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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.

1spin4win

1spin4win partners with OdiBets to strengthen its presence in Africa

Published

23 minutes ago

April 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

1spin4win-partners-with-odibets-to-strengthen-its-presence-in-africa

For the studio, the collaboration marks another step in expanding across Africa. Between the end of 2024 and the end of 2025, 1spin4win increased the number of partnerships in the region by 1.7 times, significantly cementing its local position.

The deal comes at a time of strong growth for the African iGaming industry. According to H2 Gambling Capital, the region’s sports betting and iGaming market could reach $22bn in GGR by 2029, highlighting significant opportunities for operators and providers looking to scale their international reach.

Through the agreement, 1spin4win’s portfolio of more than 200 classic online slots will become available to OdiBets players. The provider’s content is well-suited to local audiences, combining simple gameplay, recognizable mechanics such as Hold and Win, and timeless fruit- and coin-based formats. Additionally, the studio’s titles are optimized for mobile devices, ensuring fast load times and uninterrupted gameplay even on weaker internet connections.

Founded in 2018, OdiBets has grown into a major name in East Africa, offering sports betting and casino entertainment through a clear, user-friendly platform. The operator is known for its focus on responsible gambling, accessible player experience, and strong customer support.

Jaime Carvajal, Business Development Manager at 1spin4win, shared, “Teaming with OdiBets is an exciting opportunity for 1spin4win to introduce our classic portfolio to broader audiences across African markets. We believe our straightforward, mobile-friendly slots are a strong match for players who value reliable, clear, and engaging gameplay.”

Benedict M, Country Marketing Manager at OdiBets added, “At OdiBets, we are always looking to bring our players the very best in gaming content, and partnering with 1spin4win is a natural step in that journey. Their dedication to crafting high-quality, immersive slot experiences aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver world-class entertainment to players across Africa. We are excited about what this partnership means for our platform and even more excited for our players to get their hands on what we are building together.”

About 1spin4win

1spin4win is an established game provider founded in May 2021 by ambitious developers with over 15 years of experience in the gambling industry. Since its inception, the company has expanded its portfolio to include over 200 classic online slots, all characterized by quality mathematics, transparent mechanics, and well-balanced gameplay — key factors that drive strong player retention. The studio aims to release an average of four new games each month in 2026 and offers effective promotional tools for casino operators to help them enhance player loyalty.

The post 1spin4win partners with OdiBets to strengthen its presence in Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Eastern Europe

Soft2Bet launches Zinx iGaming and sportsbook brand in Romania

Published

23 minutes ago

April 28, 2026

Wladimir P.

Soft2Bet has launched Zinx in Romania, rolling out a new digital platform that combines online casino content and sports betting for local players.

Soft2Bet said Zinx was built with localisation in mind, with product design and marketing tailored to Romanian player preferences. The company positioned the brand around “safe, transparent play,” but did not share launch timing beyond the announcement or provide performance targets.

The platform includes a retention mechanic called MEGA Round, a prize-wheel feature integrated into Soft2Bet’s MEGA gamification engine. Soft2Bet said players can earn spins through deposits, with prizes awarded at random.

Yoel Zuckerberg, CPO at Soft2Bet, stated, “With Zinx, we are bringing an incredibly competitive and relevant digital product to Romania, perfectly balancing thrilling, electric gameplay with safe and transparent operations. Our powerful dragon mascot and the innovative MEGA Round gamification engine help define the Zinx experience across both casino and sports betting. We are confident Zinx will set a new benchmark for Romanian players seeking a modern, diverse and secure entertainment platform.”

Soft2Bet said the Romania launch supports its broader strategy of building localised iGaming brands that combine product features with targeted local marketing.

The post Soft2Bet launches Zinx iGaming and sportsbook brand in Romania appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.