SBC Eurasia Editorial Team is happy to present a quick recap of the gambling industry events, news, regulations and partnerships that happened last week.
After five and a half years of driving success at Digitain and SportGenerate and over 15 years in the iGaming industry, Simon Westbury decided to take a career break in October 2024. SBC Eurasia sat down with Simon to ask 10 key career questions, offering an inside look at the milestones that shaped his remarkable career and the principles that have made him a standout leader in the iGaming world.
In 2024, SBC Leaders magazine has published a lot of important articles and interviews. This time, we look back at the interview with Evoke CEO Per Widerström and Chief Strategy Officer Vaughan Lewis, who talked about one of the most complex and transformative deals in the history of the industry. While in a special edition of the iGaming Daily, Jessica Welman, Editor of SBC Americas, was joined by Bill Gantz, Partner at Duane Morris LLP, to provide a deep dive into the legal complexities of the debate ‘sweeping’ the US.
The Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan approved a resolution to establish the Limited Liability Partnership “Unified Accounting System Operator” (hereinafter referred to as the Partnership). According to the resolution, the Partnership will be created with full state participation in its authorized capital.
The live casino games provider Imagine Live has announced the appointment of Martin Martirosyan as the new Group CEO. In 2023, Martirosyan joined the parent company Digitain as Deputy CEO.
A German court has suspended two cases involving player losses pending regulation and formally asked the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify key legal issues surrounding the regulation of online gambling. While Paris’s gaming clubs were forced to close on 31 December due to Michel Barnier’s government being brought down over MPs’ rejection of the country’s 2025 Budget.
Thailand plans to begin discussions on the potential legalization of online gambling. While Philippine Senator Win Gatchalian emphasized the need to continue efforts against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) despite the expiration of their operating licenses.
The Ministry of Finance of Brazil has announced that 68 companies have successfully completed the application process for obtaining full licenses to launch the Brazil Bets market, which officially started on January 1, 2025. Additionally, the Senate of Brazil has received its first update from rapporteurs who will evaluate the economic and integrity threats posed by the country’s new federal regime.
bet365 has launched its online casino and sportsbook products in Brazil. Additionally, bet365 has returned to operating profits as the Coates-owned family business reports improved sports betting results, though earnings from gaming remain flat.
MLB Players Inc. (MLBPI) is firing back at the suggestion that DraftKings and bet365 were exercising their freedom of speech and the press by using images of baseball players within its app and its advertising. Moreover, nearly a year after Mike Hermalyn abruptly left his post at DraftKings to go run the VIP program at Fanatics, the two parties have settled the matter in court.
Flutter Entertainment’s end-of-year trading has been offset by a period of “very unfavourable US sports results”, prompting management to revise its guidance for group and FanDuel segments. While Macau reported a total casino GGR of €27.45 billion for 2024, reflecting a 23.9% rise compared to 2023.
Grupo CIRSA has received regulatory approval to acquire a majority stake in CasinoPortugal, expanding the online portfolio of the Blackstone-owned Spanish gambling group.
NetBet is partnering with automation platform Flows to drive innovation and streamline its operations. While BGaming has unveiled its first art collaboration of the year as part of its “When Art Meets Gaming” project.
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