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BGC Members Make Record Horserace Betting Levy Contribution

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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.

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International bettors back Haaland’s Norway to beat England in World Cup Quarter Final Clash

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Kaizen Gaming shares Betano users’ predictions on teams heading to the World Cup semi-finals

As the World Cup moves into the last eight stage, Kaizen Gaming unveils exclusive proprietary data from its Betano platform, which reveals Argentina, Norway, Spain and France as the most backed teams by users globally to progress into the semi-finals.

Predicting the teams to qualify to the semi-finals (selections from the “To Qualify” market):

  • Norway backed by 75% of users to qualify over England
  • Argentina favoured by 80% of users to win over Switzerland
  • Spain narrowly predicted to come out on top over Belgium with 55% of users’ bets
  • France has been selected by 67% of users to pass through Morocco

 

With regards to two of the biggest surprises of the tournament this far, Brazil’s defeat to Norway and Germany’s elimination by Paraguay, it seems that for Betano users the shock wasn’t that big. In fact, 42% of users had seen Paraguay’s qualification coming, and 45% had predicted Norway getting through Brazil to reach the quarterfinals.

*The data shared has been extracted on the morning of July 8, 2026 from across 18 markets, excluding the UK. The international data sources may vary according to betting option availability per market. 

The post International bettors back Haaland’s Norway to beat England in World Cup Quarter Final Clash appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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PG Soft names Hugo Baungartner as General Manager LatAm

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PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, has appointed Hugo Baungartner as General Manager LatAm to accelerate its continued success across the region. Baungartner will be responsible for driving PG Soft’s commercial expansion across Latin America, while leading the games provider’s strategy in Brazil where it has already captured a significant share of the market. Brazil continues to enjoy strong growth and is entering a pivotal phase in the regulation of its gaming sector, with the latest election on the horizon. With over 29 years in technology and gaming, Baungartner has previously held leadership roles at Grupo Aposta Ganha, RCT Gaming,  Prohards and most recently Esportes Gaming Brasil.

During his time in the industry, Baungartner has built an extensive network across Latin America’s regulatory landscape, forging strong relationships with key regulators, industry associations and public bodies, including Brazil’s Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA/MF), the Federal Revenue Service, and COAF, as well as Mexico’s Dirección General de Juegos y Sorteos and AIEJA (the Mexican Gaming Association).

PG Soft’s continued support of major regional events, including its sponsorship of BiS SiGMA South America earlier this year  in São Paulo, further highlights the company’s long-term commitment to Brazil and the wider Latin American market.

Hugo Baungartner, General Manager LatAm at PG Soft, commented: “PG Soft’s brand needs no introduction in Latin America thanks to its extensive portfolio of world-class, mobile-first games that resonate strongly with players. The company is only just getting started in the region, and I look forward to building on its success in Brazil while expanding PG Soft’s presence across regulated markets throughout Latin America.”

The post PG Soft names Hugo Baungartner as General Manager LatAm appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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BC.GAME signs Guillermo Ochoa to support Mexico growth strategy

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  • Partnership supports BC.GAME’s continued investment in the regulated Mexican market

  • Ochoa will front football-led brand activity, local promotions and fan engagement for BCGAME.mx

  • Agreement comes during a landmark summer for football across Mexico, the United States and Canada

BC.GAME has announced the signing of Mexican football legend Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa as brand ambassador, as the global online entertainment platform continues to build its presence in Mexico through BCGAME.mx.

The partnership represents a significant step in BC.GAME’s localised growth strategy, with Ochoa set to support football-led brand communications, promotions and fan engagement activity designed specifically for Mexican audiences.

As one of the most recognisable figures in Mexican football, Ochoa brings strong local credibility and international profile to BC.GAME at a time when football culture in Mexico is attracting heightened global attention.

For BC.GAME, the agreement is intended to strengthen brand awareness and trust around BCGAME.mx, its licensed platform for the Mexican market, while supporting the company’s wider strategy of building closer connections with users in regulated markets through sport, esports and entertainment partnerships.

Kar Kheng Giam, CEO of BC.GAME, said: “Mexico is an important market for BC.GAME, and localisation is central to how we build meaningful relationships with users.

“Guillermo Ochoa is more than an outstanding goalkeeper. He is a figure who genuinely connects with Mexican football fans across generations, and that makes him an ideal ambassador for BCGAME.mx.

“As we continue to invest in our platform for the Mexican market, we want to work with partners who understand the culture, passion and community around football. Ochoa’s profile, professionalism and connection with fans make him a natural fit for BC.GAME.”

Known to fans as “Memo”, Ochoa has been one of the defining Mexican footballers of his generation. His long-standing role with the national team, standout performances in major international tournaments and club career across Mexico and Europe have made him a familiar name to football fans around the world.

Through the partnership, Ochoa will appear across BC.GAME’s Mexican market activity, including football-themed content, localised promotions and fan engagement campaigns for BCGAME.mx.

Guillermo Ochoa said: “I am very happy to partner with BC.GAME at such a special time for Mexican football.

“Football has always been about passion, community and shared experiences. I look forward to working with BC.GAME and BCGAME.mx to connect with fans in new ways.”

The signing adds to BC.GAME’s growing sports entertainment strategy, which has seen the brand expand its presence through football, esports and wider entertainment partnerships.

BC.GAME continues to develop its brand in markets where it is permitted to operate, with responsible gaming remaining an important part of its platform experience.

The post BC.GAME signs Guillermo Ochoa to support Mexico growth strategy appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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