Betting News Archives

July 6, 2022

Playmaker Capital acquires World Soccer Talk

Affiliate business Playmaker Capital has acquired US-based soccer media company World Soccer Talk.

Playmaker announced the news in a press release in which it focused on the rising popularity of soccer in North America, emphasising its place as the now the fourth most popular sport in the country after American football, basketball, and baseball.

Playmaker CEO Jordan Gnat commented on the deal: “Soccer is on the rise in the US and Canada, and Playmaker is focused on becoming the preeminent voice for the sport across the Americas, from the top of Canada to the bottom of Argentina.”

“World Soccer Talk founder, Christopher Harris, exudes a true passion for sport that’s shared by the entire Playmaker team, and we’re excited to welcome him and World Soccer Talk into our family and our ecosystem as a core piece of a broader soccer strategy in advance of World Cups 2022, 2023 and 2026.”

World Soccer Talk web, social media and podcast assets will join Playmaker’s existing portfolio of digi..

July 5, 2022

VBet partners with OGC Nice

BetConstruct-operated sports betting and gaming brand VBet has announced a new sponsorship deal with French football club OGC Nice.

The club will be the latest French football team to make a deal with operator, following the announcement of similar deals with AS Monaco in 2020 and Paris FC the previous March. VBet branding will feature on the club’s shorts through to 2025, as well as prominently on its digital platforms.

In return, VBet will broadcast exclusive content for its partner as well as organise events and competitions to win match tickets – in addition to offering other digital content throughout the season.

VBet France president David Ozararat commented on the deal: “Aside from the symbolism of teaming up with the city where I was born and grew up, I’m very happy VBet is becoming one of the official partners of OGC Nice alongside its shareholder INEOS. Today, the club’s potential is at the highest possible level and the ambitions of its president are aligned with our bus..

July 5, 2022

Romanian government publishes plan for 40% tax on withdrawals

The Romanian government has published the country’s new draft Fiscal Code, featuring a tax hike on gambling withdrawals to as much as 40%.

The new code was published by the Ministry of Finance, and contains updates to the country’s tax laws.

Previously, gambling withdrawals in Romania of less than RON66,750 (£11,579/€13,493/$13,980) were taxed at 1%, while withdrawals of up to RON445,000 faced a 16% tax – plus an additional payment of RON667.50 and withdrawals beyond that total were taxed at 25%.

However, now withdrawals of up to RON3,000 will be taxed at 10%. Withdrawals of more than RON3,000 but no more than RON10,000 are taxed at 20%, plus a RON3000 fee. Beyond RON10,000, the tax rate will be 40%, plus a RON1,700 fee.

The tax will be applied with each withdrawal.

When the tax hike was first reported, trade body the Association of Remote Gambling Organisations (AOJND) said that it would push players towards illegal operators.

It estimated that – if the tax comes into effect – ..

July 4, 2022

Virginia betting handle surpasses $5bn since 2021 launch

The Virginia Lottery reported a year-on-year rise in both sports betting revenue and handle in May, while the amount wagered by players since the state launched in legal market has now surpassed $5.00bn (£4.13bn/€4.79bn).

Consumer spending for the month reached $351.5m, up 54.9% from $227.0m in May 2021, but 12.0% down from $399.5m in April of this year.

Spending in May meant the amount wagered by players since the state’s legal market opened in January last year stands at $5.33bn. Virginia surpassed $1.00bn in bets in June of last year.

Adjusted gross gaming revenue, which is defined as total bets minus winnings, bouses and promotions and other authorised deductions, jumped 75.2% year-on-year $15.7m to $27.5m.

This amount also represented a 32.2% month-on-month increase from $20.8 in April of this year.

Consumers won a total of $308.9m from sports betting during the month, while $10.0m in bonuses and promotions were issued to players. An additional $5.0m in deductions was also re..

July 4, 2022

Rhode Island sports betting revenue slips to $2.3m in May

Revenue from sports betting in Rhode Island slipped to a year-low of $2.3m (£1.9m/€2.2m) in May, though the state’s handle was up month-on-month.

Player spending for the month reached $41.1m, up 45.2% from $28.3m in May of 2021 and also 2.2% higher than $40.2m in April this year.

Of this total, $25.3m was spent online, while the other $15.8m was bet at retail sportsbooks at the Twin River and Tiverton Casino locations.

Revenue was down 14.8% year-on-year from $2.7m in May last year and 11.5% lower than $2.6m in April of this year. The monthly figure was also the lowest total since $1.2m was posted in December 2021.

Some $1.9m of total revenue was attributed to online betting, with the remaining $461,059 being retail revenue split across Twin River and Tiverton Casino.

Of the two casinos, Tiverton Casino came out on top with $404,515 in revenue from $5.3m in player bets, ahead of Twin River with just $56,544 in revenue, but almost double the size handle of $10.5m.

Last week, it wa..

July 4, 2022

DC sports betting revenue level year-on-year in May despite handle jump

Sports wagering revenue in Washington DC remained level year-on-year in May despite a 25.6% increase in stakes.

Handle for the month amounted to $17.2m (£14.2m/€16.5m), which was up from $13.7m in May of 2021 but 6.5% lower than $18.4m in April this year.

Revenue in May reached $2.0m, which was level with the same month last year and 42.9% higher than $1.4m in April 2022.

Breaking this down by individual operator performance, Caesars retained top spot with some $818,131 in revenue from $7.7m in players bets.

Gambet, which is operated by the DC Lottery and powered by Intralot, was second after paying out $4.3m in winnings from $5.0m in wagers, resulting in $724,451in revenue.

BetMGM, which operates in DC in partnership with Major League Baseball franchise the Washington Nationals, followed with $444,021 in revenue and a $4.0m handle.

Finally, Grand Central Restaurant, Bar and Sportsbook, which offers sports betting via an agreement with Elys Game Technology, placed fourth with $30..

July 4, 2022

Bally’s approved to launch BallyBet in Ontario

Bally’s has been approved for an internet gaming licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

The licence was approved on 30 June and will last for two years, expiring on 29 June 2024.

It covers fourdomain names – ballybet.ca, ballycasino.ca, ballysbet.ca and ballyscasino.ca, as well as the BallyBet mobile app.

Bally’s is one of the most recent operators to receive a licence to operate in the province, joining the likes of PokerStars, SkillOnNet and BetVictor.

Ontario’s regulated igaming market launched in April three years after Ontario announced plans to end the lottery’s online gambling monopoly on the province.

Operators such as theScore, PointsBet and Bet365 were approved for licences before the market opened.

July 4, 2022

SBM sells Betclic stake to FL Entertainment ahead of SPAC deal

Monte-Carlo SBM International S.à.rl (SBM) has transferred its entire 47.3% stake in French online gambling business Betclic Everest to newly created media and betting business FL Entertainment, as FL prepares to go public.

The news follows a press release on 11 May announcing the creation of the new entity, FL Entertainment, as part of a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger.

FL Entertainment will itself soon combine with Pegasus Entrepreneurial Acquisition Company Europe, which is already listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

FL will be made up of Betclic Everest and television production company Banijay, which will make up the majority of the business by revenue.

The new company is predicted to have an enterprise value of €7.2bn (£6.2bn/$7.5bn), as well as generate revenue of €3.5bn and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of €609m.

SBM will have an interest in new company, holding 4.95% of the voting rights and 10.39% of the effect..

July 4, 2022

Colorado sports betting handle slips to year-low $360.3m in May

Consumers in Colorado wagered $360.3m (£297.8m/€345.4m) on sports during May, the lowest monthly total of the calendar year so far.

Player spending was 44.7% higher than $249.0m in May of last year, but 8.2% down from $392.3m in April this year.

Bettors wagered a total of $356.8m on sports online during May, while the remaining $3.5m was spent at retail sportsbook facilities across the state.

Turning to gross gaming revenue and this amounted to $27.1m for May, up 78.3% from $15.2m in the same month in 2021 and also 19.9% higher than $22.6 in April this year.

Some $26.7m of this total was attributed to online betting, with just $267,458 coming from retail sportsbooks.

Basketball proved to be the most popular sport among players, drawing $102.0m in total bets, followed by baseball on $91.0m, ice hockey at $35.7m and tennis with $20.3m. Consumers also wagered $63.1m in parlay betting during the month.

The state collected $1.7m in sports betting taxes during the month, while win perc..