Latest News

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.

Ani Kobaldze

REEVO Announces New Partnership with Esoterica Games

Published

33 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

reevo-announces-new-partnership-with-esoterica-games

REEVO has announced a new partnership with Esoterica Games, a fast-growing provider of innovative casino content. This collaboration further strengthens REEVO’s aggregation ecosystem, expanding its offering with a diverse portfolio that includes slots, crash games, player-to-player experiences and instant games.

Through this partnership, Esoterica Games’ portfolio is now available on the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to a wide range of creative and flexible gaming experiences through a single integration. The addition of Esoterica Games reinforces REEVO’s commitment to building a platform that delivers both variety and performance across multiple player segments.

For REEVO, this partnership reflects its continued focus on expanding its aggregation platform with forward-thinking studios that bring creativity and innovation to the ecosystem.

Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with Esoterica Games is an exciting step forward for REEVO as we continue to expand our aggregation platform with innovative and diverse content. Their ability to deliver multiple game formats, from slots to crash and P2P experiences, adds real depth to our ecosystem. At REEVO, we focus on giving operators access to content that stands out and performs, and this partnership strengthens our ability to deliver engaging and flexible experiences across different markets.”

Ani Kobaldze, Account Manager at Esoterica Games, said: “We are excited to partner with REEVO and bring our portfolio of innovative games to an even wider audience. This partnership represents an important step in expanding our global reach and delivering high-quality gaming experiences to more operators and players worldwide. By combining our unique portfolio with REEVO’s strong distribution network and commitment to quality, we look forward to creating even greater value for operators and players alike.”

The post REEVO Announces New Partnership with Esoterica Games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Betway

Betway Signs Real Madrid Legend Guti as Brand Ambassador

Published

33 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

Betway officially signed Real Madrid legend Jose María Gutiérrez ‘Guti’ as a new brand ambassador for their Spanish market operations.

A true Spanish football legend, Guti came through the Real Madrid youth academy before making his first-team debut in a 4-1 win over Sevilla at The Bernabéu in December 1995. He went on to represent ‘Los Blancos’ 542 times between 1995 & 2010, scoring 77 goals and helping the club to 15 major trophies. He received his first cap for Spain in May 1999 and went on to represent his country on 13 occasions between 1999 and 2005.

Guti left his beloved Real Madrid in 2010, playing one final season for Turkish side Besiktas, before hanging up his boots in 2012. Post-retirement, coaching positions at Real Madrid and Besiktas led to his appointment as manager of Segunda side Almeria in 2019. Since leaving the club the following year, he has gone on to work in TV punditry, becoming a highly respected figure within the Spanish football media.

“Guti joins Betway as one of the greatest legends in Real Madrid’s recent history. He represents loyalty to the colours, excellence, and the purest talent in world football, making him the perfect ambassador for Betway in Spain,” Ignacio Alonso, Marketing Manager for Betway Spain, said.

“I’m excited to join Betway Spain as an ambassador. My time in elite football showed me that quality and commitment are inseparable; today, I’m proud to represent those values with a market leader and share this path with all of you,” Guti said.

The post Betway Signs Real Madrid Legend Guti as Brand Ambassador appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance Updates

KSA Tightens Gambling Ad and Betting Rules Ahead of FIFA World Cup

Published

33 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

ksa-tightens-gambling-ad-and-betting-rules-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup

The Dutch Gaming Authority is intensifying its supervision of advertising and sports betting during the World Cup this summer. Prior to the World Cup, Dutch license holders were specifically reminded by letter of the applicable rules regarding advertising and betting offers.

In the letter, the KSA points out, among other things, the ban on untargeted advertising and sports sponsorship. The KSA also reminds providers that not all types of online betting are permitted in the Netherlands; for example, betting on who receives a yellow card or the first corner kick is not allowed. In the event of violations, the KSA takes immediate enforcement action.

During this period, the KSA is also extra vigilant regarding illegal providers and advertising for illegal offerings: immediate punitive action is being taken in these cases as well. Additionally, during the World Cup, attention is being paid to the risks of sports betting, particularly to raise awareness among young people.

Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Board of the Gaming Authority, said: “We saw at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championship that gambling increased. This makes it attractive for companies to attract new players during that period. While I understand this, I strongly urge providers to remain mindful of the protection of young adults and other vulnerable groups, and to adhere to the applicable rules. If we observe that this is not happening, we will take immediate action.”

The post KSA Tightens Gambling Ad and Betting Rules Ahead of FIFA World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.