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Global media has been shaken up by the news that Rupert Murdoch is preparing to sell 21st Century Fox and Fox Entertainment’s 39% stake in Sky UK to rival Walt Disney Co for a reported $60 billion deal (£45 billion). All eyes will be placed on today’s New York Stock Exchange opening, when Disney leaders are expected to present the …

The long proposed merger between Tabcorp Holdings and Tatts Group has moved a further step towards completion, following approval of the scheme from the Supreme Court of Victoria. Originally announced in October of 2016, court orders have now been lodged with The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), with the scheme now effective and a date of implementation set for …

FTSE betting group Ladbrokes Coral has announced the launch of its ‘Football Bet Filter’, which has been released as a companion betting utility for its popular Coral Connect App. The new betting filter function has been created by Ladbrokes Coral development teams, and will allow football punters to build their own tailored accumulators based on personal filters and market preferences. Football …

Australia ASX listed gambling group Tabcorp Holdings has confirmed that it has completed its full divestment of Odyssey Gaming Services (Odyssey). Updating investors, Tabcorp confirms that it has fully sold its gaming machine and venue solutions supplier to Australian National Hotels Pty Limited, a transaction initially agreed in April 2017. The divestment of Odyssey is in accordance with merger demands …

The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) has announced that it would urge the Government to introduce a statutory levy to replace the current system of voluntary funding. The current voluntary funding system which is overseen by GambleAware, is in place to fund research, education, and treatment of problem gambling; as well as to ensure that the National Responsible Gambling Strategy is …

Independent bookmakers are lobbying for more flexibility from one of their key suppliers for 2018 and beyond. The Bookmakers’ Technology Consortium (BTC) – a co-operative organisation that provides smaller firms with the advantage of collective bargaining – is unhappy with terms offered by SIS, one of the LBO sector’s main providers. The BTC has written a letter to bookmakers across …

Nasdaq listed gambling technology supplier Scientific Games Corporation (SGC) has cleared a further hurdle in its $630 million takeover of NYX Gaming Group, as UK bookmaker Sky Betting & Gaming (SB&G) states that it will support the deal. Seeking to accelerate the transaction, SGC governance continues to acquire NYX shares at a target price of CAD $2.40 per share. At present, …

Updating the market, Athens-listed lottery and gaming systems provider Intralot has confirmed that it has secured a three-year extension to its lead lottery provisions arrangement with leading Greek market gambling operator OPAP. Intralot will continue to act as the main supplier of OPAP’s ‘numerical lottery products’ and related services. The partnership extensions will see Intralot upgrade OPAP’s lottery management platform, …

It appears that Brazilian betting stakeholders will have to wait until 2018, for any clarity with regards to a new national gambling framework, as this week Brazil’s Senate has stalled on its decision to progress federal level betting provisions. Brazilian Media reports detail that legal stakeholder the Constitutionality and Justice Committee (CCJ) was meant to approve Bill 186 this Wednesday, but …

The UK Gambling Commission is looking for a new CEO after Sarah Harrison revealed she will be leaving the Commission at the end of February 2018 to take up a senior role with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Neil McArthur, the Commission’s Chief Counsel and Executive Director, will be appointed by the Commission as Acting Chief Executive with …