Bet365, one of the UK's largest gambling firms, announced job cuts impacting 340 employees (3% of its workforce), following similar moves by four other major UK operators. This decision is linked to recent tax increases and marks a concerning trend for the UK gambling industry.
Aristocrat Leisure has provided an update regarding its ongoing share buy-back program. This announcement is a routine notification of capital management activities by the major gaming supplier.
French casino operator Partouche reported a 5.1% revenue increase to €120.3m in its third quarter, with Gross Gaming Revenue reaching €200m. This growth was significantly boosted by a 76% surge in table gaming revenue to €28.2m, attributed to the successful opening of its Paris gaming club.
Genius Sports has partnered with NBA All-Star Chris Paul and Words + Pictures to launch 'Hidden Empire Productions,' a new athlete-led sports media company. This venture aims to create original content focused on untold stories and underrepresented communities in sports, expanding Genius Sports' reach beyond its core data and technology offerings.
Robinhood has partnered with OG.com, a prediction markets platform spun off from Crypto.com, to route its prediction markets volume. This deal involves Robinhood taking initial equity stakes in both OG.com and the standalone trading platform, which is valued at $5 billion.
Catalist Sports and Kalshi have entered a multi-year agreement granting Kalshi exclusive US prediction market access to Catalist Sports' live streaming portfolio. This partnership will allow Kalshi to integrate live sports content, enhancing its prediction market offerings for US users.
Spanish gaming supplier Zitro has secured a Gaming-Related Vendor License from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the United Arab Emirates. This approval enables Zitro to supply its products to licensed operators, marking its entry into the UAE's developing gaming market.
Latin American operator Enjoy has notified Chile's securities regulator and the Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego of its request to cease operating the Casino Gran Los Ángeles in the Bío-Bío region. This follows Enjoy's previous exits from three other Chilean casinos. The company had a three-year notice period for withdrawal.
Sun International is exploring significant expansion opportunities for its online betting brand, SunBet, both within and beyond its native South African market. CEO Bengtsson indicated a strategic focus on 'inorganic' growth, suggesting potential mergers and acquisitions to accelerate its development. This move signals a major strategic shift and growth initiative for the company.
Gaming Corps has entered a global distribution agreement with Playtech, significantly expanding its market reach. This partnership will give Gaming Corps access to Playtech's extensive network across 40 regulated jurisdictions, boosting its game distribution capabilities.
Underdog, a US-based sports firm, is closing its fantasy sports operations in seven states to prioritize its prediction market offerings. This strategic shift follows its acquisition agreement with UK-based IG Group and indicates a focus change for the company.
SunBet, the online betting arm of Sun International, achieved significant growth in H1, outperforming the South African market and contributing to a 7% increase in the group's income. The parent company is now exploring a restructure towards a "lower-cost, more centralised operating model" to further optimize operations.
Games Global has expanded its North American presence by entering Alberta, Canada's second regulated iGaming jurisdiction after Ontario. This move strengthens the company's foothold in the region and follows the official opening of Alberta's iGaming market. The company plans to offer its diverse portfolio of games to players in the new province.
Avanti Studios, a live casino software supplier, is entering the South American market through a new partnership with Brazilian operator Superbet. This deal marks Avanti's debut in Brazil, offering its real-time games featuring lifelike digital clones.
Teamsters Local 25 and UNITE HERE Local 26 workers at Encore Boston Harbor have initiated a strike after contract negotiations with the casino operator stalled. Over 1,300 employees are demanding a fair agreement, citing the company's refusal to bargain in good faith. This industrial action could significantly impact operations at the prominent Massachusetts casino.
Primero Games has acquired the Gaming Division of Win Systems, including its Gold Club electronic-roulette business. This acquisition expands Primero Games' product offerings to include slot and electronic-roulette products, manufacturing capabilities, and an installed base of over 3,000 gaming positions across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Entain has been removed from the FTSE 100 Index following a five-year share price decline, despite recent turnaround efforts. However, analysts remain optimistic, viewing Entain's shares as having the highest theoretical upside potential in Europe.
Flutter Entertainment announced plans to close up to 100 Paddy Power betting shops in the UK and Ireland, putting 400 jobs at risk. This decision follows significant losses attributed to higher taxes, despite overall revenue gains. The closures represent approximately 20% of the company's retail estate.
Bally's Corporation is searching for a new CFO after Mira Mircheva announced her resignation, citing "personal reasons." Her departure comes amid ongoing liquidity concerns and a significant drop in the company's share price, adding to uncertainty about Bally's future.
Aristocrat, a leading gaming technology company, has issued an update regarding a buy-back notification. This indicates the company is repurchasing its own shares, typically to improve shareholder value or optimize capital structure.
Spotlight Sports Group (SSG) is expanding into the iGaming sector through a new partnership with Engage Games, moving beyond its traditional racing and betting technology focus. This collaboration will see SSG offer a range of casual and instant-win games via its existing network. The move aims to leverage SSG's large audience to generate new revenue streams in the gaming market.
Lottomatica CEO Guglielmo Angelozzi downplayed risks associated with a potential merger with Spanish gaming group Cirsa, emphasizing Cirsa's strong existing management. Angelozzi highlighted growth opportunities in both the Spanish and Italian markets, asserting that past failed acquisitions were due to Lottomatica attempting excessive changes.
Flutter Entertainment is considering closing up to 100 Paddy Power retail shops in the UK, potentially putting 400 jobs at risk. This move is attributed to the recent rise in remote gaming duty and general economic uncertainty impacting the retail gambling sector.
Entain is set to be removed from the FTSE 100 Index due to a significant drop in its market capitalization, which is now the lowest among companies on the index. This change, expected by City analysts, marks the end of Entain's six-year presence on the London Stock Exchange's premium index.
Pragmatic Play has announced a partnership with actor and comedian Kevin Hart, who will host live casino games from their studio on November 6th and 7th. This collaboration aims to leverage Hart's global appeal for a high-profile promotional event within the live casino sector.