection for our employees and customers.”

“SkyCity has been significantly impacted by the outbreak, and we have been encouraging our people to get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. We would like to thank our highly valued employees and customers for their understanding.”

SkyCity Adelaide’s full vaccination requirement will cover all employees, customers, hotel guests, contractors and visitors at its venues. It is designed to protect visitors from the effects of the novel coronavirus, as well as minimising the risk of transmission on site.

The SkyCity Adelaide casino has 90 gaming tables and 950 gaming machines.

Last year SkyCity CEO Michael Ahearne announced that Covid-19 vaccine certificates would be mandatory at all SkyCity venues throughout New Zealand.