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Dermot Smurfit, chief executive of GAN, said the supplier delivered uninterrupted performance for all of its US clients during last week’s Super Bowl, experiencing record transaction volumes before, during and after the event.

The supplier has also reached an agreement with existing customer Greenwood Gaming & Entertainment (trading as Parx Casino), to license its iBridge integration framework, which integrates operators’ online and offline loyalty reward schemes, for a period of 10 years.

The agreement will see Parx Casino pay a total licensing fee of $3m, implying a patent license of roughly $75 per reward card. A further amendment to the existing contract with Parx Casino sees the operator released from exclusivity moving forward.

The patent licensing deal with Parx Casino further validates GAN’s intellectual property, he said, and sets a new bar for its value per reward card.

 “We continue to be engaged in numerous conversations with both large and small casino-operators to partner with GAN in order to seamlessly connect their loyal reward-card carrying customers to their various online offerings.”

“As a result, we believe we are on track to license our iBridge patent to additional U.S. casino operator groups in 2021 and throughout the patent’s remaining 13-year duration, which should help us drive long-term value for our shareholders,” Smurfit concluded.

Read the full story on iGB North America.

The mobile-first online casino’s Pay N Play solution, powered by Trustly, means players can play without needing to register. Trustly will provide payment services and KYC and enhanced fraud protection solutions to support this.

Currently, the site is open for Finnish players through a Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) licence. However, Karamba said it had plans to expand across the Nordics as the year goes on.

“Launching Griffon Casino marks a big step forward for Karamba as we enter the Pay N Play market,” Joel Momigliano, vice president at Karamba, said. “We have built the product with player needs paramount – bringing together the best games, on the best platform, with the best processes, giving customers a quick and easy experience that we know they so badly want. 

“We have big plans for the future to expand our Pay N Play offering far more widely and see it as a key part of our product range long-term.”

The site will feature more than 700 games from casino suppliers such as Pariplay, Play’n Go, iSoft Bet, Blueprint, Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Evolution Gaming and Microgaming, including slots, table game, card game, and poker offerings, as well as live casino. 

“We thought a lot about what would be the best entry into the Pay N Play’ market and came up with a unique all mobile product, combining a slick registration model with an adventure brand,” Karamba head of brand Neal Kydd said. “By embedding our retention effort, we strove to create higher value for the player. 

“What makes Griffon really special is ensuring that players get to feast on the games as easily as possible and are not let down by a poor registration or cash-out experience. We believe the new ‘Pay N Play’ at Griffon offers the best in casino entertainment and is what the future of online gaming could look like.”

The Fort Yuma Indian Reservation extends from southeastern Imperial County in California to western Yuma County in Arizona. 

On this land it operates the Quechan Casino Resort in California, and the Paradise Casino in Arizona. 

The ten-year deal with Kindred allows the Unibet operator to launch sports betting, across online and retail channels, as well as igaming, when regulation permits.

Kindred is currently live in Indiana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with access agreed for an additional seven states, including Illinois and Ohio.

“Going west is truly exciting and the partnership with Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation will grant Kindred access to two key states in the US market,” Kindred’s senior vice president for the US Manuel Stan commented. “California is likely to become one of the largest markets in the world, with yearly revenues expected to pass $2bn while Arizona, is expected to reach $200m yearly sports betting revenues at maturity. 

“Securing early access to these two key states puts us in a great position to prepare a successful launch together with a great partner with a strong local presence.”

The tribe’s president Jordan Joaquin added: “The Quechan Indian Tribe of Arizona and California is excited to be partnered with the Kindred Group, a world leading online sports book and gambling company, which will bring an exciting new form of gambling to the public and revenue for our tribal members.”

The Intralot group has, however, signed a three-year extension of its current contract with Intralot de Peru SA until 2024, to continue providing its gaming technology and support services.

Closing of the transaction is subject to the completion of certain condition precedents, standard for this type of transaction.

The company will follow up with further announcements on the definite shares transfer and possible timing of cash inflow as is required by regulation.

The news follows the extension of several of Intralot’s existing contracts throughout 2020 and 2021.

In January, the supplier extended its contract with Lotterywest, the state lottery of Western Australia, from January 2022 until January 2026.

It went on to extend the provision of its lottery services to Greece’s lottery monopoly OPAP until 2023, and was one of the first companies to receive a Buenos Aires provincial igaming licence in partnership with local operator Binbaires at the start of 2021.

Results published in December showed that Intralot’s revenue for Q3 2020 was down 44.9% year-on-year at €97.8m (£88.9m/$118.6m).

For the nine months to 30 September, revenue was down 52.1% at €266.1m. The figure can be divided into €153.9m from technology sales, down 2.5%, with B2C revenue down 73.0%. Game management revenue, meanwhile, was down 64.6% at €20.6m.

McCracken spent just under three years at the charity, having joined in April 2018 from the UK government’s Department of Health, where he served as head of drugs policy. 

During his time at GambleAware, he led the early development of the National Gambling Treatment Service (NGTS). As part of this effort he commissioned innovative new treatment services, and worked alongside the National Health Service in England, Scotland and Wales. 

His work on the NGTS saw him implement a new data reporting system, which GambleAware is using to develop best practice standards for treatment of those experiencing gambling related harm. 

The charity’s first report on the impact of the NGTS, published in November last year, suggested that 60% of those defined as problem gamblers using the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PSGI) were no longer classed as such after completing treatment.

Of the 9,008 clients that completed treatment, the report revealed that as many as 90% saw their PSGI score reduced. Furthermore, the number of referred individuals that completed treatment rose from 59% in 2015-16 to 69% in 2019-20. 

While a replacement is sought, Dr Jane Rigbye, GambleAware’s director of education will take on McCracken’s role on an interim basis, overseen by new chief executive Zoë Osmond.
Osmond, formerly communications and engagement director for the charity was named CEO of GambleAware in January this year, replacing Marc Etches. Etches revealed in August 2020 that he was to leave the role he had held since July 2011.

Tromans-Jones will focus on continuing the development of Salsa’s proprietary tech platform, as well as delivering the tech roadmap and leading the provider’s expansion into new, regulated markets from a technology perspective.

He has over 10 years’ experience in leadership and operational roles in both the operator and affiliation sides of the online gambling sector, previously serving as a chief information officer and chef development officer.

“Salsa Technology is a company that I have been keeping an eye on for a while, they have very strong offerings in terms of their gaming content and platform solution, and that has been recognised with the strong portfolio of clients they have been able to amass, especially in recent months,” Tromans-Jones said.

Salsa Technology chief executive Peter Nolte added: “Josh is a superb addition to our Salsa team as he brings a wealth of experience of various regulated markets, both inside of Europe and out.

“He will play a vital role in maintaining our position as an industry leader and delivering on our roadmap. It is vital that we continue to have the technology to meet these changing requirements of the industry quickly and efficiently.”

Austria-based HERO operates herosphere.gg, a blockchain-powered esports platform that allows players to create their own contests and compete against others on the outcome of esports games.

The platform, which has a user base of over 300,000 players, uses the supplier’s HEROcoin proprietary virtual token as its primary form of currency.

In addition to esports, the HERO network can be used for any kind of pooling, betting, fantasy or poker systems.

“At Greentube, we aim to hold a leading position when it comes to adopting new trends and technology, and with HERO’s unique products, we have acquired an innovative and exciting business that will see us move into uncharted territory,” Greentube chief financial officer Michael Bauer said.

“The esports and blockchain space offers a lot of possibility for the gaming sector and will open up new doors for us as a company.”

HERO chief executive Paul Polterauer added: “Our objective has always been to change the nature of online betting and bring innovation and new technology into the sector by offering something completely different.

“Being acquired by such a renowned company as Greentube is a huge testament to the hard work we have put into developing and evolving our products. Together with Greentube, we will be able to reach new heights.”

The acquisition comes after Greentube in December announced plans to hire more than 100 new employees at its offices in Austria, Malta and Slovakia as part of its wider commercial expansion strategy.

Net revenue for the 12 months ended 31 December 2020 amounted to RMB21.8m, down 45.9% from the same period in 2019.

After operating expenses of RMB 222.6m, the operating loss for the supplier was RMB190.8m, down 70.3% from 2019. However, when excluding irregular or non-cash expenses, its operating loss stood at RMB135.4m, down 46.3%.

The net loss attributable to 500.com was RMB223.2m, down 65.7% from 2019. If irregular expenses are excluded, its net loss stood at RMB138.5m, compared to RMB245.7m in 2019.

For the three months ended 31 December 2020, net revenue was RMB9m, a slight increase from the RMB8.6m brought in for Q4 2019.

Net revenues during the fourth quarter of 2020 primarily consisted of RMB5.6m in contribution from the company’s online lottery betting and online casino in Europe through its TMG subsidiary, accounting for 62.2% of total net revenues.

The increase in revenue from Q4 2019 was mainly attributable to an increase of RMB2.3m in revenue contribution from TMG, and an increase of RMB600,000 in sports information services in China which have been provided since early 2020.

Operating expenses for the fourth quarter were RMB60.9m, down 34.2% from RMB92.5m in Q4 2019, but up 8.4% from RMB56.2m in Q3 2020.

The year-on-year reduction in operating costs in Q4 of 2020 was caused mainly by a decrease of RMB13.7m in bad debt provision, a decrease of RMB11m in depreciation related to an office lease in Shenzhen and impairment of acquired intangible assets in 2019.

Further savings on operating costs were made due to a decrease of RMB6.1m in rental expenses, resulting from the partial termination of the office lease in Shenzhen and the termination of office leases in Hong Kong and Japan.

500.com saved a further RMB4.9m in expenses for employees with a due a reduction in headcount, which also reduced travelling expenses by RMB1.2m. A change in TMG’s marketing strategy also saved RMB1.1m in marketing costs.

Net loss attributable to 500.com for Q4 2020 – with irregular and non-cash expenses excluded – was RMB37.5m, compared to RMB69.4m in Q4 2019, and RMB31.6m for Q3 2020.

The supplier recently pivoted its business model to focus on the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries, bringing in Xianfeng Yang as its new chief executive in January.

Yang has experience in the cryptocurrency industry, having previously led the construction and operation of the big data centre for 500.com’s subsidiary, Loto Interactive.

500.com announced it would acquire a majority stake in Loto Interactive later in January, increasing its share in the company from 33.7% to 54.2% in a deal worth around HK$105m (£9.9m/€11.2m/$13.5m).

After announcing its intention to purchase around $14.4m worth of Bitcoin mining machines from unnamed sellers in January, it later agreed in February to acquire up to 15,900 more machines in 2021 from two more sellers.

The inquiry also found Crown engaged with junket operators with alleged connections to organised crime without undertaking proper due diligence. Furthermore, it put employees at risk of harm in its promotion of gambling in Mainland China.

The report cited Crown’s “unjustified belief in itself” and “corporate arrogance” among its failings. This led to a lack of thorough investigation of serious claims against its business and an assumption that the claims must have been deceitful.

However, it may still be able to operate the resort if it makes certain changes, including compliance and financial audits and an end to its dealings with junkets. 

The New South Wales Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority formed the inquiry, led by former judge Patricia Bergin, in August 2019.

This followed Asian gaming giant Melco agreeing to purchase a 19.99% stake in CPH Crown Holdings in May 2019 for approximately AUD$1.76bn (£981.9m/€1.06bn/US$1.19bn).

The announcement gave rise to allegations about the businesses in the Australian press, which led to the Authority launching the inquiry.

The inquiry was intended to examine whether Crown was a “suitable” licensee for a new integrated resort at Barangaroo in Sydney, and if not, what changes would be required to make it suitable. It also looked into whether Melco was suitable for its status as a close associate and whether the deal was a breach of the Barangaroo licence.

After the inquiry began, Melco delayed purchasing the second tranche of shares in Crown, then ultimately pulled out, selling the tranche it had already acquired to private equity group Blackstone. 

However, in June 2020, the Authority announced that the inquiry would continue regardless, but would no longer examine Melco’s suitability as a close associate.

The inquiry found evidence of money laundering, both through the accounts of subsidiaries owned by Crown and at Crown’s own facilities. 

These cases included multiple deposits of just under the $10,000 reporting threshold in one day, and a customer for whom ASB bank requested more information regarding transactions worth $15m, which Crown failed to provide.

In addition, Crown had worked with seven different junket operators whose owners or financiers had been accused of links to organised crime. The inquiry found Crown’s due diligence of these junket operators lacking.

Owner James Packer was also found to have undue influence on the business given that he was not a director. This included Packer personally agreeing and executing the sale to Melco without approval from the board.

The operators’ directors were then unable to ensure the deal was not in breach of Crown’s Barangaroo licence.

The inquiry concluded that the evidence regarding money laundering alone was enough to determine that Crown was not a suitable holder of the Barangaroo licence.

Having determined that Crown was not a suitable licensee, the inquiry said its problems “stem[med] from poor corporate governance, deficient risk management structures and processes and a poor corporate culture”.

However, it may still be permitted to operate the venue if it institutes certain changes.

“Crown recognises that there is a need for cultural change,” it said. “However this must come from within Crown rather than from some proposal to the Authority.”

It said that Crown must complete a full audit of accounts, as well as a compliance audit. In addition, any Barangaroo licensee “must provide certification of the completion of appropriate AML/CTF education, supplemented annually”.

The inquiry also recommended that Crown continue to avoid dealing with junkets unless they are licensed by the Authority.

Packer must also stop “remote maneuvering”, referring to his practice of effectively running the company despite not sitting on the Crown board. Crown’s board must also be restructured.

Additionally, the inquiry produced 19 recommendations for the New South Wales casino system as a whole.

The first of these was that the New South Wales Casino Control Act be amended to include an additional object of preventing money laundering. It also recommended the Act be amended to stop casino operators from dealing with junket operators.

The inquiry also recommended the creation of an independent, dedicated, stand-alone, specialist casino regulator: The Independent Casino Commission (ICC). ICC approval will also be required for any holder of a 10% stake in a casino.

Each casino operator must also have an “appropriately qualified” compliance auditor.

According to figures supplied by Ficom Leisure to iGB, across all online verticals the country’s operators pulled in revenues of €359m in the final month of 2020. This represented a 38.7% rise on November’s €258.9m and represented an 86% year-on-year increase.

The exceptional performance was driven largely by online sportsbooks, which posted record-breaking revenue of €177.1m in December, up 59.5% on November’s total and 94.2% on the same month the previous year.

The sharp increase was no doubt fuelled by the pandemic-related closures of retail sports betting outlets. However it’s worth noting that retail bookies had also run at a loss due to the restrictions in place the previous month, though then online market had not performed so strongly.

From looking at the online betting market shares, it’s clear Italy’s retail heavyweights are continuing to migrate their players online. Five of the operators running retail businesses landing ahead of long-time online market leader Bet365 for the second month in a row.

In December it was Goldbet that took the lead, with a market share of 12.8%, followed by Sisal (12.5%), Snai (11.7%), Eurobet (11.4%) and Planetwin365 (11.1%).

Though Bet365’s share of the online market dropped to 10.2%, PokerStars climbed back into the top 10 for the first time in almost a year, proving not all online operators are losing ground to retail bookies.

Despite the strong online performance, the €0.6m loss in retail meant that at €176.5m, the combined sports betting market lagged both the market record of €243.39m set in October and also December 2019’s total of €216.24m.

Online casino revenue also rose to a record high in December, with the total of €153.8m representing a 24.4% month-on-month rise and an 80.6% year-on-year increase.

There was less change in the market shares of operators here, however, with Pokerstars (11.46%), Sisal (9.06%) and Lottomatica (7.93%) retaining the top three spots.

Poker revenues increased further month-on-month in December, though at 8.7% for tournaments and 15.1% for cash games the increases were less pronounced than they had been in November and the totals remained some way off the market highs seen during the first lockdown last spring.

Scroll down for the infographic to track market growth since 2017, as well as shifting revenue shares over the months and years.