The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has imposed a fine of £490,000 on PPB Counterparty Services Limited, trading as Paddy Power and Betfair, for sending promotional push notifications to devices linked to customers who had self-excluded.

On 21 November 2021, the operator’s app distributed an offer of enhanced odds for bets on an English Premier League football match to devices either linked to accounts that were GAMSTOP registered or devices linked to accounts that were self-excluded with the Licensee.

This action breached Commission rules requiring gambling businesses to take all reasonable steps to prevent any marketing material being sent to a self-excluded customer, and to take steps to remove the name and details of a self-excluded individual from any marketing databases within two days of receiving the completed self-exclusion notification.

Kay Roberts, Gambling Commission Executive Director of Operations, said: “Although there is no evidence the marketing was intentional, nor that all the people with apps saw the notification or that self-excluded customers were allowed to gamble, we take such breaches seriously.

“We would advise all operators to learn from the operator’s failures and ensure their systems are robust enough to always prevent self-excluded customers from being sent promotional material.”

Entain plc announced that its strategic partnership with TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ) has received approval from the New Zealand Minister for Racing.

As announced on 28 March 2023, the 25-year strategic partnership terms include a total consideration payable by Entain and an ongoing gross profit share arrangement.

Subject to conditions of completion, the strategic partnership is expected to commence on 1 June 2023.

Dean Shannon, CEO of Entain Australia, said: “We are delighted and honoured to have received Ministerial approval to finalise the strategic partnering agreement between TAB NZ and Entain Australia.

“We believe this 25-year strategic partnering arrangement will be a game-changer for sports betting in New Zealand and we are pleased that it will help provide significant financial benefits to the three New Zealand racing codes and the vast array of national sporting organisations.

“Entain is a business built on innovation and being customer focused and we look forward to connecting further with the great team at TAB NZ to introduce a range of new world class products, services and player safety tools to the loyal TAB NZ customer base.”

B2B iGaming platform provider EveryMatrix has secured certification for its SlotMatrix RGS casino content in Bulgaria enabling it to offer in-house and third-party studio games in the growing market.

SlotMatrix games from EveryMatrix studios Armadillo and Spearhead, including John Daly Spin it and win it, Hot Hot Honey, Sweet Gems, Mythological Mayhem, and many more will be available to Bulgaria licensees such as existing EveryMatrix customer Kaizen, as well as aggregator partners including EGT Digital who will distribute SlotMatrix content to its network of operators.

SlotMatrix is EveryMatrix’s pure B2B aggregator. It offers relevant game content to operators and can be easily integrated with any gaming platform on the market, enabling instant revenue and game offering boost.

With SlotMatrix, operators have access to unique content from Armadillo Studios and Spearhead Studios as well as other SlotMatrix Exclusive Partners available in more than 17 markets worldwide.

According to H2 Gambling Capital the total gross win for the Bulgarian onshore interactive betting and gaming market was estimated to be €388.5 million, rising to a predicted €425.9m in 2023.

Razvan Haiduc, CEO, Games, EveryMatrix, said: “To gain access to another fast-growing market is very encouraging and enables SlotMatrix to distribute both our own and best performing third-party studio content to new and existing operators and suppliers and their audiences.”