Kindred Group plc’s (Kindred) share of revenue from high-risk players showed a slight increase to 3.2% (Q4 2023 3.1%) in the first quarter of 2024. Compared to the first quarter of 2023, the high-risk revenue share decreased marginally. The percentage of detected customers who exhibited improved behaviour after interventions came in at 87.1% (compared to 87.4% in Q4 2023 and 83.0% in Q1 2023). This sustained trajectory in the improvement effect after interventions, observed over an extended period, serves as a testament to the strong dedication and collective efforts throughout the company. It reflects Kindred’s ongoing commitment to fostering positive change within the industry.

“We continue to see our share of revenue from high-risk players fluctuate quarter to quarter, and we are working closely with all teams across the company to support customers towards a more sustainable gambling experience. However, it is encouraging to see that our Journey towards Zero data has steadily decreased since 2020. A similar trend can be seen across the healthier gambling behaviour effect after interventions. This tells us two things: our work is paying off, but we need to continue to push ourselves to propel a sustainable progression,” Alexander Westrell, Director of Communications at Kindred Group, said.

“It was very encouraging to witness the open and transparent discussions at the Sustainable Gambling Conference in London on 20 March, where those with lived experience shared their important stories. Also, it is evident that technology is moving forward, and will provide greater opportunities to detect and intervene in the future. We hope to see more regulators engage with the industry and with experts to secure a more sustainable industry for everyone,” Alexander Westrell added.

PENN Entertainment announced that Aaron LaBerge has been named Chief Technology Officer (CTO) effective July 1, 2024, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Mr. LaBerge will report directly to PENN CEO & President Jay Snowden.

In his new role, Mr. LaBerge will be responsible for driving the technology strategy and execution for PENN, while leading the multinational team of technologists and serving as the key business leader for the company’s Interactive division.

Mr. LaBerge spent more than 20 years at The Walt Disney Company, in two stints separated by five and a half years as a technology entrepreneur. He was most recently President & Chief Technology Officer for Disney Entertainment and ESPN where he was responsible for driving all technology and product development in support of The Walt Disney Company’s two media divisions. In that role, he helped set the vision and strategic leadership for how Disney uses technology to enable storytelling and innovation, drive its business, and create unparalleled consumer experiences with entertainment and sports content.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Aaron’s caliber join our PENN executive team. Having overseen a global organization of thousands of engineers, product developers, designers, technologists, and data scientists that created some of the largest scale and most successful media properties in the world, there is no better candidate to lead our Technology and Interactive division into its future. I know Aaron is looking forward to working with Todd George, our head of operations, and our entire Executive Team to continue growing our position as a leader in online gaming, sports betting, and digital sports media,” Mr. Snowden said.

“I’m excited to join another talented team at PENN Interactive and lead our technology strategy. PENN Entertainment is at the forefront of the fast-changing gaming and sports media industry. I plan to use my experience from Disney and ESPN to help make ESPN BET an essential piece of the sports fan experience. Together, we’ll push the limits and redefine how fans interact with sports and gaming,” Mr. LaBerge said.

Prior to his most recent role at the Walt Disney Company, Mr. LaBerge was Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at ESPN from 2015 to 2018. At ESPN he played an instrumental role in the growth of ESPN’s consumer-facing digital media products and services – leading many of ESPN’s most ambitious and challenging projects and helping establish ESPN’s position as the leader in digital sports and innovative sports technology development. He was a key architect in the design, development, and engineering of ESPN’s state-of-the-art facilities in Bristol, CT; Los Angeles, CA; Charlotte, NC; and Austin, TX, as well as data centers and infrastructure that connect those facilities around the world, as well as the technology design and development to support the launch of the multi-platform SEC Network.

Between 2007 and 2012, LaBerge was co-founder and CEO of Fanzter, Inc. – a venture-funded consumer software and digital product development company. At Fanzter, he directed all day-to-day operations and led the development and launch of a variety of consumer-focused internet and mobile products, ground-breaking social and commerce technologies and more.

Trustly announced a bold pledge to boost growth for businesses across Europe. In a major move to revolutionise the checkout experience for millions of people, the payments tech firm unveils the new Trustly Growth Guarantee.

The market-leading account-to-account provider is offering clients – current and new – a fresh way to pay at the checkout. As part of this, businesses are guaranteed to see an increase in conversion rates, to as high as 98.8%, and a clear reduction in the fees they pay in comparison with traditional payment methods.

Customers will enjoy fewer steps to pay and the added efficiency of return user recognition; Trustly guarantees supercharged success at the checkout. With predictable pricing, costs will be just one amount per transaction – with no variable fees at all. Trustly also states that it is dedicated to providing a seamless integration and will include Success Concierge as standard.

The initiative, revealed only a matter of days after impressive 2023 growth results were announced for the global leader in the industry, reflects Trustly’s unwavering confidence and commitment to continuing to innovate account-to-account payments. Last week, Trustly announced a 79% increase YoY in annual transaction value – reaching $58 billion in total.

Its track record for already attracting major global clients – some examples being Meta, eBay, HMRC, Zalando and Hargreaves Lansdown – signifies that there’s been a distinct change in customer preference and merchants priorities.

Businesses are making attempts to remain innovative and ahead of the curve as millions of consumers increasingly adopt open banking-enabled account-to-account solutions instead of other more standard options when they pay.

Jussi Lindberg, Chief Revenue Officer of Trustly Europe, said: “Our market-leading payment setup embodies Trustly’s mission: to be a growth partner for our clients. We don’t just provide payment solutions; we drive efficiency and value in their businesses. Trustly Azura has delivered remarkable results, and now businesses can experience its benefits. Account-to-account payments are booming, and we’re here to help businesses seize the opportunities it offers.”

If merchants do not see a boost in conversion or a drop in payment costs – at a processing rate of at least 50K transactions each month, for three months, Trustly will reimburse three months’ worth of processing fees. The guarantee is available for both new and existing European customers and is subject to Trustly’s general terms & conditions.