Rank Group Plc has issued a market update as it begins to reopen its Mecca Bingo venues across England from Saturday 4 July. Absorbing COVID-19 impacts and costs, Rank stated that its group underlying profits will fall at the lower end of its provided £48-58 million guidance for the year ending 30 June 2020. Despite the closure of its entire …
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Spanish gambling group Codere SA has launched ‘CODWIN’, its new Italian market AWP games (fruit machines) distribution unit, formed by the merger of its shareholdings in subsidiaries Gap Games Italia and FG Slot. Italian industry news sources report that the launch of CODWIN, had been formally approved by Gap Games and FG Slot investors at an April shareholder meeting, allowing …
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Danske Spil has named Nikolas Lynhe-Knudsen as its new Chief Executive Officer, who will begin his new role from 1 October 2020, taking over from Susanne Mørch Koch. Lynhe-Knudsen currently holds the position of executive board member and director of economics, technology and media production at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR), having also held a number of high profile business …
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The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has called for ministers to guarantee the reopening of UK casinos in July to avoid industry job losses. BGC CEO Michael Dugher re-emphasised that UK casinos had undertaken all necessary steps to ensure that venues are ‘covid proof’ and able to reopen safely in July, with the majority of UK leisure and hospitality businesses. …
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Norway’s Ministry of Culture has confirmed its support for a consultation to consolidate the nation’s gambling laws into a single legislative framework. Endorsed by Culture Minister Abid Raja, the consultation will form the basis for a new bill to merge Norway’s three existing gambling mandates – ‘1992 Gambling Act’, ‘1995 Lottery Act’ and ‘1927 Totalisator Act’. Forwarding the proposal to …
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GamCare has expanded its dedicated chatroom series to help those in contact with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) maintain problem gambling support and seek advice from its dedicated specialist teams. The problem gambling treatment and support charity currently runs a weekly timetable of hour-long online chatroom sessions, where users can openly discuss or live text issues related to problem gambling. …
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Rank Group has announced that it will begin the ‘phased reopening’ of its Mecca Bingo venues operating across England from 4 July. In accordance with the government’s public safety measures, 36 Mecca venues will reopen on 4 July across England, as Rank re-establishes its retail footprint having been forced to close all gambling venues from mid-March as the UK entered …
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Sports Information Services (SIS) has confirmed that it has acquired the full shareholding of daily live draws and virtual horseracing operator 49’s Limited (www.49s.co.uk). Reaching an agreement with co-owners GVC Holdings and William Hill, SIS will take over the full management of the 49’s daily live draws and virtual horseracing brands Portman Park, Sprint Valley, and Steepledowns, as well …
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The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has confirmed that Charlie Parker, the new President of the Racehorse Owners’ Association (ROA), will join the company Board of Directors. Parker will replace former ROA President, Nicholas Cooper, as one of the two member nominated directors appointed collectively by the ROA, Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) and National Trainers Federation (NTF). He will begin a …
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Scottish bookmakers have slammed Holyrood’s decision to reopen betting shops without chairs or live racing, stating that the ruling is ‘crazy’ and a ‘slap in the face’ for bookies which have most likely been struggling during the lockdown period. Scotland’s 900 betting shops – employing around 4,500 people – have been closed since March as part of the national effort …
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