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UK Casinos Urge Chancellor to Let Them Re-open This Month

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Casinos in the UK have urged Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to allow them to reopen this month to help kick-start the local economy and contribute tax revenue.

The venues were dealt a huge blow last month when ministers ruled that they could not open their doors again on July 4, having been closed since the start of lockdown in March.

 It meant that thousands of casino staff remained on furlough – costing the Exchequer around £5m a week. The closures mean the Treasury is also missing out on vast revenues, with casinos last year paying £5.7m each week in tax and duties.

 Casinos have invested heavily to ensure their premises are covid-secure, with measures such as perspex screens, santisation equipment and sophisticated track and trace systems, as well as introducing other changes and strict social distancing measures.

 In an open letter to the Chancellor, Betting and Gaming Council chief executive Michael Dugher says the sector is ready to help get the UK economy back on its feet again as soon as it gets the green light from the Government.

 Mr. Dugher says: “The UK casino sector were sorely disappointed not to be included in the list of industries allowed to reopen on 4 July.

 “The support from HM Treasury, such as the Job Retention Scheme, has been extremely welcome, however support for casinos is costing the Exchequer around £5 million per week while they are closed.

 “Casinos want to get back in business and once again contributing to the economy, not costing the Exchequer money. Last year, casinos paid over £5.7m million in tax per week.

 “With phased reductions in wage support kicking in soon, there is however a real fear that if reopening doesn’t happen in July there will be severe damage caused to the casino industry.

 “To our knowledge, casinos have met all Covid safety requirements and yet they are still not permitted to open. We urgently ask for your help to get casinos reopened and back to contributing to the UK economy.”

 The letter adds: “The cost of remaining in a reopening ‘holding pattern’ is significantly higher as it means businesses are kept in a state of preparedness, including maintaining the premises for reopening, cleaning, restocking supplies and staffing.

 “Having made the necessary preparations for a July reopening, casinos are ready and able to open at the earliest opportunity. We would greatly appreciate any help you can give to get our businesses back open and contributing to the UK economy.”

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Esports community establishes Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE)

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The Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE) was established following a General Assembly held on 6 March 2026 in Rio de Janeiro. The organisation was founded with the stated goal of promoting competitive integrity, legal safety, and institutional research within the esports sector.

Carlos GamaVice President of Games and Esports at the Rio de Janeiro branch of the Association of Brazilian Information Technology Companies (ASSESPRO) and President of the Advisory Council of FERJEE (Rio de Janeiro Esports Federation, involved with the upcoming IEM Rio) was elected as Executive President to lead a multidisciplinary team tasked with developing frameworks for the industry’s regional growth.

One of the primary objectives of the ILAE is the creation of a local Esports Arbitration Chamber. This mechanism is intended to serve as a specialized venue for the mediation and resolution of conflicts, such as contractual disputes between players and organisations. The model aims to offer a technical alternative to the traditional judicial system, seeking to provide greater legal security and faster resolutions for administrative and professional disagreements within the competitive environment.

The ILAE’s structure is centered on an Executive Board that includes:

  • Vice-President Marcella Ferreira (former pro player and current sports psychologist),
  • Administrative-Financial Director Vinicius Verly (FERJEE), and
  • Project Director Marianna Muniz (FERJEE and OnFire Agency).

Technical oversight is managed by lawyers:

  • Dr. Antonio Carlos Bratefixe (Research and Knowledge) and 
  • Dr. Osmar Berardo, who will direct the institute’s Arbitration Chamber.

The Fiscal Council is led by: Dr. Soraya Vasconcelos, who also leads Brazilian organisation Galorys, responsible for financial and institutional oversight.

Regarding the institute’s mission, Carlos Gama stated that the organization intends to facilitate dialogue across the Latin American esports community. “We want to bring together athletes, teams, researchers, organizations, companies, and public managers to build a common development agenda for the region,” Gama noted. He also highlighted that a priority for the ILAE will be the production of research on strategic themes, such as social inclusion and competitive integrity policies.

The ILAE’s governance framework also incorporates individuals with competitive backgrounds, aiming to ensure the organisation remains informed by the practicalities of the sector. This includes the participation of former FPS and eFootball pros Marcela “Callax”Renato “Rentão”Monik BisoniGabriela Tavas, and Gabriel “Franja” within the various councils and administrative chairs.

By integrating these perspectives alongside legal and academic professionals, the institute intends to address the specific needs of the regional ecosystem. The organization has opened associations to professionals, researchers, and entities.

 

The post Esports community establishes Latin-American Esports Institute (ILAE) appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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SPORTRADAR AND BSN STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP TO ELEVATE BASKETBALL IN PUERTO RICO

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Sportradar AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) has expanded its agreement with BSN Puerto Rico (Baloncesto Superior Nacional), reinforcing its long-term commitment to supporting professional basketball in Puerto Rico through advanced technology, data and integrity solutions. Basketball is the most bet upon sport in Puerto Rico and the second most popular across the LATAM region.*

Sportradar holds the exclusive betting and gaming audiovisual (AV) and data rights for BSN basketball competitions worldwide, alongside non-exclusive coaching and talent scouting rights, to drive the growth of Puerto Rican basketball and strengthening fan engagement across international markets.

The agreement features the provision of Integrity Services, such as Sportradar’s proprietary Universal Fraud Detection Service (UFDS AI) for comprehensive real- time betting market surveillance. Additionally, BSN Puerto Rico will access a portfolio of sports performance and management solutions, including Synergy Stats and the Competition Management Platform, to support league operations, performance analysis and regulatory compliance.

“We are proud to deepen our ties with BSN to accelerate the development of basketball in Puerto Rico,” said Raphael Sobral, Sports Partnerships Director, LATAM at Sportradar. “By combining our cutting-edge technology with our unmatched data and integrity services, Sportradar is providing the backbone for BSN’s next phase of global growth and operational excellence.”

“This partnership reaffirms BSN’s commitment to modernization and operational excellence across the league. Having a partner like Sportradar allows us to strengthen our processes, elevate the use of official data, and ensure the highest standards of integrity and performance as we look ahead to the 2026 season and the future of professional basketball in Puerto Rico,” said Ricardo Dalmau, President of BSN.

The extended partnership further strengthens Sportradar’s role as a trusted technology and data partner for more than 20 basketball competitions in regulated markets worldwide, including the NBA, EuroLeague, ACB Spain, LNB France, Lega Basket Italia and NBL Australia.

 

The post SPORTRADAR AND BSN STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP TO ELEVATE BASKETBALL IN PUERTO RICO appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026

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At the heart of the exhibition is the IRIS platform, R. Franco Digital’s GLI-certified, open-architecture solution. Designed to deliver a seamless experience across casino, sports betting, and retail operations, IRIS gives operators the flexibility, scalability, and security required to grow efficiently across multiple Latin American markets.

In addition to its robust infrastructure, R. Franco Digital will present its latest high-performance gaming titles, including Strange Spins, Genie Triple Bonanza, Diamond King Gorilla, Luxury Blast, Zorro: Final Duel, and The Phantom. Each game incorporates localized mechanics and culturally relevant themes, ensuring maximum engagement for LatAm players.

Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, commented:
“Latin America is a cornerstone of our global strategy. GAT Expo Cartagena provides an essential platform to connect with partners and showcase how our technology evolves alongside the region’s regulatory landscape. We are excited to highlight the latest advancements in our IRIS platform and our expanding game portfolio, both designed to deliver operational excellence and support regulated operators across LatAm.”

Visitors to the expo will be able to experience live demonstrations of the IRIS platform and explore R. Franco Digital’s diverse content offerings, emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation, localization, and operator success in the region.

The post R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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