Tag: Gaming

Stake acquires Betfair Colombia

Cryptocurrency betting and gaming operator Stake.com has acquired Betfair Colombia, which sees the brand enter the market via the acquisition of Betfair's licence.

The licensing approval, granted by ColJuegos, the Colombia regulator, lasts until 2025.

“Expanding into the Colombia market is a strategic decision that aligns perfectly with our vision for growth and innovation,” said Brais Pena, chief strategy officer at Easygo, the founder of Stake.com.

“Colombia’s position as the first regulated market in Latin America makes it an ideal destination for Stake’s expansion, with the intention of being one of the dominant players in the market in two years.”

Plans beyond Colombia

With Stake acquiring Betfair Colombia, the operator plans for Colombia to serve as its base for growth throughout Latin America, with its current licence approved until 2025. This follows Betfair’s initial launch on the market in Latin America’s second-largest market in 2020.

In total, Coljuegos has i..

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India government orders blocking of 22 betting websites

Indian authorities have issued blocking orders against 22 betting apps and websites it says have been operating illegally.

Full details of those operators blocked by ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) were not disclosed. However, MeitY confirms that both Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro face blocking orders.

MeitY says it is taking action following investigations by the enforcement directorate (ED) against illegal betting app syndicate. The ED also carried out several raids on Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh, with these revealing unlawful operations.

The investigations have led to the arrest of several individuals. These include Bhim Singh Yadav, who currently works for the Chhattisgarh police. Yadav was arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship as well as electronics and information technology in India, says the local Chhattisgarh govern..

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How Adam Greenblatt is sharpening BetMGM’s competitive edge

Adam Greenblatt set BetMGM on a path to profitability and the business will be self-sustaining in the second half of 2023. How will he make sure the operator stays ahead in the US sports betting market as new competitors emerge?

July’s update on BetMGM’s first half performance confirmed the operator was on the path to profitability outlined by CEO Adam Greenblatt in June.

The business will be self-sustaining in the second half of the year. There will be no additional equity investment from joint venture partners MGM Resorts and Entain, beyond the $150m committed for 2023.

BetMGM CEO Greenblatt believes a new phase of competition could be imminent in the US

Greenblatt believes that BetMGM could operate as a separate business and stand on its own two feet if necessary.

“It could be a permanent state, absolutely,” he says of BetMGM as a self-sustaining entity. “[But] I think whether or not that is indeed a permanent state depends on how we want to ramp up and how quickly we want t..

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Eight in ten Spaniards gambled in 2022

An annual report compiled by CeJuego, Spain's Gaming Business Council, found that 83.9% of the Spanish population aged 18-75 participated in gambling in 2022.

The percentage represents 29.5 million people.

The report is based on CeJuego’s Game and Society survey, which studies the gambling habits of adults in Spain. The 2023 edition found that although Spanish adults participate in gambling, they tend to take part in low-risk games that don’t promise a high reward.

The survey found that 23.3 million people played national lotteries, ONCE games or La Quinela.

A total of 17.9% of Spaniards play games offered in casinos, gaming halls and bingo halls, and take part in sports betting. This equates to 6.3 million people. The report emphasised that this is far below, for example, the number who said they go to the theatre in their leisure time – 24.5%.

However, this is higher than those who said they take part in painting at 16.1% and almost double the percentage of people who play..

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Netherlands’ NGR up 85% in 2022

The Netherlands' licensed gaming market generated €3.4bn (£2.95bn/$3.59bn) in net gaming revenue (NGR) in 2022, according to a report from regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).

The report is based on 2022 only, as it was the first full calendar year for the Netherlands’ online gambling market.

The country’s market officially opened in October 2021, following the passage and ratification of the much-delayed Remote Gambling Act (KOA). This month marks two years since the market became live. NGR comprises of deposits minus prizes paid out.

NGR for 2022 was up by 85.0% from €2.0bn in 2021. KSA noted that this was due to an increase in both online gambling and land-based play, particularly as Covid-19 pandemic restrictions lifted. Land-based venues were closed in the Netherlands until 25 January 2022, with restrictions still applying until 25 February 2022.

Spending on gambling and advertising

Online casino was one of the Netherlands’ smaller markets in 2022, behind lotteries and l..

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Record igaming revenue drives Pennsylvania market growth in September

Gambling revenue in Pennsylvania increased 6.2% year-on-year in September to $476.3m, partly due to record igaming revenue during the month.

Total revenue in September was ahead of $448.5m in the same month last year. The figure was also 4.2% ahead of the $457.2m generated in Pennsylvania in August this year.

Retail slots remain some way out in front in terms of revenue share generating $199.9m, up 0.7% on last year. A further $75.2m came from physical table games, although this was 7.8% lower than September 2022.

The igaming segment reported the most significant growth in September. Revenue jumped 41.5% to $159.5m, an all-time high for the state, surpassing the previous record of $148.2m set in March.

Online slots revenue hiked 47.3% to $114.7m and internet table games revenue increased 31.7% to $42.4m. However, revenue from online poker slipped 10.4% to $2.4m.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National remains the clear market leader with $64.9m in igaming revenue in September. Valley Fo..

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New Jersey gambling revenue up 7.5% in September despite land-based dip

Gambling revenue in New Jersey increased by 7.5% year-on-year, to $521.5m in September, despite a fall in land-based casino revenue.

Total revenue was comfortably higher than $485.0m in September 2022. However, the figure was slightly lower than the $531.6m generated in New Jersey in August this year.

Land-based casino gambling remains the main source of revenue in New Jersey despite the yearly decline. Revenue for this segment hit $246.5m, down 2.1% from $251.7m last year.

Some $182.7m of all land-based gambling revenue came from slot machine games, a drop of 2.0%. Table games generated 63.8%, down 2.2% from September last year.

Igaming revenue tops $164m in September

Turning to igaming, this area of the market experienced the most growth in September. For the month, revenue amounted to $163.8m, an increase of 21.1% from last year’s $135.2m.

Online slots drew $161.4m in revenue, up 21.4% from the previous year. The other $2.4m was generated from peer-to-peer poker games in New J..

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Ontario igaming revenue more than doubles in Q2

Online gambling revenue in Ontario more than doubled year-on-year in Q2 to CA$540m (£324m/€375m/US$395m), while player spending in the Canadian province rocketed 132%.

Total igaming revenue in Ontario for the three months to 30 September was up 105% from $267m in Q2 of last year – the second full quarter since the regulated market opened in April 2022.

Of this total, $407m came from online casino activity in Ontario. A further $118m in revenue was generated from internet sports betting and $16m online poker. Revenue covers all cash wagers, rake fees, tournament fees and other fees, minus player winnings.

As for player spending, total igaming wagers in Q2 reached $14.20bn. This was significantly more than the $6.04bn spent during Q2 of last year.

Consumers spent $11.90bn on internet casino games, $1.90bn on sports betting and $397m online poker. Players spending does not include promotional wagers such as bonuses and free bets.

Ontario: an expanding igaming market

The figures, pub..

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NorthStar Gaming to expand reach across Canada

Ontario-based operator NorthStar Gaming is to expand the reach of its online casino and sportsbook across Canada.

Since launching in May 2022, the NorthStar Gaming offering has only been accessible in Ontario. However, this will now be available across all provinces and territories in Canada with the launch of NorthStarBets.com.

The launch is possible following the acquisition of Slapshot Media earlier this year. Slapshot Media delivers marketing and operational management services to sports betting and igaming operators.

As such, NorthStarBets.com is available through a wholly owned subsidiary of NorthStar acquired through the Slapshot Media deal.

NorthStar customers in Ontario can continue to access the platform through the NorthStarBets.ca website.

“We are thrilled to take this ground-breaking step and become a truly national brand,” NorthStar chair and CEO Michael Moskowitz said. “As a Canadian company, we are confident we understand local consumers better than the large inter..

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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..

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Super Group exits India over new online betting tax

Betway operator Super Group has withdrawn from the Indian market in response to a new online gambling tax rate that came into effect this month.

Operators are now having to pay a flat 28% turnover tax for online gambling, casino and horse race betting. The rate came into effect yesterday (1 October) after being announced by the Goods and Council Tax Council (GST) in India in July.

Super Group says the new rules mean the Indian market is no longer commercially viable for the business. As such, it has dropped all services with immediate effect.

“We are continuously evaluating evolving regulatory landscapes across the many markets we serve,” Super Group CEO Neal Menashe said. “Informed by years of operating our geographically diverse business, we remain confident about the long-term growth opportunities in front of us.”

Super Group adds that despite the exit, full-year financial projections are unchanged.

Industry body blasts higher rate

Tax will be applied to the full-face value o..

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