Australia
Star Entertainment Appoints Daniel Finch as CEO of Brisbane Operations
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The Star Entertainment Group Limited has announced the appointment of Daniel Finch as Chief Executive Officer of its Brisbane operations, pending all necessary regulatory approvals.
Mr Finch takes on the role after nine years as Managing Director at Expedia Australia. His distinguished career in the travel and hospitality industry, including a well-credentialled history with major hotel groups, spans more than 20 years and includes key executive positions with responsibilities across Australian, New Zealand, UK and Asian markets.
Mr Finch will report to the Group CEO and Managing Director Robbie Cooke.
Mr Cooke said: “I’m delighted to welcome Daniel to the team as part of our organisational restructure. We will have a CEO in each of our venues in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Daniel’s appointment is the second, following Jess Mellor’s promotion to CEO Gold Coast. We are also well advanced in our search for our Sydney CEO.
“Daniel brings exceptional leadership capability to The Star, having developed high performance teams while overseeing Expedia brands and businesses in Australia and New Zealand. He has a reputation and an exceptional background for building team culture through periods of significant organisational change.
“His experience in launching new hotels is also a considerable asset as we prepare to open The Star Brisbane and the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct – a transformative development almost 10 years in the making.”
Mr Finch said: “I am elated to be joining The Star Entertainment Group in what I believe is the most important and exciting time in the history of the business. The opening of The Star Brisbane in 2024 will be significant not just for this business but for Queensland.
“We are excited to be taking on the responsibility of driving domestic and international tourism by delivering a world-class venue and experiences that locals will be proud to experience all year round.
“Together with the team, it will be my ambition to drive a high-performance culture, ensuring 5-star services and experiences for the millions who will visit us each year.
“A major priority will be to build trust and reputation with guests, patrons, stakeholders and the local community. This will create the foundation that will set The Star up for sustainable long-term growth and success.”
Mr Finch is expected to start in his role in mid-February 2024.
Australia
Network 10 Breaches Gambling Ad Rules During Formula 1 Grand Prix Broadcast
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Network Ten has been found in breach of broadcasting rules after airing gambling advertisements during the australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in March 2024.
An Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) investigation found four gambling ads were aired at prohibited times during a broadcast of the first practice round of the Grand Prix.
Under the Commercial TV Code of Practice (the Code), gambling promotions cannot be shown during broadcasts of sporting events between 5am and 8.30pm, including the five minutes before and after the event.
Authority member Carolyn Lidgerwood said the rules around gambling advertisements on TV are there to protect the community from gambling related harms.
“Broadcasters should have strict controls in place to ensure compliance with the restrictions on gambling ads during sporting events,” Ms Lidgerwood said.
Practice rounds and qualifying rounds for motorsports are subject to the same restrictions on gambling advertising as the main event itself.
This is the first breach by Network 10 of the gambling advertising rules in the Code. During the investigation, Network 10 submitted that the broadcasts occurred due to human error.
Following the ACMA’s breach finding, Network 10 voluntarily improved the planning, checks and balances it has in place for ad scheduling and has, at the ACMA’s request, agreed to review its processes to introduce additional quality controls.
Network 10 will also train staff to avoid similar issues in the future and will provide a written progress report to the ACMA.
In a separate investigation in 2024, the ACMA found that streaming service 10 Play, provided by Network 10, breached online gambling advertising rules during two live-streamed sports events.
“The ACMA will closely monitor these actions and Network Ten’s compliance with the broadcasting and online gambling advertising rules,” Ms Lidgerwood said.
The post Network 10 Breaches Gambling Ad Rules During Formula 1 Grand Prix Broadcast appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
Picklebet Becomes Official Wagering Partner of Penrith Panthers
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Picklebet, an Australian-owned and operated digital wagering platform, has become the Official Wagering Partner of Penrith Panthers.
Damon Oudejans, CMO and Co-Founder of Picklebet, said: “We are incredibly excited to partner with the Penrith Panthers, a club that has set the benchmark for excellence both on and off the field.
“Picklebet and the Panthers share a passion for innovation, and a commitment to delivering premium experiences to fans. This partnership is more than just branding—it’s about creating engaging, digital-first activations that bring supporters closer to the game they love.”
To kick-start the partnership Picklebet is giving away the ultimate giveaway for two people for the opening game of the season in Las Vegas. The social competition ends at 12 pm AEDT on Monday 24 February and includes flights to Las Vegas, three nights’ accommodation, $5000 spending money and tickets to see the Panthers headline the Rugby League action at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Matt Cameron, CEO of Panthers Rugby League, said: “This partnership is a fantastic alignment between two brands that embrace innovation and excellence.
“Picklebet’s cutting-edge approach to digital wagering, particularly its focus on next-gen sports engagement, is an exciting fit for our club. We look forward to working together to create incredible experiences for Panthers fans over the next four years.”
As part of the partnership, Picklebet branding will be feature across Panthers’ assets, including digital platforms, in-stadium activations and exclusive fan engagement initiatives. Picklebet will also leverage its expertise in digital and social engagement to introduce new ways for fans to interact with the game and their team like never before.
The post Picklebet Becomes Official Wagering Partner of Penrith Panthers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
ACMA Blocks More Illegal Gambling Websites
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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal online gambling and affiliate-marketing websites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include JokaRoom, AUDPokies888, Aura Play, Instant Casino, Leon, Rich Papa, UUSpin and Wild Pokies.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal online gambling. Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1154 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked.
Around 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing new illegal online gambling rules in 2017.
The post ACMA Blocks More Illegal Gambling Websites appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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