Retail

Intralot SPA has achieved its corporate objective of reducing its gross debt below €500m, despite witnessing a slowdown in its B2C performance. Publishing its full-year 2023 accounts, the Athens-listed gambling and lottery technology group reported revenues of €364m, a 7.3% decline from FY2022 results of €398m. The decline in headline revenues is attributed to the discontinuation of its Malta Lottery …

Racing Victoria has announced a multi-year partnership with TripleSdata (tSd) and Total Performance Data (TPD). The deal will see the integration of live race tracking content from Victoria’s most frequently used racecourses into TPD’s live odds engine, generating fully automated in-the-run odds for every runner throughout the race. Carlos Santo, CEO of tripleSdata, said: “Commercialising race data has always been …

Groupe Française des Jeux SA (Groupe FDJ) has reached an agreement with Veralda for the purchase of 2.4m shares held in gambling group Kindred Group Plc  for SEK 122.5 a share.  The transaction officially marks the start of FDJ’s acquisition of Kindred, initiated in January which saw the Paris EuroNext gambling group tender a public offer of SEK 130 per …

The government of Romania has sparked controversy in the gambling industry by appointing Cristian-Gabriel Pascu as the Vice-President of the National Gambling Office (ONJN). The government gazette published yesterday disclosed that the Ministry of Finance had selected Pascu, a celebrity hairstylist and beauty salon owner, to serve as the VP of the ONJN. The announcement set off a media storm …

A response has been issued by Svenska Spel relating to the state-owned operator being penalised by the Swedish Gambling Authority with SEK 100mn (£7.4mn).  The penalty was announced last week and covers alleged duty of care shortcomings. Svenska Spel disagreed with the final conclusion of Spelinspektionen’s review.  Fredrik Wastenson, President and Business Area Manager of Svenska Spel Sport & Casino, …

British racing’s Horse Welfare Board has released the results of the country’s first Thoroughbred Census. It was in December 2023 that the BHA made its final call for owners to complete the Census before the end of the year, with the association ultimately receiving 8,256 registrations – of which 5,566 were previously unrecorded. Undertaken by Hartpury University, the census has …

Bacta’s Technical Standards Group has announced that it will be working in partnership with colleagues from the Bingo Association’s Gaming Machine Working Group. Headed by MERKUR UK’s Alan Claypole, the new mission is to produce a set of industry recommendations on enhancements to existing regulations which will enable the machines sector to remain ‘competitive’ and uphold the ‘highest standards of …

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has invited people from ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds working in racing to share their views.  A short survey form, funded by the Racing Foundation, has now been opened is completely anonymous and will run until 31 May 2024. The BHA is seeking experiences of the industry via the survey. BHA Chief Executive, Julie Harrington, …

Italy’s Ministry of the Economy and Finance (MEF) has begun discussions with regional executives on how the changes from the decrees to ‘Reorganise Gambling’ will be applied. Negotiations have begun in which the Ministry has been instructed to secure alignment for new federal laws on gambling to be implemented across Italy’s 20 autonomous regions and 100 municipalities. Changes primarily impacting …

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has relaunched its ‘Charity Bet’ campaign for the 2024 Grand National, celebrating British horseracing’s marquee event. Organised by the trade body for UK gambling, this year’s Charity Bet campaign will see “More than 50 MPs from both sides of the House visiting local betting shops to place a Charity Bet on the Grand National.” …