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UK Casinos Urge Chancellor to Let Them Re-open This Month
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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ESA Gaming, the innovative games provider, has further grown its Game Aggregator System (GAS) offering with the addition of innovative casino content from REEVO, a leading online casino software provider.
Under this partnership, ESA Gamingâs aggregation platform will now feature a selection of REEVOâs acclaimed games, including the ever-popular Wolf Wild, OktoBeerFest and Moulin Reels.
REEVO began operating in 2021 with a suite of entertaining gaming experiences led by its wide portfolio of slot titles.
The partnership significantly enhances ESA Gamingâs casino aggregation offering during a time when the supplier has also signed a number of new distribution deals.
Thomas Smallwood, Chief Commercial Officer at ESA Gaming, said: âThis is a great way to kick off 2025 for our GAS offering, and adding REEVO content helps strengthens our position in a variety of markets.
âWe believe their content will be a hit with our customers, and weâre really looking forward to seeing this partnership develop over the course of the year.â
Karl Grech, Head of Business Development, at REEVO, added: âWe are delighted to partner with ESA Gaming, expanding the reach of our games to a new network of operators.
âThis integration, into the GAS platform, marks the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration in multiple markets.â
The post ESA Gaming adds REEVO to Game Aggregator System appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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The Sends team attended the biggest and most famous gaming conference, ICE, now held in Barcelona, Spain. From the 20th to the 23rd of January, the leading gaming companies and solution providers gather for business meetings, experience sharing and networking. More than 170 countries visited, achieving the number of 55,000 visitors.
âOur team attends the ICE conference annually. Previously held in London, the financial capital and home to our head office, 2025 is the first time itâs hosted in Barcelonaâand it remains as expansive and resourceful as ever. Weâre thrilled to participate, connect with our partners, explore innovative solutions, and engage with market leaders. At Sends, we are committed to staying ahead in this dynamic industry, never missing an opportunity to gain fresh insights and experiences,â commented Alona Shevtsova, Director at Sends.
As the organisers of ICE 2025 said, after a rigorous, independent selection process, ICE and iGB Affiliate moved to Fira Barcelona Gran Via because Barcelona presents a compelling list of benefits, including improved logistics and operational efficiency. The location is close to Barcelona airport and is well connected to the public transport network, offering a world-class in-show and around-show experience.
It is worth mentioning that this February, Send will co-host its event in London for fintech companies. This is the third gathering in London to network and connect industry professionals. To get more information about the London Fintech Meetup, follow the link.
To get more details, keep in touch with Sends on social media: LinkedIn and Instagram.
The post ICE Barcelona 2025: Alona Shevtsova on Sendsâ Vision for the Future of Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
NOVOMATIC sets milestone for international growth with planned acquisition of French Vikings Casinos Group
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NOVOMATIC AG signed an agreement to acquire the French casino group Vikings Casinos SAS, subject to certain conditions such as regulatory approvals.
With this strategic move, NOVOMATIC continues its international growth strategy in the French market and significantly expands its portfolio in one of the largest gaming regions in Europe. The Vikings Casinos Group, based in Falaise, is one of the leading French casino chains, operating more than 10 live gaming casinos throughout France, including on the CĂ´te dâAzur.
âWith the acquisition of Vikings Casinos, we are consistently pursuing our international growth strategy and strengthening our position as a leading provider in the European gaming market. With this step, we have successfully laid the foundation for further sustainable growth in Franceâ explains Stefan Krenn, Executive Board Member of NOVOMATIC AG.
âThe acquisition by NOVOMATIC opens up new opportunities for growth and further development. We are confident that the integration into such an experienced and successful company as NOVOMATIC will help us to further strengthen our position on the French market. This change will enable us to work even more efficiently and benefit from the resources and expertise of the new ownerâ emphasizes Luc Le Borgne, CEO of Vikings Casinos SAS.
The post NOVOMATIC sets milestone for international growth with planned acquisition of French Vikings Casinos Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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