Author: Olivia Cole

Nine English Premier League clubs are set to display gambling company logos on their shirts over the upcoming 2023/2024 season in a move described as “hugely disappointing”. After analysing the new clubs’ kits for the upcoming season, a charitable organisation noted that it was too extraordinary to believe that top-tier football clubs were still reliant on money given to them by gambling operators in return for popularising their services aimed at exploiting vulnerable fans. According to Christian Action Research and Education (CARE), which looked at the English Premier League football…

The operating permit of 888 Holdings is being reviewed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) after the company announced that its discussions with proposed former GVC Holdings executives have been terminated over concerns over investigations of some bribery allegations. Recent reports of 888 Holdings’ licence review by the UK gambling regulatory body have made the future of the online gambling and sports betting group look uncertain. The three individuals involved in the bribery investigation – Kenneth Alexander, Lee Feldman, and Stephen Morana, had previously occupied senior executive roles at GVC…

The UK privacy and data regulator has supported the legal basis for one of the main aspects of the proposals seeking to introduce stricter checks and evaluation of punters’ financial risk. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has noted that, currently, data protection legislation does not prevent gambling operators from carrying out financial risk checks. On the other hand, banks are allowed to share their customers’ personal information as long as it is done in a proportionate and transparent manner. So-called “background checks” would take place whenever a player reaches a…

Gambling company Star Racing Limited is set to pay a monetary penalty worth £594,000 as a result of some social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures which occurred in the period between March 2020 and May 2021. Earlier today, the country’s gambling regulatory body announced that the operator – trading as Star Sports – will not only pay an almost £600,000 fine but will also face some extra conditions added to its operating permit and will receive an official warning. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) shared that its probe found the…

One of the leading TV horse racing channels in Ireland has warned that it intends to withdraw its service from local television in case the country’s Gambling Regulation Bill proceeds in its current form in the Legislature. Currently, the piece of legislation is going through the Houses of the Oireachtas (the bicameral Parliament of Ireland). Sky Sports Racing shared that a Bill’s provision aimed at the implementation of a blanket ban on gambling advertising between 5:30 AM and 9:00 PM every day may result in serious financial losses for its…

The largest online sports betting operator in Australia – Sportsbet – has spent a total of AU$63 million on TV adverts during live sports and racing events over the past 18 months – a figure that more than triples the amount spent by its major rivals Tabcorp and Ladbrokes. The confidential spending data, compiled by Nielsen researchers and obtained by The Australian Financial Review (AFR), provides information on the extent of local bookmakers’ advertising expenditures at a time when the country’s Federal Government has been considering the potential suspension of…

Australian casino operator Crown Resorts could be forced to pay almost AU$500,000,000 for alleged failures to prevent illegal money laundering and terrorism financing at its casinos in Melbourne and Perth. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and Crown Resorts jointly filed in the Federal Court that the casino giant should pay an AU$450-million penalty for a total of 546 violations of the country’s anti-money laundering legislation. If paid, the fine – that is also linked to violations of counter-terrorism laws at Crown’s Melbourne and Perth casinos – would…

Less than half a year after Star Entertainment tapped equity capital markets in a move to improve its financial state by the addition of AU$800 million, debt investors are circling the troubled Australian casino and gambling giant. According to media reports, a number of credit entities are preparing financing packages to hit the casino business that has been recently having a hard time, following concerns that the aforementioned equity raising was not enough to help Star Entertainment fix its balance sheet. The Australian gambling company has been advised by Barrenjoey…

Brentford F.C. has faced a massive wave of criticism as it has been called “careless” and “bonkers” after the football club presented their new kit as part of its front-of-shirt partnership with the gambling operator Hollywoodbets. Hollywoodbets, which is a sports betting operator based in South Africa, inked a two-year partnership to sponsor Brentford F.C.’s shirts following the club’s promotion to the Premier League in 2021. On July 4th, the club officially revealed their new kit for the 2023/2024 and the 2024/2025 seasons, which are set to once again display…

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is taking down an online gambling advert for British gambling company Ladbrokes. A promoted tweet for the operator, seen in February 2023, contained an image featuring the American social media personality and professional boxer Jake Paul. The bottom part of the tweet featured a poll containing several options, including “Head to the MMA”, “Join the WWE”, “Win the re-match”, and “Return to YouTube”. The advertising regulatory body of the UK challenged whether the advert displayed an individual who would probably be of particular appeal to…