Latest News
BGC Members Make Record Horserace Betting Levy Contribution
Betting and Gaming Council members are expected to contribute a record £105m in levy payments to the Horserace Betting Levy Board for last year, new figures reveal.
The figure, provided by the independent Horserace Betting Levy Board, is an increase of £5m on the previous year.
As a result of this record additional funding from bookmakers, the HBLB announced an increase of £3.2m in its prize money contribution for 2024 versus 2023, from £67.3m to £70.5m.
It is the third year in a row that Levy contributions have increased, from £97m in 2021/22, to £100m in 2022/2023 and now £105m in 2023/2024.
According to the Horserace Betting Levy Board, the £105m total is derived from the receipt of provisional end of year submissions from most Levy-paying bookmakers.
Michael Dugher, Betting and Gaming Council CEO and Acting Chair, said: “This record contribution to the Levy is extremely welcome news and demonstrates once again the enduring, mission critical support regulated betting provides British horseracing.
“Despite a double digit decline in horserace betting turnover over the past five years – and a double digit decline in racecourse attendances – this shows that levy contributions and prize money are both up, and it once again provides a timely reminder that racing could not survive without the record financial support that is flowing from betting.
“Our members remain committed to the long-term success of horseracing, and the huge economic contribution it makes across the country, especially in rural communities.
“Attention must now turn to how we challenge vested interests, introduce real change and reform the sport, ensuring we reverse the current decline and provide racing with a genuinely long term sustainable future.”
Horseracing is the second biggest spectator sport in the UK, second only to football, with around five million people attending approximately 1400 fixtures annually across 59 racecourses.
However, the sport has been in decline in recent years. In 2007, 17% of the population enjoyed horserace betting the previous year, but that fell to 10% in 2018, while racecourse attendances have dropped by 14% since 2019.
Meanwhile, horserace betting turnover for April to December 2023 is down 17% vs the average for the same period across the last five years.
The BGC has made significant efforts to lessen the impacts on racing as a result of the Government’s White Paper on gambling reforms, particularly on the issue of affordability.
Earlier this month the BGC announced a new voluntary industry Code on Customer Checks which raises standards, while reducing the need for requests for private financial documents.
Developed jointly with the Gambling Commission and backed by Government, this Code will operate as a voluntary interim scheme – bringing consistency across the regulated sector for operators who adopt it – until the frictionless financial risk assessments set out in the Government’s White Paper can be developed, tested and implemented.
While this Code delivers progress on resolving the issue of intrusive document checks, it does not offer a complete solution. So, the BGC and GC are now actively working on a new Code on Anti-Money Laundering checks, which also trigger requests for documents.
The BGC is currently working with the British Horseracing Authority and government to resolve a settlement on a new voluntary Levy to support horseracing.
It is estimated BGC members contribute around £350m a year to British horseracing in Levy, media rights and sponsorship deals.
Meanwhile the wider regulated betting and gaming sector supports 110,000 jobs, generates £4.2bn in tax and contributes £7.1bn to the economy.
Each month around 22.5m adults in Britain enjoy a bet, whether it’s buying a lottery ticket, having a game of bingo, visiting a casino, playing online or having a wager on football, horseracing and other sports.
The most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.4% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
The post BGC Members Make Record Horserace Betting Levy Contribution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Business Development
Soft2Bet hires Ryan Collinge as EVP for business development and partnerships
Collinge joins as Executive Vice President – Group Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, bringing 20+ years across retail and online gaming.
Soft2Bet has appointed Ryan Collinge as Executive Vice President – Group Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, adding him to its senior leadership team.
In the role, Collinge will focus on supporting Soft2Bet’s growth plans and strengthening relationships with operators and entertainment brands, the company said.
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, said: “Ryan brings the commercial judgement, industry relationships and operational experience needed to support Soft2Bet’s growth. His appointment strengthens our executive team as we expand our work with leading operators and global entertainment brands.”
Soft2Bet said Collinge brings more than 20 years of commercial, product and operational experience across retail and online gaming, including work with private equity-backed start-ups and multinational gaming groups. The company added that his background includes global sales, commercial strategy and business development, along with iGaming content, product development and studio management.
Soft2Bet also pointed to Collinge’s experience in the casino content vertical, which it said will support client needs analysis and solution optimization.
The post Soft2Bet hires Ryan Collinge as EVP for business development and partnerships appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Caesars Entertainment
Vanderpump Hotel reports $813,553 Pai Gow Poker jackpot weeks after opening
Caesars Rewards member Pam W. from Colorado hit a seven-card straight flush on the Las Vegas Strip property.
The Vanderpump Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip has reported an $813,553 jackpot win on Pai Gow Poker, just weeks after the property officially opened.
According to the company, Caesars Rewards member Pam W., visiting from Littleton, Colorado, won the payout after hitting a seven-card straight flush while playing Pai Gow Poker at The Vanderpump Hotel. The release said Pam was on a weeklong vacation with her husband and plans to use the winnings toward a European river cruise.
The Vanderpump Hotel is Lisa Vanderpump’s first hotel, developed in partnership with Caesars Entertainment. The property has 188 guest rooms, including 21 suites, and a 40,000-square-foot casino, the company said.
The venue’s food, beverage and nightlife lineup includes GIADA by Giada De Laurentiis, rooftop pool and event space Soleia, and Drai’s After Hours in its original location beneath the hotel. The property also hosts Caesars Sportsbook in a lounge-style format, alongside lounges including Gigolo and The Bar at The Vanderpump Hotel.
The post Vanderpump Hotel reports $813,553 Pai Gow Poker jackpot weeks after opening appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Caesars Rewards
Raise a Glass: The Vanderpump Hotel Celebrates $813,553 Jackpot Win
The Vanderpump Hotel – Lisa Vanderpump’s first-ever hotel in partnership with Caesars Entertainment – is dealing out big wins on the Las Vegas Strip, celebrating a dazzling $813,553 payout just weeks after officially opening its doors.
Caesars Rewards® member Pam W., visiting from Littleton, Colorado, hit the jackpot with a seven-card straight flush on Pai Gow Poker at The Vanderpump Hotel. Pam, who is in town enjoying a weeklong vacation with her husband, is already planning her next adventure – turning her Vegas luck into a dream European river cruise.
Blending elevated design with a distinct sense of personality, The Vanderpump Hotel introduces a boutique, lifestyle-driven hospitality experience in the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic destinations. The hotel offers an intimate footprint with 188 guest rooms, including 21 suites.
The property also features a 40,000-square-foot casino; Gigolo, a sexy, sultry lounge and The Bar at The Vanderpump Hotel, an inviting destination in the center of the casino – all curated to deliver a sophisticated yet playful atmosphere.
Culinary and nightlife offerings are anchored by GIADA, the award-winning flagship restaurant from celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis; Soleia, a 65,000-square-foot rooftop pool and event space with open-air, panoramic views from 11 stories above the Las Vegas skyline; and Drai’s After Hours, located in its original home beneath the hotel. Caesars Sportsbook at The Vanderpump Hotel provides a boutique, lounge-style setting for sports fans and gaming enthusiasts alike. Guests can book stays at The Vanderpump Hotel via the Caesars Rewards app or online at caesars.com/thevanderpumphotel.
The post Raise a Glass: The Vanderpump Hotel Celebrates $813,553 Jackpot Win appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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