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William Hill to Permanently Close 119 Betting Shops in the UK
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.
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Diana Larina CMO at Evoplay
Evoplay promotes Diana Larina to Chief Marketing Officer
Evoplay has promoted Diana Larina to Chief Marketing Officer, expanding its senior leadership team.
Larina joined Evoplay in 2022 as Head of B2B Marketing. She was promoted to Head of Growth Marketing in 2023 and appointed Head of Marketing in November 2024.
Evoplay said Larina has led marketing initiatives spanning brand, performance and partner-focused campaigns, and contributed to a shift towards a more B2C-focused approach aimed at strengthening player engagement.
Diana Larina, CMO at Evoplay, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what the marketing team has achieved at Evoplay and I’m excited about what comes next. This promotion is a reflection of the hard work of everyone around me, and I look forward to continuing to push boundaries, build the brand and drive growth as we expand our presence across global markets.”
Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, added: “From the moment Diana joined us, she demonstrated exceptional drive, leadership and ambition. Her journey through the company is a testament to both her talent and dedication, and this promotion to CMO is incredibly well deserved. Diana has consistently delivered impactful results while inspiring those around her, and I’m confident she will continue to play a key role in shaping Evoplay’s future.”
The post Evoplay promotes Diana Larina to Chief Marketing Officer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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Playson supplies slots to StarVegas in Switzerland deal via Greentube
Playson has partnered with Swiss online casino operator StarVegas to distribute its slot content in Switzerland, with integration handled via Greentube.
StarVegas is operated by Casino Interlaken. Under the agreement, StarVegas players in Switzerland gain access to Playson titles including Thunder Coins XXL: Hold and Win, Coin Strike: Hold and Win and Pink Joker: Hold and Win.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “Switzerland is a key area of opportunity and growth for Playson, and through StarVegas, we look forward to reaching even more local players and meeting the high demand for our games with a highly regarded and responsible partner.”
Mayke Wolf, COO at StarVegas, said: “As one of the first licensed Swiss online casinos, StarVegas offers a wide selection of games from leading international providers and a high-quality gaming experience tailored to the Swiss market. Our players are huge fans of Playson’s thoughtfully crafted portfolio, with its larger-than-life slots and characters that resonate strongly and stand the test of time. This makes the integration a natural addition to our platform, and we are delighted to bring this highly requested content to our players. The full portfolio can be accessed via starvegas.ch as well as through the popular StarVegas mobile apps.”
The post Playson supplies slots to StarVegas in Switzerland deal via Greentube appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
csr
UAE Lottery and Zulekha Hospital run orthopaedic workshop for Berkeley UAE workers
The UAE Lottery, operated by The Game L.L.C (a Momentum Group company), partnered with Zulekha Hospital to deliver an orthopaedic workshop for residents in Berkeley UAE’s shared accommodation on April 30, 2026.
The one-hour session, titled “Stronger Body, Safer Work”, focused on injury prevention, posture improvement, safer lifting techniques, and basic exercises for workers in physically demanding roles involving lifting, movement, and repetitive tasks.
Zulekha Hospital specialists led the workshop, including Dr. Saleh Kagzi, Specialist Orthopaedic Surgeon, and physiotherapist Ms. Ceona Prakash Chopde, who delivered live stretching and strengthening demonstrations. Organisers also offered optional onsite medical consultations for participants to discuss back, neck, shoulder, and joint concerns.
Commenting on the initiative, Suzan Kazzi, Associate Director of CSR at Momentum – The UAE Lottery, said: “Through H.O.P.E. we are proud to deliver initiatives that promote health and wellbeing across various communities in the UAE. This workshop reflects our commitment to bringing practical, accessible support directly to those who can benefit most.”
Dr. Aniruddha Lahiri, Senior Director Administration at Zulekha Hospital added: “We were delighted to partner with The UAE Lottery on this important initiative. Prevention, movement, and early care play a vital role in maintaining long-term health, particularly for individuals in physically demanding professions. We hope that our practical advice helps participants in their daily lives.”
The post UAE Lottery and Zulekha Hospital run orthopaedic workshop for Berkeley UAE workers appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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