Wire EMEA
ICE Relocates to Barcelona
After much speculation Clarion has made the decision to relocate ICE from its traditional London home in 2025.
Industry reaction has been largely positive with Zitro, Merkur and the European Casino Association amongst those voicing their support.
SPAIN EVENTS
Czechia - CT Interactive pens Sazka deal CT Interactive has signed a distribution deal with Sazka – Allwyn International. Through the agreement, an exclusive portion of the online gaming suppliers’ content will become available for the operator’s customers, including Coffee Magic, Fortune Pi, and 40 Treasures.
“We are so happy that we will collaborate with Sazka – Allwyn International. Our main goal as a brand is to continue increasing our presence in the regulated markets around the world and to provide the best possible service to our partners," explained Lachezar Petrov, CEO at CT Interactive.
France - Retender for Berck casino Infinity-DRGT has successfully challenged the validity of the Berck casino concession awarded to Partouche with the administrative courts. The Société Grand Casino de Dinant, owned by Infiniti- DRGT Group, was a candidate in the casino tender, presented the administrative judge with a pre- contractual summary of the conditions of the award which it claimed were illegal. The judge cancelled the procedure, based on the principle of equal treatment of candidates.
UK - Entain on course for £1bn EBITDA With revenue up 19 per cent in the first half of the year, Entain is on course to deliver EBIDTA in the range of £1,000m to £1,050m. The group reported strong first half performance with record online active customers up 23 per cent year-on-year. Retail performed ahead of expectations with revenues up 12 per cent.
Greece - Ellinikon project hits financial issues Reports out of Greece suggest that the long-running drama which has engulfed the casino project in Ellinikon could see it derailed again due to problems with financing the huge development. High-ranking ministers and senior government officials reportedly called an emergency meeting with bankers is discuss the financing terms of the development.
Originally awarded to Mohegan Gaming, who withdraw from the process just a few days later, the project was then awarded to GEK TERNA and Hard Rock. According to sources in Greece, the Banks have now asked Hard Rock and GEK TERNA investors to invest an extra €120m on top of the €250m already agreed.
Investors are now threatening to pull the plug completely if a solution isn’t found. The Government is relying on the casino’s revenue stream, which is estimated to be providing income of €6bn over 30 years with the fiscal benefit in the region of €200m. If financing eventually allows the project to go ahead, the casino would house 200 tables and 2,000 gaming machines.
P14 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
ICE and iGB Affiliate will be held in Barcelona from 2025. Te first editions of the two B2B events are to be held at the Fira de Barcelona (Gran Via) and will take place across 20-22 January 2025. ICE will be on 20-22 January and iGB Affiliate on 21-22 January, whilst the 2024 editions will remain at ExCeL London.
Alex Pratt, Group Managing Director, explained that the process comprised 30 variables, numerous venue visits, city presentations and detailed negotiations. It examined issues such as the ease and costs of participating, both as an exhibitor and as a visitor, as well as the logistics involved in terms of transport and event organising. In addition, he said the process explored longer-term strategic factors impacting the development of ICE and iGB Affiliate in what was ‘a highly complex, customer-led undertaking’.
An integral part of the selection process involved the creation of an ICE Advisory Board comprising of international gambling brands drawn from both the land-based and online sectors of the industry. Te Board made the final selection and the decision to move wasn’t unanimous – one was neutral and five of the 23
organisations represented on the Advisory Board voted for London, although most of these stated they would support Barcelona if the move took place.
Industry reaction has been largely positive with Zitro, Merkur and the European Casino Association amongst those voicing their support.
Expressing his displeasure on LinkedIn, SBC’s CEO and Founder, Rasmus Sojmark, said he was ‘disappointed but not surprised’ at the decision to move ICE London to the city hosting this month’s SBC Summit Barcelona. “It seems imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but I can’t see how this decision is based on what is best for the industry, just what is best for Clarion. And the many industry friends and partners we have been speaking to already know that, despite any attempts of hiding behind a so-called ‘process’.”
Clarion said costs will vary on a case-by-case basis but it is ‘highly likely’ they will reduce as part of the move from the ExCeL. Te venue will now play host to iGB Live!, the iGaming event previously held in Amsterdam.
UK Lies, damned lies, and gambling statistics
Te British Gambling Commission's Chief Executive, Andrew Rhodes, has slammed the 'misrepresentation of gambling statistics' by some trade associations, charities and the media. In an open letter, he said the Commission had witnessed a 'significant increase in the misuse of statistics around gambling as different parties seek to make persuasive arguments for or against different proposals’.
Mr Rhodes said: "Te Commission is very concerned at the significant increase in the misuse of statistics around gambling as different parties seek to make persuasive arguments for or against different proposals. Te Commission has seen misuse of statistics from gambling operators, trade bodies, charities, media outlets, sporting venue owners and others.
“Te Commission has even received (or has been copied into) complaints about the misuse of
statistics by another party, where the complainant themselves has misused statistics in order to press their complaint. Others have sought to rely on data which the authors have said is not reliable enough to draw those conclusions.
"Tis is unacceptable," he added. "All parties seeking to rely on statistics to advance their arguments must do so accurately and in the correct context."
Mr Rhodes charged multiple individuals and organisations of misusing problem gambling statistics to create an inaccurate picture. "Te debate around gambling is often a fierce one, but nobody is well-served by statistics being misused to further an argument. I therefore ask anyone commenting on this area to take a greater degree of care to ensure they are using evidence and statistics correctly, accurately and in the proper context and with any necessary caveats applied."
Europe
International iGaming provider Amusnet has opened new regional offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Greece as part of its global business strategy.
Te new offices in Eindhoven, Rome, Madrid, and Athens will allow the company to better meet the requirements of European partners and provide greater adaptability and flexibility in complying with local regulations.
"By expanding our presence through physical offices in key European countries, Amusnet will be able to create tailored content that aligns with the local requirements and preferences of select markets. In an increasingly competitive environment and high productivity, this is an important advantage that sets us apart from numerous gaming providers in Europe," explained Ivo Georgiev, CEO.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134
