Latest News
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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Brazil
Brazil federal court suspends Spribe’s Aviator trademark rights pending final ruling
18th Federal Civil Court of the Federal District blocks enforcement of Brazilian registration No. 501759803 after action by Aviator Studio Brazil.
A Federal Court in Brazil has ordered the suspension of Spribe’s trademark registration for “Aviator,” preventing the company from relying on exclusivity rights tied to Brazilian trademark registration No. 501759803 until a final judgment is issued.
The decision was issued by the 18th Federal Civil Court of the Federal District, following legal action brought by Aviator Studio Brazil. Aviator Studio said the court recognized the strength of its claims on the grounds of invalidation of Spribe’s trademarks.
According to Aviator Studio, the case centers on evidence that the Aviator trademark was created and used years before Spribe obtained trademark protection in Brazil. The company said the court acknowledged evidence that the Aviator brand originated in Georgia in 2016 and was formally registered there in 2018.
The court also took note of prior judicial decisions in Georgia that, according to Aviator Studio, invalidated Spribe’s registration of the Aviator trademark and confirmed the rights of the original trademark owner.
“This decision represents an important step in protecting the Aviator brand and enforcing intellectual property rights internationally. In practical terms, this means that, until the final resolution of the Spribe’s trademark invalidation proceedings, Spribe will no longer be able to continue it’s disruptive practices against operators, including sending threatening letters or initiating legal actions related to the use of Aviator Studio’s trademark.” comments George Pruidze, CEO of Aviator Studio. “We remain committed to defending the integrity of the Aviator brand and ensuring that its legitimate ownership is recognized across all jurisdictions.”
The post Brazil federal court suspends Spribe’s Aviator trademark rights pending final ruling appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Aviator Studio
Aviator Studio Secures Significant Legal Victory in Brazil as Federal Court Suspends Spribe’s Aviator Trademark Rights
Aviator Studio has achieved a significant legal victory in Brazil after a Federal Court ordered the suspension of Spribe’s trademark registration for “Aviator,” recognizing the strength of Aviator Studio’s claims related to the grounds of invalidation of Spribe’s trademarks.
The decision, issued by the 18th Federal Civil Court of the Federal District, prevents Spribe from relying on the exclusivity rights arising from Brazilian trademark registration No. 501759803 until a final judgment is rendered.
The ruling follows legal action brought by Aviator Studio Brazil, which demonstrated that the Aviator trademark had been created and used years before Spribe obtained trademark protection in Brazil. The court acknowledged evidence showing that the Aviator brand originated in Georgia in 2016 and was formally registered there in 2018, years before Spribe’s Brazilian registration.
Importantly, the court also took note of previous judicial decisions in Georgia that invalidated Spribe’s registration of the Aviator trademark and confirmed the rights of the original trademark owner.
“This decision represents an important step in protecting the Aviator brand and enforcing intellectual property rights internationally. In practical terms, this means that, until the final resolution of the Spribe’s trademark invalidation proceedings, Spribe will no longer be able to continue it’s disruptive practices against operators, including sending threatening letters or initiating legal actions related to the use of Aviator Studio’s trademark.” comments George Pruidze, CEO of Aviator Studio. “We remain committed to defending the integrity of the Aviator brand and ensuring that its legitimate ownership is recognized across all jurisdictions.”
Aviator Studio will continue pursuing all available legal measures to safeguard its intellectual property rights and protect the integrity of the Aviator trademark worldwide.
The post Aviator Studio Secures Significant Legal Victory in Brazil as Federal Court Suspends Spribe’s Aviator Trademark Rights appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
brand-activations
Esportes da Sorte runs World Cup fan chant spot on Times Square screens
The Esportes Gaming Brasil activation aired in two five-minute slots after Brazil’s opening match, alongside a broader SBT sponsorship and bar program.
Esportes da Sorte aired a World Cup-themed activation on Times Square’s large-format screens in New York on 13 and 14 June 2026, following Brazil’s opening match of the tournament. The campaign ran in two continuous five-minute slots and prompted passers-by to sing the chant: “I am Brazilian, with great pride and great love”.
The Times Square creative featured singer Léo Santana and a group of brand ambassadors and influencers named by the company as Carlinhos Maia, Bruno Formiga, Luisinho Freitas and Raul Erlich, who are producing tournament coverage from the US.
The activation was placed by Esportes Gaming Brasil, the holding group behind Esportes da Sorte, Lottu and Onabet. The company said the New York placement formed part of a wider multi-platform World Cup strategy spanning advertising, live activations and real-time content.
Esportes Gaming Brasil is an official sponsor of the tournament broadcasts on SBT, with planned visibility across free-to-air TV, the +SBT streaming platform, N Sports and digital channels. In Brazil, the group said it is also running activations across approximately 130 bars in cities including São Paulo, Recife, Salvador, Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza.
The company is also running two national campaigns during the World Cup period: “Cheer Like a Corinthian” and “Call-Up”.
The post Esportes da Sorte runs World Cup fan chant spot on Times Square screens appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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