October 2023

October 10, 2023

Sportradar secures deal to power Taiwan Sports Lottery

Sportradar has secured a long-term contract to serve as the official technology and services solution provider to the Taiwan Sports Lottery.

The agreement runs from 2024 to 2033, with Sportradar being appointed as part of a wider consortium in Taiwan.

The consortium secured the third Sports Lottery Licence from the Taiwan government’s Sports Administration in December 2022. It also includes ADATA Technology as licence holder, Taiwan Sports Lottery Company as the operator and China Trust Bank.

Sportradar will roll out its Orako end-to-end sportsbook and player account management solution across over 2,600 retail outlets in Taiwan. Orako will also be implemented across online and mobile channels as part of an omnichannel approach.

Orako also includes managed trading services, pre-match and live data and odds, audio-visual streaming and marketing services.

The wider agreement covers the delivery of required equipment across all retail stores. This includes customised lottery termina..

October 10, 2023

Colorado bounces back in August as sports betting handle hits $306.1m

Consumers in Colorado spent $306.1m betting on sports in August, an increase on the same month last year, while revenue was also higher.

Handle in Colorado was $15.5m ahead of $290.1m in August 2022. The monthly sports betting spend also surpassed the $281.1m wagered in July this year by 8.9%.

Players bet a total of $304.2m online during August, with the remaining $1.9m wagered via retail sportsbooks.

Baseball remained the most popular sport to wager on in Colorado, drawing $105.5m in bets. The state is home to Major League Baseball franchise the Colorado Rockies.

Tennis ranked second in terms of betting spend, with players wagering a total of $29.9m on the sport. Basketball followed with a $26.4m handle, while $53.5m was spent on parlay wagers in August.

Sports betting revenue remains level in Colorado

Turning to revenue, gross gaming revenue from sports wagering in August reached $25.9m. This was level with the same month last year and 3.6% ahead of the $25.0m generated in July..

October 10, 2023

Iowa sports betting handle jumps to $245.8m in September

Monthly sports betting handle in Iowa increased year-on-year to $245.8m in September but revenue in the Hawkeye State declined.

Players spending on sports betting in Iowa was 22.8% ahead of the $200.2m wagered in September 2022. The monthly handle was also 74.1% higher than $141.2m in August this year.

Of the total bet in September, $222.3m was spent online and $23.4m at retail sportsbooks across Iowa.

As for revenue, sports wagering net receipts for the month amounted to $24.1m. This was 5.1% lower than $25.4m in September last year but 78.5% more than $13.5m in August of 2023.

Online sports betting accounted for $20.9m of revenue in September and retail wagering $3.1m.

Diamond Jo Dubuque retains top spot in Iowa

Looking to individual operators, Diamond Jo in Dubuque and partner FanDuel remain out on front in Iowa. The partnership heralded $6.0m in revenue from $52.6m in total wagers in September.

Wild Rose in Jefferson and partner DraftKings placed second with $3.4m in revenue..

October 10, 2023

Inspired scores virtual sports partnership with NBA

Inspired Entertainment has secured the rights to develop virtual sports games based on the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Under the deal, Inspired will create virtual games centred on archived footage from the NBA. Fans will have the ability to place a range of wagers on these games.

Bet types will include wagering options as a standard sportsbook such as money line bets and over/under total score.

The games will feature all 30 NBA teams and include coverage of NBA All-Star, NBA Playoffs and NBA Finals.

“Virtual sports gaming continues to grow in popularity across the globe,” NBA associate vice-president of international gaming and data ventures, Kuljeet Sindhar, said. “We’re excited to embark on this unique collaboration with Inspired to engage our fans around virtual sports with real-game action.

“Inspired is a leader in this space and will utilise immersive NBA game footage to deliver an authentic NBA experience to reach our fans in new and unique ways and continue to g..

October 10, 2023

IBIA pens sports betting integrity partnership with IXUP

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has entered into a sports betting integrity partnership with data security and analysis business IXUP.

Under the deal, IBIA and IXUP will explore integrity-compliance products and services for the US market. This includes developing solutions to support operators, regulators and sports governing bodies.

IBIA will promote IXUP’s PlayPause encryption matching network to US member operators. PlayPause is a pilot scheme aggregating state voluntary exclusion lists and sports involuntary exclusion lists into a single real-time API.

In return, IXUP will promote IBIA’s integrity monitoring solution through its relationships with existing US clients. These include sports betting operators, regulators, sports leagues and teams.

Both parties may explore complementary services for other entities in the sports wagering ecosystem. These include sports governing bodies and teams.

IBIA is licensed across the US while IXUP operates BetStop, th..

October 9, 2023

New York mobile sports betting revenue hits record $165.6m in September

Mobile sports betting revenue in New York reached a record $165.6m in September while handle hit a six-month high of $1.76bn.

Revenue was up 15.6% from $143.3m in New York in September 2022 and 68.1% more than $98.5m in August this year. This is according to figures published by the New York State Gaming Commission.

Handle also increased year-on-year. The total $1.76bn spent was 39.7% higher than $1.26bn in September 2022 and 58.6% ahead of $1.11bn in August 2023.

Spending reached its highest monthly amount since $1.79bn was wagered in New York in March.

FanDuel remains ahead of DraftKings in New York

Flutter Entertainment-owned FanDuel retained top spot in revenue terms in New York. It posted $76.9m in gross gaming revenue (GGR) in September and processed $682.5m in mobile wagers.

Long-term rival DraftKings placed second with GGR of $61.4m and a superior handle of $710.5m – the highest in the state.

Caesars was next in line with $12.6m in GGR and a $174.0m handle. BetMGM follow..

October 6, 2023

Kambi to power 711’s expansion into Dutch online sports betting market

Sports betting solutions provider Kambi Group has partnered with 711 to support the online gambling operator’s expansion into the Dutch sports wagering market.

Under the deal, Kambi will provide 711 with its Complete sportsbook. This includes a sports betting platform, its Bet Builder offering and AI-powered trading products.

Belgium-based 711 currently only offers online casino to customers in the Netherlands via its internet casino games licence. The operator launched in the Dutch regulated market last year.

However, having partnered with Kambi, 711 will apply to Dutch regulator Kansspelautoriteit to extend this licence to also cover online sports betting.

“711 online casino has achieved strong growth since we debuted in the Netherlands,” 711 COO Gilles de Backer said. “It became clear that sports betting would be an important next step in the brand’s journey.

“By partnering with a leading sportsbook provider like Kambi, we are excited to be in a position to provide our growing..

October 4, 2023

LeoVegas returns to the Netherlands with new website

Online gambling operator LeoVegas Group has returned to the Netherlands with the launch of its new Dutch-facing LeoVegas.nl website.

The site offers a range of online casino games, live casino and sports betting. Customers in the Netherlands can access slot games and live table games with Dutch-speaking croupiers.

The launch comes after LeoVegas secured a new licence in the country in July through its LeoVegas Gaming business. Issued by national regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the five-year licence covers casino, live casino and sports wagering activities.

“The king of casino is finally home in the orange kingdom,” LeoVegas Group CEO Gustaf Hagman said. “I am delighted that we are taking steps into the Dutch market.

“The combination of a well-known brand, our platform and cutting-edge content will make LeoVegas.nl a contender for the leader’s jersey in the Dutch igaming market.”

LeoVegas back after two years away

LeoVegas previously operated in the Netherlands before the c..

October 4, 2023

Paddy Power closes 21 shops in Ireland

Flutter UK and Ireland has closed 21 Paddy Power shops in the Republic of Ireland, affecting 78 members of staff.

The list of affected shops includes Dominick Street Galway, Kilkenny, Rathdrum and Templemore. In a statement, Flutter said the decision to close consisted of two main facets – lease expiries and early terminations. It added the decision came after a review into its “high street estate”.

Paddy Power is among Flutter’s biggest brands in the UK and Ireland, alongside Betfair and Sky Bet.

Flutter stated that the closures leave 230 active Paddy Power shops across the Republic of Ireland.

Flutter added that the “majority” of the 78 members of staff would be offered redeployment across Paddy Power’s remaining shops. However, it admitted that the closures would lead to a “small number” of job losses.

“As with all businesses in the retail sector, we regularly review our estate to ensure we are operating efficiently and meeting the evolving needs of our customers,” said David N..

October 4, 2023

Fanatics completes PointsBet US purchase in New York and Wyoming

Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) has edged closer to taking full control of PointsBet US after completing the acquisition of its operations in New York and Wyoming.

PointsBet New York LLC has been transferred to FBG. This follows the satisfaction of certain conditions in the state including approval from the New York State Gaming Commission.

Meanwhile, ownership of PointsBet Wyoming LLC has also transferred to the FBG division of sports retail giant Fanatics.

Transfer of additional US state operations to FBG will take place as approvals are obtained in each state. PointsBet says subsequent completion in this market is tracking as planned.

The double completion come after PointsBet last month also secured approval for acquiring PointsBet US in eight other states. These comprise New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

PointsBet will continue to operate in Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan and Ohio until FBG closes on selected sta..

October 3, 2023

Novig to launch in Colorado with new licence

Commission-free sports betting exchange Novig has set out plans to launch in Colorado after securing a licence in the Centennial state.

The Internet Sports Betting Operator licence from the Colorado Division of Gaming will allow Novig to roll out its offering in Colorado. The operator will partner with Full House Resorts and its Bronco Billy’s Casino property in Cripple Creek.

Novig is building a commission-free, high-frequency sports betting exchange. However, until exchange betting is approved in Colorado, Novig will be active as a sports betting operator.

The operator will initially offer football, basketball, baseball and college sports markets before expanding to more sports next year. Users can place bets on the moneyline, point spread and game totals, both pre-game and in-game.

“We’re thrilled to kick off our journey in the vibrant sports betting landscape of Colorado,” Novig co-founder and CEO Jacob Fortinsky said. “We’d like to thank the Division of Gaming for their help t..