Latest News

William Hill to Permanently Close 119 Betting Shops in the UK

Published

6 years ago

August 6, 2020

Reading Time: < 1 minute

William Hill PLC has announced that it will not re-open 119 shops due to the Covid-19 impact on the UK retail environment, as the bookmaker swung to an interim profit on a value added tax refund.

The company also said that it has made a “robust” recovery in the opening weeks of the second half because of the resumption of sporting activities and re-opening of shops. As a result, the company has decided to repay GBP24.5 million to the UK government received under the coronavirus job retention scheme.

For the 26 weeks ended July 2, the company recorded pretax profit of GBP141.1 million compared with a loss of GBP63.5 million a year ago. The profit figure includes a GBP201.6 million tax refund, which was partially offset by GBP81.9 million non-cash intangible store impairment charge.

Stripping out exceptional gains and charges, William Hill’s operating profit fell 85% year-on-year to GBP11.8 million, ahead of the company’s expectations.

The H1 2020 revenue declined 32% to GBP554.4 million from GBP811.7 million. The drop was attributed to Covid-19 disruption to sporting events and temporary closure of retail activities, partially offset by favourable sports results and resilient gaming performance.

“Our trading was strong before Covid-19, we controlled costs effectively during lockdown and we have recovered well post-lockdown with good performances in our online businesses throughout the first half,” Ulrik Bengtsson, Chief Executive Officer of William Hill, said.

Bengtsson added that William Hill remains confident in pursuing its growth agenda, taking advantage of its market-leading position in sports betting in the US.

BroadHub

Broadway Platform lands Curaçao CGA B2B supplier licence

Published

54 minutes ago

April 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

broadway-platform-lands-curacao-cga-b2b-supplier-licence

Approval covers Broadway Platform’s end-to-end product suite and BroadHub content aggregation platform for use by licensed operators.

Broadway Platform has been granted a B2B licence by the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), allowing the company to supply technology to licensed operators across international markets.

The company said the licence covers its product suite, including casino and sportsbook infrastructure, payment solutions, CRM, risk management, affiliate tooling, and back-office systems.

The approval also applies to BroadHub, Broadway Platform’s content aggregation platform. Broadway Platform said BroadHub provides access to slots, table games and live dealer titles from more than 120 providers.

Giorgi Samkharadze, Director of Broadway Platform, said: “Obtaining the Curaçao B2B licence is an important step in our commitment to providing a trusted, future-ready platform within recognised regulatory frameworks. As compliance expectations continue to rise across global markets, we want our operator partners to have complete confidence in the regulatory standing of their infrastructure provider.”

Broadway Platform said the certification supports its growth plans, including ambitions in Latin America and emerging markets in Africa.

The post Broadway Platform lands Curaçao CGA B2B supplier licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Edvardas Sadovskis Chief Product Officer at ICONIC21

ICONIC21 releases Jack and the Wild Beanstalk slot with growing Wild multipliers

Published

54 minutes ago

April 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

iconic21-releases-jack-and-the-wild-beanstalk-slot-with-growing-wild-multipliers

New 5×5, 19-payline title adds Enhanced Free Spins and a 10,000x max win, with bets from 0.1 to 25.

ICONIC21 has launched Jack and the Wild Beanstalk, a new 5×5 slot built around an ascending Wild feature and multiplier progression. The game runs on 19 fixed paylines and adds an Enhanced Free Spins mode designed to increase Wild frequency.

At the core of the game is the “Magic Bean Wild,” which moves vertically up the reels with each spin. ICONIC21 says the Wild’s multiplier increases by its value at every step, and that when multiple beanstalks align their values combine.

The Free Spins mode extends the same mechanic. In the Enhanced version, ICONIC21 says the reels are “boosted with additional beanstalks,” increasing the chance of landing Wilds on subsequent spins.

Jack and the Wild Beanstalk offers a maximum win of 10,000x the stake, with a maximum exposure of 250,000. Bet sizes range from 0.1 to 25.

Edvardas Sadovskis, Chief Product Officer at ICONIC21, said: “Jack and the Wild Beanstalk is built around a simple but powerful idea – visible progression that keeps players engaged.

“The growing Wild mechanic creates genuine anticipation with every spin, and the Enhanced Free Spins mode amplifies this excitement by increasing the frequency of Wilds on the reels.

“It’s a game that builds momentum naturally, and that translates directly into longer sessions and stronger performance for operators. We’re thrilled to be adding another forward-thinking title to ICONIC21’s portfolio.”

The post ICONIC21 releases Jack and the Wild Beanstalk slot with growing Wild multipliers appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Caesars Digital

RubyPlay partners with Caesars Entertainment in Ontario to advance North American expansion

Published

54 minutes ago

April 16, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

rubyplay-partners-with-caesars-entertainment-in-ontario-to-advance-north-american-expansion

Latest launch on Caesars’ marquee online casino platforms marks a key milestone for studio ecosystem

RubyPlay, a studio-based content ecosystem, is further strengthening its presence in Ontario as part of its broader North American growth strategy with a new partnership with Caesars Entertainment.

The partnership will see a curated selection of RubyPlay’s fan-favourite titles, including JMania® Lucky Pyggs, Mad Hit® Mr Coin and Diamond Explosion® 7s SE, made available on Caesars Entertainment’s online casino platforms including Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino.

This partnership is also set to expand in the near future with the addition of content from Koala Games, one of RubyPlay’s most popular titles. The launch with Caesars represents a significant milestone for RubyPlay in Ontario, building on its momentum following its initial entry into the province early last year, where its portfolio of high-performance games has already gained traction with top-tier operators.

Partnering with Caesars Digital underscores RubyPlay’s growing influence and reputation within a key global territory, as well as the strength of its multi-studio platform, which is designed to bring tailored content to regulated markets worldwide. The partnership also forms part of a broader collaboration, with potential to expand into additional North American markets.

Dima Reiderman, CCO at RubyPlay, said: “By launching with one of the most trusted names in gaming, we’re not only expanding our footprint in Ontario but also demonstrating the value of our multi-studio model.”

“Launching with Caesars in Ontario allows us to further scale our content offering within a highly competitive regulated market. Our approach is to deliver high-performing titles that align with each operator’s needs, combining the flexibility required for local markets with the consistency needed to scale, while ensuring efficient rollout and strong market relevance.”

Ricardo Cornejo Rivas, Vice President of Online Gaming at Caesars Digital, added: “We’re committed to partnering with brands that bring high-quality, differentiated content to our players.

“RubyPlay provides exactly that with its steady pipeline of tailored, high‑performance titles and we’re looking forward to introducing their games to our online casino customers in Ontario and enhancing our content offering in the province.”

The post RubyPlay partners with Caesars Entertainment in Ontario to advance North American expansion appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.