Industry

Entain, the holding company of Ladbrokes, Coral and other firms, has decided to sell the Betdaq betting exchange back to its founder Dermot Desmond – just eight years after they acquired it from the Irish businessman. Desmond pocketed a cool €30 million (£25 million) from the original deal back in 2013, although it’s not been […]

Fred Done, the founder of Betfred, has announced that he is to step down from his role of chief executive at the betting brand. He will remain in his position as chairman. The 78-year-old has appointed Joanne Whittaker as his successor, and while he will not be working day-to-day at the Cheshire-based bookmaker he has […]

They say that every man has his price, and it seems that every bookmakers can be acquired if you have enough cash too. William Hill has sold up to U.S. casino firm Caesars Entertainment for an eye-popping £2.9 billion – however, Caesars only wants to take the brand forward in the United States, and so […]

In the UK, the government has really started to ramp up its efforts to regulate the gambling industry with a string of moves designed to limit the activities of punters. First was the maximum stake cut on FOBT machines, which is one of the reasons why high street betting shops find themselves in such financial […]

As punters, we take it for granted that we can access lots of different stats – both pre-match and in-play – with which to make better informed betting decisions. However, that could become a thing of the past as hundreds of Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership players unite to launch a potentially game-changing legal […]

These are unprecedented times, as you have no doubt heard numerous times, and the UK economy is heading into largely unchartered territory as we wait to see how the events of 2020 affect various industries. The return of elite sport is a boost both for the morale of the nation but also for its coffers […]

In these unprecedented times, it goes without saying that many industries are going to be damaged – be it temporarily or permanently – by restrictions put in place on public movement. With staff forced to work from home and shoppers reluctant to spend their hard-earned money – unless it’s on loo roll or dried pasta, […]

When Tyson Fury dismantled Deontay Wilder in their world heavyweight clash in Las Vegas in March, it was the culmination of an incredible renaissance story for the Gypsy King. For savvy punters that had backed Fury to win it was also a chance to celebrate a payout from the bookies, with the 31-year-old available at […]

When any industry faces tough trading conditions, it is only the strongest who will survive. In the UK gambling game, the government and its appointed regulators are doing everything they can to create a player welfare-led environment in which unscrupulous practices are kicked to the kerb. That reason, as well as an inability to compete […]

There has been a number of troubling news stories emerging in the first part of 2020 that confirms that the betting industry’s previously invincible position as a money-maker appears to be under threat. The likes of MoPlay and SportPesa have faced severe financial difficulties, and the former has had their licence revoked until they can […]

Of all the industries that make billions of pounds each year, none has gone through the regulatory mill quite like the betting sector. From TV advertising bans and the FOBT maximum stake cut to the latest news that credit card gambling will be banned, UK bookmakers have taken a legislative pounding in the past couple […]

In a landmark moment for the betting industry, the UK Gambling Commission has announced a blanket ban on the use of credit cards. So, as of April 14, 2020, nobody will be allowed to bet or make a deposit on their credit card in the UK, both online and in high street bookmakers’ shops. The […]

It’s the sort of thing you’d expect in Dickensian Britain. Punters, seeking an opportunity to back their quarry, slip into their long coats, turn up their collars and put on their hats in an attempt to hide their identities as they head out to place a bet on the black market. Incredibly, you don’t need […]

It’s a decision that could have permanent implications for the betting industry. Having taken a big hit by one savvy punter, BetVictor have announced they will no longer be offering bonuses any of the ‘Lucky’ family of bets, be it 15s, 31s or 63s. One customer of Victor Chandler’s firm placed a £62 Lucky 31 […]

It’s been one of the worst kept secrets in modern politics. Boris Johnson has been odds-on with the bookies for months now to be named the next Prime Minister of the UK in the wake of Theresa May’s resignation, and sure enough the man known as BoJo will be sworn in to 10 Downing Street […]

When Betfair and Paddy Power merged back in February 2016, it send shockwaves through the betting industry. Here were two of the most popular and powerful sportsbooks in the game, and yet due to pressures on the high street and from governmental regulation they felt the need to consolidate their position in the market. It […]

The weight of scrutiny that bookmakers are facing is growing. A campaign to reduce the maximum stake on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) has proven successful, costing betting firms tens of millions of pounds each year, and now advertising has come under the spotlight. Perhaps in an attempt to pre-date regulatory action, the Remote Gambling […]