Latest News
Betting Shops in England Eligible for Grants of up to £6000 a Site in £5B Recovery Plan
The UK Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed the announcement ahead of Wednesday’s Budget that non-essential retail businesses such as betting shops will be eligible for direct cash grants of up to £6000 per site, although the bookmaker trade body has reiterated its call for an extension of business rates relief for a further year.
Details of the grant scheme came as part of a series of announcements ahead of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s annual budget speech, in which he is set to reveal a new grant scheme totalling £5 billion to aid the recovery of high-street businesses in England.
Nearly 700,000 shops, restaurants, hotels, hair salons, gyms and other businesses in England will be eligible for “restart grants,” to be distributed directly to firms by local authorities from April. It will replace the current monthly grant system.
Under the budget plans, non-essential retail will be eligible for direct cash grants of up to £6000 to help them start trading again when allowed to do so, while hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England – which will remain closed for longer under the government’s roadmap out of lockdown – will be able to apply for grants of £18,000 per site.
“The BGC would warmly welcome any additional support for betting shops, be that business rates or grants, particularly giving the pressure independent betting shops are under,” a spokesman for the BGC said.
Racecourses and bookmakers in England were given a clear set of dates to work towards for reopening last week when prime minister Boris Johnson gave the first details of a timetable for leaving lockdown.
Non-essential retail, which has for most of the pandemic included betting shops, will form part of phase two of the plan, with April 12 the provisional date for reopening if vaccination rates rise and hospitalisations drop sufficiently.
BGC chief executive Michael Dugher has written to Sunak ahead of the budget setting out a five-point plan for more business support to “unlock the power of the high street and drive economic growth.”
Dugher said in his letter: “With premises shut for much of the past year, this would help protect jobs and remove a major financial pressure on businesses that have suffered a significant loss of income during the pandemic.”
Dugher pointed to the fact that licensed betting offices had been severely impacted by the various regional and national lockdowns over the past ten months, with revenues for this sector falling by 45% in 2020.
The letter also seeks assurance that funding for devolved administrations is made available to all business sectors in need. While businesses in England and Northern Ireland have benefited from business rates relief since last April, the Scottish and Welsh governments took the decision not to provide support for gambling companies.
“The UK Government’s backing for business stands in stark contrast to the refusal of the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland to offer business rates relief to our members,” states the letter.
“This has sadly had a disproportionate impact on our smaller independent businesses, many of them family run, which have faced making staff redundant and an uncertain future.”
Powered by WPeMatico
Asia Pioneer Entertainment Holdings Limited is pleased to announce Ms. Maria Garcia was appointed as APE’s first female Director since the company’s listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2017, with effect from 30 September 2024. She oversees the company’s growth and development in both the Macau and Southeast Asian markets. Prior to joining APE, Ms. Garcia spent over 17 years in public relations and event management, coordinating significant events in Macau, Hong Kong, and China for private, diplomatic, and governmental entities.
Ms. Garcia joined APE in 2006 as Sales Director of the Corporate Sales and Marketing Department, serving for six years before leaving to pursue various roles within the gaming sector and founding her own business. In 2020, she returned to APE as a Business Consultant and resumed her role as Sales Director for Macau and Southeast Asia in December 2022, where she continues to serve to this day.
With more than 36 years of work experience, nearly 20 of which have been in the gaming industry, Ms. Garcia’s achievements and professionalism are both significant and commendable.
Mr. Herman Ng, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of APE, stated, “We are delighted to welcome Maria to the board. I have had the pleasure of working with her for over a decade. She is an industry expert with extensive knowledge, experience, and a wide network of connections. I am confident she will excel in this role.”
Speaking about her new position, Ms. Maria Garcia expressed her excitement, stating, “It is a true honor to join APE’s board as its first female director. The past few years have been challenging for the company, particularly due to the impact of the global pandemic. I am proud of our resilience and the progress we’ve made together during these times. In my new role, I am committed to fully utilizing my strengths to tackle future opportunities and challenges alongside APE as we work towards a bright and successful future.”
With her extensive experience and leadership, Ms. Garcia’s appointment underscores APE’s commitment to diversity and excellence in the gaming industry, paving the way for future growth and innovation.
The post Asia Pioneer Entertainment Holdings Limited appointed Maria Garcia to its Board of Directors appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
authorised betting operators
Stake approved by Brazil’s Ministry of Finance, included in list of authorised operators
Stake is thrilled to announce that Brazil’s Ministry of Finance has officially included Stake Brazil Ltda. in the country’s list of authorised betting operators.
The decision was made following a thorough review of Stake’s application and supporting documents and will allow the brand to operate in Brazil’s booming iGaming market.
While the Ministry of Finance is in the process of evaluating a full licence application, Stake’s inclusion on the authorised operator list will allow Stake Brazil to continue offering the best-in-class gaming and betting experience that local consumers have come to expect.
Stake’s commitment to Brazil will soon be further enhanced, with plans to open an office in São Paulo. The operator will also hire a dedicated country manager, just as it has in other key Latam territories, to bolster operations and hire additional team members. This is in order to grow the local footprint in the region, while complementing Stake’s global operations.
From a partnerships point of view in Brazil, Stake has already enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Série A side Juventude during its first season with the club, which culminated in a journey to the Campeonato Gaucho Final & Copa do Brazil Quarter Final.
Stake’s partnership with UFC in Brazil has also gone from strength to strength over the years while working with athletes like Alex Pereira and Alexandre Pantoja as they aim to cement their champion status.
Stake would like to extend its gratitude to customers, partners, and the Brazilian regulatory authorities for their support and cooperation during this process.
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming has secured a partnership with SpinOro to deliver its games portfolio to a wider European player base.
Through the deal, BGaming will expand in key regulated markets across the continent, including Spain, Lithuania, Romania, and Bulgaria, with its ever-growing list of titles set to go live with SpinOro’s operator partners.
SpinOro, the spin-off of Anakatech, is a well-renowned developer of games, platforms, and comprehensive solutions with over 10 years of expertise.
Their portfolio features over 180 exclusive in-house Slot, Scratch, and Table Games, accessible in 20+ languages. Through its powerful aggregation platform, SpinOro offers operators a flexible selection of cross-platform games, either as a standalone suite or integrated with third-party titles from top providers.
This solidifies BGaming’s position as a sought-after provider of top-quality gaming experiences to the European market, following a string of successful partnerships with operators such as Uniclub, InBet, and StarCasino in Q3.
Olga Levshina, CCO at BGaming, said: “We are delighted to partner with SpinOro to deliver our wide-ranging content library to more European players than ever before.
“SpinOro is renowned for offering the best cross-platform games to boost player activity and increase retention. Our titles are proven to do just that and we are looking forward to delivering memorable experiences to players across these four key markets.”
Jeff Letlat, COO at SpinOro said: “BGaming’s titles are in high demand, particularly as they seek to reach new audiences with imaginative mechanics, themes, and genres.
“We are thrilled to have them join our SpinOro aggregation platform among the best providers in iGaming and remain confident that their releases will continue to surprise and excite players as more are added.”
About BGaming
BGaming is a fast-growing iGaming content provider converting gambling into gaming. Thanks to an expert team and a player-driven approach, the studio creates innovative and engaging products featured on reputable platforms and 1,600+ online casinos worldwide. BGaming is the world’s first to support cryptocurrencies and offer Provably Fair games. Today the brand’s portfolio includes 150+ products with HD graphics and a clear user interface for every device. The studio is also known for its brand exclusives created in partnerships with leading operators in the industry.
The post BGaming joins Spinoro’s aggregation platform to bolster European expansion appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Australia6 days agoAUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas Announced as Speaker for Regulating the Game 2025 Sydney
-
Central Europe5 days ago
SOFTSWISS Steps In to Assist Southern Poland After Severe Flooding
-
Latest News5 days ago
Week 40/2024 slot games releases
-
Asia6 days ago
Online Casino Platform 96M Partners with Formula 1
-
Compliance Updates6 days ago
Playnetic reinforces European foothold following regulatory approval from the Malta Gaming Authority
-
Compliance Updates5 days ago
UKGC Appoints Two New Members to the Advisory Board for Safer Gambling
-
Latest News6 days ago
Sportingtech selects Continent 8 Technologies to safeguard betting and gaming platform
-
Amusnet5 days ago
Amusnet Strengthens its LATAM Presence by Partnering with Rush Street Interactive’s RushBet Brand in Mexico
