The company stated in its Q3 trading update in October last year that group EBITDA was expected to be near the top of its guidance range of £1.04bn to £1.09bn, a range published in the company’s H1 results in August.

Entain noted that following operator-friendly sports results during Q4, group EBITDA is still expected to be at the top of the guidance range.

As for BetMGM, the brand reported in July in its H1 24 update that, in line with 2024 being an investment year, H2’s EBITDA was expected to be similar to the -$123m EBITDA reported in H1.

“Despite the customer-friendly US sports results seen during Q4, particularly in October and December, BetMGM reiterates its previous FY24 EBITDA guidance of approximately -$250m,” the company reported.

Over the next two months, Entain’s full trading performance and outlook for 2025 for both the overall group and the BetMGM brand will be published, with a BetMGM update scheduled for 4 February, while Entain’s FY24 Results are slated for 6 March.

Alongside Entain, Flutter Entertainment announced last week that US sports customer-friendly results had created an estimated adverse gross gaming revenue impact of $438m, with estimated reductions in revenue and adjusted EBITDA of approximately $390m and approximately $260m respectively, for the period 12 November to 31 December.

The current NFL season “has been the most customer-friendly since the launch of online sports betting with the highest rate of favourites winning in nearly 20 years”, according to the operator.

Flutter’s 2024 US revenue is estimated to be approximately $370m lower than its previous guidance midpoint at around $5.78bn (previously $6.05bn to $6.25bn). 

After incremental one-off cost mitigation, the company’s US adjusted EBITDA is expected to be around $205m lower than the previous guidance midpoint at approximately $505m (previously $670m to $750m). Flutter is scheduled to publish its Q4 earnings and formal guidance for 2025 on 4 March.

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Kaplan has been part of Evolution and its Group Management since 2016. He will remain with the company in an advisory role for a period of time, with Andersson beginning the CFO role on 18 February.

”I want to thank Jacob for his work and contribution to the development of Evolution into the group we are today,” stated Martin Carlesund, CEO of Evolution.

“He has been an integral part of our management team and played a key role in our expansion and mission to improve the company each day. We wish him all the best in the future.”

Andersson has previously worked as a CFO for private equity real estate investor Slättö, research technology provider Cint and investment company Kinnevik.

Carlesund added: “At the same time, I am very much looking forward to working with Joakim. He has a strong background as an accomplished CFO and will strengthen our team and help the company take the next steps in its development.”

Commenting on his new role, Andersson said on LinkedIn: “I’m excited to share that, as of 18 February, I am beginning a new chapter in my career as the Chief Financial Officer at Evolution.

“I’m looking forward to collaborating with the talented team at Evolution to further strengthen the company’s financial position and continue delivering value to its stakeholders.”

The CFO change comes as Evolution Malta Limited is being reviewed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) regarding its operating licence in the UK market.

The review has been initiated under Section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 after the UKGC identified Evolution games as “being accessible from the UK through operators not holding a Commission license”.

Possible outcomes from the review include no action being taken, conditions being imposed on the licence, financial sanction, suspension and revocation of Evolution’s licence to operate.

Evolution has stated that it is cooperating with the UKGC to resolve the matter.

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The operator went live in Q4 last year with Hybrid Dealer Roulette. Inspired describes its Hybrid Dealer products as offering players “casino and gameshow content without the challenges associated with live-dealer products”.

A spokesperson for bet365 stated: “This partnership is a testament to our dedication to providing the best online casino experience for our players through cutting-edge offerings. 

“We are always looking for new ways to enhance the player experience and keep our players engaged. Inspired’s Hybrid Dealer Roulette game is an exciting innovation that we are confident will resonate with our players.”

Hybrid Dealer Roulette, Inspired’s second Hybrid Dealer game, has been designed to recreate the live casino experience. It features virtual CGI, pre-recorded real-life hosts, a countdown timer to place bets and players seeing round results at the same time.

The game also offers a social gaming experience with leaderboards and chat, as well as high-quality graphics and audio. In addition to bet365, Inspired has a Hybrid Dealer partnership with Flutter Entertainment’s FanDuel brand.

“We are thrilled to partner with bet365 to bring this exciting new game to their players,” commented Brooks Pierce, President and CEO of Inspired. 

“Hybrid Dealer is a whole new category of games, and through our advanced technology, bet365 will be able to provide a realistic Roulette experience to their online players without the expense and effort of dedicated studios and staffing.”

Earlier this week, bet365 continued its expansion in South America, going live with its online casino and sports betting products in Brazil following the launch of the country’s regulated igaming market.

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Perez brings over 20 years of IT industry experience to the position, where he will direct the design and implementation of high-level technology solutions to help operators hit their goals.

Pragmatic Solutions provides platform technology to igaming operators to assist them with player experience customisation as well as multi-brand operational management across regulated markets.

Michael Boylan, COO at Pragmatic Solutions, stated: “We are thrilled to welcome Ernesto to our team. As our business continues to expand, the newly created position of Director of Technology will be pivotal in leading the architecture design for new and existing clients, ensuring alignment between technology solutions and delivery goals.”

Alongside his IT industry experience, Perez also brings a wealth of igaming expertise to Pragmatic Solutions, as he was previously the Chief Technology Officer at Boldplay.

With the supplier, Perez will play a role in the continuous development of its player account management platform, with his appointment helping “the company’s focus on technological innovation as a driving force for operator growth”. 

Boylan added: “With his extensive experience in the igaming industry, Ernesto is a fantastic addition to the business, and he will play an important role in driving value for our clients and contributing to our ongoing success.”

Commenting on his appointment, Perez said: “As an industry-leading platform provider, Pragmatic Solutions has a reputation for investing in technology, and it’s an exciting time to be joining the team at this point in the company’s expansion. 

“I look forward to working closely with internal teams and clients, with the objective of translating business needs into innovative technical solutions that deliver results.”

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In its second year, the initiative has once again seen the operator donate £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every maximum score at the world championship, which concluded last Friday night when Luke Littler defeated Michael van Gerwen by seven sets to three.

In total, 907 maximums were thrown during the tournament, with Littler throwing the most with 76, followed by van Gerwen with 56 and Callan Rydz with 43.

Paddy Power also pledged £60,000 to the charity for each nine-dart finish at the event, of which two were recorded by Christian Kist and Damon Heta. This brought the total amount donated to Prostate Cancer UK through ‘The Bigger 180’ campaign to £1.027m.

Jack Wilson, Head of Content at Paddy Power, said to SBC News: “We offered a £180,000 bonus for every nine-darter – shared between player, fan and Prostate Cancer UK – while once again we committed to donating £1,000 for every 180. 

“Thanks to the sharp-shooting of Damon Heta and Christian Kist, two fans went away £60,000 richer and another £120,000 was put into a cheque for Prostate Cancer UK.

“All in all, Paddy Power donated £1,027,000 to the charity, which will help fund the TRANSFORM trial. 

“Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men and TRANSFORM will find the best way to test for prostate cancer, so we can be sure which is the most effective method for a nationwide screening programme that could save thousands of lives every year.”

Paddy Power’s ‘The Bigger 180’ campaign ambassador was Sir Chris Hoy, who also presented the Ballon d’Art trophy to Littler for hitting the most 180s during the tournament.

Sky Sports also joined forces with Paddy Power to help raise awareness by asking men to check their risk of prostate cancer.

Wilson noted: “We also joined forces with Sky Sports to call on 180,000 men to check their risk for prostate cancer. More than 150,000 have done so so far – and with Sir Chris Hoy leading the calls as a campaign ambassador, that number continues to rapidly rise.”

Hoy said via the Prostate Cancer UK website: “The huge sum being donated will make a big difference to the lives of thousands of men. It’s a huge step forward and we’re now one big step closer to making a long-lasting and meaningful change to men’s health.

“The TRANSFORM trial aims to find the best way to test men for prostate cancer, so we can be sure which is the most effective method for a nationwide screening programme that could save thousands of lives every year. This massive cash injection can have an impact on men’s lives for years to come.”

Chiara De Biase, Director of Health Services, Equity & Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, stated: “Every 180 thrown, every cheer from fans and every pound raised has brought us closer to a future where all men can be screened for prostate cancer.

“With £1,027,000 raised and thousands of men taking our online Risk Checker, this campaign has delivered a remarkable impact. As well as the sensational fundraising, we’re proud that more than 143,000 men have completed our online Risk Checker – making this a truly life-changing campaign.”

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Available via the bet365 app and website, players in the South American country can now play on the bet365 Casino platform, which features live casino and slots content including multi-layered jackpots, classic-style fruit games and the latest titles.

With headquarters in Barueri, São Paulo, bet365 is also bringing its sports betting offering to Brazil and its responsible gambling tools to help customers play safely.

bet365 was one of over 60 businesses confirmed recently by Brazil’s Ministry of Finance to have completed full licence applications for the Brazilian igaming market. 

“We are delighted to announce our launch in Brazil, and deliver a premium sports betting experience to this vibrant market,” commented a spokesperson for bet365.

“Football fans around the world share a love of the beautiful game, but nowhere is that passion more evident than here. We’re thrilled that our Never Ordinary brand platform can further enhance the enjoyment of the sport for the Brazilian people.

“In addition, we will use our expertise and advanced responsible gambling tools to ensure a safe and responsible environment for all new customers.”

Elsewhere in South America, bet365 launched its online casino and slots offerings in Peru back in October last year.

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Through the collaboration, titles from the igaming supplier are now accessible to LiveScore and Virgin Bet players in the UK, including releases such as Wanted Dead or a Wild, Le Bandit, Ze Zeus and SixSixSix.

Marcus Cordes, CEO of Hacksaw Gaming, commented: “Partnering with LiveScore Group is an incredible opportunity for Hacksaw Gaming. Their reach, reputation, and dedication to player satisfaction make them an ideal partner as we continue to expand in the UK. 

“We are confident that this collaboration will resonate with players and pave the way for future successes.”

The deal with Hacksaw Gaming comes as LiveScore Group goes through a period of change, as the company announced in November last year that it would undergo an internal restructuring process to “create improved structures and a pathway to long-term sustainable growth”.

The restructuring is expected to impact over 100 existing roles across multiple business locations. It includes the operator’s recent market exit from the Netherlands, which was confirmed last month by the Dutch Gaming Authority Kansspelautoriteit.

Alongside LiveScore, Hacksaw Gaming is partnered in the UK and Ireland with Sky Betting & Gaming.

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Through the deal, a selection of online casino titles from SwinttPremium have been added to the Jokerstar platform, which includes releases such as the fruit-themed Extra Win X and Seven Books Unlimited.

Lars Kollind, Head of Business Development at Swintt, stated: “With the SwinttPremium line-up having already proved incredibly popular with German audiences, we’re delighted to now have the opportunity to share these great games with even more players as a result of our partnership with Jokerstar.de. 

“In a short space of time, the platform has established itself as one of the country’s top online casino destinations and we think our slots can help elevate the brand to new heights.”

Swintt noted that new SwinttPremium igaming content will be added to the Jokerstar platform over the coming months.

Nico Müller, Project Manager at Jokerstar.de, said: “Despite only opening our virtual doors to customers two years ago, Jokerstar.de has established itself as one of Germany’s most popular online casino sites. 

“One of the keys to this success has been making sure that we offer the best slot content available – and our new partnership with Swintt will ensure that we continue to strengthen our line-up with more great games that are already a proven success in the country.”

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In a statement on its website, the gambling support charity explained that Osmond has received an OBE for services to tackling gambling harms.

Osmond has been working with GambleAware for over six years, previously serving as a Campaign Advisor from September 2018, before becoming CEO of the charity in April 2021.

“I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this OBE,” stated Osmond. 

“This is recognition of the tireless efforts of the whole team at GambleAware, our partners, and the wider lived experience community who have shared their personal stories and insights with the hope of reducing gambling-related harm across Great Britain.”

Osmond continued: “I am privileged to lead an organisation that is committed to supporting those affected by gambling harms, raising awareness, and driving meaningful change. 

“As we enter a new year, we must continue to work together, strengthen our efforts, and ensure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the help and support they need.

“I dedicate this award to those who have been affected by gambling harms, whose resilience continues to inspire us every day, and to all the individuals and organisations working alongside us to prevent gambling harm.”

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The KSA noted that the policy provides “more guidelines for imposing fines” and “more clarity to gambling providers and other parties” under the authority’s supervision. 

Published in the Government Gazette of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the policy will apply to all violations that the KSA supervises, covering specific violations determined by the country’s Remote Gambling Act and its Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act (Wwft).

The new fine policy is split into five categories, each category with a basic fine amount. 

Category one fine range is €0 to €500 with a basic fine of €500; category two fine range is €0 to €10,000 with a basic fine of €10,000; category three fine range is €0 to €200,000 with a basic fine of €100,000; category four fine range is €0 to €1m with a basic fine of €500,000; and category five fine range is €0 to €4m with a basic fine of €2m.

The KSA noted that fines in category five will only be imposed for Wwft violations. For non-Wwft violations in the highest category of category four, the authority has the option to further impose a turnover-related fine of 3% of the offender’s gross turnover to increase the fine’s effectiveness.

Offering transparency surrounding how fine categories are determined, the authority has provided a step-by-step breakdown of its violation evaluation process: 

• Step 1: Basic amount – determines the applicable basic amount for fine
• Step 2: Recidivism – doubling the basic amount if the licence holder has committed the violation previously.
• Step 3: Seriousness – examining the magnitude and duration of the violation, if the licence holder has previously violated the standard without an administrative sanction being imposed, negative consequences on customers, negative social consequences and possible integrity risks, reducing or increasing the fine if necessary by up to 50%.
• Step 4: Blame – evaluate the licence holder’s culpability, reducing or increasing the fine if necessary by up to 50%.
• Step 5: Scope of Offender – Use the licence holder’s gross turnover to determine the fine amount. For entities within corporate groups, consolidated turnover may also be considered.
• Step 6: Special circumstances – Licence holders can present special circumstances which may reduce fines by up to 25%. Examples include voluntary reporting, full independent investigations, rectifying action taken and implementing effective measures to end the violation.
• Step 7: Accumulation of fines – taking into account related violations if necessary to ensure fines imposed are appropriate.
• Step 8: Benefits Acquired – if the benefit obtained is higher than the fine amount, the fine will be increased to at least the amount of that benefit obtained.
• Step 9: Financial capacity – If necessary, the financial capacity of the licence holder will be taken into account.

The Government Gazette reads: “For determining a fine for a violation of a provision classified in category I or II, only steps 1, 6 and 9 of the step-by-step plan apply. For determining a fine for a violation of a provision of the Wwft classified in category II, step 2 also applies.”

Michel Groothuizen, Chair of the board at the KSA, stated: “The KSA is becoming increasingly professional as an organisation. After the opening of the online market in 2021, we were given a new category of license holders. In 2022, we imposed a first fine on a license holder. 

“We have now gained enough experience to arrive at a well-considered fine policy for both license holders and other parties. This creates clarity for the parties under our supervision and hopefully motivates them even more to avoid fines.”

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