Riding the momentum generated during the lockdowns, online gambling in Greece is expected to soar to an annual turnover of more than 1 billion euros by 2024, a conference call of the OPAP gaming company with market analysts heard last week.

According to the company’s estimates arrived at in consultation with H2 Gambling Capital, online gaming in Greece is by far the fastest-growing means of gambling in the country, with its penetration jumping since 2019 to secure a market share of 36% of all gaming in Greece. This is now on the way towards matching the average rate seen across the European Union, amounting to 40%.

As far as OPAP alone is concerned, its online business saw its share jump from just 0.7% in 2019 to 29% of the company’s gambling activity today, and this is set to continue rising despite the reopening of brick-and-mortar gaming venues.

Following its investment in rival company Stoiximan, OPAP is well placed in the online market, analysts were told. The strategy of the Athens-listed company eyes the differentiation of its online gaming, aiming at increasing its client base and attracting more female punters.

Apex Live Gaming has launched a new device named “ChipperX” for the casinos.

Designed and manufactured by Apex, ChipperX is a dedicated chip management device. It automatically sorts chips by value or colour into one of 12 designated chip tracks. Each chip track is configured to sort and store a defined number of chip types.

“Apex Live Gaming is made up of people who understand and have experience working in land-based casinos. That’s why we make equipment that helps casino staff do their jobs faster, better, more comfortably and easier,” the company said.

ChipperX has the computing power to quickly and accurately count, sort and distribute up to 500 chips per minute. It produces game statistics with a minute-by-minute display stored in the device’s memory for one year.

Easy operation is guaranteed by remote control and diagnostics. Through remote access to ChipperX settings and management, Apex’s team of technicians can help customers control the device remotely in real time. This reduces operating costs and service time.

Paul Mallon has stepped down as the head of brand marketing at Paddy Power.

The ad executive spent ten years at the Flutter-owned operator. Mallon began at Paddy Power as a football writer following a time as a journalist at the Irish Daily Star.

He leaves Paddy Power to become head of special ops at the London-based advertising agency Lucky Generals, which was Paddy Power’s creative agency before Flutter’s reorganisation with its The Stars Group merger.

Mallon wrote on LinkedIn: “After an incredibly good time and 10 years at the sublime Paddy Power, I’ve transferred to the mighty Lucky Generals (with huge thanks to the colleagues, agencies and customers who made working for PP such a pleasure).”