Month: January 2023

Visit the team at stand N6-250 to be entered into a lottery for a free upgraded turnkey online casino platform.

“This time, we are not only presenting our innovative solutions, including our turnkey online casino platform and Telegram Casino solution — an alternative frontend to the classic gambling platform in the most popular mobile messenger — but we will also raffle them off to ICE 2023 participants. We’re going to hold a lottery with incredible prizes: third place will win a 100% discount on the setup for integration of providers (except for those providers that require individual setup); second place will go home with our Telegram Casino solution, and we’ll give first place our unique turnkey online casino platform, absolutely free,” said Dmytro Kryvorchuk, head of sales at Slotegrator.

It’s easy to participate in the lottery – just leave your contact details at Slotegrator’s booth, N6-250, and get the promoter’s number. Also, all guests will be entertained with an impressive high striker carnival-style game where you can test your strength. Delicious snacks are also on offer – expect exclusive sushi sets and exotic cocktails.

This year, organisers Clarion Gaming expect to host more than 35,000 attendees and over 650 brands from more than 150 countries. ICE is one of the highlights of the year and one of the industry’s largest platforms for networking and discussion of technology, cutting-edge solutions and industry news. Covering all gambling verticals, ICE is the perfect opportunity for networking and the discussion of technologies, modern solutions and industry insights.

In 2022, Slotegrator achieved some notable successes: we released updated platform modules that meet all the requirements of online casino operators and sportsbooks, published a new guide for igaming markets in Asia, had the popular APIgrator solution certified by regulators in Lithuania (opening the door to the Baltic region), and significantly expanded our partner base. The Slotegrator team will talk in detail about all the opportunities and plans we’re looking forward to in 2023 at booth N6-250 very soon. Looking forward to seeing everyone in London soon!

Now open to applications, ‘Returnship’ will create an initial 10 places for opportunities and experience at either Entain or the McLaren over a six-month period.

The scheme is designed to support women at different stages in their career, with successful candidates to benefit from a one-to-one transitional coach specialising in returning to work, flexible working, networking with senior executives, and an opportunity to discuss more permanent role opportunities after the program.

Placement roles include software engineers, back-end developers, data scientists and design engineers. Candidates must have been unemployed, underemployed​ or reskilling for three months, at least two years’ prior professional experience​, and hold either STEM-focused qualifications or have experience or a passion for technology, data or engineering​.

The new program comes after a recent study by STEM Women found that just 26% of STEM graduates are women and 24% of the STEM workforce is female. 

In terms of the link for Entain, the group said its own research showed 26% of sports bettors around the world are female, while a study by F1 showed 40% of fans are women. 

The scheme will run alongside Entain’s existing Reboot@Ivy initiative, which helps women return to technology careers at its locations in Hyderabad in India and the Filipino capital of Manila. 

In addition, the EnTrain program is designed to increase access to education and training in technology and improve diversity, with the aim of positively impacted the lives of over one million people by 2030.

“The fusion of technology, sport and entertainment, and desire to support talented women re-entering the workforce meant that launching this brand-new programme with our partner, McLaren, is an obvious step,” Entain chief executive Jette Nygaard-Andersen said.

“We share a passion and commitment for giving women a platform to reignite their careers in STEM and hope that through this programme, we not only support a generation of ambitious women now but inspire future generations of girls to land their dream STEM role.”

The launch also comes after Formula 1 last month announced an all-female racing series for younger drivers in its F1 Academy.

McLaren Racing chief executive Zak Brown added: “This is an opportunity to drive real change within the engineering and technology industries and is part of our overall commitment to making STEM careers more accessible to all, and to having 40% of our employees from under-represented backgrounds by 2030.”

This marks the fifth attempt by lawmakers to introduce online sports betting in the state. The latest attempt was in January 2022. Retail sports betting was made legal in Mississippi in 2018.

House Bill 606 aims to amend section 97-33-1 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to allow bets to be placed on sports events online.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

While KSA does not have a statutory role combating match-fixing, it does monitor the extent to which licensed operators are watching for betting integrity issues. As a result, the regulator set up the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) as a reporting centre for possible cases of manipulation.

Due to privacy considerations laid out in the Dutch Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act, all traceable information linking the possible cases to specific individuals is scrubbed from the data. This information is instead sent to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-Netherlands.)

Match fixing

Of the 11 online sports betting operators active in the Dutch regulated market, five reported possible instances of match fixing to the SBIU in the period since the launch of the Dutch market. In total, this amounted to 40 cases of the activity, with 83% sent to the SBIU in the period April-June 2022.

The reported match fixing can be divided into two categories: 12 related to unusual betting patterns reported in games, while 28 were connected with individuals involved in the matches or competitions placing bets themselves.

All cases of the first category related to foreign rather than domestic sporting events or competitions and were reported on by all five of the providers who had contacted the SBIU. Eight cases related to football, two to tennis, one for table tennis and one for snooker.

Individuals involved in competitions

Two of the five operators reported the remaining 28 instances which – aside from one report – all concerned Dutch football competitions. Six of the persons were involved in the Dutch first division – while 19 and two cases were related to the country’s second division and highest amateur league respectively.

The instances involved a combination of individuals betting on games in which they participate themselves, while others only placed bets on games in their league.

The SBIU stated that the majority of the cases in the category concerned low level bets or combination bets, clarifying that “the betting of a person involved on his own match and/or competition is a signal of possible match fixing, but ultimately does not have to be match fixing.”

“Because the SBIU does not receive any traceable information, it does not know who the person concerned is,” said the regulator.

Possibility of prosecution

The information is sent to FIU-Netherlands, which analyses the transaction to determine whether it can be considered suspicious.

“If a transaction has been declared suspicious, it will be shared with the criminal investigation department. In consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, it may then be decided to share this information with the sports association,” said the KSA.

“If there are insufficient grounds to declare a transaction suspicious, the report remains an unusual transaction.”

The SBIU said that it is currently difficult to estimate the risk of gambling-related match fixing within licensed operators due the youth of the market.

“Definitive conclusions about the risk of gambling-related match fixing are therefore not yet possible,” concluded the regulator. “The SBIU continues to monitor the signals.”

The business is due to replace Camelot UK as operator of the UK National Lottery after it was awarded the 10-year, fourth UK National Lottery licence in September 2022, officially ending Camelot’s 28-year tenure as operator. 

Allwyn will assume control of operations on 1 February 2024, with Chvátal to oversee the preparations ahead of the switch next year.

Chvátal has led Allwyn Group as CEO and served as executive chairman of the business’s Sazka Czech Republic brand, since 2021. He was also CEO of SAZKA between 2013 and 2020.

Prior to this, he has spells as CEO of both T-Mobile Austria and T-Mobile Slovakia.

‍“My appointment makes clear the full commitment of the Allwyn Group to the success of the UK National Lottery,” said. “We are immensely proud of having been entrusted with the stewardship of this national institution as the operator for the ten years of the Fourth Licence.  

“We will bring the full force of the group to ensure a successful transition from the Third Licence. I look forward to working with our UK team and partners, along with colleagues from throughout the Allwyn Group to deliver on our commitment for a bigger, better and safer National Lottery.”

Craven exits Allwyn

David Craven, who led Allwyn’s UK operations as CEO since July 2021, has left the business.

“I am immensely proud of what the team have delivered and the part I have been able to play over these last two years in leading them,” Craven said. “I recognise that the next period requires a different leadership approach, better connected to our group, and the leadership team of the outgoing licensee, Camelot UK Limited, and this is therefore the right time for change.”

Allwyn UK chairman Justin King added: “I would like to thank David for his significant contribution since he joined us in July 2021. He led the team that won the bid to operate the Fourth Licence and has guided it whilst the various legal challenges have been addressed, since we were awarded Preferred Applicant status in March 2022. 

“He leaves with our thanks for a job well done.”

The appointment comes after Allwyn earlier this month finalised a deal to acquire the US-facing Camelot Lottery Solutions unit of companies from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, having agreed to acquire the Camelot UK business last year.

Financial terms of the agreement were undisclosed, but Allwyn did confirm that no changes were planned for the Camelot Lottery Solutions leadership team, adding that business would continue as normal.

Allwyn added that after the acquisition completed, Camelot Lottery Solutions would have access to Allwyn’s own network of resources to support its clients.

Titled House Concurrent Resolution No. 3002, the bill outlines an amendment to section 25 of article 11 of North Dakota’s Constitution.

The amendment would allow sports betting to be permitted by, and regulated by, the state of North Dakota.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

In December, Johnson had been asked to resign by the Esports Entertainment Group board. This came at the conclusion of a disastrous year for the business, including brand closures, a debt default and the possibility of delisting.

Now, in a recent prospectus for a share issue, the business has revealed that Johnson had sued the business for breach of contract and wrongful termination.

Johnson argues in court filings filed in the Southern District of New York district court that EEG had breached his employment contract in its listed reasoning for his dismissal. EEG had terminated the former CEO’s contract “for cause” citing accusations of fraud, wilful misconduct and gross negligence.

Having removed Johnson for cause, Esports Entertainment Group did not grant Johnson any severance or any payment for the remainder of his contract, which ran until 2025.

He will be seeking more than $1m (£820,000/ €920,000) in compensation, as well as 200,000 shares of EEG stock.

Allegations of fraud

Johnson executive stated that the accusations were false, and that even if true, they would not represent “for cause” under the narrowly defined definition listed in the contract, that requires “demonstrable and serious injury to the company”.

Johnson noted the Esports Entertainment Group board of directors had already looked into the issue in April 2022, and had unanimously opted not to investigate further. 

Esports Entertainment Group said it believes Johnson’s claims were baseless.

“The company believes the claims are without merit and intends to defend against the claims vigorously.”

Esports Entertainment Group followed on by stating that the suit did not threaten the company “in which an adverse decision could have a material adverse effect”, despite its already precarious financial situation.

Esports Entertainment Group finances

In the business’s May quarterly report, Esports Entertainment Group said there had been “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue as a going concern for at least year.

In its latest release, these financial troubles remain apparent.

EEG said the amount of cash the company had on hand as of 12 January 2023 stood at just $500,000.

iGaming closures and sales

In December, Esports Entertainment Group said it had considered the sale of its remaining igaming assets in order to play down its debts.

This came after the announced closures of its SportNation and RedZone UK brands which the business said was due “a variety of reasons including the economics of operating a small igaming business in the UK market”.

The brands were both owned by Esports Entertainment Group subsidiary Argyll UK. The operator outlined its plans for winding down the business, which included surrendering its licence to the Gambling Commission and refunding customer deposits.

“As of December 31, 2022, approximately $200,000 still remained to be refunded to customers,” said the business. “Going forward, Argyll UK will comply with requests for refunds to the extent required by law and in accordance with Argyll UK’s terms and conditions”.

Esports Entertainment Group also shed some light on the status of the business’s ongoing sale of its Spanish igaming assets.

A letter of intent was signed in November 2022, and while the deal was initially expected to close in December, it is now set to close this month. The total proceeds are expected to be $1m, in addition to a $1m deposit held by the Spanish regulator.

Esports Entertainment Group said that 65% of the resulting money will go to a notesholder after a previous default on its debts.

“The sale of the Spanish license is subject to various closing conditions and we cannot assure that they will be satisfied. If the sale is not consummated, our liquidity position will be adversely impacted and this could further adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations,” said the company.

In his new role, Pribile will be responsible for developing PMU’s range of products, as well as driving ovation, data, customer experience and the brand as part of the PMU 2025 strategic plan announced last month.

Pribile joins PMU after a spell as executive director at Atol les Opticiens, while during recent years, he has been an investor in Abeye and co-founded bilingual nursery network Claudine Olivier. 

Prior to this, he spent over 12 years with FDJ, first serving as country manager and project leader for Europe and international games, after which he was head of draw-based games for BU and then marketing director of digital, branding and media.

In addition, during his early career, Pribile shad a three-year spell as regional sales manager for General Mills Yoplait. 

The appointment comes after PMU last month announced its three-year strategic vision to grow its annual stakes by €1bn and increase its total number of customers to four million.

The business outlined a series of transformations for the company in the period including a “global approach” to PMU’s growth, the deployment of new technology and the development of marketing channels.

Under the deal, the length of which was undisclosed, MrJack.Bet will be a premium sponsor of the team and benefit from branding placement on the jersey sleeves of the club’s men’s and women’s teams.

MrJack.Bet branding will also feature on players’ training shirts and coach’s clothing, as well as on interview backdrops and signage inside the team’s stadium and training ground.

In addition, MrJack.Bet will have a box at the club’s home stadium and a presence in digital content featured on the team’s official online channels.

MrJack.Bet is the latest operator to secure a commercial partnership with a team in Brazil after the collapse of efforts to introduce a locally regulated sports betting market in the country.

In recent weeks, Blaze and Parimatch have agreed deals with Atlético Clube Goianiense and Botafogo, respectively, while Esportes da Sorte linked up with Goiás Esporte Clube and Pixbet with Corinthians Paulista.

External online sports providers are reinvesting in Brazilian football after former president Jair Bolsonaro failed to sign the most recent sports gambling law before he left office.

The law would have seen the country take control of the online sports betting market, from which it currently receives no income. There also would have been no limit on licences issued.

STS currently operates online sportsbooks in the UK and Estonia covering sports betting, virtual sports and esports.

The business made the decision to leave those markets, though, following record results driven by success in Poland. Following its 2022 financial results, it said its efforts were best spent focusing on its main market.

2022 success for STS

STS revealed that the total amount staked by players in 2022 increased by 4.2% to PLN4.68bn (£868.4m/€979.3m/$1.06bn) from PLN4.49bn in 2021.

Gross gaming revenue was also up for the group, with STS recording a 9.2% increase from PLN1.09bn in 2021 to PLN1.19bn in 2022.

STS also announced that in the same period, net gaming revenue – which includes gambling taxes as well as winnings – of PLN663m, compared to PLN565m the previous year.

The group also said its adjusted EBITDA for the year came to between PLN265m and PLN275m.

Record Q4 Revenue

A major reason for thegrowth was a particularly strong performance in Q4. The operator reported a record NGR of PLN200m, up by 47.0% from Q4 of 2021. In comparison, earlier in 2022 STS revealed its Q2 22 net gaming revenue was down 16.6% from 2021.

The sportsbook operator also revealed other positive results for the quarter, including a 13% increase in total stakes, a 40% increase in active players to 542,000 and a 32% rise in registrations to 202,000.

STS also recorded 154,000 first time depositors in Q422 compared to 60,000 a year earlier.

Strong sporting calendar

One reason for record revenue and results was a calendar of sporting events, according to Mateusz Juroszek, president of STS Holding’s management board.

“Our offer attracted as many as two hundred thousand new players in the last three months of the year. During the World Cup alone, we had nearly half a million active customers.”

Juroszek went on to explain how the operating data supports the group’s decision to prioritise the Polish market in 2023.

“Operating data for last year clearly show that the domestic market is in a growth phase, despite the extremely difficult macroeconomic environment – the war in Ukraine, high inflation and economic stagnation.

“Since the beginning of this year, we have been focusing our activity exclusively on Poland. Our goal for the difficult year 2023 is greater efficiency of operations and a number of implemented savings.

“The new agreement with the Polish Football Association, focus on the Polish market and a number of synergies resulting from changes in the structure of the Group will positively affect our profitability and facilitate further EBITDA growth.”

The partnership between STS and the Polish Football Association (PZPN) began in 2014, with the group becoming the official partner of the Polish national team in 2018.

First listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in December 2021, STS has a current share price of PLN17.51.