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BGC Members Make Record Horserace Betting Levy Contribution

Published

2 years ago

May 27, 2024

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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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RubyPlay launches casino titles on Flutter-owned Betnacional in Brazil

Published

27 minutes ago

July 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

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RubyPlay has launched its casino games with Betnacional in Brazil, extending its reach in the country’s regulated iGaming market. The rollout was announced on 22nd July 2026 and involves Flutter-owned Betnacional via Flutter Brazil.

According to the companies, the partnership was facilitated by Flutter Brazil, the Brazilian arm of Flutter Entertainment formed following its acquisition of NSX Group, the creators of Betnacional.

Betnacional is now live with a selection of RubyPlay Studio titles including Brilliant Gems and Gummy Giga Match®. The operator has also added Koala Games content, including Voltage Blitz® Zeus Up and other releases from the Voltage Blitz® series.

Dima Reiderman, Chief Commercial Officer at RubyPlay, said: “Betnacional is a major player in Brazil’s regulated market, and this partnership represents an important milestone in our continued growth across LatAm. Partnering with one of Brazil’s leading operators further strengthens our position in one of the industry’s most dynamic regulated markets and reinforces our commitment to delivering content that resonates with local audiences.

“Our layered studio ecosystem allows us to combine speed to market, localised content and a broad range of player experiences, making us a strong long-term content partner for leading operators such as Betnacional.”

Frederico Cunha, Head of Games at Flutter Brazil, added: “We are always looking for opportunities to enhance our casino proposition and diversify the content available on our platform.

“Bringing RubyPlay’s games to Betnacional supports that goal and provides our players with access to additional entertainment options.”

The post RubyPlay launches casino titles on Flutter-owned Betnacional in Brazil appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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DEGEN Studios goes live with Superbet in Brazil

Published

27 minutes ago

July 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Deal adds DEGEN’s full current catalogue to Superbet, with future slot releases planned for rollout.

DEGEN Studios has launched its games with Superbet in Brazil, making the studio’s full existing catalogue available to the operator’s players, with future releases also set to be added.

Superbet is the leading commercial brand of Super Technologies and is described by the company as a top-three ranked operator in Brazil. The rollout positions DEGEN’s current and upcoming titles within Superbet’s casino offering in the market.

Titles included in the launch include Plague City. DEGEN also flagged upcoming title Howl N’ Huff as part of its planned content roadmap for Superbet.

Danny Gordon, Head of Studio at DEGEN Studios, said: “Superbet is exactly the kind of brand we want to partner with. It has built a strong audience in Brazil and a reputation for delivering entertainment-led experiences. That is the type of stage our games are made for.”

Caterina Chatzipantazi, Director of Commercial Partnerships – Gaming at Super Technologies, added: “We always explore new ways to thrill our customers, and this partnership exemplifies this mindset. DEGEN Studios brings a very different energy to the casino mix. Their games have a clear sense of identity, with worlds and mechanics that feel distinct from more conventional content. For us, this partnership adds something novel to the player experience, building on a strong portfolio of proven games while introducing innovations that can potentially shape the future of entertainment.”

The post DEGEN Studios goes live with Superbet in Brazil appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Gambling Zone rolls out casino comparison tool for UK players

Published

27 minutes ago

July 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

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Interactive feature lets users compare licensed UK online casinos by bonuses, games, payout times and Gambling Zone ratings.

Gambling Zone has launched the Gambling Zone Casino Comparison Tool, a new feature aimed at helping UK players compare online casinos in one place.

The tool allows side-by-side comparisons of “trusted UK online casinos,” pulling together information including casino bonuses, free spins, game selection and payout times. Gambling Zone also assigns each casino an overall rating based on its review process, giving users a single view for assessing differences between brands.

Michael Vella, Brand Manager at Gambling Zone, said: “Choosing an online casino shouldn’t mean opening dozens of browser tabs just to compare bonuses, wagering requirements or withdrawal times. We wanted to build a tool that puts all of the important information in one place, making it quicker and easier for players to compare licensed operators and decide which one is right for them.

“The comparison tool is another step in our commitment to creating genuinely useful resources for players. Alongside our expert reviews and casino guides, it’s designed to give users greater transparency and confidence when choosing where to play.”

Gambling Zone said the launch is part of a wider strategy to build practical decision-support tools alongside its reviews, guides and educational content. The Casino Comparison tool is now live.

The post Gambling Zone rolls out casino comparison tool for UK players appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.