Moderating ‘The balance between responsible gambling and business’ panel, Steen Madsen, CEO of A Game Above, raised the question over whether monopoly-based lotteries truly prioritise the customer.

He said: “I have the feeling that some monopolies are stating that they are justified because they believe they are more responsible than smaller operators simply because they have been around for many years. They believe that because they have been around, they are more likely to put the customer first.

“Having said that, realistically, where is the customer in all of this? It’s not just about the business, it’s not just about donating to good causes. Is the customer helped by having a monopoly that limits the products available?”

Madsen was joined on the panel by Vincent Perrotin, head of CSR at Française des Jeux, Tay Boon Khai, chief risk & compliance at Singapore Pools and Adrian Sladdin, director of Seventh Wave Corporation.

Defending the customer-first approach, Perrotin explained that monopolies must pay attention to customer demands if they wish to maintain player engagement and avoid channelisation to unlicensed lotteries.

He said: “It is not right for us to say whether we are more responsible than other operators. But France has had a monopoly for some time, we have a very long tradition of protection and responsibility. But we have also been confronted with the same digital revolution that everyone else has had to face.

“What is important for a monopoly to do its job today is that it needs to prioritise customer experience. At the end of the day, if we do not do this, customers will begin to favour the illegal, unlicensed operators which subsequently endangers the monopoly. We don’t have a choice – we have to be very cautious and pay attention to what it is our customers are saying.

“When it comes to the products on offer to the public, there is a balance between offering a high-risk product in terms of problem gambling. This is something that – for the regulators – is an issue generally. But it is also an issue for the monopoly. We need to keep that in mind and accompany our offering with the appropriate responsible gambling tools. It is all about the balance between principles and reality.”

Responding to Perrotin’s point, Madsen suggested that there have previously been instances in which responsible gaming has been used as a way to generate publicity for the operator – something which he explained does not truly consider the end customer.

He said: “I’m glad to hear that you are considering the customer because that is super important in my view. What I have experienced is that some monopolies have been using responsible gaming as a ‘political football’ for publicity – using measures as a way to say they are more responsible than others. But I don’t really think that the end customer really understands what it means for them.”

Sladdin vehemently dismissed the claims that monopoly-based lotteries prioritised their players, drawing upon the UK lottery as an example which he described as a ‘way of raising money’.

He argued that the only ‘tangible’ element of customer service originated from players’ hopes of winning the lottery, despite ‘miniscule’ chances to do so.

He added: “It is really interesting to think – where is the customer in all of this? Historically in the UK, I think that the first time we had a lottery was to raise money to send troops abroad to fight. We should never kid ourselves. The reason that we have lotteries certainly isn’t ‘for the good of the people’.

“The roll out of the lottery wasn’t to give the people of Britain a fun experience, it was quite clearly a way of raising money for the government, for diverting money into these ‘good causes’. I’m really not sure as to whether I buy into the notion that monopoly lotteries have a customer-first idea in the slightest.

“In terms of what I see here in the UK, the reality looks like people in the supermarket buying tickets in the hope that they may win. The chance of them winning is miniscule, and I’m not sure that the customer experience is really anything tangible other than people’s hopes. I don’t see that interaction between the lottery operators and the players, even if we do want to call it customer experience.”

SBC Summit Barcelona – Digital is a FREE to attend virtual conference and exhibition running from 8-11 September. To register for your free ticket or find out more please visit – https://sbcevents.com/sbc-summit-barcelona-digital/.

The post Lottery monopolies: Political point-scoring or customer-focused? appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Now in its seventh year, the Betting and Gaming Council, bacta, Lotteries Council and Bingo Association organised event officially takes place from November 13-19.

One of this quartet has highlighted the importance of the week in drawing attention to work that is undertaken across the entire year, with John White, bacta Chief Executive, reminding that “the welfare and wellbeing of our customers is paramount”.

“Our sector provides players throughout the country with responsible gambling entertainment and the initiatives that our members have in place ensures that the numbers who experience problems is at a record low level,” he said.

Among the array of operators participating in The Health Lottery, which will be distributing enhanced safer gambling messaging directly to players, as well as via social media, throughout the week. 

“…it’s an opportunity to show the wider public that the gambling sector is united”

Lebby Eyres, CEO at The Health Lottery

In addition, the group has also arranged for additional staff training in a bid to ensure that everyone in the team keeps the vulnerable firmly at the forefront.

“Safer Gambling Week is a valuable opportunity to encourage everyone who gambles to take time out to think about how much time and money they spend,” commented Lebby Eyres, CEO at The Health Lottery. 

“For those who recognise that they may have lost their way, it’s about reminding them of the tools that are available and urging them to seek help at the earliest opportunity, in order to take back control of their lives.

“As well as highlighting the vital work of the many excellent gambling support networks, it’s an opportunity to show the wider public that the gambling sector is united in its aim to provide a safe environment for people to play and have fun. We wish everyone happy and healthy play, this week and always.”

Elsewhere, Betfred tasked creative & production agency Zút to devise a focus campaign, which has subsequently been titled ‘How Do You Keep It Fun?’ 

During a series of four adverts, a wide range of people are seen promoting healthy habits, such as setting personal limits, limiting gaming session time and being aware of the frequency of their betting. 

“.the few that do not (act responsibly) generate negative press that sometimes taints the entire industry”

Felix Faulkner, Solicitor at Poppleston Allen

Joanne Whittaker, Betfred’s Chief Executive, stated: “Safer Gambling is at the very heart of our business and these new adverts are of huge importance to Betfred. Zút were the perfect partner to produce the adverts as they clearly understood what we wanted to achieve and shared a desire to make these adverts industry leading.”

On the legal front, Felix Faulkner, Solicitor at Poppleston Allen, which has a specialist betting and gaming division, noted that SGW 2023 “is perhaps more important than ever” given the review of the UK’s gambling law.

However, he is quick to acknowledge that public perception of the industry could have been dented by “some large financial penalties” being handed out by the Gambling Commission, as well as a number of “very similar rulings” issued by the Advertising Standards Authority.

“The vast majority of gambling operators in the UK market act responsibly, but the few that do not generate negative press that sometimes taints the entire industry,” Faulkner explained.

“Safer Gambling Week is a good time to urge all operators to have systems in place to ensure they stay well within the current rules and regulations.

“With a general election looming, we expect that some of the proposals in the white paper and the subsequent consultations may fall by the wayside, but we believe those related to safer gambling are the most likely to be prioritised by the current government. Specifically, these include proposals such as a gambling ombudsman and the statutory levy.”

In addition, affiliate and white label operator QiH Group has cited the importance of affiliates when it comes to safer gambling messaging, with these “the first point of contact with a gambling website” for many players.

“There is sometimes a very thin line between being compliant and non-compliant”

Andrew Lee, Group Operations Director at QiH Group

“We are fully behind this year’s Safer Gambling Week, with support for its social media campaign and also our own social media activity,” commented Andrew Lee, Group Operations Director at QiH Group.

“It’s important to remember though that it isn’t just about one week; responsible gambling should be something all companies involved in the industry are constantly thinking about. For this reason, we regularly raise awareness of the topic in weekly staff meetings throughout the year and we also make sure new staff receive adequate training in the area. 

“Compliance is embedded in the DNA of our company and we always take care not to push the boundaries in terms of our advertising. There is sometimes a very thin line between being compliant and non-compliant and we don’t want to be close to that line. 

“Affiliates have a duty to advertise responsibly and many operator partners also have specific requirements in terms of links to responsible gambling organisations, but this should be seen as a minimum and there’s no reason affiliates can’t go above and beyond that. 

“For example, at QiH Group we have made sure all of our UK sites have extended safer gambling messaging and we also regularly add responsible gambling messages to our email communications. We see such initiatives as important as a responsible affiliate working with the biggest UK operators.”

The post The Health Lottery, Betfred and bacta: Safer Gambling Week appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The event, taking place on October 24 at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace*, is jointly organised by SBC and the Georgia-based igaming and sports management company SMH and is expected to draw an attendance of over 1,000 participants.

Along with an agenda spanning two conference stages enriched by insights from over 40 industry experts, SBC Summit Tbilisi will feature an exhibition area showcasing more than 20 local and regional brands.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said: The Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Black Sea regions, including our host country Georgia, have taken a prominent role in industry dialogues.

“This shift is driven by the dynamic regulatory environments in some of these markets and their evolution into igaming centres that attract both local and international companies seeking to leverage local opportunities. 

“The ‘Market Digest’ conference track offers a closer examination of the complexities within these key markets, enabling the industry to gain valuable insights for navigating their unique dynamics.”

A panel titled ‘Eastern Europe and Central Asia: How the Region is Evolving’ will offer a comprehensive view of the substantial opportunities within diverse regional markets, including Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, and Central Asia.

Galymzhan Duambekov (President, SRO of Betting and Lotteries Kazakhstan), Viktoriya Zakrevskaya (Deputy Chairman, UGC), Marcin Jablonski (former CCO, LV Bet), and panel moderator Giorgi Gvenetadze (CCO, Adjarabet) will provide insights into the regional intricacies and opportunities to capitalise on.

‘Georgia: Eastern European Hub of Leading iGaming Organisations’ panel will focus on a country that has positioned itself as a central hub for both igaming operators and providers.

Quirino Mancini (President, IMGL), Giorgi Tsamalaidze (CLO, Random Systems Georgia), and moderator George Isakadze (Editor in Chief, Forbes Georgia) will explore what lies ahead for Georgia, known for its unique blend of industry expertise, multicultural understanding, effective regulations, and a skilled workforce, in the ever-evolving industry landscape.

‘SBC Leaders: Industry Insights Panel’ will showcase Irakli Asanishvili (CEO, Adjarabet) and Maia Kopinadze (CEO, Europebet – Betsson Group). Together with the moderator Andrew McCarron (Managing Director, SBC), they will discuss the potential of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and its transformative impact on the industry by dissecting the crucial elements that lead to success in regions occasionally challenged by unpredictable shifts driven by regulations and cultural nuances.

Shota Arveladze (Founder, AAA Foundation), Gianluca Varano (Digital Business Director, La Gazzetta dello Sport), and Yevhen Levchenko (President, Dutch Trade Union for Professional Footballers), along with panel moderator Lasha Machavariani (Founder & CEO, SMH), will come together to explore the theme of ‘Development of Sports and Strategic Collaboration: Effect on Business.’

Drawing from their diverse backgrounds, which include professional football experience, sports journalism, and trade union representation for football professionals, the panellists will delve into the dynamic synergy between the sports and betting industries and the resulting collaborative effects.

Alongside these captivating discussions, the conference will present an array of panels encompassing topics like responsible gaming and player protection in the digital age. Esteemed experts such as Dan Iliovici (Vice President, Rombet) and George Mamulaishvili (Head of Administration, Georgian Gambling Association) will lend their insights to these sessions. 

Additionally, panellists will delve into the phenomenon of flexible payment solutions, shedding light on why they are gaining such prominence in the gaming industry, and delivering attendees valuable insights into the evolving payment landscape within the sector.

*Attendees can take advantage of pre-registration and join pre-event networking drinks at the Stamba Hotel in Tbilisi on October 23, from 19:30 to midnight.

Secure your full access pass, which grants you access to the conference and networking amenities, at the Early Bird rate of $150 instead of the regular $200 when you purchase it through the official SBC Summit Tbilisi page by October 2.

For exhibition and sponsorship opportunities please contact sales@sbcgaming.com or Baki Lortkipanidze at baki@smh.global.

Are you an operator? Contact SBC’s Relationships team via this form to secure your complimentary pass to the event.

Affiliates can request a complimentary event ticket by submitting their details here, subject to review by the relevant department.

The post SBC Summit Tbilisi: navigating key market dynamics appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Speaking in the group’s latest annual report, Bruce Akhurst, Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director, and Adam Rytenskild, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, hailed the company for having laid the foundations for future growth.

In the first full year of operation following the demerger of the lotteries and keno business in June 2022, the pair detailed the launch of a new app, a record level of active customers at 805,000 and a level playing field in Queensland in helping to achieve its ongoing goals.

This latter point forms part of a wider ambition of ensuring that across every Australian state and territory, foreign owned online bookmakers licensed in the Northern Territory pay the same taxes and fees as Tabcorp. QLD subsequently joined the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania, with Victoria set to follow suit next year and a review being undertaken in New South Wales.

In addition, Tabcorp is also aiming to progress with its TAB25 strategy, which level the playing field forms a part of, and is tasked with crafting a “simpler, growing, more valuable business, providing investors with clarity around our strategic goals for the next three years”.

“We have put in place a clear plan to execute on our strategy and achieve our TAB25 goals of 30 per cent digital revenue market share”

“We have put in place a clear plan to execute on our strategy and achieve our TAB25 goals of 30 per cent digital revenue market share, 10 per cent return on invested capital and operating expenditure of between $600m–$620m in FY25m,” Akhurst and Rytenskild noted.

Group results for the year highlight reported revenue of A$2.43bn, up 2.6 per cent year-on-year from A$2.37bn, net profit came in at A$66.5m compared to a loss of A$136.2m one year earlier, while EBITDA surged to A$407.4m (2021/22: A$216.3m). Capital expenditure came in at A$155.4m, with net debt standing at A$344.7m and undrawn debt facilities of A$950m.

Increases were reported across each of the core wagering and media and gaming services businesses, with the former seeing revenue and EBIT increase 2.2 per cent and 27.7 per cent to A$2.23bn (2021/2: A$2.18bn) and A$116.2m (2021/22: A$91m).

This is aligned to the impact of COVID-19 during the prior reporting period, which was partially offset by a decline in the digital wagering market, increased costs in “a highly competitive market” and ongoing investments.

Gaming services saw revenue jump 5.5 per cent to A$203.6m (2021/22: A$192.9m), with EBIT climbing to A$34.4m compared to the A$3.8m generated one year earlier. 

In addition to hailing a 20-year renewal across Tasmania that commenced on the first day following this reporting period, Tabcorp has put the performance down to a continue recovery from the pandemic, which was offset by select EGM contract non-renewals.

“FY23 benefited from gains on disposal of assets, an insurance recovery and the Genesis program, offset by dis-synergies from the demerger, inflation and cycling savings due to COVID restrictions in 1H22,” the company noted.

“We’re one year into our TAB25 transformation journey and have created a strong foundation”

Looking ahead, Tabcorp says that a “strong performance on costs” will provide flexibility for continued investments through the next year, with the company expecting to set aside funding for a repositioning of the TAB brand, along with continued investment in data and analytics capability.

“We remain on track to deliver our TAB25 Opex target – this is a significant achievement given inflationary pressures and the investments we’re making,” Akhurst and Rytenskild continued.

“We’re making good progress on establishing a new operating model to enable more agile and contemporary ways of working. 

“We’re also investing in transforming our TAB venues to create a differentiated and more engaging in-venue customer experience and leverage our unique betting ecosystem.”

Concluding: “We want to thank shareholders for their continuing support. We’re one year into our TAB25 transformation journey and have created a strong foundation to transform Tabcorp into a stronger, more competitive and growing business by FY25. 

“We look forward to updating shareholders on our progress on TAB25 at our Annual General Meeting in October, being held in Melbourne and online this year.”

The post Tabcorp confident of executing TAB25 strategy amid solid FY profit   appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Following in the footsteps of Aristocrat’s deal to purchase the former progressing last month, the company has added its latest commercial tie-up alongside the Lotteries Entertainment Innovation Alliance.

This will see Denmark’s Danske Spil, Finland’s Veikkaus, France’s Française des Jeux, Norway’s Norsk Tipping, and Sweden’s Svenska Spel become the continent’s latest lotteries to gain the NeoGames content suite. 

Morten Eriksen, CEO of LEIA, said: “A big part of LEIA’s purpose is to enrich the lotteries’ product offerings by providing a larger catalogue of attractive games and development of new, innovative content. This agreement with NeoGames reinforces that commitment.

“NeoGames is one of the leading providers within the industry, and we are sure that the individual lotteries will benefit greatly from their engaging portfolio of games.”

As a result of aligning with the LEIA, which was established in 2018, the NeoGames in-house games studio will supply a gaming suite of einstant games to the aforementioned lotteries. This portfolio currently stands at more than 250 titles, including the likes of Queen of Diamonds and Desert Fantasy.

NeoGames was selected by LEIA following a competitive RFP process, with it said that the group demonstrated a “superior product offering” and “expertise in delivering engaging content to lotteries worldwide”.

“We are excited to announce our expansion across Europe through this partnership with LEIA,” commented Hili Shakked, Managing Director of NeoGames Studio. 

“Its mission to help lotteries reach new customers with innovative games, and supply content that meets the audience’s expectations certainly resonates with NeoGames. 

“I am confident that our range of premium games will enhance the content offering of the five individual lotteries, supporting their growth within the industry, and providing players with the best gaming experiences.”

As alluded to, July saw NeoGames shareholders support a proposed takeover from Aristocrat after voting in favour in the transaction’s first of two necessary votes. 

A first shareholder meeting vote builds on Aristocrat’s May proposal to purchase NeoGames at a price of £29.50 per share, valuing the group at $1.2bn to represent a 104 per cent premium on the value of the company’s shares in the three months ending May 12.

The post NeoGames enhances reach alongside quartet of European lotteries appeared first on CasinoBeats.

In a statement, Ayvar Gabidullin, business development manager at Slotegrator, commented: “Working with partners like Lotto Agent is a special pleasure. We are united by our aspiration to offer our clients the best solutions, as well as to surprise them. I’m sure that our partnership has great prospects.” 

Slotegrator also noted in the missive that the two firms have already implemented many solutions together, but have big plans for 2023. “Fans of instant games should keep an eye out because something incredible is right around the corner,” it said.

World-famous American lotteries like Powerball and MEGA Millions, the world’s only games of chance with jackpots exceeding $1bn, were the first to appear on Lotto Agent apps and sites. Later, equally famous European lotteries such as EuroMillions and SuperEnalotto came on board. 

Said Slotegrator: “For several years, lotteries from North and South America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa have been added to the set of the world’s most famous games offered by Lotto Agent. Among them, there were games with complex matrices, jaw-dropping nine-figure jackpots, and simple lotteries like ‘match 6 out of 35’, offering smaller prizes.”

Initially, Lotto Agent provided gambling services in almost all countries worldwide, studying the tastes and preferences of its multinational audience. The company found that residents of some regions prefer their domestic lotteries, and are even willing to pay a premium to buy their tickets online. 

Players in other markets, such as India it said, are “more open to experiments, driven mainly by curiosity”. At the same time, users from LatAm chose American and European lotteries because, “for various reasons they place less trust in their own national operators”. Over time, the company decided to focus on only a few markets to provide them with the highest quality service.

According to Lotto Agent, its long-standing player base requested an expansion of the available set of games. It emerged that in Latin America, crash games (such as Aviator) are top-rated, while in India, players prefer slots and games with live dealers. 

These players, the company underlined, wanted the convenience of a single portal for all their lottery and gaming needs, so it adapted to meet their needs. “Slots were the first instant games the company presented to its players in 2022, and after a successful release, crash games, baccarat, roulette, keno, live dealer games, and much more have been rolled out,” it said.

The post Slotegrator and Lotto Agent deal heralds <br> ‘something incredible around the corner’ appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The study, which reviewed the monitoring and reporting frameworks of 20 European countries as well as gambling engagement levels, concludes that a more common approach to problem gambling would help drive understanding of such harms in addition to its prevalence across Europe.

The EGBA commissioned study found that levels of problem gambling in European countries range from 0.3 per cent (Ireland in 2019/2020) to 6.4 per cent (Latvia in 2019) of the adult population.

However, it is noted that existing divergences in survey methodologies, screening tools, timings and target age ranges “make any meaningful comparisons between jurisdictions very difficult”. 

Reported gambling engagement for the period between 2015-2020 range from 32.9 per cent (Czech Republic in 2016, including lotteries) to 80 per cent (Finland in 2015, including lotteries). 

Further findings reported show that data about gambling engagement and problem gambling prevalence levels are collected through regular, systematic, and nationally sponsored surveys across just 12 jurisdictions.

The most frequent surveys are carried out in the UK (quarterly) and in Czech Republic (annually), while Denmark has the longest interval of 5 years.

Age ranges for participation can also vary, with the minimum at which to participate in the adult surveys are 15 years old in Czech Republic, Finland and Spain, 16 years old in the UK and 18 years old in France, Greece, Italy, and Malta. 

The maximum age for inclusion is 64 years old in Spain, 74 in Finland and 75 in France. There is no upper limit in Italy and Malta. 

Moreover, it is reported that Portugal, Slovakia, and Slovenia estimate gambling engagement and problem gambling prevalence levels through reference to the quantity of registered users and through the number of players on self-exclusion registers.

The recommendation of a pan-European survey is expected to drive more meaningful comparisons and assessments of gambling engagement and problem gambling trends across the region, as well as foster more common understandings and support more effective approaches to reduce harm.

“Our members are fully committed to promoting a stronger culture of safer gambling in Europe and through this study we aim to contribute positively to the understanding of problem gambling and its prevalence in Europe,” stated Maarten Haijer, Secretary General of the EGBA. 

“The significant differences in the way in which problem gambling is monitored and reported in Europe clearly stands out from the study. 

“A shift towards a more common and regular monitoring and reporting framework for problem gambling would benefit all gambling sector stakeholders and support more effective and evidence-based prevention policies.”

Data for the study was obtained from the relevant gambling authorities in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom. Additionally, responses for France were received from the French national gambling association.

The pan-European study reviewed the monitoring and reporting frameworks of 20 European countries, covering the period 2015-2020, and assessed national approaches to problem gambling measurement and reporting methods, including relevant research studies and the screening tools used to measure problem gambling. 

The post EGBA backs calls for unified problem gambling monitoring & reporting appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Gross gaming revenue surged 115.9 per cent through Q4 to €498.5m (2020: €230.9m), which nudged its full-year performance forward 36.2 per cent, due to a strong online showing as well as more retail operating days, to close at €1.53bn (2020: €1.12bn).

Gross profit through Q4, which OPAP says was “burdened by Hellenic Lotteries’ disproportional GGR contribution, so as to meet the annual contractual threshold of €50m,” increased 151.4 per cent and 47.5 per cent for Q4 and FY, respectively, to €195.3m (2020: €77.7m) and €605.8m (2020: €410.9m).

EBITDA, buoyed by the full consolidation of Stoiximan, stood at €170.4m through Q4 (2020: €53.1m), which helped deliver a 111.1 per cent FY uptick to €550.3m (2020: €260.7m).

“OPAP reaffirmed the strength of its business model, posting robust results and a solid financial position in 2021, despite persisting pandemic challenges,” commented Jan Karas, OPAP CEO.

“Overall, Q4’21 was historically one of the best performing quarters, in terms of GGR, and cash reserves were further expanded. 

“Our retail business demonstrated high resilience, with recovery ramping up, even though our stores had to suspend operations for several months and adjust to strict healthcare restrictions after reopening.”

Breaking down the performance by division, online casino, reflecting a strong contribution from Stoiximan, scored significant increases across both time frames to close Q4 and FY at €46.9m (2020: €19.26m) and €184.82m (2020: €23.94m), respectively.

Lottery, boosted by OPAP’s retail estate being operational for the full quarter unlike one year earlier, albeit under restrictive measures, soared to €183.84m (2020: €82m) through Q4. For the full-year, a 5.9 per cent rise to €549.17m (2020: €518.6m) was reported.

VLTs recorded a slight 2.9 per cent FY dip to €194.64m (2020: €200.52m) despite its quarterly performance being up 131.3 per cent to €74m (2020: €32m), which was also boosted by extra operational days.

Betting increased 102.6 per cent and 68 per cent across Q4 and FY to close at €166m (2020: €81.97m) and €521.37m (2020: €310.36m), respectively, with passive lotteries and instant scratch games up 76.8 per cent and 16.4 per cent over the same time frames to €27.63m (2020: €15.62m) and €88.83m (2020: €76.34m).  

“Our comprehensive commercial plan and well-accepted loyalty programs played a key role to this end,” continued Karas. 

“Online remained a key growth driver for OPAP, even after retail reopening. Our online customer base grew further, supported by upgraded front-ends and targeted CRM activities. 

“Additionally, our dual strategy continued paying off, with Stoiximan’s full consolidation clearly aiding our performance. Last but not least, our commitment to social contribution remains as strong as ever. 

“Soon we will complete the renovation of Greece’s two largest children’s hospitals – our long-term project which tangibly showcases our focus on delivering value to all our stakeholders. 

“Looking forward, we remain committed to delivering best-in-class entertainment by emphasising on our customer-centric approach and digitalization, to pursue the ambitions of our ‘Fast Forward OPAP Strategy’”.

The post OPAP lauds ‘robust’ showing with online casino a ‘key growth driver’ appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The lottery supplier notes that it remains “ focused on capitalising on an expanding market opportunity,” after voicing optimism that the group has “carried our momentum into 2022”.

The comments come after NeoGames said that it was striving to create “a leading global provider in interactive content” in January, after commencing a public offer to the shareholders of Aspire.

The $480m bid to purchase 100 per cent of the outstanding shares of the firm is comprised of 50 per cent in each of cash and equity. If the offer is accepted by at least 90 per cent of Aspire shareholders, and subject to additional terms and conditions, the transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2022.

Moti Malul, Chief Executive Officer of NeoGames, explained: “We carried our momentum into 2022 with our offer to acquire Aspire Global, which continues to be on track for closing in the first half of 2022. More and more we find our ilottery customers require a broad range of integrated gaming verticals. 

“We firmly believe that combining NeoGames and Aspire Global will drive our strategy to be a leader in providing digital solutions to lotteries globally. 

“We are already successfully collaborating with Aspire to launch their Pariplay content in Alberta and the early results are very encouraging. 

“We remain focused on capitalising on an expanding market opportunity and continuing to create value for our shareholders.”  

The comments come as the group details its financial performance across 2021’s fourth quarter and full year, which saw Q4 revenue, including its 50/50 NeoPollard Interactive joint venture with Pollard Banknote, increase 15.2 per cent year-on-year to $21.3m (2020: $18.5m). 

NeoGames revenue dropped 12.1 per cent from $14m to $12.25m (2020: $14m) YoY, however, its share in NPI doubled to $9m.

Net loss through the quarter dropped to $3.55m from a profit of $2.49m that was recorded one year earlier, with adjusted EBITDA decreasing 13.8 per cent to $7.9m from $9.17m.

For the year, combined revenue increased 43.9 per cent to $84.5m (2020: $58.7m), with NeoGames up fractionally to $50.46m (2020: $49.2m) as NPI surged to $34.1m (2020: $9.5m).

Net income dropped from 2020’s $7.95m to $4.97m, with adjusted EBITDA securing an uptick of 16.5 per cent to $33.38m from $28.65m YoY.

“Sound commercial execution and unrivalled innovation in ilottery are continuing to drive growth for our customers,” added Malul.

“During the fourth quarter we saw growth in all of our key accounts with particular strength in our US accounts. Our combined revenues and share in NPI Revenues grew five per cent sequentially, and over 40 per cent for the full year.”

The post NeoGames: Aspire combination will ‘drive our strategy’ to be a leader appeared first on CasinoBeats.

In conducting the investigation, the regulator worked with UK law enforcement partners through the Government Agency Intelligence Network and specialists from the social networking platform.

The illegal lotteries, which offered a variety of cash prizes, children’s toys and clothing, saw two individuals identified for promoting illegal activity and removed from associated Facebook groups.

This was done after the issuance of cease and desist letters by the North East Regional Special Operations and South West Regional Organised Crime Units had been conducted.

David Gill, GAIN coordinator at the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, commented: “We know the actual winners in illegal lotteries, which often promise high value prizes and cash draws, are too often the people running them – and they are persistent in their attempts to keep operating.

“We will continue to support the Gambling Commission in targeting and disrupting people profiting from such illegal schemes.

“Work like this shows the value and absolute necessity of the full range of enforcement agencies working together as part of the GAIN network.”

The Commission says that its probe focused on the operation of illegal and unlicensed lotteries “given the risks they posed to consumers and vulnerable people”.

Helen Venn, executive director of the UKGC, noted that these lotteries fail to give any funds to good causes, with consumers taking part not benefiting from legal protection.

“There were hundreds of people taking part in these lotteries but it was important to identify those who were organising and moderating them illegally,” she explained.

“Working alongside our colleagues at Facebook and the police, we are pleased that key individuals have been identified and this type of activity, which only increases the risk of gambling harm, has been disrupted.

“Illegal lotteries, including those taking place through social media channels, will continue to be a focus for our enforcement work this year as we link up closely with platforms like Facebook to pinpoint not only the activity, but those behind it and those who are breaching gambling rules and social media standards.”

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