Latest News
Smarkets raises Series B funding round to supercharge international and domestic growth

Smarkets, one of the world’s largest betting exchange and prediction market platforms, has announced the closing of a significant minority investment from Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE).
Having raised just £3.8m ($5.4m) since its inception in 2008, with its Series A round coming back in 2013, Smarkets has built a leading exchange platform that processes billions of pounds in traded volume each year. The company has offices in London, Los Angeles, and Malta, licensed customer-focused operations in five countries, and in 2019 released innovative sportsbook app SBK.
Smarkets is delighted to welcome SGE, which joins existing investors Passion Capital and Deutsche Telekom in supporting the company’s mission to fix betting with the fairest odds in the industry.
This new investment will allow Smarkets to accelerate its rollout in the US, where it is already live in Colorado with sportsbook app SBK and set to go live in Indiana soon. The funding will also bolster SBK’s position in the UK mainstream betting market after its successful launch in August 2019.
The new investment will contribute to:
Furthering the company’s US presence, including market-access deals in new, regulated states
Capturing an even greater share of the UK betting exchange market and accelerating SBK’s growth in the UK’s mainstream sportsbook market
Expanding Smarkets’ development of new products for customers and focus on industry-leading prices on sports, politics, and current affairs
Continuing to capture the best and brightest worldwide engineering talent with a view to doubling headcount by the end of 2022
Further expansion into new and recently entered markets such as Denmark and Sweden
Jason Trost, founder and CEO of Smarkets, said:
“This is an incredibly exciting day. I’ve always been amazed what the passion and energy of a comparatively small group of committed people can accomplish against much bigger rivals; Smarkets and SBK are the product of exactly that. At Smarkets we have always been guided by our vision of fixing betting with the best prices and products, and SGE is just as excited as us to challenge the status quo. This is a huge endorsement of our technology and will allow us to further upend the industry by offering bets as close to fair value as possible.
“We are super proud of what we have achieved so far in the UK betting space, and this new investment will help take us to the next level and beyond in the UK, US, and other international markets. I’d like to thank the women and men that work and have worked at Smarkets for getting us to where we are.
“I truly believe the best is yet to come. This investment will allow us to fight with greater resources, move faster, and be bolder in our mission. We’re so excited about the opportunities this investment unlocks.”
Scott Feldman, Managing Director with Susquehanna Growth Equity, said:
“We are delighted to be able to join Smarkets on their upward journey. We immediately identified with their vision of using technology to take on the betting industry’s big operators by providing the fairest odds in the world and maintaining a clear focus on product excellence.
“Smarkets have achieved a huge amount with little investment to date and we can’t wait to see them go from strength to strength as they expand further into both the US and UK mainstream market.”
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Baltics
All Gambling Halls in Riga Threatened with Closure – Industry Raises Alarm

Following applications by three companies, the Constitutional Court (CC) has initiated a case concerning restrictions on gambling operations in Riga, the court announced.
This is not the first time the issue of gambling regulation in Riga has reached the CC. Just last year, the court ruled in another case that a blanket ban on gambling across the entire administrative territory of Riga was unconstitutional. Afterwards, the city council promised to propose a new mechanism for restricting gambling. That mechanism is now also under review by the court.
The new case was initiated on the basis of applications by SIA Alfor, SIA Klondaika and SIA Olympic Casino Latvia regarding sections 2 and 3 of the Riga City Council’s binding regulations “On Restrictions of Gambling Operations in the Administrative Territory of Riga” adopted on the 26th of March.
The contested provisions define the places and areas in Riga where gambling is not allowed, as well as the municipality’s actions in cases where permits have already been issued for locations where gambling is now prohibited.
Gambling is prohibited in municipal-owned properties, neighbourhood centres, educational institution premises and within 300 meters of them, as well as in railway stations, bus stations, airports and passenger ports, within 500 meters of such transport hubs and within 300 meters of other public transport stops. Restrictions also apply to certain functional zones, cultural monuments and protected areas defined in Riga’s spatial plan. However, the restrictions do not apply to four- and five-star hotels.
In addition, the contested provisions stipulate the cancellation of previously issued permits if gambling takes place in prohibited areas, and that any issued permit automatically expires five years after the relevant Riga City Council decision comes into force.
The applicant companies, which hold permits to operate gambling halls in Riga, argue that although the contested rules define specific places and areas where gambling is prohibited, in practice they amount to a blanket ban on such business throughout the city.
They argue that the restrictions limit business activity and property rights, and violate the principles of legal certainty and legitimate expectations. Therefore, they claim the rules are inconsistent with Articles 1 and 105 of the Constitution.
Article 1 states that Latvia is an independent democratic republic. Article 105 provides that everyone has the right to property, that property must not be used against the public interest and that property rights may only be restricted by law.
The Constitutional Court has invited the Riga City Council to submit a written response by the 27th of October, outlining the facts and legal reasoning. The case preparation deadline is the 27th of January, 2026. The court will decide on the type and date of proceedings after preparation.
As previously reported by LETA, the new gambling restriction rules in Riga entered into force on the 1st of April.
A five-year transition period is provided for the cancellation of previously issued permits.
After adopting the rules, municipal officials admitted that all currently known gambling halls are located in areas where gambling will be banned, meaning the new regulations foresee the closure of all existing gambling halls in Riga.
At the same time, the municipality emphasized that the restrictions do not cover the entire city and do not affect operators’ rights to open or expand gambling facilities in four- and five-star hotels.
The council also claimed that the rules were developed based on Constitutional Court recommendations and the results of public consultations held in February this year.
The Latvian Licensed Gambling Association had already announced in the spring that it would most likely challenge the new restrictions in the Constitutional Court, arguing that they are “neither proportionate nor lawful.”
Source: bnn-news.com
The post All Gambling Halls in Riga Threatened with Closure – Industry Raises Alarm appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
French Regulator Launches New Responsible Gambling Campaign

The French gambling regulator ANJ, in partnership with the sports management platform SportEasy, has launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the risks of sports betting and promoting responsible gaming practices. As announced by SportEasy, the initiative focuses on amateur sports and seeks to educate players and clubs about the potential dangers associated with betting.
As part of the campaign, 14 unnamed amateur clubs across France will be selected to participate. These clubs will act as prevention ambassadors by sharing key messages with their members. To support their efforts, the organisers will provide sports kits featuring awareness messages, along with financial assistance of €450 per club to help fund operations and projects.
In total, 196 kits will be distributed, and €6,300 will be allocated to the participating clubs. The campaign underlines a broader commitment to protecting athletes and reducing the influence of gambling on amateur sports. Applications for club participation are currently open.
SportEasy, which holds an official French gambling-related license granted in 2018, has been recognised for its expertise in managing amateur sports clubs and teams. The platform’s experience in coordinating large-scale campaigns and engaging thousands of clubs nationwide positions it as a key partner for ANJ in implementing effective prevention measures against gambling-related risks.
The post French Regulator Launches New Responsible Gambling Campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
8th Safer Gambling Week: Young People in the Spotlight

This year, the National Betting Authority (NBA) is adopting a fresh and youthful communication style, speaking directly to young people and young adults.
The campaign’s core aim is to remind everyone that gambling responsibly is not only the smartest choice—it’s also the coolest. By encouraging people to set limits before they play, the NBA is showing what is truly safer to do than gambling without control.
Now an established annual institution, Safer Gambling Week brings together all stakeholders in the gambling sector to prevent harmful behaviours and strengthen protective measures. It also gives the public the chance to learn about safe betting practices and the risks associated with excessive gambling. Throughout the week, a series of awareness-raising initiatives will highlight the self-protection tools available to players, the harmful effects of problem gambling, as well as the support and treatment services that anyone can access if they feel their gambling has gone beyond safe limits.
As in previous years, the Week will open with the Safer Gambling Conference, featuring leading academics, industry professionals and representatives from both the public and private sectors. Throughout the week, the agenda will include presentations, seminars, hands-on workshops, and interactive activities—all designed to give the public practical knowledge and effective prevention tools.
Panayiotis Trisokkas, President of NBA, said: “Safer Gambling Week is one of our flagship awareness and prevention actions under the NBA’s Safer Gambling Strategy. Each year, we see growing interest from both the public and organisations supporting the campaign. Society is now more aware and better informed about the importance of safe gambling. Our goal remains to foster a culture of prevention and build a strong network of protection for players and society as a whole.”
The post 8th Safer Gambling Week: Young People in the Spotlight appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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