Enlabs

Enlabs has announced the promotion of Jelena Nisa to group chief financial officer, after successfully leading the accounting and reporting functions in the position of group head of accounting since joining the firm in 2016.

Nisa, who is based in Riga, Latvia, boasts 20 years of working experience in the financial industry and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and accounting and a master’s degree in History from University of Latvia.

“The new appointment is a logical continuation of Jelena’s professional career. She brings high financial competence, strong analytical and organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail. I welcome Jelena to the senior management team and look forward to achieving new heights”, commented George Ustinov, CEO of Enlabs.

Pronet Gaming

Anthony Murphy has been selected as the new head of commercial account management at Pronet Gaming, bringing with him more than 13 years of experience in the betting and gaming industry.

In the new role, Murphy will be tasked with driving business revenues for Pronet Gaming’s new and existing clients, primarily focusing on establishing long standing relationships.

Bobby Longhurst, chief commercial officer at Pronet Gaming, stated: “Anthony has an incredible track record of establishing strong client relationships and helping deliver business growth with excellent account management.

“He will play a key role in ensuring our partners maximise the benefits they gain from our platform, with the tailored approach to partnerships and proactive consultancy that we’re now known for.”

Conscious Gaming

Responsible gaming firm Conscious Gaming, part of GeoComply, has appointed Seth Palansky as its new vice president of corporate social responsibility and communications. He joins the firm after more than 17 years with Caesars Entertainment and the National Football League.

In his new role, Palansky will spearhead corporate social responsibility and communications efforts for the philanthropic organisation, which is committed to utilising advanced technology to propel social responsibility initiatives.

Anna Sainsbury, Conscious Gaming trustee and GeoComply chairman and co-founder, said: “We believe the benefits of offering a technology-driven self exclusion tool are critical for our industry to ensure we protect all stakeholders.

“We are excited to have Seth join us to front our adoption efforts and work with the industry to deliver Conscious Gaming’s state of the art solution to help simplify, streamline and stay ahead of a complex issue.”

Singular

Online casino platform provider Singular has strengthened its team after naming Phillip Pistauer as its new head of account management.

Pistauer’s appointment forms a part of Singular’s strategic enhancement of its customer relationship management division, with his role expected to deliver ‘a bespoke approach tailored to each client’.

Based in the firm’s Malta office, Pistauer will take responsibility for coordinating with existing clients and new acquisitions to build a ‘proactive service that will help both the company and its partners to reach new heights’.

Robert Dowling, Singular chief commercial officer, added: “I am more than pleased to have Phillip join our team and boost the strategic direction of Singular in serving our global tier one clients and assist their entry into newly regulated markets. The account management team will play a crucial role in this process, and I believe Phillip is the right person to take the lead.”

Full House Resorts

Full House Resorts has bolstered its board of directors via the appointment of Michael Hartmeier, who boasts 25 years experience as an investment banker and over $125m in financing and advisory assignments completed.

Hartmeier is the former group head of lodging, gaming and leisure investment banking at Barclays, as well as group head positions in hospitality and gaming for Lehman Brothers and Credit Suisse First Boston.

“We have appreciated Mike’s thoughtful advice on the capital markets for many years,” said Daniel Lee, president and chief CEO of Full House Resorts. “His 25 years of investment banking experience and overall business knowledge will be valuable additions to our company’s board of directors.”

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Push Gaming

Nicola Longmuir has been appointed as chief commercial officer of Push Gaming, in a move that the developer hopes will further boost in global footprint across a range of key markets.

Said to form “a key centre piece in Push Gaming’s business development plans,” Longmuir will be spearheading the company’s strategic goals for marketing, product and sales, as well as cultivating existing relationships with its growing global operator portfolio.

James Marshall, CEO at Push Gaming, commented: “Nicola Longmuir is a highly skilled professional boasting a wealth of successful experience working for some of our industry’s best-known brands, and we are thrilled to have her aboard.

“We see this hire as a gamechanger for us and we’re sure Nicola will prove to be a massive boost towards reaching our goal of becoming a market leader.”

Pragmatic Play

Online casino content provider Pragmatic Play has expanded its senior team further still after appointing Solomon Godwin as content manager for the African region.

Following hot on the heels of the appointment of Victor Arias as VP of Latin America, Godwin will gain responsibility for growing the firm’s network of partners across the region and expanding its reputation with the help of the supplier’s multi-product portfolio.

Pragmatic Play’s developmental strategy will be focused on ensuring its product suite enhances its presence across the continent.

Lena Yasir, VP of Malta at Pragmatic Play, stated: “We are delighted to bolster our growing senior team with the hiring of Solomon. Having regional leaders allows us to accelerate our expansion through a sizeable presence in the region and we’re thrilled to have Solomon on board.”

1X2 Network

Former NetEnt and Red Tiger hire Rory Kimber has been drafted by 1X2 Network, with the game developer and content aggregator strengthening its senior team with a new head of account management.

Kimber will be tasked with heading up the account management team at 1X2 Network and its subsidiaries 1X2gaming and Iron Dog Studio, as well as taking the lead on commercial projects affecting the providers client base, including those such as the Branded Megaways product.

He will also strive to utilise his extensive knowledge and experience to drive growth commercially and setting and deploying strategies for communicating with clients new and existing. Kimber will also build out the team by onboarding new talent.

Kevin Reid, chief commercial officer at 1X2 Network, said: “I am delighted to welcome Rory to the company and for him to lead our Account Management team into what is a hugely exciting period for the business and our 1X2gaming and Iron Dog Studio brands.

“Branded Megaways is our latest innovation and we have plenty more in the pipeline. Rory will play a key role in introducing our products, games and services to new and existing partners as we look to establish 1X2 Network as a tier one provider in markets around the world.”

Entertainment Laboratories

Entertainment Laboratories is on the lookout for a new chief financial officer after current incumbent Adam Jonsson announced his attention to leave the company.

Having served for just over two years in total at the company, Jonsson first joined Enlabs as group controller and gained responsibility for investor issues, before his appointment as CFO in December 2019.

Jonsson will remain in office until he leaves Enlabs in October 2020, with the process of appointing a replacement having subsequently begun.

“Adam has played an important role within Enlabs and has contributed a lot to our development. I will miss our close cooperation and wish Adam all the best in his further career,” commented Enlabs CEO George Ustinov.

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Enlabs

Entertainment Laboratories’ board of directors has appointed George Ustinov as president and CEO, after initially joining the firm in 2017.

The Latvian, who has previously served as operations manager and CFO, takes up the role with immediate and succeeds Robert Andersson who, in agreement with the board, leaves his operational assignments in the group after two years.

The American Cancer Society has appointed Derrick Morton, CEO and co-founder of FlowPlay, as chair to the society’s CEOs Against Cancer Washington chapter.

In his first meeting in the role earlier in the week Morton addressed the Washington chapter and shared a vision and new ideas for 2020.

The position sees Morton charged with driving recruitment and working to unite fellow CEOs to change the course of cancer by leveraging the collective knowledge, power and resources of the ACS.

Morton’s appointment comes on the heels of FlowPlay’s biggest fundraising year to date, in which the company raised more than $100,000 for the ACS.

“As a member of CEOs Against Cancer for the past year, I have seen its impact first hand. From groundbreaking research and early detection advocacy, to funding new treatment options and access for patients, the ACS and this segment of the organisation are instrumental in the ongoing fight against cancer.

“I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve our community as chair and hope to make a real difference by recruiting new members and building upon the momentum from last year.” – Morton.

Atlantic Lottery

The board of directors of Atlantic Lottery has announced the appointment of Chris Keevill as the organisation’s new president and chief executive officer.

Bringing in excess of 20 years experience in digital transformation, innovation, marketing and media at the regional, national and international level, Keevill will officially join the company on May 1, 2020.

Keevill is taking over from Brent Scrimshaw who has served in the role since 2011 and will retire from Atlantic Lottery following 13 years of service.

“Keevill’s proven track record of execution and extensive experience with digital transformation and innovation, combined with his personal commitment to his community, will serve him well as he steers Atlantic Lottery into the future as a competitive, innovative, responsible gaming company.” – Sean O’ Connor, chair of Atlantic Lottery’s board of directors.

Vici Properties

Experiential real estate investment trust Vici Properties has announced that Monica Howard Douglas has received all required approvals to assume her duties on the board of directors.

Douglas, who currently serves as general counsel of North America for The Coca-Cola Company, has been formally appointed as an independent director and will serve on the board’s nominating and governance committee.

“We are thrilled to officially welcome Monica to our board. Monica’s deep experience and background complements our existing Board composition and expands the diverse viewpoints of our board.” – Jim Abrahamson, chairman of the board.

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Publishing its first half trading update for the period from January 1 to June 30, 2021, Entain revealed that the previously confirmed acquisitions of Bet.pt and Enlabs have performed “ahead of expectations”.

Meanwhile the operator noted that it also remains confident about its US expansion strategy – with the group’s BetMGM brand now holding a 21 per cent market share.

Total group NGR rose by 11 per cent during the six-month period, with the operator highlighting that it will now be “upgrading its expectations” for the full-year. 

Online was a key driver of growth across the group, with a 28 per cent boost in online NGR – growth which reflects “the robust and diversified business model of the group”. Online gaming NGR jumped by 11 per cent, compared to a 52 per cent rise for the company’s online sports betting arm.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain’s CEO, commented: “We have delivered another strong performance across the Group. Our diversified business model has enabled us to grow our business in all key markets while navigating channel and product mix changes as retail re-opens and we annualise last year’s restricted sports calendar.

“Outside Germany where the market is digesting regulatory changes, we saw excellent growth across all our major markets.  Our recent acquisitions, Bet.pt in Portugal and Enlabs in the Baltics, have performed ahead of expectations, and BetMGM continues to grow market share in the US, now at 24 per cent across our active markets.”

Looking at Q2 2021, which lasted from April 1 to June 30, 2021, total group NGR grew by 42 per cent. Online gaming NGR was “up strongly by 47 per cent compared to 2019” – this figure dropped to one per cent when compared to 2020. 

Over the three-month period, Entain recorded an “excellent performance in all major markets” excluding Germany, with NGR growth of 32 per cent. This was largely attributed to extended lockdowns across the world.

Nygaard-Andersen continued: “We have a powerful platform at Entain that enables us to deliver consistent growth from our existing markets, whilst also entering new markets, all powered by our industry leading technology capabilities, business intelligence and analytics.  

“Our platform provides us with a significant opportunity to align our business better with our customers and increasingly deliver a wider breadth of exciting products, content and experiences as the worlds of media, entertainment and gaming converge.

“Following our strong first half, we are upgrading our expectations for the full year and we remain confident and excited by the breadth and scale of the long-term sustainable growth opportunities ahead of us.”

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The European gambling industry faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities shaped by varying national regulations and political motivations. One of these challenges is the affordability framework, which is becoming increasingly significant.

A distinguished panel of industry experts gathered at the CasinoBeats Summit to discuss critical issues of affordability checks, financial vulnerability and the evolving regulatory landscape within the gambling sector. The panel included Cernisevs, CTO at Blackcatcard; Steve Degiorgi, Director of Gaming Revenue at Enlabs; and Peter Marcus, Former Group Operations Director at Entain. The discussion was moderated by Joe Streeter, editor at CasinoBeats.

Panelists provided diverse perspectives and extensive experience to the discussion. According to speakers, the key reason for the diversity in gambling regulations is the political rationale behind them. For instance, in Spain, the regulatory stance is frequently adjusted, focusing mainly on customer protection. 

In the UK, customer protection and tax revenue are both major drivers. Each country has its own set of priorities and approaches, influenced by its political landscape rather than a unified regulatory framework. This divergence means that achieving a unified approach to igaming regulation among European nations is unlikely, as each country’s regulations are tailored to address specific national concerns.

These factors influence how gambling is permitted and regulated across different countries in Europe, leading to a complex regulatory environment that affects both market operations and customer protection. 

Panelists addressed the evolving regulatory landscape, noting that multiple governments, including those of the UK, Germany and Belgium, are increasingly requiring proof of affordability from gamblers. This regulatory trend aims to ensure that individuals can afford their gambling expenditures without experiencing financial distress. However, the implementation of such measures poses significant challenges, with concerns about privacy and practicality.

An alternative to a strict affordability model can be a focus on financial vulnerability. This concept is gaining traction as a more practical and compassionate approach. It suggests that signs of financial stress should preclude gambling activities, thereby protecting individuals from potential harm. The panelists agreed that this shift represents a more sensible and actionable framework, although implementation remains complex.

The gambling industry is also evolving in response to increased competition for screen time and customer engagement. The traditional model, where a significant portion of revenue came from a small number of high-spending VIP customers, is no longer sustainable. Regulations now encourage a more balanced approach, focusing on retaining a broader base of recreational players who contribute consistently without financial or social harm. This shift towards sustainable growth aligns with regulatory goals, benefiting both operators and customers in the long term.

In the broader context, there is a growing need for harmonized regulations and clear guidelines from policymakers to facilitate compliance and operational efficiency. The industry faces ongoing challenges due to disparate regulations, which can hinder business operations and innovation. For instance, in the UK, recent legislative changes are causing uncertainty as the market awaits further clarity from the UK Gambling Commission.

As Europe grapples with these regulatory complexities, the US market offers a chance to learn from these experiences. Starting fresh, the US can avoid the pitfalls seen in Europe by adopting balanced regulations that promote sustainable growth while ensuring customer protection.

In conclusion, the gambling industry in Europe is at a crossroads, facing significant regulatory and market challenges. However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation and sustainable growth. By fostering better communication with policymakers and learning from global best practices, the industry can navigate this complex landscape effectively.

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As with any section of the online casino sector, online poker suppliers are constantly finding ways to stamp their name on the centuries-old format with new features, mechanics and innovations. 

We spoke with Maksim Gorbach, Head of Poker at Enlabs, to discuss how online poker has evolved with modern technologies in recent years, the power of streamers and whether the game format is in need of some revitalisation. 

CasinoBeats: How would you define the current state of online poker, and how well is the game appealing to a new generation of players?  

Maksims Gorbach: In my opinion, it seems that poker is currently in a stable stagnation. This is the result of the huge growth of the market after the post-COVID poker boom and the immense dominance of GGPoker in the world. Currently, the market has calmed down, has stable traffic, and needs future changes across all categories.

CB: How much has online poker evolved in the past few years?  

MG: It seems to me that things have changed drastically, especially because the accessibility of content has reached a new level. Nowadays, it’s possible to learn to play at a high level in the shortest time for free, and there is a wide variety of products available, which has allowed many people to try their hand at poker.

Overall, this is a challenging philosophical question, as there are too many different factors influencing poker as a whole and in each market. The main reason for the slowdown is still regulation, which doesn’t always reflect an understanding of the product itself.

CB: What technologies and innovations are currently shaping the online poker industry?  

MG: I’ll be cliché, but I suppose that artificial intelligence will largely dictate and shape the future conditions of online poker. Online poker has long been heading towards creating a game with a higher element of luck. 

I can’t say whether this is good for the product, but it’s definitely better for the provider, as it evens out the playing field between professionals and amateurs. So far, no new technology has fully conquered the world, but VR is obviously on the rise.

CB: Are there any products, formats or features that you’ve seen in recent months that you think can take the online poker scene by storm?  

MG: It’s not so much that any element of the poker game is conquering markets, rather streaming platforms are helping enthusiasts, and others, derive more enjoyment from the game. It’s obvious that in markets full of recreational players, streaming is now the reason why newcomers spend more time playing – it’s like a replacement for Netflix and YouTube.

CB: How have player preferences for online poker changed in recent years? 

MG: Preferences lean towards faster-paced games since not everyone has a lot of time to play poker. This is the primary foundation, and everything new is built upon it. All new game formats have transitioned into accelerated formats, while more complex games have failed to capture the market, with Chinese poker being a prime example.

CB: What demand is there on both suppliers and operators to offer poker products that are socially engaging? 

MG: Having many brands across different markets, we’ve realised that having just one poker network is quite risky nowadays. That’s why we’re moving towards providing different poker networks. 

Generally speaking, I’d say the market lacks new poker networks, but at the same time, I understand that this is a very challenging business. It requires finding good specialists, and they’re not so abundant in the market.

CB: Do you think online poker is in need of being ‘reinvented’? 

MG: Online poker is subject to huge risks due to the increasing number of fraudsters, who are not so easy to track. Poker absolutely requires many security changes as a priority.

As for players, many now understand that being a professional player is not as romantic as it used to be, so preferences have shifted towards the ‘semi-pro’ status. All of this needs to be taken into account and new games need to be developed in this direction.

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The collaboration will mark the first time an operator has rolled-out the content provider’s live casino suite across the country, with the partnership coming as Pragmatic Play looks to strengthen its presence across Baltic and Nordic regions.

This will enable customers of the Enlabs, which forms part of Entain, to gain access to products such as One Blackjack, Mega Roulette, and Pragmatic Play’s two-card version of baccarat, Dragon Tiger.

Chris Davis, CPO at Enlabs, said: “Our priority is to ensure customers of all our brands benefit from the best choice and products in the market, where applicable through deals like this. 

“Live casino is hugely popular with our customers and these products will be an asset in our portfolio.”

This represents the latest commercial tie-up inked by Pragmatic Play regarding its live products, which it asserts continue to go “from strength to strength” across Europe and Latin America.

“We are thrilled to be entering Latvia with one of its most respected and trusted operators as a partner,” stated Marko Ilic, vice president of Belgrade operations at Pragmatic Play.

“Enlabs’ wide-reaching platform provides us with an incredible opportunity to push our latest and most valued live casino products, and we expect them to go down a treat with its customers.”

Earlier this year, gaming and sports betting group Entain closed the purchase of Enlabs, alongside that of Bet.pt, as the firm looked to continue a push into an array of locally regulated markets.

Online gambling group Enlabs, secured via a revised SEK 3.7bn (£316m) takeover bid, permitted Entain to make its maiden entry into the Baltic states via Optibet, with Bet.pt strengthening its position in the Iberian Peninsula.

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Asserting excitement at returning to more normal trading across its whole business, following parts of its UK retail estate opening up once more this week, it adds that the prior period has been “another very successful and productive quarter”.

Total net gaming revenue for the gaming and betting firm dropped 13 per cent from the January 1 to March 31, 2021, time frame, with its gaming segment “continuing the momentum seen at the end of 2020”.

The company’s digital performance, which it says comes “in line with expectations,” is up 33 per cent, which marks the 21st consecutive quarter of double digit online NGR growth.

Entain’s gaming segment is up 23 per cent, as sports increased 47 per cent, with expansion said to be evident across all major markets, excluding Germany. Sports NGR continued to benefit from favourable margins.

In the US, BetMGM, the joint venture with MGM Resorts International, continued to demonstrate “strong momentum,” with market share stipulated as 19 per cent in regions where it operates. 

Furthermore, it is asserted that the entity is the “consistent number one igaming operator for [the] whole of [the] US, with 23 per cent market share,” and is “ready to challenge for the number two position” for sports wagering and betting.

On a retail basis, where shops are operated across the UK, Italy, Belgium and Republic of Ireland, a 99 per cent decline is felt due to the impacts of COVID restrictions which saw “almost all” closed for the reporting period. During Q1, there were an average of 4,662 shops/outlets in the estate, compared to 4,843 for the same period last year.

Jette Nygaard-Andersen, Entain’s CEO, explained: “This has been another very successful and productive quarter with Entain making excellent progress across a number of our strategic priorities. This is testament to the hard work and dedication of our people across all aspects of our business. 

“I am delighted that they will now have the opportunity to share in the future success of Entain through our new Share Save plan.

“We saw excellent growth across all our major markets other than Germany where regulatory changes have impacted the market. BetMGM continues to exhibit outstanding momentum with impressive market share growth. Our acquisitions of Bet.pt and Enlabs underpin further progress on our strategic expansion into new regulated markets.

“With some easing of COVID restrictions, we are delighted to be welcoming customers back into our shops. While it has only been a handful of days since the re-opening in parts of the UK on the 12 April, we look forward to returning to more normal trading across our whole business. In line with our expectations, the momentum from the end of 2020 has carried into 2021. 

“Although COVID creates some near-term uncertainty, by maintaining our focus on the customer, providing them with great products and services, we remain confident and excited in our long-term prospects.”

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The purchases have increased the number of regulated international markets in which Entain operates by almost a third over the past year, in addition to providing potential entry points to further regions.

Online gambling group Enlabs, secured via a revised SEK 3.7bn (£316m) takeover bid, permits Entain to make its maiden entry into the Baltic states via its flagship brand Optibet, with Bet.pt strengthening its position in the Iberian Peninsula, where it already boasts a presence through bwin in Spain.

“Portugal and the Baltic region represent highly attractive, locally regulated and fast-growing gaming markets” said Rob Wood, CFO and deputy chief executive of Entain. 

“Both these acquisitions further deliver on our growth strategy of expanding across fast-growing international markets.”

Looking ahead, the group is expecting to further increase the number of regulated markets in which it operates through a combination of positive regulatory developments in certain jurisdictions, such as Canada, and expansion into new countries in regions including Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe

At this time last year Entain had operations in 21 fully regulated markets, before later adding Germany and Colombia. That total has risen to 27 following the latest acquisitions.

“These new acquisitions are in line with our strategy to expand into new locally regulated markets” added Wood. “We are committed to operating only in countries which are either already fully regulated or in the process of regulating and will continue to look for opportunities to expand our business internationally.”

At the end of last year, Entain committed to operate only in countries where regulation is already in place, or is in the process, to allow sports-betting and gaming.. At present 99 per cent of revenue comes from fully regulated and regulating markets, which the group has said will become 100 per cent regulated by the end of 2023.

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2004

The Stars Group has announced that the last remaining assets of Full Tilt poker will be taken offline this week, with all players to be migrated to the flagship PokerStars entity.

After initially beginning life in 2004, the Full Tilt desktop and mobile applications will no longer be available from February 25, 2021. All account information, preferences, balances, tickets and bonuses will remain available on the PokerStars software.

PokerStars absorbed its rival almost five years ago when the then Amaya Gaming confirmed a successful migration of the two onto a single platform, with the group committing to a dual brand poker strategy but citing a better gaming experience and increased efficiency by pooling the two onto one product.

With the Full Tilt software to be taken offline later in the week, TSG updates that all balances, including those in multiple currencies, t-money and tickets, as well as any casino or poker bonuses, available via Full Tilt accounts are also available on PokerStars.

17

April 12 has been set as the date by the government for betting shops in England to reopen, with adult gaming centres, bingo halls and casinos scheduled to follow on May 17.

Though not directly confirmed during the Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement yesterday evening, step two of the government’s plan includes the reopening of ‘non-essential retail’ with indoor hospitality and hotels opening their doors on the aforementioned date in May.

During Johnson’s address, the PM noted that all stages of reopening would rely on data regarding the spread of the virus and highlighted that there would be ‘at least’ five weeks between each step.

30

The UK Gambling Commission has stated that “extra operator vigilance is needed during the current national lockdown,” after reviewing further data on the impact of tightened restrictions on online gambling behaviour in the region.

Data for December, acknowledged as a “traditionally busy period,” sees the overall number of total bets/spins increase by 12 per cent from November, while the number of active players rose six per cent.

Gross gambling yield jumped by 30 per cent to almost £614m between November and December, driven by both growth in player numbers and an increase in operator margins for real event betting.

The regulator also reports that slots GGY increased by 13 per cent to nearly £200m during the period, with the number of bets rising by 12 per cent to almost six billion and the number of active accounts up six per cent to almost three million, both of which are said to be “the highest from within the COVID-19 pandemic period”.

The number of online slots sessions lasting longer than an hour increased by 11 per cent to 2.5 million in November to December. The average session length decreased slightly to 21.5 minutes, with around eight per cent lasting in excess of one hour.

0.3

The Betting and Gaming Council has affirmed that it will “keep up the momentum” in its quest to raise standards across the industry, following a UK Gambling Commission quarterly report into gambling participation, and problem gambling prevalence data, for the year to December 2020.

Asserting that it has “worked tirelessly to drive up standards in the regulated betting and gaming industry,” the BGC says that future manoeuvres could see opt outs for online advertising.

This comes after a UKGC survey showed that the problem gambling rate in 2020 was down from 0.6 per cent in 2019 to 0.3 per cent, although the regulator does note that it is “not a statistically significant decrease at the 95 per cent level” of confidence.

The findings, based on a survey of 4,007 UK adults between March and December last year, also highlighted that those gamblers classed as being at ‘moderate risk’ of harm fell from 1.2 per cent to 0.9 per cent between 2019 and 2020.

Furthermore, the ‘low risk’ rate is said to have demonstrated a “significant decrease,” according to the UKGC, after falling from 2.7 per cent to two per cent over the same period.

2.2

The Victorian government has established a Royal Commission into Crown Melbourne’s suitability to hold its Victorian casino licence, as well as the suitability of its associates, including Crown Resorts.

This comes after a scathing report in New South Wales, commissioned by the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority and led by former supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin, found that the company isn’t fit to operate the $2.2bn Crown Sydney Hotel Resort.

The almost 800-page critique of Crown’s suitability, which itself followed allegations raised by Australia’s Nine Network, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and other media outlets, alleged that Crown, or its agents, affiliates or subsidiaries, engaged in money-laundering; breached gambling laws; and partnered with junket operators with links to drug traffickers, money launderers, human traffickers, and organised crime groups.

Occurring as Harold Mitchell became the latest director to resign from Crown with immediate effect, the Royal Commission will be spearheaded by former Federal Court judge and senior barrister Raymond Finkelstein QC.

The government has also commenced work to establish an independent casino regulator, and minister for consumer affairs, gaming and liquor regulation Melissa Horne has commissioned a review to advise on the necessary structural and governance arrangements.

This will occur in parallel with the Royal Commission and will also assess, among other things, requirements for regulation of money laundering and junket operations.

2021

Enlabs has confirmed its intention to relaunch in the Swedish market this year as part of a large strategic growth plan, as the group reports quarter-on-quarter growth in activity and revenue across all markets in its latest trading update.

In December, Enlabs maintained that the Swedish market was “of great interest” to the company, despite detailing the decision to voluntarily revoke its licenses for commercial online gaming and betting within the country.

It is said that the reason behind the decision was due to the need for technical development work linked to the company’s certified platform, with internal work having already begun.

Asserting that the group reflects a “leaner, more agile and fully aligned organisation” after its Global Gaming integration, Enlabs says that it will adopt a dual geographic target moving forward, with plans to expand into emerging regions on hold due to COVID-19 impacts with its Chile and Peru projects closed.

Spearheaded by its OptiBet and Ninja Casino flagship brands, the Baltics and Nordics are to become Enlabs’ prime focus moving forward, with Ukraine and Belarus to join Sweden in anticipated 2021 launch regions.

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