Licensing – Page 2

July 30, 2024

Caesars’ Big Brazil and Sportingbet apply for Brazil licences

Sportingbet and Caesars Sportsbook’s Big Brazil have submitted their licence applications in Brazil, becoming the fourth and fifth operators to do so.
Sportingbet applied for a Brazil sports betting and igaming licence on Thursday (25 July). The following day, Caesars Sportsbook’s licensee Big Brazil joined Sportingbet, Betano, Superbet and Rei do Pitaco in submitting its application.

In applying during the initial 90-day window of preference, Sportingbet and Big Brazil have ensured their applications will be prioritised by the ministry of finance’s Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA).

The SPA guarantees that operators who submit their applications by the 20 August deadline will have their applications processed by 1 January 2025, the anticipated launch date of the legal market.

Licences will last for five years and will cost BRL30m (£4.6m/€5.4m/$5.9m) in fees. Those who receive a licence will be able to offer gambling via three skins. Meanwhile, operators who fail to secure a lice..

July 29, 2024

Weekend Report: Kayshon Boutte’s “dumb decision” and Betway partner Man City

Welcome to the Weekend Report, where iGB covers the news you may have missed over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This week we’ve got news of Betway partnering with Premier League champions Manchester City, a bill to restrict online gambling advertising in New York and more.
NFL’s Kayshon Boutte glad to be back
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte spoke of his delight at being back to playing football after charges against him for gambling were dropped earlier this month.

Boutte was arrested in January over accusations he had placed over 8,900 bets while under the legal gambling age of 21 in his native Louisiana. However, the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division dropped those charges in July.

Speaking to reporters after the fourth day of Patriots’ training camp, Boutte labelled his actions as a “dumb decision”. He also said he was glad to be focusing on football again, admitting he needs to “stay away” from gambling.

Betway becomes global betting partner of ..

July 16, 2024

Illegal market outstrips licensed French gambling, AFJEL warns

French online gaming association AFJEL says Euro 2024 handle for its members fell far below pre-tournament estimates amid a rise in illegal gambling in the country.

The illegal gambling problem has reached a tipping point, l’Association Française des Jeux En Ligne (AFJEL) warned, with illegal players totalling four million in 2023, ahead of the regulated sector’s 3.6 million.

While French gambling regulator l’Autorite Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) predicted €1bn would be wagered on the tournament, AFJEL said around half of that figure was staked.

Instead, the association betting volumes were stagnant compared to the last European Championship in 2021. After that tournament, when France was eliminated in the second round, online punters wagered €343m. This would be increased to around €500m when La Francaise des Jeux’s retail network was included.

The amounts staked were also down 25% from the 2022 World Cup, AFJEL added, when €900m was bet as France reached the final.

AFJEL: Frenc..

July 8, 2024

What’s behind the slow uptake in Brazil online betting licences?

Brazil is expected to announce its final online wagering regulations in July, but so far only one licence application has been submitted to the regulator. The market has been buzzing with excitement since the window opened on 21 May, so when will the rest of the applications flood in?

The opening of the licensing window marked a crucial milestone in the hotly anticipated legalisation of betting in Brazil, which is expected to become a $9bn (£7bn/€8.3bn) market by 2028, H2 Gambling Capital has estimated.

Fellipe Fraga, chief business officer at local operator EstrelaBet, predicts operators may be waiting for the final regulations to drop in July before formally applying for a licence.

“There are still important topics that need to be discussed in the process of obtaining the licence,” he says.

“The remaining ordinances will contribute to the definition of the strategies that companies will adopt in the regulatory process.”

Fraga says EstrelaBet is seeking further explanation from ..

June 26, 2024

Betsson secures betting and igaming licences in Peru

Online gambling operator Betsson today said it has secured a licence to operate the Betsafe and Bettson brands in the newly regulated Peru market.

The licences cover online casino and sports betting for both brands and Betsson expects to also soon obtain approval for its Peru-facing Inkabet business.

Betsson has had a presence in Peru since 2008. In 2019, it expanded its reach in the country by launching its Betsafe brand. Two years later, it also acquired locally-licensed online betting and sports brand Inkabet for $25m.

Regulation of the Peru market earlier this year meant Betsson had to secure full licence approval to continue operating in the country. Law no 31557, which regulates online gaming and sports betting, went into effect on 9 February.

Operators had until 10 March to apply for a licence. Peru’s ministry of foreign trade and tourism received 145 requests for operator licences from both national and international operators.

“We have really looked forward to Peru introd..

May 14, 2024

Loterj approves operator licence for Rio Jogo

Casa de Aposta Rio Jogo (Lema) has become the fifth operator to be licensed to offer sports betting and igaming by the Rio de Janeiro State Lottery (Loterj).

Ahead of the launch of the regulated sports betting and igaming market in Brazil, operators are making steps to secure licences, with Rio Jogo now doing so thanks to an approval in the Loterj accreditation notice.

Rio Jogo becomes the fifth operator approved by Loterj, joining the likes of PixBet and BestBet. Meanwhile, seven operators are currently in the process of gaining accreditation, including Caesars Sportsbook and PNR Tecnologia.

Rio Jogo chief executive João Victor de Araújo Souza thanked Loterj for its work on implementing wagering accreditation in Brazil.

“We believe in a regulated gaming market and its legality,” the CEO said. “We are aware of the responsibilities and duties assigned to us in the contract and we affirm that we are fully prepared for the success of the project.”

Loterj grants Rio Jogo licence in th..

April 4, 2024

Betano set for UK launch through BVGroup

Betano is to launch in the UK market through a partnership between the brand’s owner, Kaizen Gaming and technology provider BVGroup.

Kaizen said the collaboration combines Betano’s global brand recognition with BetVictor owner BVGroup’s proprietary technology and experience as a UK operator. Betano’s entry into the UK market follows its establishment in Europe, Africa and the Americas.

Betano’s move into the UK comes during a year in which it has become an official sponsor of both Uefa Euro 2024 and the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024. The UK site features the Euro 2024 logo, indicating the brand will launch in time for this summer’s European Championships in Germany.

“It is a challenge to enter one of the largest regulated online gaming markets in the world,” said Julio Iglesias Hernando, Kaizen’s chief commercial officer.

“To ensure a successful entry, you need excellent partners. A bit like competing in the Premier League. Finding the right partner has been a top priority for us. Thi..

March 21, 2024

Peru receives 145 licence applications for online gambling in 30 days

Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) received 145 requests for operator licences over the first 30 days after Law no 31557 came into effect.

Law no 31557, which regulates online gaming and sports betting, went into effect on 9 February.

Operators had until 10 March to apply for a licence. Mincetur had warned those already active in the Peruvian market that they could face a fine of up to Sol990,000 (€245,394/£212,401/$257,838) or criminal prosecution if they did not apply.

That initial application process has now closed for companies already active in Peru. The country’s minister of foreign trade and tourism, Juan Carlos Mathews, confirmed 145 requests had been received from both national and international companies. Those not previously in the Peru market can continue to apply.

peru’s sports betting and igaming regulations were approved in october

During the initial 30-day period period, 144 linked service providers were registered with seven international cert..

March 1, 2024

North Carolina issues eight online sports betting licences ahead of launch

With less than two weeks to go until online sports betting goes live in the state, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission has awarded eight interactive sports wagering licences to operators.

Sports betting will launch in North Carolina on 11 March. This is after the state’s governor, Roy Cooper, signed House Bill 347 into law last year.

Among the approved licensees are heavy-hitters such as FanDuel and DraftKings. Fanatics, Bet365, BetMGM, ESPN Bet and Underdog are also set to launch in the state.

Operators who sought approval to offer sports betting in the state had to partner with a sports team, league or venue within North Carolina. That led to a flurry of deals as operators looked to secure entry into the state.

For instance, DraftKings partnered with stock-car racing series Nascar, while BetMGM teamed up with the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the state. ESPN Bet gained entry to North Carolina by signing a major PGA Tour deal to become the official betting operators of the W..

February 16, 2024

Alabama gambling bills passed by the house

Alabama voters are a step closer to deciding whether sports betting will be legalised in the state after a bill was passed by lawmakers.

The Alabama house passed two bills on Thursday which envisage the expansion of commercial gambling in the state.

Bills HB151 and HB152, both sponsored by Representative Chris Blackshear, must still be passed by the state’s upper house. The former, as a constitutional amendment, also requires confirmation by the public and would be added to the ballot in November.

Governor Kay Ivey, who would then have to approve both bills, said in a statement on Thursday that the bills “in their current form” have her support.

“The proposal passed by the house will clean up and crack down on the rampant illegal gambling and will give Alabamians the opportunity to have their say on regulated, limited forms of gaming,” Ivey said.

What the gambling bills include

On Thursday, HB151 was passed 70-32 by the House, with HB152 passed 67-31. The House Economic Developme..

February 13, 2024

Penn to acquire Wynn’s NY sports betting licences, launch ESPN Bet in state

Penn Entertainment has agreed to acquire Wynn Interactive Holdings' New York sports betting licences, clearing the way for Penn to launch ESPN Bet in the state in 2024.

The acquisition gives Penn market access in New York state. As part of the deal, Penn will acquire Wynn Resorts subsidiary Wynn Interactive’s mobile sports wagering licences entity, WSI US, LLC, for $25m (£19.8m/€23.3m).

WSI US, LLC holds the sports betting licences issued to Wynn by the New York State Gaming Commission in 2021.

Upon relevant approvals, Penn will launch ESPN Bet in the state later this year. Penn partnered with ESPN in August last year, in a deal that saw Penn’s Barstool Sportsbook rebranded as ESPN Bet. It then launched across 17 US states in November.

Jay Snowden, CEO and president of Penn Entertainment, said this acquisition will expose ESPN Bet to the most prominent sports betting market in the US.

“This is an important development that will bring ESPN Bet to the largest regulated online ..

January 30, 2024

Caesars agrees tribal deal to launch online sports betting in North Carolina

Caesars Entertainment has announced it will launch mobile sports betting in North Carolina after expanding its relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

The operator is set to go live when North Carolina launches its online sports betting market on 11 March. Ahead of the launch, the Caesars Sportsbook app will start accepting sign-ups and deposits from 1 March.

On 24 January, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission approved the launch date of online sports betting. The market will be live for those aged 21 and over in time for March Madness. Charlotte in North Carolina is set to host some of the tournament’s early-round games.

Caesars already has two land-based locations with the tribe, with Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in Murphy. As part of the expanded deal, Caesars will now hold exclusive rights to mobile sports wagering at those two casinos, as well as on Eastern Band of Cherokee tribal lands in w..

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Tag: Licensing