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UK News

David Clifton: Licensing Expert – Gambling participation & public perceptions of gambling

SBC News David Clifton: Licensing Expert - Gambling participation & public perceptions of gambling

In last month’s article for SBC News, I wrote about the Gambling Commission’s consultation “Changes to our enforcement strategy: putting the consumer first” that runs until 21 April 2017. I referred to recent speeches given by the Commission’s Chief Executive Sarah Harrison in November and February that, foreshadowing the Commission’s new enforcement mission statement, set out its reinforced focus on …

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188Bet shuts down online bingo product

SBC News 188Bet shuts down online bingo product

Updating its customer base, UK and Isle of Man licensed bookmaker 188Bet (188Bet.co.uk) has confirmed that it will shut down its online bingo services as of this week. The bookmaker contacted all players concerning its decision, and further detailed that outstanding bingo balances would be transferred to player 188Bet main accounts on Thursday 23 March. For its UK betting portals, …

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Boylesports CFO Mark O’Neil – Operator to establish UK retail network by end of 2017

SBC News Boylesports CFO Mark O’Neil - Operator to establish UK retail network by end of 2017

Speaking on Newstalk’s ‘Breakfast Business’ show, Mark O’Neil Chief Financial Officer of Irish independent bookmaker Boylesports stated his firm’s intent on growing its UK retail network. O’Neil detailed that despite losing its bid to takeover Ladbrokes-Coral merger betting shop ‘offcuts’ which would have given his firm a ‘solid retail platform’, BoyleSports will move to pursue its long awaited plans of …

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Bookmakers remain exempt from latest money laundering rules

Copyright: mkos83 / 123RF Stock Photo

Bookmakers already celebrating a successful start to Cheltenham week will have further cause for celebration with the news that the betting industry will continue to be exempt from European money laundering rules. There was a real danger that the Fourth EU Money Laundering Directive would encompass bookmakers given the classification of gambling as a high risk area for money laundering. …

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Jackpotjoy Plc appoints Jason Holden as Investor & Public Relations lead

SBC News Jackpotjoy Plc appoints Jason Holden as Investor & Public Relations lead

Updating the market, London-listed igaming firm Jackpotjoy Plc (formerly Intertain Group Canada) has confirmed the appointment of Jason Holden as its Director of Investor and Public Relations. Holden joins newly LSE listed Jackpotjoy from investment bank and brokerage firm Liberum Capital, where he served as Gaming & Technology Industry Analyst (2015-2017). Holden has further experience in technology investing and PR …

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New UK anti money laundering watchdog OPBAS to be set up by 2018

SBC News New UK anti money laundering watchdog OPBAS to be set up by 2018

The UK Government is set to get tougher on money laundering and criminal financing activities by creating new watchdog the ‘Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision’ (OPBAS).  The body will act alongside the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the government seeks to introduce new, stricter money laundering regulations to meet global finance standards. The government will aim to set …

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Might Bite salvages difficult day for our experts at Cheltenham

Tipster Challenge - AppBet

It wasn’t just the bookies that took a battering on day two at the Cheltenham Festival. There were similar struggles for our experts in the Tipster Challenge, sponsored by Betting Gods. Harry Lang, Marketing Director at Pinnacle, could only match the 3.50-point return for both Timeform and bettingexpert’s Stephen Harris. All three landed a single winner on Might Bite (7/2), …

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Douvan disappoints but LeoVegas revels in first Cheltenham

LeoVegas Championship

LeoVegas confirmed that its first Cheltenham had “exceeded all expectations”, after watching 2/9 favourite Douvan come 7th in the Champion Chase on a triumphant day for the bookmakers. Less than a year after launching in time for Euro 2016, the Swedish-based mobile gaming specialists acknowledged that whilst a hit could be around the corner, Ruby Walsh’s disappointing start to the …

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Velo Partners bets on eSports with Blinkpool $700,000 investment

SBC News Velo Partners bets on eSports with Blinkpool $700,000 investment

Industry venture capital firm Velo Partners has invested $700,000 (£575,000) in eSports studio Blinkpool developer of eSports game ‘BlinkPredict’. The UK-based VC that has funded numerous growing new enterprises within betting and igaming, makes its first eSports-centric investment in Blinkpool. Releasing a corporate statement, Velo Partners stated that Blinkpool could become a billion-valuation enterprise by becoming the firm that bridges …

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