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Entain Opens New-Look Digital Shops across UK & Europe

Published

5 years ago

September 29, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Retail to have a more contemporary, digital feel

Entain, the global sports betting and gaming entertainment operator, has embarked on a digitization initiative across its retail business, converting a core of shops in key locations across both the UK and Europe into contemporary, digital, spaces to enhance the omni-channel experience for customers.

The retail makeover will initially apply to Entain shops in the UK and Italy across the Ladbrokes, Coral and Eurobet brands. In both countries, Entain has run successful trials of new, more contemporary store design and formats more closely aligned to customers’ online experience.

“Entain is a global online operator, but we are focused on delivering a great local experience for our customers. This investment allows us to give a more immersive and joined up online omni-channel experience to our customers” said Rob Wood, CFO and Deputy Chief Executive of Entain.

“Since high streets re-opened, our retail customers have returned in large numbers which reflects the continued demand from customers for an engaging in-shop experience,” he added. This digital makeover of shops, together with ongoing investments into our industry leading tech platform and £100m of innovation investment over the next 3 years, are important drivers of our future growth.”

Since the re-opening of retail, Entain has opened 18 new digital hubs across the UK and plans to have a total of 30 new-style Ladbrokes and Coral shops open by the end of the year in cities including Leeds, Birmingham, London, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Wolverhampton, Newcastle, Dumfries and Leicester. The aim is for 200 UK digital stores by the end of 2024.

The move will provide a welcome boost to many high streets and town centres in both Italy and the UK. In the UK alone The British Retail Consortium recently noted that more than one in seven shops are now vacant (*), rising to one in five in particularly hard-hit parts of the country.

“Our shops are at the heart of local communities and employ around 13,000 people across the country,” said Andy Hicks, Entain Retail MD for the UK and Ireland. “We want to bring the experiences customers have with us online into our shops, also making them more digital and contemporary environments. We want to offer local customers a place to socialize, enjoy sports, bet and play games in a relaxed and enjoyable way.”

Initially UK stores being converted into digital hubs contain the latest gaming machines, and interactive displays, giving customers a more engaging and dynamic experience as well as more choice of interactive sports and gaming content. In both Italy and the UK, the converted stores have digital window displays and additional interior screens which allow live events and new promotions to be shared with customers across retail locations.

In Italy, where Entain’s retail outlets operate under the Eurobet brand, the Group also plans to convert around 200 shops and plans to have the first 30 locations open by the end of this year. These include a number of “Eurobet Cafes”, which offer customers a new place to meet and socialize with friends.

“This is all about offering a different and more distinctive experience to new and existing customers, “said Andrea Faelli, Managing Director of Entain, Italy. “We want to move from simply offering betting shops to hosting spaces in town centres where people can come to have a good time, which may or may not include having a bet.”

All the initiatives are powered by Entain’s proprietary technology, which has the benefit of making the digital and retail experiences more similar for customers and being scalable internationally to other locations.

Affiliate Succes

Gamblers Connect Marks Its Fifth Anniversary

Published

5 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

gamblers-connect-marks-its-fifth-anniversary

Gamblers Connect, the acclaimed iGaming media and affiliate platform, is marking its fifth anniversary and currently ranks as one of the most prominent affiliate media brands in the iGaming sector.

Gamblers Connect was established with a distinct purpose: to create a transparent, player-centric platform. What started as a simple idea rapidly transformed into something much more important. In its inaugural year, the company had already obtained its initial industry accolade. Since that time, Gamblers Connect has kept broadening its services by introducing new sections, tools, and features, while consistently achieving significant milestones and enhancing its visibility at prominent industry events, conferences, and speaking engagements.

The launch of the Responsible Gambling Index enhanced the platform’s offerings, serving as a unique assessment tool that has become a key aspect, encompassing both game providers and casino operators.

This advancement has been evident in industry accolades, featuring several awards and nominations at major events, such as Casino Affiliate of the Year, News Affiliate of the Year, Crypto Affiliate of the Year, and Best Affiliate of the Year.

In the last five years, Gamblers Connect has transformed past the conventional affiliate framework. The platform currently functions as a comprehensive iGaming media brand, generating a wide variety of editorial content, industry news, interviews, and B2B-related coverage, catering to both players and industry stakeholders.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “2026 marks not just an anniversary, but a clear step forward. The launch of the GC Contributors Program, the introduction of the iHub, and an entirely new platform currently in development signal where Gamblers Connect is headed — deeper into the industry, more ambitious in scope, and built for what the next five years demand.”

The post Gamblers Connect Marks Its Fifth Anniversary appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Highlight Games

HIGHLIGHT GAMES EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH STANLEYBET GROUP

Published

5 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

highlight-games-extends-partnership-with-stanleybet-group

London-based video virtuals and instant win games specialist Highlight Games Limited today announces that it has extended and expanded its partnership with the Stanleybet Group, one of Europe’s most established betting operators.

In addition to its longstanding online content agreement, the expanded deal will include the deployment of Highlight’s premium video virtual sports portfolio to Stanleybet’s retail estate for the first time. Content will include Highlight’s flagship SOCCERBET games, featuring genuine archive footage from some of the biggest football leagues in the world.

Steven Holmes, CEO, Highlight Games said: “I’m delighted to extend and broaden our partnership with the Stanleybet Group, which shows a clear endorsement of the strength of our content and the trust Stanleybet places in our products. We look forward to bringing our award-winning video virtuals to an even wider audience.”

Nicola Allinson, IT Director, Stanleybet Group added: “Our partnership with Highlight Games continues to go from strength to strength, and this retail expansion is a testament to the quality of their content and the level of engagement it inspires in players. We are confident that Highlight’s products will perform as strongly in our European retail venues as they have online, and we look forward to continuing to work together.”

The post HIGHLIGHT GAMES EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH STANLEYBET GROUP appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

bingo

Published

1 hour ago

March 31, 2026

Wladimir P.

End2End, a global technology provider dedicated exclusively to multiplayer bingo solutions, is set to strengthen its presence in Brazil during BiS SiGMA South America 2026, taking place from April 6–9 at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo.

As Brazil’s regulated gaming market continues to evolve, digital bingo is emerging as a compelling complementary vertical for licensed operators. With a deep-rooted cultural connection to bingo, Brazilian players are primed for modern, multiplayer digital experiences, offering significant opportunities for operators to diversify their portfolios.

At the event, End2End will showcase its expertise in the Brazilian market, engage with potential white-label partners for the End2End Bingo Network, and explore new affiliate partnerships to expand distribution and differentiate operator offerings.

Founder and CEO Alejandro Revich and Chief Commercial Officer Pablo Bonifacich will be on-site throughout the expo to meet with operators, affiliates, and partners seeking innovative product solutions for the Brazilian ecosystem.

End2End’s technology is designed as a complete end-to-end solution, combining its proprietary multiplayer bingo platform, Player Account Management (PAM) system, and network infrastructure to enable scalable deployments across mobile, online, and retail environments. All solutions are certified for Brazil and fully compliant with GLI-19 standards, underscoring the company’s commitment to regulatory compliance and high operational standards.

Alejandro Revich, Founder and CEO of End2End, commented:
“Brazil is one of the most exciting gaming markets in the world, and with our certification in place, bingo is poised to become a key vertical as operators expand their offerings. The cultural affinity for bingo is undeniable, and the digital infrastructure is ready. At BiS SiGMA, we aim to demonstrate how our network model works and why End2End is the ideal partner to bring bingo to life in Brazil. We’re here to grow our network, build partnerships, and show that when it comes to bingo in Brazil, End2End is the clear choice.”

The post appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.