Latest News

Politicians challenge Levy Board replacement

Published

7 years ago

February 6, 2018

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Emphasising the plans of the Government to substitute the Levy Board as “illegal and ill-judged” the Politicians Lord Lipsey and Philip Davies have come to the forefront. However, their response to the government consultation on the second stage of the reforms to the levy system seems skeptical and raises concerns whether the Gambling Commission is a pertinent body to encharge the collection duties of the Levy Board and whether the Levy Board should face termination.

With the intention to extend the levy to operators based offshore for the first time in April, the government came up with a consultation in December on the second stage of the process which would abolish the Levy Board, consequently, the Gambling Commission assuming the collection duties and a new Racing Authority, representing the sport’s main constituents, in charge of distribution. However, Labour peer Lipsey and Conservative MP Davies said in their submission: “We wholly oppose this, in principle and in practice.”

“In principle, the Gambling Commission is not an appropriate body to exercise this function. Its statutory concerns are the regulation of gambling to protect children and the vulnerable, to ensure fairness and to prevent crime. The levy is not related to any of those purposes. It is used to subsidise horse racing. In our view, the statutory remit of the Gambling Commission does not permit it to exercise this role.”

Lipsey and Davies also claimed that the government’s use of a Legislative Reform Order to make the changes was “an abuse of parliamentary procedures” and the resulting secondary legislation would be “ultra vires” – beyond the government’s legal authority. They added: “We can think of no example where the government has previously moved wholesale any tax collecting role from one entity to another either by statutory instrument or executive action. It is something which should always be the subject of primary legislation.”

They also asserted: “Primary legislation would also be needed to ensure there was no conflict of interest between the Gambling Commission’s role as regulator and levy collector.” Lipsey and Davies also said it was not clear why the Levy Board needed to be replaced. “The Levy Board is a tight ship,” they said, “with a total staff of only ten.”

“It has been well led in recent years. As an organisation, it is wholly devoted to racing in a way the Gambling Commission is not. And it knows its territory. Who would you most back to collect what is due?” The two politicians also argued that far from removing the government from the levy process, as was desired, the reforms “embedded it in the heart of that process”.

“Ministers now determine what the rate of levy should be,” they added. “This is a recipe for more government involvement in racing and not less.” “We trust that ministers will think again. If they do not we will do everything we can to persuade parliament to force them to think again by rejecting this illegal and ill-judged proposal,” They concluded.

Last year Lipsey and Davies also opposed the government plan to extend the levy to offshore operators, saying they preferred a commercial arrangement between betting and racing. The government consultation will close on February 16.

Industry News

MiFinity to Showcase Innovative iFrame at SiGMA 2024

Published

5 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Peter Tolan

Reading Time: < 1 minute

MiFinity, a leading global payment services provider, is excited to announce its participation at SiGMA 2024, held in Malta from 12 to 14 November. Visitors can find MiFinity at Stand 2012, where the team will be showcasing its award winning PayAnyBank service, and the latest version of the MiFinity iFrame and demonstrating how it helps iGaming operators acquire and retain players with a seamless, flexible payment experience.

Paul Kavanagh, CEO of MiFinity, commented: “SiGMA is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our latest developments and engage directly with the iGaming community. The MiFinity iFrame is a game-changer for operators looking to streamline their payment processes and enhance the player experience. We look forward to demonstrating its capabilities and connecting with both existing and prospective partners.”

MiFinity’s Business Development and Account Management teams will be on-site to discuss the new iFrame features in-depth and highlight how MiFinity can optimise payments for iGaming operators. They will also be showcasing MiFinity’s innovative suite of payment solutions developed specifically for the iGaming sector, including MiFinity PayAnyBank — a powerful tool that enables operators to send payouts directly to players’ bank accounts in multiple countries and currencies, enhancing the user experience with faster, more localised transactions and reduced FX fees.

The MiFinity Affiliates team will also be available to explain the benefits of MiFinity’s affiliate program, which offers some of the highest commissions in the industry and unique promotional opportunities via the MiFinity Bonus website.

Meet the MiFinity team at Stand 2012 at SiGMA 2024 to learn more about the company’s solutions and how they are transforming the iGaming payment landscape. Pre-book a meeting with the MiFinity team or drop by the stand during the event to explore how MiFinity can support your business.

Book a meeting here > outlook.office365.com/book/[email protected]/

Latest News

ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona

Published

9 hours ago

November 5, 2024

George Miller

ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The news that January’s ICE Barcelona will include a major new feature dedicated to global gaming’s most influential trade associations has been welcomed by organisations in Europe and abroad.

Making full use of the additional space at the Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, the first ICE Association Assembly has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography, including both the Brussels-based European Casino Association (ECA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the global trade association for gaming equipment suppliers with its primary headquarters in Las Vegas.

Erwin Van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA confirmed: “Our members are already planning their week in Barcelona and they will be at this historic edition of ICE in great numbers. ICE is a pivotal event for the global gaming community and having a show floor feature which will enable us to engage directly with all sectors is a unique opportunity.

“Traditionally, our association’s involvement at ICE and its Conference program has primarily centred around networking and product development orientation—connecting with our members, regulators, suppliers, and fellow trade bodies. However, ICE 2025 marks a significant milestone. For the first time, the ECA will have the chance to fully interface with the global industry supply chain in its entirety. We are looking forward to this unique opportunity to articulate our vision for the future to a diverse and comprehensive audience, where innovation, responsibility and significant partnerships for guest and customer centricity will have centre stage.”

Daron Dorsey, CEO of AGEM added: “We represent the interests of our gaming suppliers whose well-known brands are global in reach, so to be given the opportunity to explain our agenda and engage with what is a truly international audience of association colleagues on the ICE show floor is invaluable.”

January’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will occupy 120,000sqm of space compared to the 100,00sqm at ICE 2024. In a major endorsement of the opportunities offered by the relocation to Barcelona 72% of the 25 biggest exhibitors will have an increased stand presence at ICE 2025.

Industry Awards

Blask Wins Prestigious “Startup of the Year” at 2024 Starlet Awards

Published

11 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Blask, the pioneering AI-powered analytics ecosystem for iGaming, has been named “Startup of the Year” at the prestigious 2024 Starlet Awards. The company earned this recognition for developing a groundbreaking market intelligence platform that has redefined how gaming operators leverage data and market insights.

Award Recognition

The award confirms Blask’s revolutionary approach to market analytics and its significant impact on how iGaming companies access and utilise market intelligence. Powered by AI models including Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing, Blask analyses billions of data points across 2000+ active brands to provide unprecedented market insights.

The Starlet Awards recognition follows Blask’s recent SiGMA Asia Startup Pitch 2024 Award victory. “Winning these awards affirms our belief that innovation and bold ideas can reshape the iGaming landscape. The recognition underscores the impact of our cutting-edge AI technology and our relentless pursuit to transform data into actionable insights”, reflects Max Tesla, CEO and Co-founder of Blask

Blask provides operators with a strategic edge across multiple critical areas. Its real-time market analysis capabilities deliver instant access to crucial market metrics, while the high-granularity data available at one-hour intervals enables swift, informed decision-making. The sophisticated AI modelling system estimates GGR and FTD by analysing a comprehensive range of inputs, including historical data, third-party OSINT data, market performance, competitor metrics, historical brand performance, market reports, and public company disclosures.

Beyond analytics, Blask offers robust brand monitoring and competitor analysis tools, alongside strategic and tactical planning capabilities particularly valuable for market entry decisions and maximising performance during major events. The recently introduced customer profile feature harnesses AI to generate detailed, country-specific user profiles, adding another layer of strategic insight for operators.