Latvia Ends Gambling Suspension

Latvia’s gambling ban ended June 9. Land-based gaming was first suspended March 22, followed by online ban on April 6. “Latvia is back,” said George Ustinov (l.), CEO of...

Published June 22, 2020

Greek Gaming Company in Freefall

Greek gaming operator OPAP SA was looking at double-digit declines in the first quarter due to the closure of its retail businesses in Greece and Cyprus. Those shops started...

Published June 22, 2020

Sweden Tightens Deposits Limits

Starting in July, Sweden’s regulated gaming market will operate under increased restrictions including new deposit limits, despite protests from the industry. Health Minister Ardalan Shekarabi (l.) said the measures...

Published June 22, 2020

Melco Reopens In Cyprus

Melco Resorts has reopened three satellite casinos in Cyprus. C2 Ayia Napa, C2 Nicosia and C2 Paphos and C2 Limassol opened last week, along with C2 Limassol, a temporary...

Published June 22, 2020

Reduced Stakes Reduced Calls to Police from Bookies

U.K. authorities believe the decrease in stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals led to a decrease in the number of calls by bookmakers to police involving rowdy gamblers. The figures...

Published June 22, 2020

Italy Reopens Retail Gaming Halls

Italy, once the hotbed of Covid-19 infections in Europe, closed all betting shops, gaming arcades and bingo halls on March 10. Last week, retail outlets, including those operated by...

Published June 22, 2020

La Liga Football League Bans Betting Ads

Spanish football’s top league, La Liga, must eliminate all betting-related materials as part of the resumption of play. Eight clubs in the league will be affected.

Published June 15, 2020

Paddy Power, GVC Reopen Betting Shops

Paddy Power and GVC timed the June 15 reopening of its betting shops in England and Ireland to coincide with the Royal Ascot races. Its shops in Scotland, Wales...

Published June 15, 2020

U.K.: Loot Boxes Could Be Gambling

So-called “loot boxes” in video games contain hidden rewards for players. The rewards cost money and the players, children included, don’t know what the boxes contain. Because of the...

Published June 15, 2020

U.K. Casinos, Sportsbooks Prepare to Open

Casinos in the U.K. are set to open July 4 so long as measures to control coronavirus exposure meet government standards. But Genting Casinos (Newcastle Upon Tyne location at...

Published June 15, 2020

U.K. Racing Post Resumes Publication

The Racing Post has resumed its print edition as horse racing returns in the U.K. after a hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Published June 8, 2020

Lithuanian Casinos At Risk for Money Laundering?

Lithuanian casinos, both online and land-based, are vulnerable to money laundering, according to a risk assessment conducted by the government. , On a scale of one to four, the...

Published June 8, 2020

Spain’s Codere Posts Massive Losses

In the first quarter, Bolsa Madrid gaming group Codere SA saw group-wide losses of €97 million due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The company is now in survival mode, and...

Published June 8, 2020

German State to Privatize Casino Sector

The state of Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany has passed legislation to privatize land-based casinos in Aachen (l.), Bad Oeynhausen, Dortmund and elsewhere. The plan, which originated in 2018, would require a...

Published June 8, 2020

U.K. Betting Shops Hit By Stakes Reduction

The U.K. Gambling Commission released data that indicated the decrease in maximum stakes on fixed odds betting terminals had a deleterious effect on overall performance.

Published June 8, 2020

Sale of French Casino Company SFC Falls Through

Gaming1’s plan to take control of French casino group Société Française de Casinos has “lapsed,” the company announced. The Belgian group blamed the impact of the coronavirus, which has...

Published June 8, 2020

European Casinos On the Road Back

Across Europe, casinos and betting shops have begun the long trek back to renewed operations and financial viability. Some opened in late May; others will not welcome patrons until...

Published June 8, 2020

Swedish Gaming Numbers Down for Q1

Swedish gaming operators reported a slight decrease in revenues for the first quarter of 2020—SEK5.90bn (US$613.3 million), down 1.4 percent from 2019. Land-based properties like Casino Cosmopol in Stockholm...

Published June 1, 2020

Spain Regulator Spells Out Reopening Guidelines

Spain’s DGOJ has issued new guidelines for gaming halls about to reopen. According to one requirement, no Spanish gambling venue may resume business that does not have “direct access...

Published June 1, 2020

U.K. Betting Shops Get Reopening Date

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson (l.) has unveiled plans to reopen most of the retail gaming sector by June 15, bookmakers included. The industry was hit hard by the...

Published June 1, 2020