Brexit on Gibraltar Gambling Industry is Imminent

The United Kingdom is almost exiting the European Union. This impending departure from the regional and economic bloc is intended to inflict adverse consequences on the gambling industry in Gibraltar. This is because Gibraltar is under the domain of the United Kingdom.

 

brexitIn case Brexit goes through successfully, then firms that are located in the UK but which would wish to gain access to the EU market will have to make individual applications to this effect. This will further complicate issues for the various gambling operators. They will also forfeit the privileges that come along with the Mini One-Stop-Shop (MOSS Scheme). They will not be able to supply services and goods to the European Union except they register for it.

 

The reasons that underlie these likely adverse negative consequences are many. For one, the firms that are located in the United Kingdom shall no longer have access to the huge European Union market. This, of course, shall translate to reduced revenue inflows.

 

In response to these dangers, Gibraltar has decided to put in place certain intervention mechanisms. The city-state has decided to lower its tax revenues from gambling yet at the same time raise its license fees on gambling companies.

 

Many firms have also decided to take matters into their own hands. They have for instance decided to offload some of their operations to localities that are still within the jurisdiction of the European Union. The most notable examples of these are the Bet365 and 888 Holdings.

 

The issue is yet to be resolved conclusively though. This is because the Brexit deal has yet to be finalized. Moreover, various stakeholders within the gambling industry are still pushing for certain concessions to be made and guarantees approved.

 

As stated, Gibraltar has lowered its tax rate from gambling revenue. Before the Brexit talks commenced, the nation-state levied 1% tax rate on the revenue from gambling. It has reduced this rate drastically to a paltry 0.15%. This has given many firms that operate in the area some incentive to keep staying on the island despite the impending exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

 

On the same note, the nation has increased the license fees on new gambling firms. For instance, the business-to-business corporate entities are now supposed to part with $112,000 (£85,000) while their business-to-consumers are required to pay $132,000 (£100,000) for the license.

 

Given that license fees are a one-time expense, this increase is very unlikely to inflict a significant rise in the cost of doing business. On the contrary, it shall enable the state to make up for the anticipated loss of tax revenue at least in the short run.

 

In response to these latest developments, Bet365 has already indicated the intention of relocating to Malta. The Minister for Financial Services of Gibraltar, Mr. Albert Isola, has however downplayed this move. He maintains that Gibraltar still has the capacity to weather the storm and secure its financial standing even if the UK withdraws from the EU.

 

Some stakeholders have even contemplated looking up to the World Trade Organization for a guidance on the way forward. They draw their inspiration from the Case that pitied Antigua on the one hand and the United States on the other hand. The World Trade Organization did step in and offer an amicable solution.

 

This stand has mainly been inspired by the fact that service industries, of which gambling is part, has largely been given a wide berth during the ongoing Brexit negotiations. They also decry the complex nature in which the payments from gambling will have to confront. It will be interesting to see just how the issue will ultimately be resolved.

 

UK Betting Firms Under Probe Following the World Cup Fallout

During the just-concluded 2018 FIFA World Cup, many people and households complained about being bombarded with betting and gambling adverts. Much of the complaints have concerned the intrusive nature of those adverts.

 

world cupMany have claimed that the adverts ate a few of their live matches. A number of the complaints have concerned the urgent manner in which the advertisers have wanted their target audience to bet. In light of this, a whopping 115 have forwarded their complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority.

 

An independent study by the Guardian deduced that on average, UK viewers were exposed to around 90 minutes of betting adverts throughout the four-week tournament. The research also pointed out that most parents were uncomfortable with the fact that their children were exposed to such adverts.

 

This, they argued had the impact of normalizing gambling and inducing their young ones to the practice before they are old enough to do so. Lastly, there was also concern among viewers of the way in which the betting firms push their message. Most they said used pressure tactics that made them respond impulsively. There was some unanimity among the viewers that some appropriate actions be taken in response to this menace.

 

In light of these allegations, the UK advertising watchdog has instituted official investigations. The main target is the Bet365, Carol, and William Hill which has been identified as the greatest culprits. They have allegedly broken the new rules that were put in place to put a halt on problem gambling.

 

These three firms have been noted to have crossed certain boundaries. The formats they use and the messages they have used have particularly been identified and being way off the mark. These approaches are not recommended for gambling adverts as they tend to encourage problem gambling.

 

The UK advertising watchdog is currently evaluating those complaints to ascertain the grounds on which to institute formal investigations. They are particularly going to deduce whether the tactics that were used by those companies indeed violated the advertising codes of the United Kingdom.

 

The advertising watchdog is expected to follow the footsteps of its Australian counterparts in charting the way forward. In light of this, it is anticipated to recommend a variety of steps to be taken in response to the menace. It may, for instance, recommend an overhaul of the existing laws, an alteration of the mandate of the advertising watchdog, and the penalization of the at-fault betting firms.

 

The UK advertising watchdog has no jurisdiction to oversee the number of adverts which appear in the FIFA World Cup matches. This is because such matches fall outside the mandate of the rules which govern gambling companies and their adverts, especially towards small children. It is therefore interesting to see its recommendations as regards the way forward.

 

This being the case, the Advertising Standards Authority shall only be to determine whether the said betting adverts which featured live odds broke the new rules that we put in place in February. It will also seek to determine whether the firms encouraged the menace of problem gambling.

 

Farther afield, many other nations have already started taking this path. Italy, for instance, has already started putting in a legal framework to completely ban gambling adverts. Its Minister for Labour and Economic Development, Luigi Di Maio has taken the lead on the issue.

 

He noted that whereas the practice of gambling generates plenty of tax revenue to the government, its grave societal repercussions far outweigh the tax revenues. He further termed it as a disease which has to be eliminated by all means. These steps shall take effect from January 2019 despite opposition from a number of betting firms.

 

Banach Technology Receives an Investment Boost from Investors for Expanding their Startup

One of the leading betting technology companies in Ireland, Banach Technology, raised a vast $2.55m funds for startups from investors.

 

Some of the investors that contributed towards the raising of these funds for startups included Cormac McCarty and Patrick Kennedy. Both the investors have served in corporate leadership positions at Paddy Powers. Patrick Kennedy is the former Chief Executive Officer for Paddy Powers, and Cormac McCarthy served in the area of Chief Financial Officer at Paddy Power.

 

Banach Technology was also backed by investors such as Stewart Kenny and David Power. Banach Technology is a company that provides gambling groups with products, pricing and customer experience systems and has worked with renowned brands such as GVC Holdings.

 

GVC holdings are the sole owner of BWin and Ladbrokes. Currently, the Chief Executive Officer for Banach Technology is one Mark Huges and has also worked for Paddy Powers serving in the position of Senior Quantitative Analyst and the Head of Quants. Also, the other co-corporate executives for Banach Technologies have a history with Paddy Powers including Rob Reck who is the Managing Director for Banach. Speaking to Sunday Times, the Managing Director for

 

Banach reported that the funding that they received from investors was by a large extend oversubscribed. Also, Rob Reck stated that Banach Technology was looking forward to hiring more than a dozen employees to work for the company. Banach Technology is to increase the number of their staff from 12 to 30 workers with the inclusion of hiring software engineers and quant mathematicians. Banach Technology is a startup that as attracted shareholders such as the owner for Red Tiger and also an entrepreneur in the field of gaming Nick Maughan.

 

Banach Technology is a firm that has based their operations in Dublin, and the structure of the corporate leadership is one with extensive expertise in the industry with a good number having worked for Paddy Powers. Banach Technology is a company that is bringing a revolution to the trade of betting. The technology developed by Banach will enhance customer engagement and also improve the operator margin across the board for all channels. It was reported that, the products being provided by Banach Technology are designed around the empowering of customers.

 

The users will be able to come up with a structured bet that is customized and will feature correlated multiples of the same game. Banach Technology was founded in the year 2015 by an executive team of mathematicians and technologists. The senior management team comprises Mark Hughes who is the CEO and is a Bsc holder in the field of economics and finance having studied at the University College of Dublin. Rob Reck is the Managing Director and holds an MBS in the area of Actuarial Science from the University College Dublin.

 

Furthermore, Rob Reck has a Bachelor’s in Maths and Mathematical Physics that he obtained from University College Dublin. Alex Zevenbergen is the Chief Technical Officer for Banach Technology, and he holds a BSc in Business and information systems from the University College Cork.

 

Adrien Lepretre is the Chief Operating Officer for the Dublin based organization and holds an MSc in Quantitative Finance from the University College of Dublin. Also, Adrien Lepretre holds a BSc in Economics that he obtained at HEC Lausanne. Banach Technology is headed for greater heights in the gambling industry, and the executives are focused on expanding their venture. The firm is now focused on bringing on board new and skilled employees with the vision of growing their wings.

 

 

Bingo! Humble Oldham Man took Home £50,000

A whopping £50,000! That is what Steven Bray, a 35-year-old Oldham resident is set to pocket after winning the national Bingo Game Jackpot at Mecca.

 

The night of Tuesday, 5th June will forever remain etched in his mind since it is the day fate granted him a wish every bingo player lives for- having the right number combination to win the jackpot! Bingo has been a traditional family pastime for Steven, having been introduced to the game by his late parents, seven years ago.

 

The win was not the first one for Steven, but none of his previous wins was as big as this life-changing jackpot. For the 35-year-old who works as a hire controller for Hire Station, this win opens many doors. He plans to take a holiday to the Maldives, a popular destination that he has always wanted to visit. Clearing his mortgage is also high up on his list of priorities.

 

When asked how the win will change his daily life, he said: “I work two jobs which keep me extremely busy, so I’m hoping to use the money to take a break from my hectic lifestyle.” He also hopes that some aspects of his life like the relationship he has with the people around him will remain the same. That is why he plans to hold a Thanksgiving party for family and friends.

 

Despite the absence of his parents, Steven believes his luck when choosing the numbers could be a gift from them. They were avid bingo players, and he would have enjoyed sharing the joy of winning with them. It was actually a bittersweet memory, having lost his dad only last September, to a heart attack – He was aged 69. His mother also died of a heart attack back in 2011 while she was 55 years old.

 

Asked why he loves bingo, Steven says it provides a sweet escape from daily hassles. “It’s always a good buzz when waiting for the last numbers to be called,” he adds. Playing bingo once or twice a week offers him a chance of meeting new people.

 

Tony Beverly, the Mecca Oldham club manager was also elated by Steven’s win because it adds to his club’s tally of jackpot winners in the new National Bingo game that started on 30th April. Steven’s win is the 11th. He said: “it is great to see one of our longest standing players win the National Bingo Game. He really couldn’t believe it when we told him there and then that he had won a £50,000 Jackpot.” The new National Bingo game offers various jackpot prizes including £100, £1000 and £50,000 on each game. House prices are also available at every club.

 

Apart from Steven, everyone at the club also had a reason to celebrate. The party held for members by the Mecca Bingo club on 21st June gave everyone a chance to enjoy a drink, and tuck some buffet as they watched Steven, his sister and some of his buddies receive the giant check on stage. Their optimism that probably some of Steven’s luck would rub off on them was quite apparent.

 

 

 

BetFred First Major Annual Losses

The land and online gambling group, Betfred, has experienced a decrease in the incoming profit for the year that came to a close in September 2017. The profit decreased from GBP 32.4 million as compared to the previous year to a loss of GBP 13.4 million; the company blamed their decrease to goodwill deterioration attributed to increasing costs, digital assets and higher taxation.

 

Despite a 9.6 percent increase in revenue that rose up to GBP 634.5 million and up to 3 percent earnings at 83.3 million, the company still experienced a loss. Mostly from the retailers, the group turnover was up to 17.5 % at GBP 12.7 billion.

 

An analysis made on the Betfred group estimated the groups’ online revenue at GBP ninety million on a three percent yearly increment from growing player base. None of the figures had increased by then. They also realized that eighty-three percent of what the group was earning originated from retail operations. The United Kingdom government decided to reduce the highest limit Fixed Odds Betting terminal stakes from GBP one hundred up to GBP by the year 2020; this shall have an effect that may provoke changes in the groups’ earnings. The director of the group requested the government to reconsider this decision for it might lead to huge losses across the industry.

 

On 25th of June 2018, the Betfred group again reported the same operating loss of £13.4m despite an increase in earnings and revenue. The revenue during the twelve months to September 24, 2017, was still at £634.5m with an increase of 9.6 percent as compared to the previous year. The earnings also had improved by the same three percent yearly up to £83.3m.

 

The Betfred retail total gambling turnover, Tote, and online businesses rose up to 17.5 percent to £12.7bn. Regulus partners commented that the online revenue of the Betfred group increased by three percent on a yearly basis to £90m; that of Tote increased by twelve percent to £32.4m. These partners also suggested that the Betfred might be set for more challenges in the coming future because of the regulation modifications on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

 

The Betfred group experienced an eight-figure loss in its treasury year despite a good revenue gain. The improved revenue came largely through the group’s 2016 October addition of three hundred and twenty-two Ladbrokes Coral betting shops. The company’s Totepoool business also signed a commingling deal with the Hong Kong Jockey Club plus a non-specified rise in their online customer base.

 

Predictably, the anti-gambling suspects in the United Kingdom’s media played up with the fact the founder of Betfred, Fred Done, decided to take a £10.2m annual dividend just like the previous year. These kinds of media noted that Betfred had announced the previous week that there was a possibility of closing up to nine hundred betting shops and fire up to four thousand, five hundred staff members. This would occur if all the government would execute their plan of reducing the highest limit stake on fixed- odds betting terminals (FOBTs) from £100 up to just £2. Lucky enough the government recently announced that the FOBTs stake reduction would not take place till the year 2020.

 

The Regulus partners also realized that the 83 percent earnings from the retailers put the company in a particularly hard position given the current government stance. As a result, they suggested that Betfred’s core business would require some structural change.

 

Recently the director of Betfred gave a decree that his company’s association with racing had been broken after several years of dis-unity between the racing and the betting industry. He also reported a deal with Alizeti Capital as the very first page of their decision to disrobe its Tote holdings.

 

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Sky Betting and Gaming Makes Its Partnership with IWG Official

On May 22, 2018, Sky Betting and Gaming announced its partnership and latest agreement with Instant Win Gaming (IWG). Following the deal between the two gaming giants, IWG agreed to deliver its full portfolio of games to Sky Bingo.

 

During the announcement, Robert Proctor of Sky Betting and Gaming cited the company’s delight to partner with IWG, the leading supplier of instant win games globally. The content and commercial manager also added that his company was very impressed with the IWG’s quality of games and the seamless manner in which their games portfolio integrated with the Sky Bingo’s platform.

 

Good news for Sky Bingo players

The partnership between Sky Betting and Gaming and IWG is great news for lovers of bingo. Sky Bingo is the largest bingo sports book in the UK, and for the first time, the brand is offering IWG suite of games on its site. This includes the popular IWG classic Cash Butter Series.

 

During the event, IWG CEO, Rhydian Fisher, said: “We’re thrilled to offer our quality portfolio of games through the UK’s largest bingo sports book.”

 

He also added that the latest agreement between the two companies is an indicator of the growing demand for instant win games. According to him, the partnership also highlights IWG’s strength in developing and supplying online instant win games.

 

About IWG

Instant Win Gaming is an American based company renowned for its online instant win games portfolio. The company offers branded games to lotteries and gaming brands through commercial partnerships, and last year it won a B2B online lottery supplier of the year award.

 

Although IWG has more than 12 years experience in delivering comprehensive instant win gaming solutions to customers in America and other regulated markets, its partnership with Sky Betting and Gaming marks its largest stride in penetrating the UK gaming market. IWG will deliver its full game portfolio to Sky bingo players through its Progressive Play Remote Game Server (RGS) network.

 

What the partnership means for Bingo players

The launch of IWG suite of games with sky Bingo marks the beginning of an exciting journey for bingo players in the UK. Fans of gambling can now play an array of games from IWG’s suite on Sky Bingo’s site and win instant cash prizes. Some of the popular games in the company’s portfolio includes  Super Cash Busters, Crossword Cash, Lucky 7×7, Fast Buck, Gold rush,  Monopoly, Lucky Picks, and Bang for your Buck.