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BGC Warns Permanent Industry Damage Following Delay in Casino Reopening

Published

6 years ago

August 4, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has warned that the UK Government’s last-minute reversal of plans to allow casinos to reopen on August 1 has dealt a wrecking ball to the industry, from which it may never recover.

The casino sector employs more than 14,000 people across the UK in 125 casinos and a further 4000 in the supply chain. Casinos also paid over £300 million each year in tax before the lockdown.

With casinos across England forced to remain shuttered, the BGC warns that up to 6000 jobs may be permanently lost.

In a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak MP on July 31, BGC described the decision to keep casinos closed as “highly illogical, inconsistent and deeply damaging to those businesses and the thousands of staff they employ.”

BGC has also rejected the Prime Minister’s categorisation of casinos as “higher risk” during his Downing Street briefing. Casinos have spent weeks and invested millions of pounds to ensure their premises are covid-secure, with measures such as perspex screens, sanitisation equipment and sophisticated track and trace systems, as well as introducing strict social distancing measures and hygiene protocols.

BGC Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “The Government are swinging a wrecking ball right through the middle of our industry and large scale job losses, which ought to be unnecessary and avoidable, now look inevitable unless ministers act fast.”

“Casinos are a small but fundamental part of our leisure, hospitality, entertainment and tourism industry. They employ over 14,000 people across the UK and indirectly support another 4,000 jobs in the supply sector, and last year casinos paid over £5.7 million in tax per week.

“The ongoing cost of remaining in a holding pattern to reopen is clearly not sustainable, with more jobs and livelihoods being put at risk with every last minute change and delay to reopening.

“The Job Retention Scheme has helped but our members will now be forced to pay National Insurance and pension contributions on top of salaries in August while they remain closed. As furlough payments are phased out, there will be no flexibility for casinos to adapt to the new working and leisure environment and I now fear that many thousands of jobs could be lost.

“We made the all necessary preparations for safe reopening and we were given the green light by Public Health England on the basis of the significant investment made by operators, and having been told by the Government themselves that casinos posed a ‘negligible’ risk compared with the tens of thousands of other places that they have been reopened.”

Daniel Cuc

REEVO Announces New Partnership with R. Franco Digital

Published

42 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

reevo-announces-new-partnership-with-r.-franco-digital

REEVO has announced a new partnership with R. Franco Digital, a leading provider of global gaming solutions and part of the renowned Orenes Group. The collaboration further strengthens REEVO’s growing aggregation ecosystem, expanding its content offering with the distinctive and well-established titles from one of the industry’s most respected suppliers.

Through this integration, R. Franco Digital’s portfolio will be available through the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to a broad range of engaging content through a single, efficient connection. The partnership reinforces REEVO’s mission to deliver scalable technology and diverse content that helps operators enhance their casino offering and reach new audiences across regulated markets.

For REEVO, the partnership represents another important step in expanding its aggregation network with studios that bring proven industry experience and high-quality entertainment to operators worldwide.

Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with R. Franco Digital is a fantastic milestone for REEVO as we continue to expand our aggregation ecosystem with globally recognized providers. Their strong heritage, technical expertise, and reputation for delivering engaging gaming experiences make them an excellent addition to our platform. At REEVO, our goal is to give operators access to the most diverse and high-performing content available, and this partnership strengthens our ability to deliver exactly that.”

The collaboration highlights REEVO’s continued momentum as a trusted aggregation partner for leading operators and suppliers across the iGaming industry. By bringing together innovative studios and established gaming brands, REEVO continues to build a platform that combines reliability, scalability and high-value entertainment.

Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, said: “Partnering with an aggregator of REEVO’s technical caliber is a major milestone in our mission to bring R. Franco Digital’s unique entertainment experiences to a global audience. This integration allows us to leverage REEVO’s extensive reach, making our content more accessible to operators than ever before. We look forward to a successful collaboration as we continue expanding our digital footprint and bringing innovative content to new markets alongside such a dynamic partner.”

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

Betsson Group

Betsson Group shortlisted in 11 categories at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026

Published

42 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

betsson-group-shortlisted-in-11-categories-at-the-italian-gaming-awards-2026

Betsson Group has been shortlisted in 11 categories at the Italian Gaming Awards (IGA) 2026, taking place in Rome on 14 April as part of the Italian Gaming Expo & Conference (IGE) 2026, held on 14–15 April.

The awards celebrate excellence across the Italian gaming industry, recognising best practices, innovation and leadership. Winners are selected through an independent evaluation by a jury of industry experts via a dedicated voting process.

Betsson Group nominations include:

• Best Betting Operator – Betsson Group

• Best Casino Games Operator – StarCasinò

• Best Executive Leadership – Stefano Tino, Managing Director Southern Europe at Betsson Group

• Best Marketing Campaign – Betsson.Sport

• Best Mobile Operator – Betsson Group

• Customer Care – Betsson Group

• Diversity & Inclusion Award – Betsson Group

• ESG Compliance Award – Betsson Group

• HR Award: Employer of the Year – Betsson Group

• Operator of the Year – Betsson Group

• Responsible Gaming – Betsson Group

These nominations highlight Betsson Group’s continued focus on innovation, operational excellence and delivering a high-quality customer experience.

IGE 2026 brings together key stakeholders from across the Italian gaming ecosystem to explore the future of the industry, with a focus on technological innovation, sustainability and responsible growth.

Across two days, the conference will feature panels, discussions and networking opportunities involving representatives from institutions, ADM (Customs and Monopolies Agency), licensees, technology providers, associations and academia.

The post Betsson Group shortlisted in 11 categories at the Italian Gaming Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Blockchain

Blockchain.com Opens Malta Office to Anchor European Operations

Published

42 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

blockchain.com-opens-malta-office-to-anchor-european-operations

Blockchain.com announced the official opening of its Malta office, marking the next step in the company’s European expansion and its long-term commitment to building regulated digital asset infrastructure across the region.

The new office will serve as a strategic hub for Blockchain.com’s operations across Europe following the company securing its Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). The license enables Blockchain.com to passport regulated crypto brokerage services across the European Economic Area under the EU’s first comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework.

“We didn’t pick Malta by accident. Malta has taken a thoughtful and forward-looking approach to digital asset regulation. At Blockchain.com, we’ve spent over a decade building a brand of trust and integrity, and we’re bringing that same professional-grade standard to users across Europe. This office represents our commitment to building trusted, compliant infrastructure for the crypto market,” said Nic Cary, Co-founder and Vice Chairman at Blockchain.com.

Blockchain.com’s Malta office will support a range of functions including regulatory engagement, operational development and retail client services across the European market. The company will soon launch its institutional business, partnering with some of the region’s leading licensed firms.

Blockchain.com operates in more than 70 jurisdictions worldwide. Since 2011, Blockchain.com has processed over $1.2 trillion in crypto transactions, created more than 90 million wallets and verified over 40 million users. As a global crypto brokerage, Blockchain.com provides individuals and institutions with secure access to digital assets while maintaining a strong commitment to compliance, transparency and security.

The post Blockchain.com Opens Malta Office to Anchor European Operations appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.