SBC CIS Editorial Team is happy to present a quick recap of the gambling industry events, news, regulations and partnerships that happened last week.
In the Netherlands, the government approved an €8m education program to teach “money matters, debt, and understanding risks” across Dutch schools. The program is spearheaded by Minister Carola Schouten, who oversees Dutch policies for poverty prevention, social participation, and civic pensions. She outlined that the program has been designed to improve financial literacy in schools to protect Dutch youth from incurring debt and ensure that money management is taught at a critical learning age. As part of the program’s curriculum, teachers will receive training, enabling them to educate students about critical financial matters they will face when they become financially independent. Schouten highlighted that the program would “emphasise understanding the risks of online gambling and cryptocurrency investments”.
Entain released all documents related to a proposed plan to raise £600m in new capital, which will primarily be used to acquire STS Group, Poland’s largest bookmaker. The purchase will be carried out by Entain CEE in partnership with private equity fund EMMA Capital, which will fund 25% of the offer. The promoters of the deal have made it clear that the acquisition of STS will provide Entain with a direct opportunity to become the leading sports betting platform in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and take the leading position in the region’s largest market.
Apple has a unique ability to combine hardware, software, and compelling use cases to successfully bring VR sports to life where other companies have failed. In recent years, both the tech and sports industries have increasingly relied on mixed reality (XR) technologies, claiming they can deliver more immersive and engaging digital experiences that smartphones or TVs can’t. XR represents a unique opportunity for technology providers to create a new product category that offsets commercialization and market saturation. This opens up new streams of hardware, services and business revenue, providing a long-term platform for continued growth. Read more on Apple’s unique offer for sports content in their new era of computing experiences.
Michael Owen, who was previously the star of the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and the England national team, took a stunning turn in his career by taking on the role of brand ambassador for SunBet, an online betting platform owned by Sun International. SunBet, their leading online betting platform, signed football superstar Michael Owen to represent their brand. The agreement commences in June 2023, in celebration of the 13th anniversary of the betting platform.
Martin Martirosyan joined Digitain’s senior management team, where he will hold the position of Deputy General Manager. He has rich experience in various industries. In his new position, Martirosyan will play a major role in the strategic management of Armenia-based B2B supplier Digtain Group, as well as managing its brand portfolio. Martirosyan has over 15 years of experience at HSBC Bank Armenia CJSC, where he served as Director of Corporate Banking and Head of Wholesale Banking. As the new Deputy General Manager, he joins a company that is looking to strengthen its presence in various markets. One of the strategic initiatives is the opening of a new office in Bucharest, Romania, which will become the base for Digitain’s development in Europe.
Adjarabet Arena in Georgia’s Black Sea city Batumi received a prize promoted as a “Real Estate Oscar” for Best Public Infrastructure at the prestigious FIABCI Prix d’Exellence Awards 2023 in Miami. FIABCI is a major real estate event with thousands of successful companies worldwide, representing more than 70 countries, participating in the event. Adjarabet Arena is one of the newest and most modern stadiums in Europe, which was officially opened in 2020. It complies with Category IV of the UEFA standards with a capacity of 20,000 seats, which allows it to host world-class international matches. In particular, the stadium’s digital ecosystem uses renewable energy sources, which shows a high commitment to environmental protection. In June 2021, local gambling company Adjarabet won the right to name the stadium in Batumi for five years.
888 Holding announced an agreement to sell the business to Paf for €28.3m (£24.3m/$30.6m). Finnish operator Paf has agreed to pay an initial €24.0m in cash up front, with the remaining €4.3m to be paid in 2024 once the audit of the 2023 financial statements is completed. 888’s Latvian business operates under a local licence with 888’s William Hill and Mr Green brands. 888 will grant temporary licences to use these brands in Latvia.
Podcast Review: Sports Betting in Colleges – Protecting Students and Shaping Education
Colleges were in the spotlight last week in the USA. Sports betting news headlines were dominated by colleges, whether it’s a number of college-age bettors, marketing partnerships between sportsbooks and universities, or what needs to be done to better protect student-athletes as the industry expands.
In the latest episode of iGaming Daily podcast, Jessica Welman, SBC America’s Editor and Charlie Horner, Senior Journalist at SBC, talked about colleges and betting and how it works in general. One of the more important topics in the podcast was the rupture of relations between betting companies and colleges in the United States. In particular, the deals between Caesars and the universities had been heavily criticised and were forced to terminate. As a result, Caesars broke off its deals with the University of Michigan and Louisiana State University (LSU).
Olimpbet, a successful betting company operator in Kazakhstan, announced its entry into the eSports betting market through a strategic partnership with leading eSports provider Oddin.gg. Olimpbet is a clear leader in the Kazakhstan market. Brand’s involvement in eSports highlights its commitment to being ahead of the industry and delivering exciting experiences that win the hearts of eSports fans in Central Asia. Oddin.gg offers an integrated iFrame solution that includes trading and risk management features. With a fast and smooth integration, Olimpbet successfully launched their platform in early June, allowing their customers to bet on eSports directly on their website.
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