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Now & Near Future Concerns for the Betting Industry
![Now & Near Future Concerns for the Betting Industry](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/online-bookies-article.jpg)
The betting industry has certainly had its fair share of challenges so far in 2020. However, even with some pro sports leagues tentatively returning to the field after the coronavirus lockdown, the struggles are far from over.
Not only is there the potential for a second COVID-19 outbreak to shut everything down again, but UK bookmakers, especially the bigger bookies in the business, may be forced to deal with new regulation issues with the proposal of a mandatory levy.
Continual COVID-19 revenue challenges
To start, COVID-19 concerns are far from over. Like many businesses around the world, sportsbooks have yet to shake out of the profit-sucking clutches of the virus. Although football in England has resumed and other major professional sports leagues around the world are starting to test the waters to salvage the remainder of their seasons, bookies simply can no longer afford to put all their eggs in one basket and bet on football being their cash cow.
For instance, Ladbrokes football betting service is considered one of the staples of the industry, but even Ladbrokes has not yet fully returned to normal. Like so many other bookies, it placed more focus on the promotion of its virtual sports, eSports and casino offerings when traditional sports went on hiatus, and it is likely to continue to do so, even with the return of its big markets.
The reality remains, until the pandemic crisis is over, at any time traditional pro sports could be put on hold again or cancelled if another outbreak occurs. As such, while bookmakers are finding their new normal, they are unlikely to forget the other betting markets that helped them to draw in punters in the spring.
COVID-19 gambling behaviour challenges
The effects of the coronavirus on the iGaming industry has also brought other challenges, including its major impact on customers and their betting behaviours. Although the overall participation in gambling has decreased during the pandemic, data released by the UK Gambling Commission has revealed that some players have been spending more time and money gambling on certain products.
This data that has been collected reflects the first full month of lockdown in April. The data covers an estimated 80% of the entire online gambling market. It was taken from submissions of the biggest online operators and the YouGov COVID-19 tracker, which covers weekly representative samples of circa 2,000 UK adults.
In light of this data, the Gambling Commission has strengthened its guidance to operators, requiring them to be more vigilant with affordability checks, preventing reverse withdrawals and limits on bonus offers.
Regulation challenges â possible mandatory levy
Aside from the pandemic, regulation is also a concern for betting brands. The challenge that continues to plague the UK online gambling industry is the call for the government to impose tighter regulations to reduce gambling-related harm.
A recent report from the House of Lords says that smartphones and the exploitation of âsoft-touch regulationâ by gambling operators is contributing to a âperfect stormâ of 24/7 addictive gambling behaviour.
Committee chairman Lord Grade said that the gambling industryâs regulations are lax and need to be replaced by a regime that prioritises the welfare of gamblers ahead of the industry making profits.
However, the CEO of GVC Holdings, Kenny Alexander, argues that GVC, which owns Ladbrokes Coral, has improved player protection policies by reducing the amount of money that GVC spends on advertising and increasing the amount of money spent on funding for problem gambling research.
According to Alexander, it is important for brands to make it clear that they have improved their player protection policies, because imposing heavier regulations wonât only damage the industry but âwill ultimately drive customers into the hands of the unregulated black market.â
Still, many feel that the UK gambling industry is not doing enough to prevent gambling-related harm. In fact, a group of over 40 academics and addiction experts want a 1% mandatory levy imposed on the gambling industry, with the proceeds from this tax to be distributed through established independent bodies like the National Institute for Health Research and the UK Research and Innovation.
This mandatory levy, which was proposed last year (2019), would require the industry to increase the amount of funding they allocate to improve prevention, education and treatment services, instead of paying the current voluntary levy that is equal to 0.1% of their revenues.
According to The Guardian, last year, betting firms Bet365, William Hill, GVC, SkyBet and Flutter pledged to redirect ÂŁ100 million of funds for tackling problem gambling. That said, these funds have not yet materialised. Moreover, last month (June 2020), the industry decided to change the direction of this funding at short notice. Instead of the money going to Action against Gambling Harms(AGH) where suitable recipients would be identified and issued grants, which was the original intention, all the funds will now be given to the GambleAware charity.
The trouble that experts have with betting firms being in charge of where the money goes is that it allows them to have too much influence on how the money is spent (e.g. giving it all to one organization of their choosing). This is why they feel the levy is needed.
From COVID-19 to the threat of an imposed levy, with all the various challenges the betting industry is facing, it does not seem as though it will be smooth sailing for bookies any time soon.
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Win tickets to the BLAST Premier Fall Final: GG.BET is running a MEGA BLAST Competition for fans of ĐĄS2
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/fvfdgsadgareabvaaa.jpg)
From 26 July, all GG.BET users can get involved in the new MEGA BLAST Competition with a âŹ10,000 prize fund. The winner will receive two tickets to the BLAST Premier Fall Final CS2 tournament, taking place from 27-29 September in Copenhagen. To enter, you need to place bets on Counter-Strike 2 matches.
BLAST Premier Fall is a major series of Counter-Strike 2 tournaments which draws in millions of viewers from all over the world every year. The series consists of three stages: Groups, Showdown, and Finals. The Groups stage sees 16 Tier-1 teams duke it out. Only 6 of these can go on to compete in the final, while the rest will battle it out in the Fall Showdown for two additional spots in the final. BLAST Premier Fall Finals will be the concluding stage of the Fall series, and fans can look forward to electrifying action, heart-stopping twists and turns, and an epic $425,000 prize fund.
From 26 July to 4 August, as the Groups stage rages on, GG.BET will be holding its MEGA BLAST Competition. The winner will get their hands on two tickets to attend every day of the BLAST Premier Fall Finals. As well as these tickets, the bookmaker is also giving away a whopping âŹ10,000 prize fund to the top 40 participants in the MEGA BLAST Competition.
How to take part in the MEGA BLAST Competition:
- Register an account with GG.BET or log in to an existing account.
- Go to the tournament page and press âParticipateâ.
- Place bets on Counter-Strike 2 matches. Every bet you place will earn you a certain number of points, based on the odds.
- Rack up points, keep an eye on the leaderboard, and wait for your winnings to roll in.
Bet on your favorites and get ready for some unforgettable fun! Head over to GG.BET right now so you donât miss your chance to enjoy a festival of Counter-Strike action in Copenhagen.
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MANCHESTER CITY TO MARK GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPER GROUP-OWNED BETWAY AT THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/mcyjksadljoisajdasndkl.jpg)
Manchester City has today announced a new multi-year partnership with leading global online betting and gaming brand, Betway.
As part of the clubâs pre-season tour of the United States, and to mark this significant deal, leading figures from Manchester City and Super Group will be on-site for the iconic NYSE bell-ringing ceremony later today. Ferran Soriano, CEO of City Football Group, along with Neal Menashe, Super Group CEO, will ring The Opening Bell at 9:30am EDT.
The agreement will see Betway become the clubâs Official Global Betting Partner from the start of the 2024/25 season, as Manchester City joins the brandâs extensive sports sponsorship portfolio which includes teams from across the Premier League, La Liga, NBA and more.
Ferran Soriano, City Football Group CEO, said: âWe are pleased to announce Betway as our Official Global Betting Partner today. As a globally recognised brand, Betway has a strong pedigree and history of working with high-profile brands within the sports space and weâre excited to work together throughout the partnership.â
Super Group CEO, Neal Menashe, commented: âWe are absolutely delighted to become Manchester Cityâs Official Global Betting Partner. This agreement cements our place in the top tier of Premier League partners, ensuring that our Betway brand reaches fans in all corners of the globe.â
Throughout the duration of the partnership, Manchester City and Betway will collaborate on a number of activations and exclusive content opportunities, in addition to the brand featuring across digital and in-stadia assets.
Manchester City and Betway will also work together to provide all players, coaches, management and staff in-depth, industry leading training on all relevant codes of conduct relating to betting integrity and responsible gambling. This is in addition to the work Manchester City already does to support players and staff in this area.
The Opening Bell ceremony can be viewed live.
Compliance Updates
Acquiring a Curacao Online Gaming License in 2024: Comprehensive Analysis of Financial & Procedural Aspects with Costs & Timelines Detailed
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/curacaduioapdj.jpg)
The “Acquiring a Curacao Online Gaming License, 2024: Comprehensive Analysis of Financial & Procedural Aspects with Costs & Timelines Detailed” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com’s offering.
This report includes valuable insights into the financial and procedural aspects, including detailed information on costs and timelines associated with acquiring a Curacao license.
In 2023, Curacao introduced the “Landsverordening op de kansspelen” (Ordinance on Games of Chance) to modernize and regulate gambling legislation. Since March 2020, the Gambling Control Board (GCB) has been authorized to regulate offshore gambling games and oversee the issuance of Curacao licenses. As of 2023, there are 16 companies providing legal services for registration and licensing in the territory of Curacao. The license fee, as per GCB regulations, is 36,000 ANG or 19,800 USD, payable upon license issuance.
Research Timeline and Data Relevance
The research was conducted in two stages. The first stage, studying the regulator and Open Data Search, took place in December 2023. The second stage, writing the report and partially updating the data from the first stage, took place from the end of April to the end of May 2024.
Goals and Objectives
- Describe the information about the Curacao license and the issuing regulator.
- Describe the requirements and conditions for obtaining a Curacao license.
- Describe the costs and timelines for obtaining a Curacao license.
- Briefly study the market, find and suggest the following lists:
- Legal companies offering services for company registration and obtaining a Curacao license;
- Communication agents and integrators working with the Curacao license;
- Suppliers and vendors working with the Curacao license;
- Payment systems working with the Curacao license.
Key Topics Covered:
1. Goals and Objectives
2. Research Timeline and Data Relevance
- Document Markup
- Raw and Combined Data
- Terms & Glossary
3. General Information
- The Regulator
- Registration of Operators With Sublicense
- Application for an Online Gaming License
4. Requirements and Conditions for Obtaining a License
License Conditions
- General Prohibitions
- Safe and Secure Environment
- Equipment and Application Software
- Player Registration
- Payment Transactions
- Games
- Terms of Use
- Resolution of Complaints
- Administrative Responsibilities
- Publicly Available Information
- Reports
- Policies and Procedures
- Suspension and Revocation of License
- Additional Conditions
- Supervision
Recommendations or Minimum Requirements for the Business Plan
5. The Cost of the License
6. Decision Term and the Validity of the License
7. Application Method and Forms
8. Contact Information
9. Companies for Registration and Licensing
10. Integration Companies
11. Suppliers and Vendors
12. Payment Systems
13. META
14. Appendix: Terms & Glossary
For more information about this report visit researchandmarkets.com/r/izeo6g
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