LOVEBET,gambling-related news

25/01/2021

10/12/2020

Macau’s gaming tax drops to $3.69bn for 2020 due to lack of visitors

Macau government expects to collect MOP29.46bn ($3.69bn) in taxes from the country’s casinos for 2020.

The sum was updated and dropped by 42% from the previous prediction of MOP45.5bn reported in April.

MOP26.29bn will come from direct tax based on casino gross gaming revenue (GGR). MOP210m in taxes is expected to come from junket operators

According to the new revision of the budget for the current fiscal year, the government will use MOP8.1bn from its reserve to cover December’s expenses. Over the last 10 months, the government collected MOP24.35bn in taxes from the casino industry, a 74% year-on-year drop.

The declining revenues can be attributed to the lack of tourists that visited Macau this year. Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, stated the total number of visitors in 2020 was less than 6m, an 85% decline compared to the prior year when the country had 39.4m visitors.

Fernandes said: “It was a very difficult year. January was a very good month with 3 million visitors but the remaining 11 months didn’t even match that amount.”

The lack of visitation can be attributed to the global situation. Macau closed its casinos at the beginning of February, and the travel restrictions started in March. Currently, the restrictions have eased, especially with the reopening of the border with mainland China, but the visitations haven’t picked up yet.

“Christmas and New Year is not traditionally a travelling period for mainland Chinese so we don’t anticipate a very high number of bookings,” Fernandes added.

10/12/2020

FIFA partners with United Nations to combat match-fixing

FIFA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have together launched a campaign to encourage football to speak out against match-fixing.

The two parties have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in a bid to tackle the problem together.

The launch of the partnership on 9 December coincided with International Anti-Corruption Day, and also aims to raise awareness about FIFA’s confidential reporting platforms.

The campaign aims to encourage players, coaches, officials and others within the game to use the confidential platforms available to report approaches by suspected match-fixers.

“This new joint campaign between FIFA and UNODC, just a few weeks after the signing of our memorandum of understanding, is a strong message about our absolute commitment and determination to eliminating match-fixing and corruption in football,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“In these unprecedented times marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that we work together with partners such as the UNODC to ensure that players, coaches and officials have the confidence to speak out against match-fixing, as well as any other integrity issues.”

Confidential reports can be submitted via the FIFA website, the FIFA Integrity App, or through a dedicated email service.

The campaign has been backed by several former male and female professional footballers, including Ivan Cordoba, Sun Wen, Wael Gomaa and Clementine Toure.

“Sports and sporting events are vital to our well-being, and they have a crucial role to play in helping our societies and economies recover from the pandemic,” added UNODC executive director Ghada Waly.

“That is why we must work together to ensure that sport recovers with integrity.”

07/12/2020

Tokyo police raids illegal gambling operation

Tokyo Metropolitan Police has raided an illegal casino in the Kabukicho red-light district and arrested three people, including 39-year-old Masayuki Miwa, who’s suspected to have ties with criminal syndicate the Yamaguchi-gumi.

The casino reportedly provided baccarat games, as at least one baccarat table was confiscated during the raid.

Despite the state of emergency declared in the city due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the illegal gambling was in operation between March and October and earned at least JPY50m ($480,000).

Miwa is suspected to have helped organise and managed the illegal gambling, but all three suspects people denied all allegations. Miwa claimed he “did not participate at all.” The casino was said to operate on a members-only policy.

Illegal gambling is an issue in Japan. Earlier this year, police arrested 18 people suspected to belong to a gambling operation in Saitama Prefecture. Close to JPY12.25m ($114,285) in cash was confiscated.

Gambling is against the law in Japan, with the exception of pachinko parlors, betting on races, and lottery, while habitual gambling or organising illegal casinos can result in a prison sentence.

Over the years, the law has been amended in certain aspects, and now Japan is preparing to open Integrated Resorts (IR) in the future. However, the decision to welcome IRs into the country is a controversial one since millions of Japanese are suffering from gambling addiction.

03/12/2020

Gaming revenue in Spain drops 50% year-on-year

Spanish gambling industry association, Cejuego, and the University Carlos III of Madrid have presented a study of the gaming industry in Spain titled the Spanish Gaming Yearbook for 2020. It presented Spain’s gaming revenue and considered the impact the ongoing pandemic had on the industry.

The study shows revenue for the first ten months of 2020 fell to €4.4bn ($5.3bn), a 50% drop from the gross revenue for the same period in 2019. €2.4bn came from private gaming, and the State Lotteries and Betting and Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (ONCE) earned €1.9bn. Meanwhile, €1.3bn went to gaming taxes: €197.3m from the State and €1.1bn from the Autonomous Communities.

José Antonio Gómez Yáñez, the author of the study, said only 0.3% of all gambler display problem gambling behavior. Only 17% of young people participate in gambling, which is less than Europe’s average of 24%. Based on the data, in 2019, 84,797 people were employed in the gaming sector, half (47,047) of them in private gaming. Yáñez commented: “Companies are making a great effort to maintain their workforce despite the decline in their income.”

According to InfoPlay, the CEO of Cejuego Alejandro Landaluce pointed out the data reveals the slow recovery of the market; he said: “The gaming industry is one of the ones that takes the longest to recover. In 2019 we had not recovered the levels prior to the 2008 economic crisis and now the situation is far worse.”

03/12/2020

BBIN seals partnership with Atletico Madrid

Asia-based gaming supplier BBIN has signed a new partnership with Spanish La Liga football team Atletico Madrid.

Through the new deal, BBIN will become official online gaming supplier of the team.

A statement on the BBIN website read: "BBIN is honoured to announce that the company has become the Official iGaming Supplier Partner of Atlético de Madrid in Asia in November 2020.

"Both BBIN and Atlético de Madrid share the colours red and white for their brand image, symbolizing that their passion and spirit is building a bridge between Europe and Asia, fighting side by side in the future."

The supplier detailed Atletico Madrid’s history and “outstanding results” in its reasoning for forming the partnership. The team has won 10 La Liga titles, 10 Copa del Rey trophies and one UEFA Cup among a string of other trophies.

The length and financial terms of the agreement have not been made public.

The partnership is not the first between BBIN and a European football team. In September last year, the supplier signed a similar online gaming supplier partnership with Dutch Eredivisie team Ajax. In the German Bundesliga, BBIN signed a deal with Borussia Dortmund in 2018.

In the past, La Liga teams have favoured gambling teams for shirt sponsorships. A total of seven out of 20 teams are sponsored by gambling companies during the current 2020/21 season.

02/12/2020

Tabcorp signs new partnership extension with TAB NZ

Australian-based operator Tabcorp has signed a new agreement with TAB NZ. Through the deal, the operators will exchange broadcasting and wagering rights for Australian and New Zealand horse racing.

The multi-year deal is an extension on an already existing partnership between Tabcorp and New Zealand’s licensed betting and broadcast operator, which has existed since 2007.

The agreement ensures New Zealand racing will continue to be broadcast in Australia through the Sky Racing network, owned by Tabcorp. Australian racing will also be broadcast into New Zealand through TAB NZ’s Trackside broadcasting service.

According to a statement on the Tabcorp website, the agreement helps support “tote pool liquidity for trans-Tasman punters” by providing the co-mingling of tote pools in the two countries.

Commenting on the new agreement, Adam Rytenskild, said: “We are strong supporters of New Zealand racing and we’re pleased to continue to work closely with TAB NZ.

“Through this agreement, we will continue to showcase New Zealand racing in Australia and around the world via Sky Racing and to facilitate the broadcast of Australian racing in New Zealand.”

Meanwhile, TAB NZ executive chair Dean McKenzie, said the revenue generated through the agreement would have a “direct benefit for thousands of Kiwis who rely on racing for their livelihood.”

02/12/2020

BetMakers agrees deal to acquire Sportech’s global Tote and digital business for $41.3m

BetMakers Technology Group has announced a binding agreement to acquire Sportech’s global Tote and digital business for AU$56.2m ($41.3m)

The Australian-based gaming technology supplier will purchase the sports betting company’s US, UK and European racing and digital assets on a cash-free, debt-free basis, aimed at accelerating BetMakers’ international growth plans.

The deal, which BetMakers considers “transformational for the company’s financial and growth prospects” includes Sportech’s Americas Tote business, which provides betting solutions, hardware and operational services to more than 200 race track, casino and betting venues.

The acquired assets also include Sportech’s Americas Digital Business which provides white-label betting solutions, as well as its UK and European Tote Business, to provide parimutuel technology and services to horse racing betting operators worldwide.

The acquisition will be funded by a AU$50m fully underwritten placement and the deal is conditional to Sportech shareholder approval, with its board agreeing to recommend the transaction. The acquisition is due to be put to a vote in the week commencing 21 December.

BetMakers managing director Todd Buckingham, said: “This acquisition will supercharge our entry into the US and position the Company for substantial growth on the back of the emerging wagering opportunities in US racing, including Fixed Odds, where we believe we are well placed.

“It will also greatly expand our global customer base across the UK, Europe and Asia and provides us with an opportunity to expand our product offering at scale in these and other regions.

“The Acquisition of Sportech assets and the momentum we are seeing in the BetMakers’ business during this current financial year places the Company in an extremely strong growth position.”

01/12/2020

Gambling industry predictions for 2021: M&A, retail, sports betting & online

At the end of every year, it makes sense to take stock with an annual review, perhaps even daring to predict what is to occur in the 12 months ahead. For annual budgets, these things are a must; although considering the year we've just had, it almost seems pointless.

In a year dominated by COVID-19, some gambling trends may have been foreseeable; yet full closures of gaming markets across the world certainly wasn't. Given the fact we are still in the midst of a pandemic, it may also seem foolish to try and look ahead to 2021.

And yet it's something companies and whole industries must at least attempt to do, even if many factors still remain at the mercy of the coronavirus pandemic. So hopefully, with the prospect of functioning vaccines, we can try and make a few projections for 2021 without being wildly incorrect...

Mergers

My first prediction is one initially voiced by Peter Nolan of Digitain in last week's GI Friday. In his Guest Interview, Nolan argued M&A will take on even more significance in 2021. It's a projection I happen to fully agree with – and one that is near-inevitable during such difficult times.

With both increasing competition and regulatory demands in recent years, mega mergers have already become more and more common. In recent months alone, we have had various stages of confirmation on deals between Flutter Entertainment and The Stars Group, Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts (and William Hill), and Evolution and NetEnt.

Following a year of such strife for the land-based sector, but also the increasing market power of some of the larger online firms that have thrived, we can expect 2021 to be a year of even more consolidation than normal. I'm aware increasing M&A is an occurence every year these days – but given the effects of this pandemic, 2021 should accelerate this even further.

Even if it is hard to top the number of mergers we've had at the very top level in 2019-2020, consolidation at a lower level seems virtually guaranteed.

Retail: A view to 2022

As I've already touched on, 2020 has been a simply terrible year for land-based casinos (and betting shops). There is very little that can be concretely predicted for 2021, too, given a new wave of closures for US casinos and shops in Europe.

Seminole Gaming CEO and Hard Rock International chairman Jim Allen recently appeared on the GI Huddle, and was honest in his review of 2020 and analysis of 2021. There are certainly some causes for optimism, especially given the over-achievement of US casinos since reopening with curtailed capacities.

Overall, however, Allen urged caution, which is no surprise: in the US, it will be a bumpy ride to say the least. In Macau, too, progress will be slow for some time to come.

That's why the biggest prediction we can make at this point is that 2022 will be the year of recovery for land-based establishments globally, particularly when it comes to returning to pre-COVID levels. There will likely be bright spots in 2021, especially if genuinely effective vaccines become available to mass populations in the second half of 2020. But consistent success is not yet on the horizon.

Sports betting – Euro 2021

Sports betting in 2020 can best be described as tumultuous, as although a complete shutdown of the major sporting calendar hurt sports betting revenues deeply, there has been a considerable uplift since major leagues returned. In many ways, sports wagering is now in a very healthy place, with less entertainment alternatives available for players and major sport now a constant fixture.

EveryMatrix CEO Ebbe Groes last week spoke to the GI Huddle in detail about adapting during the coronavirus pandemic. And how sports betting suppliers, operators and affiliates were forced to adapt...

But now that professional sports organisations have strong testing procedures in place, 2021 should be a year of further growth for sports wagering companies – growth comparable to 2019 and not just against reduced 2020 figures.

Pre-pandemic, Kindred Group CEO Henrik Tjärnström and Betsson Group CEO Jesper Svensson both spoke to me of their ambitions for Euro 2020 (the European Football Championships). Tjärnström, in particular, said it would be the biggest sports betting event in history.

Naturally, the pandemic ultimately forced the event's abandonment in 2020. Crucially, though, this was not a total cancellation and instead a postponement until 2021. With pent-up demand for such a big footballing event carrying over from 2020, expect huge sports betting numbers should the tournament go ahead as planned. This I can say with some comfort, regardless of any other extenuating circtumstances.

Digitalisation – US and beyond

One area of the gaming industry that can't be stopped in its tracks, and certainly won't be in 2021, is digitalisation. In some markets, this will translate more to the convergence of online and retail, though in others it may well mean a fuller transition to digital gaming.

While there remain those who feel land-based will always trump online, a far greater percentage of gambling stakeholders will have softened their stance on digital than at this point 12 months go (if they weren't already advocates, that is). What 2020 has taught us from a business persective, across all industries, is that extraordinary events can stop retail altogether. That's not to mention the merry-go-round casinos and betting shops worldwide have undergone with subsequent shifts in policy at different stages of the pandemic.

Online betting, however, cannot be halted in this manner, especially online games that don't rely on the sporting calendar (casino, poker, bingo etc). This harsh truth when comparing online and retail has even resulted in talk of regulating online gaming in Macau this year, however realistic or unrealistic that prospect may be.

Yet where this is best demonstrated is the US, where online gaming has provided states with valuable revenue during property closures. When properties are open, meanwhile, online gaming has so far not proven to cannibalise land-based demand – rather working with it hand-in-hand in states such as New Jersey.

So, while the only thing we can be fully certain of during the pandemic in 2021 is uncertainty itself, the most confident prediction I can make is that online gaming will continue to rise. And its critics will have less and less of a case to present.

01/12/2020

Irish Football Association reveals £450,000 National Lottery funding

The Irish Football Association has announced that the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) has received £450,000 of financial support from the National Lottery.

All men’s and women’s clubs in the NIFL will each receive a share of the total, having been impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions in place across the country.

The majority of clubs have been forced to play without the presence of supporters due to various lockdowns, with other clubs unable to play at all due to the current pandemic.

The funding aims to allow clubs to continue to exist and operate in the future.

As part of the partnership, National Lottery players will be rewarded with free tickets and VIP experiences with the Northern Ireland national team, once conditions allow the return of supporters.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, football clubs are able to protect and enhance the crucial work they do serving their communities right across Northern Ireland,” said Irish Football Association CEO Patrick Nelson.

Nigel Railton, CEO of National Lottery operator Camelot, added: “The National Lottery and its players make a massive difference to communities across the UK day in, day out – and have been doing so for the past 26 years.

“So we’re really delighted to be working with the Irish Football Association to support these incredibly important clubs in the Northern Ireland Football League, enabling them to continue playing such an important role in their local communities."

The partnership follows similar initiatives throughout the UK, between the Football Association and National League in England, and the Football Association of Wales and Cymru Leagues.

30/11/2020

Video exclusive: Ebbe Groes on adapting during the coronavirus pandemic

If you're missing summer, look no further than our latest episode of the GI Huddle, where we bring you palm trees and migrating ducks (on our shirts).

EveryMatrix group CEO Ebbe Groes is our new guest, as he discusses how the supplier has adapted during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as his hopes for 2021.

As he looks ahead to the upcoming year, Groes discusses specific verticals such as casino, esports and sports betting at length with the GI Huddle.

During 2020, the EveryMatrix CEO witnessed a considerable upturn in esports betting volumes in particular, although he admits this has fallen more than he expected since major sport leagues returned.

How is the gaming industry different to this time last year and in what direction might it go within the next 12 months?

Click play on the video below to see Groes' take on the above issues and more:

30/11/2020

New Zealand Cricket renews partnership with Stats Perform

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has renewed its agreement with Stats Perform, a global provider of cricket data, to be its exclusive official data partner for international and domestic competitions.

According to the agreement, Stats Perform will collect and provide event data to NZC as well as broadcast and betting operators, including “NZC’s official digital and social media platforms, providing insights and information to deepen the engagement of fans and bettors with NZC’s competitions, teams and players.”

The company will also provide live streaming to licensed sportsbook operators and expanded NZC competitions, but the service will be restricted to the Watch&Bet streaming platform.

Stats Perform is currently the partner of the England and Wales Cricket Board, Cricket Australia, New Zealand Cricket and Cricket South Africa.

Chief rights officer Alex Rice said: "We are thrilled to have renewed our partnership with New Zealand Cricket. We look forward to continuing to provide extensive coverage for all of the premier Cricket New Zealand matches and supporting the production of live streams from previously un-broadcast competitions."

"We look forward to providing an expanded premium in-play gaming experience, improved data insights and providing more content for sponsors."

In addition, Stats Perform has also reached a six-year agreement with GVC Holdings, soon to become Entain plc, to provide a new and exclusive official WTA tennis data service for in-play wagers.

28/11/2020

ACMA reminds operators of gambling advertising rules

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has reminded all licensed operators across the country to comply with gambling advertising rules.

The announcement comes after the ACMA highlighted a number of inconsistencies in how several operators have interpreted the current regulations.

Introduced in 2018, the rules state that gambling advertising cannot be shown during live sport on television, online and radio between the hours of 5:00am and 8:30am, with more lenient advertising restrictions in place outside this period.

The ACMA monitored the Online Content Service Provider Rules by gathering information about the placement of gambling ads during live-streamed sports coverage, while also contacting online providers to gain further information about their gambling advertising practices.

Having monitored the rules for 12 months, the ACMA found no major concerns, but did identify a number of inconsistencies in how providers had interpreted the rules.

Such inconsistencies included issues with the use of exemptions, as well as with record-keeping requirements.

The former involves an issue set out under the Broadcasting Service Act 1992, which allows for an identical online simulcast of a live sporting event to be exempt from the advertising rules.

“The ACMA found this exemption is being widely used, and sometimes combined with an exemption for low audience share subscription television channels from the broadcasting codes of practice restrictions,” the ACMA said.

“As the size of online audiences for live sporting events continues to grow in Australia, it may be relevant to also consider the potential online audience share for live sporting events broadcast on TV, so that exemptions continue to apply as intended, where there are genuinely small audiences.”

The inconsistencies with record-keeping requirements meanwhile involves the types of records kept, which varied between individual providers.

The ACMA has welcomed the keeping of records, but has warned that such records must comply with the rules that are in place.

28/11/2020

Hokkaido revives plans for an IR

Hokkaido has revived plans for an Integrated Resort (IR) after land was identified for the property to be built upon in the Japanese region.

Around 100 hectares in Tomakomai City have been earmarked as a potential area for the property, based in the Uenae area near Chitose Airport, according to Inside Asian Gaming.

Reports suggest a "certain understanding" has been received from the Hokkaido prefecture in reference to the environmental assessment, which had been an aspect previously holding the IR bid back.

Last November, Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki said the prefecture was withdrawing its bid to become the home of Japan’s IR but didn’t rule out a future revival.

Discussions with the Hokkaido prefecture are set to be reported on 10 December, at the General Development Special Committee of the regular city council meeting.

A city official said: "The prefecture agreed with us about the designated site, just in case there were to be an IR bid and we got approval. We have re-designated the Uenae area as a candidate site and have made progress toward a bid.

"Once development begins, the city would bear those expenses and after that it would be the responsibility of the Hokkaido prefecture and the operator."

Estimates suggest maintenance of the IR would cost around JPY7.8bn ($74.8m) for water and sewage, as well as JPY10bn for surrounding roads.

The coronavirus pandemic has delayed plans to press ahead with an IR in Japan, with the certification application period pushed back, from between January and July 2021 to between October 2021 and April 2022.

28/11/2020

French casinos set to reopen 15 December

After a second period of COVID-19 forced closures, French casinos are set to reopen their doors from 15 December, according to trade union Casinos de France.

France has been in its second national lockdown since 30 October, during which only essential shops have been permitted to remain open. Gambling facilities such as casinos, betting shops and bingo halls have been forced to remain closed throughout.

The reopening process will be completed within a strict health and safety framework. Casinos de France said casinos are prepared to go “even further in protecting customers and collaborators” than after the first lockdown. Casinos will implement restrictions to capacity and require mandatory registration to allow for traceability, among other measures.

Casinos de France detailed the detrimental impact of lockdowns to the French casino industry, which represents 15,000 direct and 45,000 indirect jobs.

The industry group also suggested the lockdown had caused an increase in the use of illegal unlicensed online operators, leaving vulnerable customers unprotected by responsible gambling regulation.

Earlier this week, France Galop predicted a continued lockdown would cost the French horse racing industry around €30m ($35.6m).

The governing body for French horseracing attributed such a loss to the closure of betting shops, despite horse racing being permitted to continue during the second lockdown.

27/11/2020

Nuvei signs deal with esports operator Unikrn

Payment technology company Nuvei Corporation has announced a partnership with esports betting operator Unikrn.

Through the agreement, Unikrn will use Cashier - Nuvei’s hosted payment page - to process customer transactions.

Cashier handles high volumes of international payments, and is integrated with over 100 global currencies.

Founded in 2014, Unikrn is currently active in 24 countries, and 41 states across the US. It focuses on esports, as well as sports betting and casino games.

“Unikrn offers our global customer base access to an unrivalled spectrum of gaming experiences without interruption,” said Rahul Sood, co-founder of Unikrn. “Nuvei was the best option for us to ensure we meet these expectations and offer a platform that will scale with our rapid growth.

“Cashier makes our customers’ payment journey safe and seamless. We look forward to working with Nuvei for many years to come.”

Yuval Ziv, managing director of digital payments at Nuvei, added: “This new partnership with Unikrn is in line with our vision of an expanding ecosystem of partners that benefits operators and customers alike.”

Nuvei broadened its presence in the US earlier this month, receiving approval from the West Virginia Lottery Commission to process sports betting and online gaming payments in the state.

27/11/2020

Sands China sets February 2021 date for Londoner Hotel opening

The Londoner Hotel is set to open its doors in February 2021, according to president of land-based casino operator Sands China, Wilfred Wong Ying-wai.

Part of the Londoner Macau, the new hotel will join the existing Conrad, St Regis and Sheraton hotels in the integrated resort.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Wong announced that the majority of the construction work on the US$2bn transformation of Sands Cotai Central into Londoner Macau is now complete.

No specific date has been mentioned, but the opening could coincide with Chinese New Year 2021, which falls on February 12.

Wong in August this year had announced that the hotel should be ready to open by the third quarter, but that launch was subject to a return of Macau’s tourism trade, particularly its mainland China business.

The new opening date is now set for February, with Wong expecting it to go ahead thanks to an increase in visitor arrivals to the region.

“The Londoner Macao is planned to open in early February next year,” said Wong. “The retail and dining areas will be opened at the same time.”

“In the reconstruction and transformation of Londoner Macao, we added a concert hall and various dining venues, and have always headed in the direction of diversification and non-gaming elements.”

Visitor numbers are reportedly rising due to the resumption of the individual visit scheme (IVS) for mainland arrivals on 23 September, which has resulted in a rise in Sands’ hotel occupancy rate.

Despite this, Macau gaming revenue was still down 73% year-on-year for the month of October. The market saw revenue of MOP$7.27bn (914m). Gaming revenue over the past six months has fallen by around 90%.