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William Hill Profits Drop by 91% Due to Covid-19 Crisis
William Hill has reported that its annual profits dropped by 91% after the pandemic forced the closure of its betting shops and saw live sports events cancelled. The group saw underlying pre-tax profits slump to £9.1m in 2020 from £96.5m in 2019.
Its betting shops were hit hard by repeated lockdowns and restrictions, with the retail arm slumping to a £29.5m loss as like-for-like revenues plunged 30%. William Hill’s online business delivered a 3% rise in earnings to £121.9m, but this was not enough to offset the retail woes.
Ulrik Bengtsson, CEO of William Hill, said: “In what was an extraordinary year I am immensely proud of how the group has responded and the resilience we have seen in our performance.
“We prioritised the protection and safety of both our colleagues and our customers, and our employees went above and beyond for which I thank them.
“In 2020 we put our strategic plans firmly into action, diversifying our geographical footprint, expanding our team’s capabilities and rebuilding our technology.
“We are embedding proprietary components across the platform architecture and are delivering a constant flow of new features including faster product experience, improved navigation and greater protection to our customers around the world.
“The performance in the second half is clear testimony that our strategy is bearing fruit. In the UK, the competitive position of our online offerings for both gaming and sports has been materially strengthened, and our omni-channel product is delivering encouraging early results.
“Retail has undergone regional disruption although where stores did re-open, they quickly traded towards pre-Covid levels.
“We are delighted with our international online performance, where our investment in our product and technology is producing clear benefits, particularly in light of the regulatory headwinds in Germany and temporary restrictions elsewhere.
“We will continue to benefit from our agile marketing engine, and the recent agreement to acquire Alfabet S.A.S. in Colombia and our licence in Argentina both offer further promising growth opportunities in Latin America.”
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At the heart of the exhibition is the IRIS platform, R. Franco Digital’s GLI-certified, open-architecture solution. Designed to deliver a seamless experience across casino, sports betting, and retail operations, IRIS gives operators the flexibility, scalability, and security required to grow efficiently across multiple Latin American markets.
In addition to its robust infrastructure, R. Franco Digital will present its latest high-performance gaming titles, including Strange Spins, Genie Triple Bonanza, Diamond King Gorilla, Luxury Blast, Zorro: Final Duel, and The Phantom. Each game incorporates localized mechanics and culturally relevant themes, ensuring maximum engagement for LatAm players.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director at R. Franco Digital, commented:
“Latin America is a cornerstone of our global strategy. GAT Expo Cartagena provides an essential platform to connect with partners and showcase how our technology evolves alongside the region’s regulatory landscape. We are excited to highlight the latest advancements in our IRIS platform and our expanding game portfolio, both designed to deliver operational excellence and support regulated operators across LatAm.”
Visitors to the expo will be able to experience live demonstrations of the IRIS platform and explore R. Franco Digital’s diverse content offerings, emphasizing the company’s commitment to innovation, localization, and operator success in the region.
The post R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
R. Franco Digital, the Spanish iGaming provider, has announced its participation at GAT Expo Cartagena in Colombia, continuing its strategic push across the most prominent regulated markets in Latin America.
The company will be at the Las Américas Convention Center from March 24 to 26 to present its comprehensive ecosystem of products and services, specifically engineered to meet the sophisticated demands of the LatAm gaming sector.
The centrepiece of the exhibit will be the IRIS platform, R. Franco Digital’s powerful, GLI-certified open architecture solution. Designed to provide a seamless experience across casino, sports betting, and retail, IRIS equips operators with the flexibility, security, and scalability needed to grow efficiently across multiple markets.
In addition to its technical infrastructure, R. Franco Digital will debut its latest high-performance gaming content, including recent releases such as Strange Spins, Genie Triple Bonanza, Diamond King Gorilla, Luxury Blast, Zorro: Final Duel, and The Phantom.
All titles feature the localised mechanics and themes that have become a hallmark of R. Franco Digital, ensuring relevance and engagement across LatAm markets.
Javier Sacristán Franco, International Business Director of R. Franco Digital, said: “Latin America is a cornerstone of our global strategy. GAT Expo Cartagena provides an essential forum for us to connect with partners and demonstrate how our technology continues to evolve alongside the region’s regulatory landscape.
“We are excited to showcase the latest iterations of our IRIS platform and our continually expanding portfolio, both designed to deliver operational excellence and support regulated operators across LatAm.”
The post R. Franco Digital to showcase premium portfolio at GAT Expo Cartagena 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
DR Gaming Technology
DR Gaming Technology Appoints Stephane Henault as Director of Technical Services
DR Gaming Technology (DRGT) has appointed Stephane Henault – formerly of Light & Wonder, Scientific Games and Bally’s – as its new director of technical services.
The newly created role comes amid pending deals for DRG that will see it expand in Latin America and Africa.
“This is an important appointment for DRGT as we continue to scale our operations globally,” said company CEO Marco Herrera.
“Stephane brings a wealth of technical and operational experience, as well as a deep understanding of the evolving needs of casino operators. His expertise will be instrumental in further strengthening and streamlining the services we provide to our partners.”
“I see this opportunity as the perfect way for me to re-connect with operator partners directly, leveraging the experience gained over the last three decades working for both a start-up, and of late, a massive multinational, and to contribute in a very practical way to their day-to-day success,” said Henault.
“DRGT’s current growth trajectory presents an exciting challenge, particularly in ensuring that as the business expands, its technical service delivery remains efficient, scalable, and aligned with operator requirements.
“Being part of that journey and helping to build processes and structures that support it, is hugely motivating. Right now, I wake up every morning with a spring in my step – that’s special.”
The post DR Gaming Technology Appoints Stephane Henault as Director of Technical Services appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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