Connect with us

Latest News

The Betting and Gaming Council Appoints Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board

Published

on

the-betting-and-gaming-council-appoints-entain’s-simon-clare-to-the-horserace-betting-levy-board
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The Betting and Gaming Council has aappointed Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

The HBLB administers a proportion of profits from bookmakers to improve breeding, advance veterinary science in the sport and contribute to the wider improvement of horseracing. It is administered by a board of seven members, including one appointment from the BGC, to represent bookmakers.

Entain Customer Communications Director Simon Clare formally replaced Mike O’Kane on October 7.

BGC members are expected to contribute to £105m in Levy payments to the HBLB for last year, according to figures released in May. The contribution, provided by the independent HBLB, is an increase of £5m on the previous year. As a result of this additional funding, the HBLB announced an increase of £3.2m in its prize money contribution for 2024 versus 2023, from £67.3m to £70.5m.

It is the third year in a row that Levy contributions have increased, from £97m in 2021/22, to £100m in 2022/2023 and now £105m in 2023/2024.

Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “We’re delighted Simon is joining the HBLB.

“He brings an unrivalled wealth of experience from his many years with Ladbrokes and Coral, where he has become respected as a vocal and passionate champion of the sport.

“I know his wisdom and knowledge will be crucial assets to the HBLB over the coming years. I would also like to pay tribute to Mike O’Kane who has been an excellent representative to the HBLB on behalf of BGC members.

“Over his time with the HBLB Mike has brought a strong voice for the sector to the Board at a time of significant change for racing and also record Levy contributions. We wish Mike well in the future and are delighted to welcome Simon to the HBLB.”

Simon has spent close to three decades in the betting and horseracing sectors. After graduating with a Degree in Politics at Liverpool University in 1992, he was accepted on The Jockey Club Graduate Scheme, where he had a placement with the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

After a spell at the Jockey Club, and then the newly formed British Horseracing Board in an Executive Assistant role, Simon then joined Ladbrokes as a PR Manager in 1996, before joining Coral in 1997 to become their Racing PR Manager.

Following the merger with Ladbrokes in 2016, Simon became responsible for PR, Sponsorship and Social Media for both brands, and is now the Customer Communications Director for Entain UK Brands – responsible for PR, Sponsorship and Social Media for Ladbrokes, Coral, Gala, Foxy and Partypoker.

He has been a longtime, passionate supporter of horse racing, and even learned to ride in 2014 before taking part in a charity race at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival.

Entain Customer Communications Director Simon Clare, said: “I am extremely honoured to be joining the Horserace Betting Levy Board as the betting representative.

“Mike O’Kane will be a hard act to follow, and I would like to thank him for the great contribution he has made in his time in the role.

“I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a long and varied career within the betting industry with Coral, now Entain, alongside a lifelong passion for horse racing and all major sports, so will hopefully be able to make a valuable contribution to the Board.”

The post The Betting and Gaming Council Appoints Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Firecracker Frenzy™ Money Toad™

Ancient fortune explodes to life in Greentube’s Firecracker Frenzy™: Money Toad™

Published

on

ancient-fortune-explodes-to-life-in-greentube’s-firecracker-frenzy:-money-toad

Greentube is leading players on a memorable adventure through ancient China with Firecracker Frenzy™ Money Toad™, its newest five-reel slot game where rockets and pathways spark exciting action with each spin.

Set against the stunning scenery of China, the game features the mythical Money Toad, leading players through a realm of amazement and wealth.

The Firecracker Frenzy™ Trail aspect is central to the gameplay experience and may result in the potent Lock ‘N’ Spin bonus. In this area, players can hit Mystery Rocket symbols that randomly disclose purple, red, or green rockets. Every disclosed rocket might add to its respective trail as players progress towards earning bonus rewards.

When one or more trails are finished, the Lock ‘N’ Spin activates with unique modifiers in effect (Extra Rows, Zone Boost & Coin Boost). By accumulating sufficient coins in the marked areas on the reels, a multiplier beside the area increases certain coin values and boosts a random count of coins on the reels by one or more.

In the Lock ‘N’ Spin bonus, every spot on the grid turns into a separate reel. The feature starts with three spins and resets to three each time a new symbol lands, keeping the action ongoing as Coin symbols, Mystery Coins, Trail Feature symbols, and Jackpot symbols show up.

Jackpots can be won by gathering all matching Jackpot Letter symbols, and at the conclusion of the bonus, all Coin values displayed on the screen are summed up, including any finished jackpots, to yield potentially impressive payouts.

In certain markets, participants can also instantly unlock the Lock ‘N’ Spin bonus through the well-known Bonus Buy feature.

Firecracker Frenzy™ Money Toad™ represents the newest addition to Greentube’s expanding collection of high-quality slot games, succeeding recent launches like Gorilla Cash™ and Enchanted Pegasus™ BOOM.

Richard Ganster, Director of Games Strategy and Games Portfolio Management at Greentube, said: “Firecracker Frenzy™ Money Toad™ delivers an exciting blend of mythology, atmosphere and innovative bonus mechanics and features. The slot also boasts visually stunning graphics that perfectly captures the magic of ancient China.

“The Firecracker Frenzy™ Trails bring a fresh sense of anticipation to every spin, while the Lock ‘N’ Spin feature offers multiple ways to unlock wins.”

The post Ancient fortune explodes to life in Greentube’s Firecracker Frenzy™: Money Toad™ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Aurimas Šilys

REEVO Announces Partnership with Betsafe

Published

on

reevo-announces-partnership-with-betsafe

 

REEVO has announced a new partnership with Betsafe, strengthening REEVO’s growing presence across regulated European markets and reinforcing its expansion strategy in the Baltics region.

Through this collaboration, REEVO’s aggregation platform will support Betsafe’s casino offering in Estonia and Latvia, enabling access to a wide range of premium third-party content through a streamlined integration. The partnership reflects REEVO’s continued commitment to providing operators with scalable technology and an efficient route to expanding their game portfolio.

Betsafe is part of the Betsson Group, a global online gambling company operating more than 20 gaming brands across multiple markets. In the Baltics, Betsson Group operates under the Betsafe brand in Estonia and Latvia, offering a trusted and dynamic entertainment experience.

This partnership marks another important step forward for REEVO as it continues to grow as an aggregator and strengthen its reputation as a trusted partner for leading operators in key regulated territories.

Karl Grech, Head of Business Development at REEVO, said: “Estonia and Latvia are exciting markets with strong growth potential, and partnering with Betsafe is a fantastic milestone for REEVO. Betsafe is a well-established and trusted brand in the Baltics, and we’re proud to support their expansion through REEVO’s aggregation platform. This collaboration is another clear step forward in our growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to delivering efficient, high-performance solutions that help operators enhance their casino offering.”

Aurimas Šilys, Managing Director Baltics at Betsson Group, said: “Our collaboration with REEVO opens so many doors for Betsson Group brands in Baltics to onboard and launch more game providers and have the biggest and widest casino selection in Baltics markets.”

The post REEVO Announces Partnership with Betsafe appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Africa

Meridianbet Marks 17 Years in Tanzania with Over 500 Community Initiatives

Published

on

meridianbet-marks-17-years-in-tanzania-with-over-500-community-initiatives

 

When Meridianbet’s Tanzania operations spoke at the American Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Dinner last week, the presentation opened with a single number: 500.

That’s how many community initiatives the sports entertainment company has completed across Tanzania since 2009. Education programmes. Small business training. Youth sports sponsorship. Public health awareness campaigns. Local infrastructure support.

For a gaming company operating under a NASDAQ-listed parent, sustained community investment at this scale is unusual. The industry has a reputation for extracting value. Meridianbet’s seventeen-year presence in Tanzania tells a different story.

The Social Model

“We’re in the business of friends gathering at local clubs to watch matches, share a drink, and place small stakes on the outcome. The betting is part of the experience. The gathering is the real value,” a company representative said at the event.

The framing matters because it shapes operational decisions. Meridianbet Tanzania, as is the case worldwide, structures its platform to encourage many customers placing small amounts. The alternative would be concentrating revenue among high-stakes players. That model creates problems. Problem gambling. Revenue volatility. Regulatory scrutiny.

Small-stake betting spread across many customers creates different dynamics. Lower risk per individual. More stable revenue. Better alignment with Tanzania’s consumer protection regulations.

The company’s responsible gaming protocols reflect this approach. Early intervention when betting patterns suggest trouble. Support resources in Swahili and English. Limits designed to keep stakes small and entertainment value high.

Community Ambassadors

The scale of Meridianbet’s community programmes drew attention at the AmCham dinner. What got people talking was who runs them.

The company built a network of “community ambassadors.” These are customers who participate in CSR initiatives as partners. They identify needs in their neighbourhoods. They volunteer in education programmes. They mentor local entrepreneurs. They organise school supply drives and coach youth sports teams.

This shifts how corporate social responsibility works. Traditional CSR runs top-down. Companies donate money. Communities receive it. The relationship is transactional.

Meridianbet’s model distributes responsibility. Customers become patrons of community development. The company provides platform and resources. The customers craft the donation policy.

“When a customer helps fund a school program or mentors a young business owner, they’re building their own community. We make it possible,” the representative said.

Seventeen years and 500 initiatives suggest the model works. Whether it scales beyond Tanzania remains to be seen. For now, it appears to have created genuine community ties rather than performative charity.

The Gender Metric

One data point from the presentation got repeated in conversations after the event: 70% of managerial positions across Meridianbet’s African operations are held by women.

The gaming industry globally runs around 30% women in leadership roles. East African businesses average 35%. Meridianbet’s 70% is an outlier.

The company implements a performance-based hiring and promotion. No quotas. Just competence rewarded. Whether that’s the full story or not, the outcome is measurable. Management teams reflect the communities they serve. Diversity intentions are easy to state. Diversity outcomes are harder to deliver. The Company’s numbers show outcome.

Seventeen Years

Tanzania’s gaming market has grown considerably since 2009. Mobile penetration increased. Disposable incomes rose among the middle class. International operators entered. Some stayed. Many left when margins compressed or regulations tightened.

Meridianbet stayed. Seventeen years. 200 employees. Hundreds of local retail partnerships. That longevity suggests the company views Tanzania as infrastructure, not opportunity.

American companies face pressure to demonstrate ESG commitments in emerging markets. Words are easy. Execution is hard. Meridianbet’s Tanzania operations show what seventeen years of execution looks like.

The post Meridianbet Marks 17 Years in Tanzania with Over 500 Community Initiatives appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania