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SAZKA Group: COVID-19 update

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SAZKA Group wishes to give an update to its stakeholders regarding the measures our companies and retail partners have taken with regard to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

First and foremost, in order to protect the health and safety of our customers, employees, partners and the public, all our companies have fully complied with all the decisions and recommendations of the public authorities in the countries of their operations. We have successfully implemented contingency and business continuity plans with no significant impact to our business processes, and almost all our employees are currently working from home.

While all our digital channels continue to operate without interruption, our physical retail networks have adopted various measures to safeguard public health and the health of our employees.

We anticipate that these developments will impact our financial performance. The extent of the impact will depend on factors including the duration of the outbreak, how longer current restrictions remain in place, further measures taken by governments, and the extent of economic disruption.

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Robert Chvatal, CEO commented: “Management are working on mitigating steps to minimise the financial impact for our companies, our employees, and our partners. SAZKA Group is in daily contact with its local operating companies to coordinate timely response to the developments in individual markets.”

Below is a brief overview of the current situation in our markets:

Greece

On Friday 13 March 2020, the Greek government published its decision to impose a temporary ban on the operation of a wide range of shops, indoor venues and other locations. As a result, all of the OPAP stores and PLAY gaming halls in Greece will be closed for two weeks, from Saturday 14 March until Friday 27 March 2020 inclusive. The horseracing facility at Markopoulo Park will also be closed.

Consequently, during this period, the company’s gaming activities will only be operating through its online platforms, which offer sports betting and certain other lottery games, and via the street vendor network of Hellenic Lotteries, which offers scratch cards and passive lotteries.

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OPAP’s stores in Cyprus have been temporarily closed as of.

Austria

On Friday 13 March 2020, the Austrian government published its decision to impose a temporary ban on the operation of a wide range of shops, excluding those providing basic services such as food retail, pharmacies, post offices, banks, petrol stations and tobacco stores. The decision went into force on Monday 16 March 2020. The ban has so far had only a limited impact on the availability of Austrian lotteries products through its main retail channels, as more than 90% of all point-of-sales are excluded from the ban.

Austrian Lotteries’ online gaming activities remain available to the public during the entire period. They include draw based games (including Austrian Lotteries’ major products Lotto and Euromillions), instant scratch cards, online casino, poker, bingo and sports betting.

In coordination with the authorities, Casinos Austria has decided to close all its casinos in Austria and its subsidiary Austrian Lotteries has decided to close all its 19 gaming halls on March 13, 2020. The casinos and gaming halls will be closed at least until April 13, 2020. The Austrian government is introducing measures to support part time work, which may allow reduce Casinos Austria and Austrian Lotteries to reduce the financial impact of the closure

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Casinos Austria International, which operates casinos and VLT businesses in multiple countries, is closely monitoring the situation and acting in accordance with the instructions of local governmental bodies.

Czech Republic

As of Monday 16 March, the State Security Council of the Czech Republic has decided to severely limit free movement in the Czech Republic in order to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. Citizens are allowed going to work and shop for supplies limited to food, vital supplies, fuel and medicine, as well as use of necessary financial and postal services. We estimate that 70% of SAZKA’s Czech retail network, including newsstands and post offices, continues providing their services to the public.

At the same time, we are actively promoting the use of online platforms for lottery products as well as digital-only offerings. In recent weeks we have seen a 25-30% increase in sales via digital channels compared to previous weeks.

Italy

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Most shops, restaurants and cafes in Italy are currently closed as a result of a number of recent measures. Tobacconists, which are a key channel for LOTTOITALIA, are allowed to remain open, however traffic has declined.

 

About SAZKA Group:

We are one of the largest pan-European lottery operators. Our businesses operate lotteries in all the major continental European countries where lotteries are privately operated, including the Czech Republic, Greece, Austria and Italy, and in Cyprus. Our businesses focus on the lottery segment, including numerical lotteries (draw-based games) and instant lotteries (scratch cards), and also provide complementary products, including sports-betting and digital-only games. They sell their products both through various retail networks and through digital platforms.

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Christian Reinhard Becomes New Board Member for Technology and Development at Merkur Group

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The Merkur Group has welcomed Mr. Christian Reinhard as the new Board Member for Technology and Development. Reinhard, a 50-year-old computer science graduate, succeeds Werner Kurt Schroer, who resigned from his position on the Board for health reasons after almost 19 years of successful service, but will continue to be available to the Group as an advisor.

“We would like to thank Mr. Schroer for the extraordinarily successful years we have spent together. At the same time, we are delighted to welcome Mr. Reinhard to the board of directors. By appointing Mr. Reinhard as the board member responsible for technology and development, we are ensuring continuity in the area of development that is so important for the group of companies, while also creating space for fresh ideas. We wish Mr. Reinhard every success in his new role and always the necessary bit of luck,” said company founder and board spokesman Paul Gauselmann.

Christian Reinhard has over 20 years of experience in the series development of automotive electronics. In his career to date, he has developed a wide range of technologies, including navigation systems, cluster instruments, driver assistance systems and vehicle networking systems, which are now installed in numerous vehicles worldwide.

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In addition to his technical expertise, Reinhard has more than 15 years of experience in managing and structuring internationally distributed development teams, such as those in the Merkur Group. Most recently, he was responsible for a team of 3500 developers and played a key role in the development and release of safety-critical systems that, like the vending machine industry, are subject to strict regulatory requirements.

Christian Reinhard said: “After dedicating my 23-year career to developing high-quality mobility experiences, I am looking forward to a new challenge in a dynamic and creative environment. I am particularly fascinated by the gaming industry because of the collaboration between a wide variety of disciplines – art, design, mathematics, programming, data security and electronics development – and the opportunity to create unforgettable moments of entertainment and joy in the game.”

The post Christian Reinhard Becomes New Board Member for Technology and Development at Merkur Group appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BlueOcean Gaming Wins Best Aggregator 2024 Award at SiGMA East Europe Awards

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BlueOcean Gaming has announced that its leading product, GameHub, has won the Best Aggregator 2024 Award at SiGMA East Europe Awards.

“This recognition is a significant milestone for BlueOcean Gaming, highlighting the strength and innovation of GameHub—our leading game aggregation platform. GameHub has set a new standard in the iGaming industry by seamlessly integrating over 140 providers and offering a vast library of more than 13,000 games, including slots, live casino games, virtual sports, and sportsbooks,” the Company said.

“A heartfelt thank you goes out to SiGMA World for acknowledging the hard work and dedication that has gone into making GameHub a standout product. The SiGMA East Europe Awards shines a spotlight on the most impactful projects and the visionaries driving change across the gaming industry, and we are incredibly honored to be a part of this movement.

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“This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our amazing partners and clients, whose trust motivates us to continuously innovate. Most importantly, a huge round of applause goes to the entire BlueOcean Gaming team. Your dedication and passion for delivering top-tier, trustworthy solutions are the driving force behind this success.

“As we celebrate this incredible win, let this award be a source of inspiration, pushing us to aim even higher, continue our journey of innovation, and reach greater heights in the iGaming industry.

“We look forward to what’s ahead and to continue providing our partners and clients with the best solutions available in the market.”

The post BlueOcean Gaming Wins Best Aggregator 2024 Award at SiGMA East Europe Awards appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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CT Interactive to Showcase Latest Solutions at SBC Summit in Lisbon

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CT Interactive, a renowned provider of online gaming solutions, is set to exhibit at this year’s SBC Summit in Lisbon, which will take place from 24 to 26 September at the FIL Exhibition Centre. As part of its presence at the premier industry event, CT Interactive will have an exclusive stand where the company will showcase its latest products.

The SBC Summit brings together leaders from the iGaming industry to explore the most significant market trends and developments. CT Interactive’s stand #A230 will feature a live demonstration of its latest gaming portfolio, including its most recent game releases and customisable solutions that cater to operators’ needs. The company’s team of experts will be on hand to explain how it’s portfolio can help operators boost player engagement and retention.

“We are thrilled to be part of the SBC Summit this year. This event is an excellent opportunity for us to connect with potential partners and showcase our latest innovations, games and bonus mechanics which give the players more control and enhance the overall player experience and winning opportunities. We are excited to present our solutions to both core and new clients, highlighting our dedication to delivering engaging and forward-thinking products on the market,” said Monika Zlateva, CCO of CT Interactive.

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Visitors to CT Interactive’s stand will also have the chance to explore the company’s advanced gaming features, such as jackpots, free spins and bonus tools. Additionally, the company will unveil its new strategic partnership with GameWorkz, a provider of social gaming solutions that will present its solutions on CT Interactive’s stand at the show. GameWorkz offers a player management platform where clients can integrate various components, including third-party services and proprietary technology utilising a fully functioning social gaming product complete with gamification tools and a loyalty programme designed to meet the needs and expectations of social players.

“With our participation in SBC Lisbon, we aim to reinforce our position as a global leader in online gaming, forging new partnerships and expanding influence within the rapidly evolving industry,” said Antonio Donov, Senior Business Development Manager EMEA and Asia.

The post CT Interactive to Showcase Latest Solutions at SBC Summit in Lisbon appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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