British MP’s have called on online gambling operators to impose a £50 daily betting cap in response to the worsening COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis.

The call followed reports that some operators are promoting riskier wagers on minor sports, virtual sports and casino products to traditional sports bettors because virtually all mainstream sporting events have been cancelled or postponed.

A cross-party group of MPs have written to the Betting and Gaming Council urging operators to think about the well-being of customers before their own finances.

Labour’s Carolyn Harris, the Conservative’s Ian Duncan Smith, and Scottish National Party’s Ronnie Cowan, said:

“We are deeply concerned that as we go deeper into this crisis, more and more people will turn to online gambling as a distraction. If the industry were to self-impose a daily limit of £50 … it would be a clear demonstration that the industry is willing to act responsibly and do what they can to protect society and peoples’ finances, at this dreadful time.”

With the UK now under lockdown, there are also concerns that people at risk of problem gambling might also be tempted to bet more, including on events they are unfamiliar with. Some experts have gone as far as accusing the gambling industry of trying to capitalise on a national disaster.

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite online operators, especially casinos, doing very well in the initial stage of the outbreak, as sports bettors look for a new fix and millions trapped at home look for distractions, the party is likely to be short-lived.

As the crisis drags on we are likely to see calls go far beyond a daily betting limit. For example, with governments being forced to subsidise millions of wages, it is almost certain many will call on restrictions to stop people spending it on gambling.

And, of course, for those who can’t work and aren’t getting help with wages – like the UK’s millions of self-employed – it’s unlikely many people will have money available to gamble with!

AYO.NEWS says features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

iGaming aggregator and supplier Relax Gaming has signed an agreement with content provider Inspired Entertainment.

The deal comes under Relax Gaming’s Powered By partnership programme, and will give Inspired access to its distribution network and provide an easy route to market.

Inspired’s virtual and casino games are supported in 35 jurisdictions worldwide, across retail, mobile and online channels.

The deal will also provide Relax customers with access to Inspired’s new V-Play Plug & Play™ solution – a complete end-to-end virtual sportsbook product that allows operators to access scheduled virtuals with minimal integration effort and rapid speed-to-market.

Relax Gaming says its Powered By program enables suppliers to “harness its scalable technology and integration platform while staying in commercial control on agreements with operators.”

Commenting on the deal Relax Gaming CPO, Simon Hammon, said:

“Our partnership programmes have continued to expand significantly since launch, and we are delighted to welcome Inspired into the fold.

“As a multi-product provider, they develop exciting content for territories across the globe and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership.” 

While Vice President of Interactive at Inspired, Claire Osborne, added:

“Joining Relax Gaming’s partnership platform is a very exciting milestone for us as we look to grow our business and build brand awareness.

“Our content is already enjoyed in numerous jurisdictions across the globe and joining forces with Relax gives us even more avenues to boost exposure with leading operators.”

Relax Gaming’s portfolio now offers partners more than 1,000 casino games, including aggregated content from selected Powered By and Silver Bullet studios, alongside its own proprietary products.

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888 Holdings has delayed releasing its full-year results for 2019, after the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requested all businesses to postpone due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis.

Moratorium on publication

On Sunday the FCA authorised all London Stock Exchange-listed companies to observe a moratorium of publication, set to last at least two weeks.

The FCA said that with both the listed companies themselves, and their auditors, facing “unprecedented practical challenges” the practice of issuing preliminary financial statements in advance of the full audited statements was “adding unnecessarily to the pressure on companies.”

UK goes into lockdown

The move followed Friday’s order by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to close all cafes, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs.

Last night Johnson announced the UK would be going into full lockdown from this morning, with all non-essential shops and public spaces closed, and people ordered to stay home except for a few very limited exceptions, or face being fined.

The move obviously means all retail betting shops in the UK are now closed, and all sports events of any size are cancelled or postponed.

AYO.NEWS says:

While the move from the FCA will at least take a little stress off of listed companies like 888 Holdings, the country-wide lockdown will be a severe blow for betting operators like William Hill, Flutter Entertainment and GVC Holdings, who were all hoping to keep retail shops open, and at least have some sporting events to bet on – even if they took place ‘behind closed doors.’

AYO.NEWS says features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

NetEnt-owned slot developer Red Tiger has expanded its Swedish footprint, going live with Svenska Spel Sport and Casino.

Red Tiger’s slots, including titles like Mystery Reels and Pirates’ Plenty – Battle for Gold, will be made available to players at the former Swedish state monopoly, via SG Digital’s OGS platform. The partnership is Red Tiger’s first with a World Lottery Association member.

Commenting on the deal Red Tiger Commercial Director, Chris Looney, said:

“Expanding our footprint in regulated territories is a key tenet of Red Tiger’s commercial strategy, particularly in markets like Sweden in which we know they are popular.”

While VP Casino at Svenska Spel Sport and Casino, Jonas Negren, added:

“We are thrilled to have integrated Red Tiger’s engaging slots and have no doubt that they will make a strong addition to our product offering.

“The deal reinforces our reputation for providing immersive entertainment experiences to a wide range of players and we are looking forward to a mutually beneficial professional relationship.”

Things have been busy at Red Tiger recently – earlier this month the company’s games went live with Sky Vegas, while in February the company’s CEO, Gavin Hamilton, was appointed COO of NetEnt Group, and at the end of January Red Tiger entered the newly regulated Slovakian market with Niké.

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Casino games supplier Evolution Gaming has issued a business update saying demand remains strong for its products despite the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis.

According to Evolution, demand for its casino games remains high as players switch from sports betting to online casino due to mass sporting event cancellations worldwide.

The company has said it is practicing social distancing among its employees and disinfecting workplaces.

Commenting on the situation Evolution Gaming CEO, Martin Carlesund, said:

“It’s a turbulent time and it’s inevitable COVID-19 also impacts our business, but all employees are now doing a hard and fantastic job. We have a strong financial position and, in the midst of all this, we experience high demand for our live casino.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Its good to see Evolution is holding up, but we do have to doubt its ability to continue offering its full line-up of live casino services as lockdowns spread– as it requires staff to physically be on-premises, and clearly won’t qualify as an ‘essential service’ (something Playtech alluded to in its update last week).  

AYO.NEWS says features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

Leading online gaming recruiter iGaming Elite and specialist search firm Nicholls Moisa have merged to become Rebel Status.

The companies say the decision to join forces was a strategic one, and the new Rebel Status will continue to offer the bespoke, non-conformist headhunting methodologies iGaming Elite and Nicholls Moisa were known for.

Commenting on the news founder and CEO of Rebel Status, Dean Nicholls, said:

“The markets and industries are changing, and as an executive service provider we must change with it. Both of our brands have always specialised in senior level search for iGaming and Emerging markets, mainly within Europe, and we shall continue doing just that.

“However, we have made the decision to base our network of head-hunters across the world, allowing us to offer a truly global service for the digital sector and add further value to our existing and new clients. The future looks exciting, and we look forward to launching our innovative, flexible and disruptive structure under the new name Rebel Status.”

Rebel Status has offices in Malta, Sweden and the UK.

AYO.NEWS says:

Things really are changing fast, that’s for sure! We wish the whole Rebel Status team the best of luck with their new strategy and we look forward to seeing the business grow even further.

AYO.NEWS says features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited.

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.