Figures from the latest Health Survey for England show that around 13% of the country’s population engaged in online betting with a bookmaker in 2018, with the percentage of people who had gambled overall dropping to 51%. The Health Survey also measured problem gambling rates using two different measures – DSM-IV and PGSI – both of which recorded levels below …

The Austrian Association for Betting and Gambling (OVWG) is pushing for more transparency in the country’s gambling laws after a series of police raids investigating corruption between politicians and the country’s monopoly operator. OVWG, which counts among its members bet-at-home, Interwetten, Mr Green and Kindred Group, believes that the controversy around the appointment of former Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) …

In the latest major political news in the UK, Labour’s Deputy Leader Tom Watson has announced his resignation and that he will not be sitting in the upcoming General Election. The surprising news has sent shockwaves through the UK political scene but also has implications for the gambling industry, given that it was Watson who was spearheading a review into the …

Major industry supplier Sportradar has come out strongly against a report in the Italian media which links the firm to the long-running Galassia criminal investigation. The company has issued a statement strongly refuting the allegations made within the article published by Business Insider Italia and said it regards many of the allegations and statements made to be incorrect, untrue and …

Finnish gambling operator Veikkaus is revamping its operations to put more emphasis on responsible gambling.  The company plans to reduce its 18,500 slot machines by 40% over the next six years as it looks to address concern over the extent of gambling harm in the country.  The move comes despite Veikkaus announcing a 2.1% drop in gross gaming revenues so …

Representatives from six different bookmakers will duke it out for the prestigious Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year next month as the competition announced its eight regional champions. Independent bookmakers Jenningsbet and Toals Bookmakers have managers on the shortlist, alongside Betfred, Paddy Power, William Hill and three from GVC Group’s Ladbrokes and Coral operations. Selected from a shortlist of …

Neil McArthur, chief executive of the UK Gambling Commission, has emphasised the need for standards to be raised among overseas gambling businesses targeting British consumers. Speaking at the ARQ Gaming Compliance Forum in Malta, McArthur highlighted three key strategic focus areas to drive the standards of the latter, stressing that “the MGA share our concerns”. This follows a study undertaken …

Henlow greyhound racing promoter Kevin Boothby has signed a 10-year lease deal to take over Towcester dog track and expects to re-open for greyhound racing in March 2020, according to a report by the Greyhound Star. It is the second piece of good news for the beleagured sport in a week after news that the Arena Racing Company (ARC) had acquired …

Norwegian state gaming operator Norsk Tipping has confirmed that sports betting omni-channel platform supplier Optima has won the tender to supply the firm with a new sportsbook integral solution for potentially the next 12 years. The successful offer also included integrated sports data feed and trading services from Sportradar, the major sports betting services supplier which last week agreed a …

Sports data and content supplier Sportradar has confirmed the acquisition of the award-winning sports betting and gaming omnichannel platform business Optima, with the deal effective immediately. The acquisition sees Optima extending Sportradar’s current betting services portfolio to become a full-service B2B data, betting, trading and player management platform business. Acquiring Seville based Optima, Sportradar governance details that will create a …