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Avonhurst advises on £3 billion Playtech bid

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Eddie Jordan withdraws from multi-billion-pound race for Playtech

Avonhurst client JKO Play has withdrawn a potential takeover offer for the gambling company Playtech. JKO Play is owned by former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan’s family office and gambling industry veteran Keith O’Loughlin. The company, which currently holds a 0.51% stake in Playtech had reviewed the possibility of placing a bid in excess of £3 billion for the acquisition of Playtech.

Avonhurst is a new fashioned law firm that provides legal services across deals and disputes, political advisory services and capital services.

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Playtech is an FTSE 250 company that supplies online gaming software for companies including Bet365, William Hill, Betfair and Paddy Power.

Jonathan Bloom, Chief Executive of Avonhurst, comments: “Our ability to attract clients of the calibre of JKO Play and be instructed on such high value deals illustrates how our offering has grown over the last two and a half years. Sophisticated capital clients are increasingly valuing our comprehensive legal and advisory offering, assisting them in navigating complex deals and assess and protect their interests from all angles, including legal, regulatory and economic and political risk. Working on this mandate is evidence that our holistic approach to representing sophisticated capital isn’t just “nice to have” but required in today’s ever changing and complex deal environment.

“When Eddie and Keith hired Avonhurst, they were focused on our unique approach to service delivery, our shared risk approach and the value we placed on complete discretion. Over the 8 months we worked on the deal, we were able to assemble the relevant legal services the client needed across corporate, finance and capital markets, we leveraged our advisory services business to provide intelligence regarding shareholders and helped introduce capital to the deal through our capital services business. We also brought into the deal additional advisors as required to ensure our clients received the very best advice. No other firm could have provided all these services under one roof in the seamless and coordinated approach taken by Avonhurst.”

Eddie Jordan, Chairman of JKO, comments: “Races aren’t won by a driver alone, it’s the critical parts of the team that deliver a victory. Avonhurst was key to our ability, not only to assemble the team of advisors and partners that participated in the deal, but in helping JKO navigate the risks and opportunities inherent in such a complex series of transactions.

“We are immensely proud of the energy devoted to this project by our advisory team and partners and of the close relationships we have built. We continue to evaluate a number of opportunities in the gaming and associated technology sectors, where we see exciting growth prospects in a number of international markets.

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Evoplay starts a big fiesta in spicy new title Don Juan Peppers

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has released Don Juan Peppers, a fiery new slot that blends bold bonus features with festive flair.

Set in a sun-soaked Mexican town bursting with colour, rhythm and celebration, the game invites players to join the charismatic Don Juan himself for a lively fiesta across 20 fixed paylines.

The action centres around two types of bonus symbols. Landing three Chili Bonus icons on reels two, three and four triggers seven Free Spins. During Free Spins, each appearance of a Chili Bonus symbol awards an Instant Chili Prize corresponding to the value shown above its reel.

Meanwhile, landing six or more Bonus symbols activates the bonus game. In this mode, all Bonus and Chili icons lock in place and reset the spin counter to three. Chilis in this round boost the value of up to four Bonus symbols before transforming and continuing the chase for bigger wins.

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The bonus game also gives players a shot at four fixed jackpots: MINI, MEGA, SUPER, and the GRAND prize of 3,000x the bet. For players who want to skip straight to the fiesta, a Bonus Buy feature offers direct access to either the Bonus Game or Free Spins.

Don Juan Peppers is the latest release in Evoplay’s growing portfolio of standout slots, blending engaging gameplay with vibrant storytelling and proven features.

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: Don Juan Peppers is a celebration of bold design and dynamic mechanics. By blending familiar bonus features with a distinctive aesthetic and rhythmic theme, we’ve created a slot that feels both familiar and fresh.

“It’s a fantastic showcase of our approach to delivering high-performing content with real personality.”

The post Evoplay starts a big fiesta in spicy new title Don Juan Peppers appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Greek Casino Industry Undergoes Major Transformation

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The Greek casino industry is undergoing a major transformation, with high-profile investments and relocations redefining the market.

While casinos now account for a smaller share of the broader gambling industry, with the total Greek gambling market reaching $31.5 billion in wagers in 2023 and gross gaming revenue of $2.8 billion, the flurry of new licenses, relocations and integrated resort projects is reshaping the sector and attracting international attention.

Following global trends, Greek casinos are evolving into integrated resorts, where gambling is just one part of a broader entertainment and hospitality experience.

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These resorts aim to attract high-end tourists, generate consistent visitor flows, boost tax revenue and enhance Greece’s international brand in luxury tourism. The next five years will be critical in establishing Greece as a leading Mediterranean destination for integrated resorts.

Leading the wave is the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens at the former Ellinikon site, a project valued at $1.6 billion. The venture is a partnership between Hard Rock International (51%) and GEK TERNA (49%), a major Greek construction and energy company, set to create one of Europe’s largest integrated resorts.

Standing 646 feet (197 meters) tall with 42 floors, the resort will include a five-star hotel, a conference center, event spaces and a casino built to international standards. Completion is expected within three years, creating three thousand construction jobs and three thousand permanent positions once operational.

Another key development is the relocation of Parni­tha Casino to Marousi. The plan, initially proposed thirteen years ago, overcame legal hurdles after the Council of State approved Presidential Decree No. 36 (FEK 79/A/30-3-2023), which permits the transfer and modernisation of the casino into a multifunctional complex.

This Voria complex will occupy 52 acres near Golden Hall—an upscale shopping mall in Marousi—with 27 acres allocated for public spaces and 25 acres housing the casino, a five-star hotel with 150 rooms, a 1400-seat auditorium, dining, entertainment areas and a 636-space underground parking garage.

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The $270 million investment is projected to create three thousand construction jobs and three thousand permanent positions, with completion expected three years after the building permit, anticipated in September 2025.

Three other casinos—in Rio, Alexandroupolis and Corfu—are undergoing financial restructuring.

Saint George Participations, linked to the Arfani and Chioni families, secured operational approval from the Hellenic Gaming Commission (EEEP) and plans to acquire licenses and control by purchasing existing loans and shares.

Although legally and financially complex, investors have already committed $13 million, signaling long-term involvement even before taking equity stakes.

The EEEP is also preparing to award a new casino license in Gournes, Heraklion, Crete, independent of the broader redevelopment of the former US base managed by Dimand.

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Crete’s strategic location, strong tourism and new infrastructure make it highly attractive. The license is expected to be offered via tender by early 2026, drawing international interest.

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UGC Calls for Global Teamwork to Stop Illegal Gambling

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The Ukrainian Gambling Council (UGC) has called for a united, tech-based plan to tackle the worldwide increase in illegal online betting.

Viktoriya Zakrevskaya, UGC’s Deputy Chair, said the quick growth of digital platforms has led to more unlicensed operators. These operators often use cryptocurrencies and social media to avoid getting caught and to attract users.

Illegal operators now make up a big part of the $618.7 billion global iGaming market expected by the end of 2025. These platforms often register offshore, use anonymous payments and market online, making it harder to enforce laws against them.

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Zakrevskaya pointed out that nations across the globe are trying out solutions that mix rules, tech and people’s involvement. Argentina, for example, has put in place tough age-checking systems and stops blacklisted websites on public Wi-Fi networks. This method, she explained, has made illegal sites harder to reach for at-risk groups such as kids.

In Indonesia, where betting is outlawed, officials have started watching money flows to cut off unlawful activity. Just last year, they froze 26,000 bank and e-wallet accounts tied to illegal betting operations, showing how focused money controls can limit unregulated gambling.

The US struggles with a unique problem because of its scattered rules. Unlawful betting websites are growing almost twice as fast as legal ones in the US. Over 80% of users see ads for unlicensed sites. People are now trying to tighten control on digital money and push big tech companies to better manage gambling content.

Ukraine has stepped up its crackdown. The country’s new watchdog PlayCity, which started after KRAIL was shut down, is teaming up with global tech firms like Meta to take down social media accounts that promote illegal casinos. The government has also blocked more than a hundred unlicensed sites thought to be sending money to Russia. Kyiv thinks Moscow uses the underground gambling world to fund its ongoing war.

A crucial element of Ukraine’s long-term plan involves creating a system to monitor bets and tax income in real time with transparency. The Ministry of Digital Transformation is working with tech experts to construct the platform, which should enhance supervision and boost public confidence in the regulated market.

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