Tag: Industry News

The All-in Diversity Project has strengthened its network by signing the Hensel Grad Law Firm as its first strategic partner of 2022.

With more than 20 years of experience as gaming regulators and a thorough comprehension of how gaming laws are implemented and enforced, Hensel Grad is a gaming law and advisory firm positioned to serve an explosive gaming and sports betting industry in the US. Susan Hensel, one of the firm’s founders, is also a long-standing member of the All-in Diversity Project Advisory Board.

As the central global resource for diversity, equality and inclusion, the All-in Diversity Project is a nonprofit committed to helping businesses around the world to become better companies through their DEI efforts.

“2022 is a key year for All-in. Not only does it mark the release of the third All-Index, which this year will include early insights into the impact of COVID and includes more big names than ever before, it is also the year that we start to step out of betting, gambling and gaming through our partnership with the British Standards Institute and launch of the first ever formally recognised Code of Practice for Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in the Workplace. At a time when the industry faces greater pressures than ever before, this offers us a unique opportunity to position the sector as a global leader in DEI. Our success has, and continues to be, driven by organizations and individuals committed to change. In Hensel Grad we get both,” Christina Thakor-Rankin, co-founder of All-in Diversity Project, said.

“Hensel Grad is honored to join All-in as a strategic partner. What All-in has been able to accomplish in its first three years is impressive, and we look forward to being at the organization’s side as it continues trailblazing for diversity, equality and inclusion in an industry where such growth is not only under a spotlight but also overdue. We are excited to help the organization reach even greater heights in the years ahead,” Susan Hensel said.

Betsoft Gaming has launched “Twelve Days of Giving” charity campaign on December 14.

A range of Malta-based charities have been selected to receive some festive cheer from Betsoft, both as an acknowledgement of the sterling care they provide and as a thank you for their efforts. From animal welfare to children’s gifts, soup kitchens and food banks, Betsoft Gaming will help to provide some of the much needed items as requested by the charities.

In addition to the “Twelve Days of Giving” to these wonderful foundations, groups and charities, Betsoft has also considered its environmental footprint. All the suppliers with whom it is working are also based in Malta. In this way, Betsoft has made efforts to minimise the carbon impact and maximise the benefits of this local initiative across as many environments as possible.

“Betsoft has an active Corporate Social Responsibility programme and it really is our pleasure to be working with so many different charities. We also have been heartened by how many people have helped us with our ‘Twelve Days of Giving’ initiative. From the suppliers to our team – everyone has contributed in some way to make this a success for the people and animals we are trying to help,” Kami Scerri, Marketing Manager at Betsoft Gaming, said.

Betsoft’s “Twelve Days of Giving” runs daily from December 14 to December 25, 2021. Follow Betsoft on social media platforms for the latest news and updates.

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has appointed Alberto Ruiz-Ocaña as new Business Development Manager for EMEA.

Ruiz-Ocaña has more than 10 years of experience in licensing, compliance, and helping businesses develop and implement successful business strategies. His skills will help enable growth in European and LATAM markets. As Business Development Manager for EMEA, he will be focused on developing opportunities for GLI with new clients across all sectors of the industry including, online, land-based and VLT Lottery.

“Alberto is a great addition to the growing GLI EMEA team, and his experience and contacts, particularly in online gaming, will provide GLI with new opportunities in a rapidly expanding market. His language skills will be beneficial to many of our European clients, which will help us build even more contacts and clients in the EMEA markets,” James Illingworth, Vice President Sales for GLI EMEA, said.

“I am really excited to be joining an industry-leading and respected global company. The EMEA team has already made me feel very welcome, and I look forward to helping them and GLI go from strength to strength,” Alberto said.

CashGenic, the hygienic cash automation from ITL, was first launched in May 2020 during the height of the covid-19 pandemic to enable customers to pay with cash both safely and hygienically. Since it was first launched, ITL has secured a number of distribution suppliers in the UK and throughout Europe, who collectively have installed several hundred units in numerous countries including the UK, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Austria.

Commented on this achievement, Thorsten Labusch, VP of Sales & Business Development, said: “We are delighted with the success of CashGenic which was introduced during the height of the COVID pandemic as a solution for those customers wanting to pay by cash safely during a time when coins and banknotes were being incorrectly portrayed as high risk in terms of transmission. Although this was proven inaccurate, the COVID crisis highlighted the need for businesses to continue to accept cash while maintaining social distancing. The technology has been developed by us and the complete system solution is supplied and installed direct from our approved partners using their own hardware.”

“Our partners have developed a full solution that includes our intelligent banknote recycler and advanced coin recycler. CashGenic is an affordable solution with easy installation and no software integration involved. A compact, all-in-one counter-top device it ensures easy customer access, with pay-in and pay-out managed by staff via a mobile tablet device. One year on, and we have over 9 strategic partners spread throughout Europe who together have now installed over 400 units, across 22 different countries and this continues to grow.”

CashGenic can be used in various settings within the retail sector to automate the counting and handling of cash, therefore saving time and generating greater efficiencies for businesses, as well as helping organisations eliminate shrinkage and accounting errors.

Thorsten continued: “Our partners have installed the system at various retail venues including butchers’ shops, toy shops and fish and chip shops, amongst others. One of our partners, Perfect Money, provider of innovative payment solutions based in south Germany are proudly building the machines (renamed Vicky) in Germany. This high-performance, smart cash dispenser has space-saving dimensions so fits onto any counter and Perfect Money customers have reported that several businesses have seen an uplift in cash takings of around 10%.”

Andy Bullock, Senior Business Development Manager of ITL, commented: “CC Dynamic, our first CashGenic UK supplier, have been rolling out the system (branded as £XCHEKKA) with Maggi Electronics completing the installs.”

Commenting on a successful installation at the Café Royal in Scotland, owner and National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF) member John Pagani said: “Overall, it’s been a tremendous success. The £XCHEKKA system is affordable, so much so, we ordered two, one for our indoor café and the other for our take-away. Staff love it, they no longer have to count change and can concentrate on serving the customer to provide excellent customer service rather than worrying about change and having to wash their hands after touching the money and sanitising again.”

The bidding war for Playtech has intensified as the company confirmed on Thursday that it has received a preliminary inquiry from JKO Play Limited, which is seeking access to certain due diligence information to explore the terms of the offer.

“Consistent with its fiduciary duties, and in accordance with Rule 21.3 of the Code, the Board further confirms that JKO has been provided with access to due diligence information for this purpose,” Playtech stated.

“Discussions with JKO are at an early stage and ongoing. As such, there can be no certainty that JKO’s approach will result in an offer for the Company, nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made.”

JKO’s interest came after Playtech received a £2.7 billion takeover bid from Australian gambling equipment maker, Aristocrat Leisure. Gopher Investments, which is a Playtech shareholder and is purchasing Finalto, also made a bid for the gaming software company.

JKO is controlled by former Formula One team-owner Eddie Jordan and Keith O’Loughlin, a former executive at U.S. slot machine maker Scientific Games. The offer will be made by a JKO-led consortium called JKO Play.

Despite the competitive bids, Playtech and Aristocrat have already agreed to the terms and the fate of the deal will be decided by shareholders voting on January 12.

“Aristocrat believes that the terms of the recommended acquisition and the compelling strategic rationale provides certainty for Playtech shareholders with no contingent value or other complicated structures for shareholders to realize value. Aristocrat also believes that the combined group will provide greater opportunities to Playtech employees,” Aristocrat said in a statement after JKO’s interest in Playtech.

Codere Online has released its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.

In June 2021, Codere Online entered into a definitive business combination agreement with DD3 Acquisition Corp. II (DD3), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, that upon consummation will result in Codere Online becoming a public company.

Highlights

• Total net gaming revenue was €20.2m in the quarter and €61.9m in the year to date period.
• Mexico net gaming revenue was €7.1m, an increase of 26% versus €5.6m in Q3 2020.
• Total net gaming revenue outlook for 2021 of between €81m and €86m maintained.
• Spanish gaming regulator has granted the Company’s request for a 10-year extension (through May 31, 2032) of two general online gaming licenses in Spain (sports betting and other games).
• Company expects the business combination will be completed during the week following the special meeting of DD3’s stockholders, which is scheduled to take place on November 18, 2021.

Moshe Edree, Managing Director of Codere Online, said: “Our third quarter results reflect the strong revenue trends in Mexico, with a 26% year-on-year increase in our total net gaming revenue. This performance was partially offset by a decline in net gaming revenue in Spain due to the changes in regulation that came into effect starting in May, with Q3 2021 being the first full quarter of operations in which the ability to offer player bonuses and other marketing activities has been curtailed. However, we are adapting well to these restrictions and believe that there continues to be opportunity to grow our market share in Spain, as we have since the onset of these restrictions, which put operators that can leverage a retail footprint at a competitive advantage.”

Mr. Edree added: “In addition to the Rayados (Mexico) and River Plate (Argentina) sponsorships that we announced in July, we have recently announced a further 5 year extension (through the 2025-26 season) of our agreement with Real Madrid. This agreement will now cover over twenty countries throughout Latin America which we believe will boost our expansion in the region in furtherance of our ambitious growth targets.”

Oscar Iglesias, Chief Financial Officer, said: “Despite the anticipated regulatory headwinds in Spain, we continue to be excited about the market and have recently been granted a 10-year extension (through May 31, 2032) of our two general online gaming licenses (sports betting and other games), which were otherwise schedule to expire on June 1, 2022. More generally, the business continues to perform in line with our expectations and we are on track to meet our net gaming revenue outlook for 2021 of €81 to €86m.”

Mr. Iglesias further added: “We have made significant progress on the business combination with DD3, which we expect will be approved in its upcoming shareholder meeting on November 18, 2021. We are looking forward to closing the transaction and having the funding needed to execute our marketing plan and to delivering what we expect to be significant growth in this business over the coming years.”