Betting Business Bulletin 2 July 2017
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Wait goes on for gaming review after delay
The wait goes on for the betting industry and campaigners alike as it was revealed last week that the findings of the government’s review of gaming machines will not be published until October at the earliest.
Tracey Crouch, the minister with responsibility for gambling, revealed the news at Culture, Media and Sport questions in the House of Commons on Thursday.
The findings of the review, which also includes an examination of gambling advertising and social responsibility measures, were expected to be published this spring.
However, the decision to call a snap general election and the subsequent period of ‘purdah’, which prevents the announcement of any new or potentially controversial government initiatives during the campaign period, has caused a delay.
Plans for limits on the controversial gaming machines found in betting shops, also known as fixed-odds betting terminals, were detailed in a number of party manifestos before the election, with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats calling for the maximum stake to be cut to £2 from £100.
In answer to a question from Sir Peter Bottomley MP, Crouch said: “Although we launched the review in October 2016, purdah interrupted the final stages of our consideration of the evidence received and the subsequent internal cross-government process of approval and sign-off.
“So therefore I’m afraid we’re back at the start of that process and, as a consequence of that taking at least 12 weeks, I wouldn’t expect any further announcement until October at the earliest.”
Just 24 hours earlier a question on the subject had caused much mirth during prime minister’s questions.
Jo Stevens, the Labour MP for Cardiff Central, said: “I know the prime minister is well aware of the misery and suffering caused by reckless gambling.
“Following her own recent experience and the turmoil it has caused to her friends and colleagues, will she now commit to legislating on fixed-odds betting terminals, the cause of so much hardship across our communities?”
Theresa May did not rise to the bait, merely informing the house that the response would be announced “in due course”.
Leger in first major post-ABP deal
The ill feeling caused by British racing’s authorised betting partner (ABP) policy appears to be wearing off quickly after it emerged last week that William Hill have become the new sponsor of the St Leger for the next three years.
Hills take over from rivals Ladbrokes, who ended their 12-year association with the race amid the ABP row.
The ABP policy dictated that in order to sponsor races, bookmakers made a contribution to racing’s finances from their profits on the sport that were not then subject to the levy, a course Ladbrokes refused to sign up to.
William Hill also declined to become an ABP, but with the policy ending once the reformed levy came into force earlier in the year, the firm have decided to return to the fray of major race sponsorship in what is the first major bookmaker deal signed since the ABP initiative lapsed.
This year’s four-day meeting at Doncaster, starting on September 13, will be known as the William Hill St Leger festival, with the feature race carrying a total prize fund of £700,000.
The bookmaker’s chief executive Philip Bowcock said: “William Hill is one of the best known brands in betting – with a long history of horseracing sponsorship.
“We are delighted to sponsor the oldest Classic and will work closely with Arena Racing Company to continue to build the profile and popularity of the William Hill St Leger festival.”
Court considers US sports betting law
The future for sports betting in the United States is set to become clearer with the news last week that the US Supreme Court is to look at the laws banning sports betting in New Jersey and many other states.
New Jersey’s governor Chris Christie is lining himself up against major sports organisations such as the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB who got his original statute legalising sports betting in New Jersey thrown out.
The Supreme Court justices will review a federal appeals court’s ruling last year that the 2014 New Jersey statute permitting sports betting at casinos and racetracks violated a 1992 federal law that prohibits such gambling in all states except Nevada, Delaware, Montana and Oregon.
William Hill have a base in Nevada and CEO Philip Bowcock is right behind governor Christie, who last month said he hoped fans could be betting on NFL games “certainly in time for the Super Bowl” next February.
Bowcock said: “We believe it’s right that all parties, including the American sports leagues, now come together and establish a new framework of regulation. That will enable sports betting to be enjoyed by millions of Americans.”
Analyst Gavin Kelleher said the development “appears to be the most significant step for some time towards the expansion of regulated sports betting in the US”.
He added: “While there is no guarantee the Supreme Court will rule in favour of sports betting, the fact it has decided to listen to evidence on the matter will be seen as a positive.”
Hills close Tel Aviv office
William Hill are to close their office in Tel Aviv, Israel, and create a new central London office hub later this year.
The company have been operating in Israel since 2008 when the bookmaker set up William Hill Online in partnership with Playtech.
The Tel Aviv office employs 230 people engaged in digital marketing, gaming, technology development, payments and risk and fraud. William Hill said some of those staff members would be offered relocation packages.
Following a review as part of William Hill’s ongoing ‘transformation programme’ the Tel Aviv functions will move to London, Leeds, Gibraltar and Krakow by June next year.
The new London office hub will combine the company’s current technological centre in Shoreditch and the functions formerly located in Tel Aviv.
A William Hill spokesman said: “London, Leeds, Gibraltar and Krakow are already important hubs for William Hill and by locating more of our digital operations in Europe we will work smarter and more efficiently.”
Meanwhile it emerged last week that founder Teddy Sagi aims to raise nearly £340m from the sale of an 11.5 per cent shareholding of Playtech.
That will leave him with a 6.3 per cent stake and means he will no longer be Playtech’s largest shareholder.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][bsf-info-box icon=”Defaults-envelope-o” icon_size=”32″ pos=”left”]For more information about Racing Post’s B2B services, contact us or browse more of b2b.racingpost.com.[/bsf-info-box][vc_column_text]Racing Post B2B caters for all digital content requirements across web, mobile, tablet and retail. But we are more than just a data provider – we enhance raw data with the best and most recognisable content authored by the biggest names in sports betting. Racing Post B2B offers an unrivalled worldwide content portfolio for bookmakers and media associations. Acknowledged throughout the racing and gaming industries, the Racing Post creates bespoke products suited to your audience that will enable your company to maximise profitability by offering unique data, editorial or multi-media solutions.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]