Month: May 2024

In Illinois, Representative Dan Didech, who is chairman of the house gaming committee, filed “The Family Wagering Prohibition Act” on 2 May. The bill would not only prohibit “family amusement establishment(s)” like Dave & Buster’s from “facilitating” wagering on its games, it would also ban advertising of such. So far, Didech has 36 co-sponsors.

The bill is in the rule committee, but no hearing date has been set. The session deadline for introducing bills in the house was 9 February and the crossover deadline was 19 April. But legislatures often make exceptions for unique situations.

OH, PA regulators learning more

So far, Didech appears to be the only lawmaker to react to the Dave & Busters announcement by filing legislation. Regulators in Ohio and Pennsylvania are examining the issue. According to PlayPennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is going to educate itself on the Dave & Buster’s plan.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission is also investigating the issue and told at least one media outlet the idea “appears to violate Ohio law.” Along with Massachusetts, Ohio has some of the most strict regulations around gambling, advertising and minors.

According to its website, Dave & Busters has 140 locations in 42 US states, Puerto Rico and Canada. The company has five locations in Illinois, six in Ohio and eight in Pennsylvania. Dave & Buster’s opened its first location in Dallas in 1982. There are now 15 locations in Texas, but California has the most locations with 22.

Lucra is gaming partner

The plan from Dave & Buster’s is to allow loyalty members over the age of 18 bet against each other. Using the Dave & Buster’s app, customers would be able to put real money into a peer-to-peer betting environment. Consumers would be betting on games like Skee-ball, Connect 4 Hoops, billiards, or a vast array of video and arcade games.

Dave & Buster’s is partnering with gamification software company Lucra on the app. CNBC, which first broke the story, reported that Dave & Buster’s would put a cap on the amount of bets. Lucra says skills-based games aren’t regulated in the same way that wagering or casino gambling is.

Lucra CEO Dylan Robbins told CNBC that the company’s goal is to “amplify” and “digitise” social sports and gaming situations.

Illinois’ Didech isn’t interested in the semantics or splitting hairs.

“It is inappropriate for family-friendly arcades to facilitate unregulated gambling on their premises,” Didech said in a statement according to Sports Handle. “These businesses simply do not have the ability to oversee gambling activity in a safe and responsible manner.”

The ITIA has issued Alejandro Mendoza Crespo with the maximum penalty of a lifetime ban from tennis for 20 offences. Meanwhile, Jorge Panta Herreros has been suspended for three years for four infringements.

The sanctions were handed down by independent anti-corruption hearing officer Professor Richard McLaren. This came after a formal hearing in early March, with the suspensions effective from 4 April onwards.

Mendoza and Panta were also issued with fines of $250,000 (£199,619/€231,942) and $10,000 respectively. The pair will be banned from playing, coaching or attending any event sanctioned by ITIA members, including the ATP and WTA.

Last week, Eduardo Agustín Torre was suspended for five years following 35 breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP). Torre was also fined $35,000.

New ITIA sanctions follow syndicate-related tennis bans

The ITIA stated that the suspensions of Mendoza and Panta were linked to the recent criminal case in Belgium, where match-fixing syndicate leader Grigor Sargsyan was given a five-year custodial sentence.

Following the sentencing, seven players were banned in November for varying durations. This was after they were found to have breached the TACP.

Alec Witmeur, Arnaud Graisse, Arthur de Greef, Julien Dubail, Romain Barbosa, Maxime Authom and Omar Salman were all suspended.

There were two more bans relating to the Belgium case earlier this year. French player Leny Mitjana was suspended for 10 years for corruption, while Anis Ghorbel was also banned for three years for match-fixing.

The bans issued to Mendoza and Panta mean 25 players and officials have now been banned relating to the case in Belgium.

IBIA Q1 integrity reports highlights tennis concerns

In April, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) released its ‘Integrity Report’ for Q1 of this year.

The IBIA’s total of 56 Q1 alerts was a 12% increase on the 50 notifications from Q1 2023. The figure was also 64.7% up on the final quarter of 2023.

There were 14 alerts relating to tennis over the first quarter of the year. This was up from the 12 notifications during the same quarter last year.

Commissioned by GambleAware, the research considers the impact of the ‘Take Time To Think” (TTTT) campaign. Many UK operators currently use the slogan to encourage responsible gambling.

However, looking at the responses of over 7,000 people, there are doubts over the effectiveness of the slogan. Stand-out concerns include TTTT failing to raise awareness of gambling harm risk or signpost where people can access support.

As such, researchers recommend replacing current industry marketing messages with three new health warnings. Based on feedback, these will be clearer, more impactful and more memorable to the public and people who gamble.

What responsible gambling messaging can we expect?

To support messaging moving forward, the report put forward several suggestions over a new strapline. These include “Gambling can be addictive”, with 46% of respondents saying this would have greater impact than TTTT. That said, 35% backed the current messaging.

Another proposed option was for the tagline “Gambling comes at a cost”, drawing 22% of support compared to 12% for TTTT. “Gambling can grip anyone” also performed well across metrics according to researchers.

As for other key findings, the report says including a clear and separate GambleAware health warning at the end of a 30-second gambling advert is more than twice as effective as TTTT at showing people where to get support. Some 72% of respondents agreed, compared to 30% that did not.

GambleAware says this analysis will form the basis of new guidelines to provide operators with steering and recommendations on how to promote safer gambling and prevent harm. The report adds that this will likely be supported by further research into the issue.

Concerns over misuse of GambleAware logo

Responding to the findings, chief communications officer at GambleAware Alexia Clifford is concerned over the research. In particular she highlighted how some operators are misusing the logo and failing to properly support customers.

“Gambling harms are a serious public health issue,” Clifford said. “It is vital that people are aware of the risks associated. Today’s landmark study underscores the need to replace the industry-led slogan Take Time To Think with more compelling health warnings.

“We’re also concerned about operators’ misuse of the GambleAware logo and the lack of clear signposting to support channels. We urge industry to take heed of the growing body of evidence highlighting the need for better safeguards and restrictions.”  

GambleAware funded the research, but the report research was carried out independently. Dr Raffaello Rossi, a lecturer in marketing at Bristol University, co-authored the study.

“In the absence of strict gambling marketing restrictions, it is absolutely vital that we see warnings on gambling advertising that highlight the addictive nature of gambling, paired with clear, unambiguous signposting for people to access support if needed,” Rossi said.

“We need to see better regulation of gambling operators who are widely bombarding us with their ads.”

The net revenue spanned all EveryMatrix products. The company noted that this growth includes revenue from acquisitions. Adjusted for this, organic net revenue rose 65% yearly.

Revenue alone hit €80m, also up 66% compared to Q1 2023. EBITDA also hit a new high, rocketing 111% to €22.3m.

The EBITDA margin was 57% for the quarter, up from 45% in Q1 2023 and another new record. EveryMatrix noted that this was due to client launches, improved sports trading margins and continued growth in its casino segment.

Ebbe Groes, group CEO of EveryMatrix, said that EveryMatrix’s segmental performance was a particular highlight in Q1.

“It’s been more than a year of the company breaking records and hitting new highs and this quarter has been the best yet,” said Groes.

“From casino, sports and platform that are all showing extremely positive signs of sustained growth and expansion, to our affiliate, payments and live casino divisions that are pushing the boundaries of technology and paving the way for future success, we’re in a fantastic position for the remainder of 2024 and beyond.”

An eventful quarter with improved GGR across the board

During the quarter, EveryMatrix launched gaming content in Michigan with DraftKing’s Golden Nugget as well as BetMGM through Entain.

It also added 886 new games to its platform, bringing its B2B aggregator SlotMatrix’s total to 27,825. EveryMatrix also received B2B technology provider accreditation from Peru’s ministry of foreign trade and tourism (MINCETUR).

Last week EveryMatrix went live in New Jersey with Supremeland Gaming, its first exclusive US aggregation partner. As part of the deal, Supremeland Gaming’s content is available on DraftKings through SlotMatrix.

In conjunction with iGB, EveryMatrix also released the Colombia, Germany and Peru editions of the Slot Trumps Player Behaviour Report during Q1.

Gross gaming revenue (GGR) from EveryMatrix’s Casino segment was €619m for the quarter, up 5% from Q4 2023 and 65.5% year-on-year.

Affiliate EBITDA drop due to “continued investment”

Casino net revenue was €19.9m, a rise of 82.5% yearly. EBITDA for this segment was €13.2m, up 132% year-on-year. The EBITDA margin was 67%, edging up 3% from the previous quarter.

The OddsMatrix sports segment GGR quadrupled from Q1 2023 to €96m, while sports turnover hit €1.29bn. This turnover marked a 1% quarterly decline, but a 30.9% yearly rise. Sports net revenue was up 77.9% to €10.5m.

OddsMatrix also recorded 173 live events in a single month during Q1, with the average monthly number of bets placed reaching 39 million.

Turning to Platform and net revenue was up 28% to €7.3m. EBITDA for this segment increased 13% to €3.2m. The player account management system also saw a new record, hitting 230,000 bets per minute at peak times.

On the Affiliate side – which includes PartnerMatrix and DeepCI – net revenue rose 39% to €1.4m. However, EBITDA fell dramatically by 179% to a loss of €400,000. EveryMatrix said this was due to ongoing product and commercial investment.

Over the previous twelve months, EBITDA totalled at €71m, increasing by 145% year-on-year.

Live88, a new live casino supplier providing a customisable offering across a host of live table games, has made its debut in the market.

The new brand aims to provide premium casino titles to operators, offering dedicated tables that can be fully branded and tailored to suit specific needs. Alternatively, green screen technology allows operators to easily offer a top-quality live casino with a branded background.  

Fully responsive to real-time gameplay, operators can integrate an individually tailored product incorporating reactive animated backgrounds for a unique and immersive experience for players.

Live88 enables operators to adjust bet levels on the tables to suit different player segments, from beginners to VIP high rollers. 

With added social features, Live88 aims to inject a community element into gaming, with the product suite enabling players to come together to share the thrill and fun to boost engagement and retention rates for operators.

Launching with an existing portfolio of classic table games, Live88 has also today rolled out its latest title, Royal Riches Roulette, featuring an industry-first collection-style bonus game and generous multipliers. 

Four multipliers can randomly land among 37 standard numbers with each one worth up to 1,000x when landing on a winning number. Players collect keys to start the bonus where multipliers offering up to 500x will be hidden beneath the game’s 10 ornate relics. 

The new product offering will be made available via Hub88’s aggregation platform in numerous global markets. 

James Corrie, head of live games and RNG at Live88, said: “Whether it’s custom branded tables with dedicated live dealers in a range of different languages, or a fully kitted out lobby with Live88 tables decked out to match a casino brand, we allow operators full flexibility and the highest-quality games. 

“Live casino is a hugely popular product globally and our offering takes this vertical to the next level, encouraging players to come together. Our latest title, Royal Riches Roulette, is a great example of how we aim to innovate in the space, bringing industry-first features to players and there is more to come as we set off on this exciting journey.”

The top division in Argentina will now be known as Torneo Betano commencing from the opening of the season this past weekend. Meanwhile, the cup competition Copa de la Liga Profesional will be renamed Copa Betano from next season onwards.

Betano will also be the league’s exclusive betting partner following its launch in Argentina earlier this year.

AFA president Claudio Tapia is excited for the potential of the new deal.

“The Liga Profesional de Fútbol is, without a doubt, one of the most important and popular sports competitions in Argentina,” Tapia said. “This agreement with Betano strengthens our vision and confirms, once again, the massive reach of Argentine football.”

Kaizen’s chief commercial officer, Julio Iglesias, added: “Our new partnership with the AFA reinforces our growing dedication to the Argentinian football community, offering its passionate fans unrivalled entertainment through safe and responsible gaming experiences.”

Betano’s Argentina move latest bid to grow global presence

Betano’s new deal in Argentina comes amid a strategy of sporting sponsorships, both in LatAm and across the world.

In April, Betano was announced as the title sponsor of the Brasileiro Série A, the top football division in Brazil. The naming rights contract is the biggest in the history of the league. Betano already sponsors the second-tier Série B, as well as the Copa do Brasil and the Supercopa Feminina.

Betano further boosted its global presence when it went live in the UK earlier this month thanks to a deal between Kaizen and BV Group. Iglesias stated: “As we expand our footprint globally, we’re excited to unveil the Betano brand in the UK alongside BVGroup.”

Last month, Betano was also announced as the principal partner of Premier League side Aston Villa. Betano will be the club’s new front-of-shirt sponsor from next season, with a two-year deal currently in place.

Betano will also be the sponsor of the upcoming Euro 2024 and Copa America 2024 tournaments. The operator previously sponsored the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first ever betting company to partner with Fifa.

In April, Tennessee sports betting saw a year-on-year rise that was almost identical to the 20.6% recorded in March. However, wagers collected in April were well down on the $473.6m collected in March, which enjoys a busy sports schedule.

With some $3.3m of income attributed as adjustments, overall gross handle was recorded as $380.9m. This compared to $472.0m in March, with no comparable figure released in April 2023.

In terms of privilege tax from sports betting, the state collected a total of $7.0m. This was up 9.4% compared to last year.

The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council does not publish data regarding monthly revenue, nor any information on individual operator performances.

Who is active in Tennessee sports betting?

While data on Tennessee sports betting is limited, the Volunteer State does feature some of the leading names in US sports betting. BetMGM, FanDuel and DraftKings have all been active since the state opened its legal market in November 2020.

One of the most recent additions is Fanatics Sportsbook, which went live in August last year. ESPN Bet is also a relative newcomer, rolling out its brand last November as part of a wider launch across 17 states. 

Other brands active in the state include Hard Rock Bet, which launched in Tennessee in September 2022. In addition, Caesars Sportsbook runs sports betting via a multi-year partnership with Tennessee-based NBA team Memphis Grizzlies.

888’s full-year results saw revenue of £1.70bn for the twelve months, a rise of 37.0%, although net loss continued year-on-year – albeit much lower than in 2022.

The rebrand was subject to shareholder approval, which was gained today (13 May) at 888’s annual general meeting (AGM). A total of 284,646,548 votes were cast in favour of the move versus 595,372 votes against. In addition, 24,741 votes were withheld.

888 will begin trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the symbol EVOK once the rebrand is complete. Announcing the official change to Evoke on LinkedIn today, 888 said that Evoke represented a new beginning.

“Today, we officially start our next chapter as Evoke plc,” read the post. “Evoke is a symbol of our new direction. A direction that builds on our strengths and allows us to move forward as one multi-brand group with a united strategy, vision and identity.

“It also better reflects our mission: to make life more interesting by delighting players with world-class betting and gaming experiences. We’re excited to share more from Evoke in the weeks and months ahead.”

Today’s AGM also saw shareholders vote to re-elect a number of directors and elect 888 CEO Per Widerström as a director. Ernst and Young LLP and EY Limited were also re-appointed as the company’s auditors.

Rebrand forms part of wider 888 strategy

When it was first announced, Widerström said Evoke would be a chance to “reset” 888.

“We have a lot of work to do. It is a reset of the business,” he said. “But we know exactly what success looks like and we have a clear strategy to get there. This will be delivered with a laser-focus on execution.”

888 had emphasised that the rebrand would form part of a larger strategy to improve profits, called the value creation plan. This consists of six strategic initiatives and began with Widerström’s appointment as CEO last year, followed by the appointment of a strengthened executive team. This strategy was also outlined alongside 888’s FY results.

One of the more prominent initiatives is Operations 2.0, wherein Evoke will leverage AI to improve its day-to-day operations.

“I am a huge fan of AI, used in the right way,” Widerström said in March. “As outlined today, Operations 2.0 is all about the right way [to implement AI].”

888 rebrand comes after chaotic year

888’s agreed rebrand to Evoke plc comes after a hectic year for the business. In June, FS Gaming – an investment vehicle backed by former GVC (now Entain) CEO Kenny Alexander – took a 6.57% stake in 888.

Following this, FS Gaming proposed that three former Entain executives take control of 888. This would have seen Alexander become CEO. Former Entain chair Lee Feldman would also become chair at 888 and Stephen Morana become CFO.

The GB Gambling Commission launched a review into 888 the following month, citing the HMRC investigation into Entain’s historic Turkish operations. This investigation was concluded in November last year, with Entain agreeing to pay £585.0m in a deferred prosecution agreement.

In August FS Gaming terminated its voting rights deal with Shay Segev, a former Entain chief. The Commission announced that it would take no action against 888 over Alexander’s attempted management takeover in March.

Last month, 888Sport was also named as one of more than 40 operators that were blacklisted by the Dominican Republic, as the country begins to re-regulate.

Wright joined Fanatics in May 2022 from his previous position of trading director at KingMakers.

Wright’s time at Fanatics saw the company launch its sportsbook offering in January 2023. With its launch at the then-named FedExField in Maryland, Fanatics became the first sports betting operator to open a retail sportsbook within a National Football League stadium.

Fanatics has since expanded across the US, launching its online casino in November 2023. Additionally during Wright’s tenure, FBG acquired PointsBet’s US business for $225m (£179.2m/€208.5m).

In a Linkedin post, Wright stated he was “incredibly grateful” for his time at Fanatics helping to build its betting and gaming division.

“Now it’s time to recharge the batteries and spend more time with the family before finding a new venture,” Wright said.

“All the best to the team at Fanatics Betting & Gaming. I’ll be cheering you on from afar!”

PointsBet deal boosts Fanatics expansion

After acquiring PointsBet’s US operations, Fanatics completed the takeover last week when it went live in New Jersey.

Fanatics is now live in all of the 20 states previously operated in by PointsBet prior to the deal. FBG stated its New Jersey entry means its sportsbook is available to around 95% of the US online market.

PointsBet’s New Jersey customers will have their usernames, passwords and other account details automatically migrated over to Fanatics’ sportsbook.

New Jersey is a particularly notable launch for Fanatics, due to the legality of online casino. It is the fourth state in which Fanatics has launched its online casino, having previously done so in Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Fanatics’ deal to acquire PointsBet came after it initially announced an agreement for $150m. A DraftKings bid of $195m upped the price, although Fanatics eventually closed the deal in June 2023.