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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.”
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Spinmatic has announced Plata o Plomo Hold&Win, a new iteration of its Plata o Plomo slot built around a revised Hold&Win bonus feature.
The company said it has changed how bonus-stage winnings are determined compared with the original game’s “random rewarding system.” In the updated version, Spinmatic said “guesswork” has been removed and that “every player now operates within a clearly defined multiplier framework.”
Spinmatic is also adding what it calls a “Super Win” incentive to the bonus journey. The company said that by reaching the end of the 3rd stage, “players are now guaranteed a significant payout.”
Mechanically, Spinmatic said the title follows its earlier Hold&Win integration in Frank Pantera, but scales the feature with a larger coin respin grid. While Frank Pantera used a 3×5 grid, Plata o Plomo Hold&Win uses an expanded 4×5 grid (20 slots), which Spinmatic said is designed to increase coin-landing opportunities and align the bonus feature visually with the base game reel structure.
Spinmatic did not disclose launch markets, operator partners, certification status, RTP/volatility data, or performance metrics for the updated title.
The post Spinmatic updates Plata o Plomo with Hold&Win bonus overhaul appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
bet365, a leading global online sportsbook and casino, announced its official launch in Michigan, marking its entry into its 17th U.S. state and continuing its rapid North American expansion. The launch also comes as bet365 is named as an Official Sports Betting Partner of the Detroit Tigers.
Michigan customers will have access to bet365’s globally recognized platform, featuring competitive odds, early lines, and industry-leading in-play betting and its signature Early Payout offer, a fan-favorite feature that allows customers to receive winnings early when their team takes a decisive lead. The platform also includes a fully integrated casino experience, with features such as the free daily Prize Matcher, which allows customers to play daily for prizes worth up to $5000 weekly.
To celebrate the launch, bet365 is offering new customers a “Bet $10, Get $365” promotion for their sportsbook and a “get 1000 free spins and up to $1000 deposit match” for casino, giving players immediate value and a compelling reason to try the platform.
“We’re excited to bring bet365 to Michigan and introduce a better way to bet. This is a mature market with knowledgeable fans, and we’re confident our product stands apart. Features like our Early Payout offer, combined with our in-play experience and integrated casino, give players more ways to engage and more reasons to choose bet365,” said Trip Stoddard, Head of Business Development at bet365.
As part of its commitment to the state, bet365 is also focused on embedding itself within Michigan’s iconic sports and entertainment landscape. The company announced its partnerships with the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, and 313 Presents as part of its launch and goal of creating meaningful connections with fans and enhancing how they engage with their favorite experiences. As part of the partnership, bet365 will be integrated throughout Comerica Park via a range of high-visibility placements, appear during game broadcasts through virtual signage, activate across Tigers radio and digital channels, and alongside fan-focused initiatives such as ticketing and merchandise programs throughout the season. In addition, bet365 will serve as a presenting partner of the Detroit SportsNet’s Tigers coverage.
The Michigan launch also reflects bet365’s broader U.S. strategy to expand into all legal markets and establish itself as a true national competitor. By bringing a refined product built on learnings from prior state launches, bet365 is positioned to compete with established operators while offering a differentiated experience.
As part of its launch, bet365 will continue to roll out its “Winning Is Everything” brand campaign across Michigan, reinforcing its commitment to players who are serious about their play and expect more from their sportsbook. Sports fans across Michigan will be able to access a full range of betting options across major leagues, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and more.
The post bet365 Launches in Michigan, Bringing its Global Betting Experience to a Competitive Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Zitro Digital, the online arm of global gaming supplier Zitro, continues to accelerate its expansion across Latin America with the launch of a new partnership with Solbet, one of Paraguay’s leading online operators. The deal represents a significant step in Zitro Digital’s drive to bring its content to new audiences throughout the region.
Solbet players now have access to Zitro Digital’s full portfolio — an extensive range of slots and Video Bingo titles built on the company’s land-based success, complemented by exclusive digital-first content. With this agreement, Zitro Digital adds another strong operator partnership to its growing operator base, reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-quality, trusted content to players in regulated markets worldwide.
“For Solbet, it is essential to continue expanding our gaming portfolio with content from globally recognized providers such as Zitro Digital. This partnership allows us to offer our players a high-quality gaming experience, aligned with market trends and their preferences,” said Rodrigo Iturralde, CEO of Solbet Paraguay.
“Partnering with an established operator like Solbet is a fantastic way to introduce our portfolio to players in what is a key market for us. We are committed to supporting our partners with content that players already know and trust, and we look forward to seeing our titles perform on Solbet’s platform,” said José Javier Martí, COO at Zitro Digital.
The post Zitro Digital Enters into a New Partnership with Solbet appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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