Latest News
FDJ Announces Completion of Acquisition of Premier Lotteries Ireland
La Française des Jeux (FDJ) has announced that it has completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), which holds exclusive rights to operate the Irish National Lottery until 2034. This announcement follows the approval granted by the Irish National Lottery regulator at the beginning of October.
The acquisition of PLI is the Group’s first venture operating a lottery outside France, and reflects FDJ’s strategic ambition to become an international B2C operator in lottery, sports betting and online gaming.
Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and CEO of FDJ Group, said: “La Française des Jeux has opened a new chapter in its history by fulfilling its ambition to expand its international presence as a lottery and online gaming operator. The synergies between FDJ and Premier Lotteries Ireland will draw on our respective and acknowledged skills to offer people in Ireland a recreational, responsible range of games.”
Premier Lotteries Ireland’s CEO Andrew Algeo said: “FDJ’s backing marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in PLI’s history, which will benefit Ireland’s National Lottery and its many stakeholders. I am grateful to both Ontario Teachers’ and An Post who have been generous supporters of PLI, and the National Lottery has grown substantially and sustainably on their watch. The PLI team looks forward to further improving the Irish National Lottery with FDJ and contributing to FDJ’s international lottery expansion.”
In 2022, Premier Lotteries Ireland recorded gross gaming revenue (GGR) of €399 million and reported net gaming revenue of €140 million with an EBITDA margin comparable to that of FDJ. PLI has held the Irish National Lottery licence since 2014 and holds exclusive rights to operate this until November 2034.
With more than 200 employees, Premier Lotteries Ireland offers a range of around 40 games, available through a diversified network of more than 5300 points of sale as well as online, with over 15% digital sales. Draw games make up two-thirds of its sales, and instant-win games one-third. In 2022, PLI redistributed 65% of its gross gaming revenue (GGR), or nearly €260 million, to more than 4000 charities and Good Causes.
A strategic plan aimed at accelerating PLI’s growth and boosting profitability is being jointly drawn up. The plan is based on sharing the two operators’ best practices and on FDJ’s experience to enhance PLI’s instant-win games portfolio, boost the draw games player base and further improve the digital experience for players in Ireland.
$10M guaranteed poker
ACR Poker $10M Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms
ACR Poker is igniting the spring poker season with the Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms Special High Five Edition, offering an astonishing $10 million in guaranteed prize pools alongside the return of its celebrated High Five Series.
From April 12 to April 28, 2026, the special edition will feature two marquee events running simultaneously — an $8 million GTD No‑Limit Hold’em (NLH) and a $2 million GTD Pot‑Limit Omaha (PLO) tournament — promising some of the most thrilling online poker action of the year.
Players buy in for $2,650 and compete for massive mystery bounties, with the NLH event offering up to $500,000 for a single knockout and the PLO event featuring a top bounty of $200,000. Every knockout on Day 2 guarantees at least $5,000 in bounty rewards.
With five Day 1 flights, participants can enter multiple times and build competitive stacks for Day 2’s showdown. Qualifiers begin April 7th through Venom Fever satellites, providing hundreds of seats — some even free — via Direct, Mega, or Beast satellite events.
All players who make it to Day 2 on April 27th at 1:05 pm ET are already in the money. The climactic final table to crown this special edition’s champions will take place on April 28th at 4:05 pm ET.
ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker says the High Five edition builds on the momentum of earlier high‑stakes events like the $50 Million OSS XL, combining huge guarantees with broad access and big bounty potential for players of all bankrolls.
Featured Reference
For a similar take on this major online poker series and its prize pools, check out this article from Poker.org on ACR Poker’s dual mystery bounty events and their massive guaranteed prizes:
ACR Venom $10M GTD Tournaments – Poker.org
The post ACR Poker $10M Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AI in gambling safety
BOS releases report on the prevalence of gambling addiction in Sweden
Sweden has seen a long‑term decline in gambling addiction over the past 25 years, despite rapid growth in online gambling availability, advertising, and mobile gaming.
Economist Ola Nevander’s research for the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) shows that the prevalence of problem gambling has steadily fallen since the early 2000s, even as the market expanded. This trend emerged even with the widespread adoption of digital gaming products and 24/7 access on smartphones.
According to the findings, the proportion of Swedes classified as problem gamblers (based on the Problem Gambling Severity Index) dropped from about 2.2 % in 2008–09 to around 1.3 % by 2021, marking a significant reduction in overall gambling harm.
Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General of BOS, emphasizes that this decline suggests Sweden’s regulatory and industry efforts are moving in the right direction. While the transformation from traditional physical gambling venues to digital platforms has raised concerns, online tools such as responsible gaming technologies and AI‑assisted safeguards are helping reduce problem gambling rates.
However, Hoffstedt cautions that much work remains, because expanded game offerings and persistent advertising mean ongoing responsibility is crucial to maintain and deepen the downward trend.
Report available in full at: Problem Gambling_ENG_20260327[2]
For a similar perspective on gambling addiction prevalence trends in Sweden, see this article:
Sweden problem gambling falls but still ‘scope for improvement’ — iGamingBusiness.com Sweden problem gambling trend report (IgamingBusiness)
The post BOS releases report on the prevalence of gambling addiction in Sweden appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
ACR POKER’S DUAL MYSTERY BOUNTY VENOMS – SPECIAL HIGH FIVE EDITION HITS WITH $10 MILLION IN GUARANTEED PRIZE POOLS
Celebrate the return of the High Five Series with a special edition of the iconic Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms and hundreds of seats from just $0 in Venom Fever satellites
ACR Poker is turning up the excitement this spring with the Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms Special High Five Edition, featuring $10 million in total guaranteed prize pools. Alongside the return of its popular High Five series, this special edition of the Dual Venoms will run from Sunday, April 12th through Tuesday, April 28th, delivering side-by-side action in the $8 million GTD NLH and $2 million GTD PLO, offering some of the biggest online poker action of the year.
Following the success of previous editions, the $2,650 buy-in Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms return with massive guarantees and mystery bounties that reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the $8 million GTD NLH, a single knockout could earn a player the top bounty prize of $500,000, while the $2 million PLO, which ties as ACR Poker’s biggest Omaha event ever, offers a $200,000 top bounty. Every knockout starting on Day 2 guarantees at least $5,000 in both events.
With five Day 1 flights, players can enter multiple times and combine their stacks to hit Day 2 with some serious firepower. All players reaching Day 2 on Monday, April 27th at 1:05pm ET are already in the money, with the Final Table showdown for the coveted Venom crowns scheduled for Tuesday, April 28th at 4:05pm ET.
Qualifying begins Tuesday, April 7th through a packed Venom Fever satellite schedule, offering hundreds of guaranteed seats at low cost, or even for free, through Direct Satellites, Mega Satellites, and Beast Satellites.
“After the incredible turnout and massive payouts in March’s $50 Million OSS XL, Spring 2026 is shaping up to be epic with the return of our High Five Series and this special Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms edition,” said ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker. “With huge guarantees, mystery bounties, and accessible satellites for every bankroll, players have double the excitement and double the chance to hit massive prizes!”
The latest Dual Mystery Bounty Venoms delivered massive fields and payouts, with both events exceeding their guarantees. The NLH drew 3,673 entries for a $9,182,500 prize pool, paying over $700,000 to the winner. Runner-up ‘BALDOUS’ from the UK scored the biggest payday of the tournament, claiming the top $500,000 bounty and $730,000 in total bounties, pocketing a whopping $1,240,310 in total. The PLO tournament attracted 837 entrants and generated $2,092,500, with the champion earning more than $300,000.
For more information, visit ACRPoker.eu.
The post ACR POKER’S DUAL MYSTERY BOUNTY VENOMS – SPECIAL HIGH FIVE EDITION HITS WITH $10 MILLION IN GUARANTEED PRIZE POOLS appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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