Brazil’s Justice and Citizenship Commission (CCJ) has taken a significant step by approving a bill that legalizes casinos, bingo, jogo de bicho, and horserace betting. The bill, known as PL 2,234/2022, passed with 14 votes in favor and 12 against on June 19. Having been under consideration since 2022, it now advances to the Senate plenary for further voting, following its prior approval by Brazil’s chamber of deputies.

A Great Opportunity for Brazil

During the CCJ meeting, Senator Irajá highlighted the potential benefits of regulating betting and gaming in Brazil. He emphasized that this move represents a significant opportunity for the country, promising job creation, increased income, and enhanced tax revenues, which could be redirected toward essential sectors such as health, education, social services, and infrastructure.

“We can no longer lose this great opportunity that other competing countries have already understood and is seen to generate jobs, income and taxes, which will obviously be reversed into benefits for the Brazilian people in the most essential areas, such as health, education, social and infrastructure,” Irajá stated.

Regulations and Taxes

The bill sets forth specific regulations for various forms of gambling, including casinos, betting machines, bingo, and animal racing. It also introduces two new types of taxes: the Gaming and Betting Inspection Fee (Tafija) and the Economic Intervention Contribution levied on the marketing of games and betting (Cide-Jogos). Tafija would be paid quarterly, amounting to R$600,000 for casinos, R$300,000 for online gaming locations, and R$20,000 for bingo halls, Jogo de Bicho operators, and tourism companies. The Cide-Jogos tax rate would be set at 17% of gross revenue, with prizes over R$10,000 subject to a 20% income tax.

Casino Operations

Should the bill become law, casinos would be permitted in tourist centers or integrated leisure complexes, such as resorts and hotels with bars, meeting spaces, and a minimum of 100 rooms. Additionally, casinos could operate on boats and ships with at least 50 rooms, given certain river length parameters. There would be a limit of one casino per state and the Federal District, with São Paulo, allowed up to three casinos and Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Amazonas, and Pará up to two each. Each casino would be required to have a minimum paid-up share capital of R$100 million.

Bingo and Racing

The legislation also covers the legalization of bingo in card, electronic, and video formats. Each municipality could have one bingo house, with larger cities allowed one per 150,000 inhabitants. Licensed bingo houses could operate for 25 years, subject to renewal, and would need to provide proof of a minimum paid-up share capital of R$10 million.

For animal racing, the bill allows one legal racing entity per 700,000 inhabitants, except for Roraima, which would have a jogo do bicho operator due to its lower population. Bets on horseracing would be managed by Brazilian tourism entities accredited by the Ministry of Agriculture, which could also operate bingo and video bingo games within the same grounds as the races.

Protections and Enforcement

PL 2,234/2022 also proposes several measures to protect bettors. This includes a self-exclusion program called the National Registry of Prohibited Persons (Renapro), requiring venues to check if anyone attempting to enter a casino is registered. Additionally, the bill outlines the National Policy for the Protection of Players and Bettors, promoting honest conduct in gambling and discouraging compulsive behavior.

The bill introduces new criminal penalties for illegal gambling activities, with up to four years in prison for partaking in or advertising unlicensed games, doubled if minors are involved. Tampering with games or results could lead to up to seven years in prison, with penalties doubled if the victim is elderly, a minor, or registered with Renapro.

Legal and Economic Impact

Federal Supreme Court Minister Flávio Dino indicated that the Supreme Court might eventually need to rule on the constitutionality of this bill due to its potential interface with organized crime. The proposal aims to attract substantial investments, create millions of jobs, and generate significant annual revenue for Brazil.

Since President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva approved Bill 3,626/2023 in December, which legalized sports betting and iGaming, Brazil has been moving rapidly towards establishing a regulated gaming industry. The Ministry of Finance expects sports betting and iGaming to be fully legal by the end of July, currently working on the regulatory policy for technical and security requirements for operators.

Source:

Legalization of casinos and bingos in Brazil could reach the Supreme Court, gamesbras.com, June 21, 2024.

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The Florida House of Representatives has taken a significant step in combating illegal gambling operations within the state by advancing a bill aimed at cracking down on such activities. However, despite its progress, concerns linger regarding potential unintended consequences and the clarity of certain provisions.

Rep. Michelle Salzman’s Bill Advances in Florida House Despite Concerns

House Bill 189, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Salzman, garnered approval from the House Appropriations Committee following a thorough debate that highlighted various concerns, reported media outlet Florida Politics. 

One major issue raised during the discussion was the possibility of inadvertently ensnaring unsuspecting individuals, particularly night managers, into legal trouble due to the broad language of the bill.

The proposed legislation seeks to impose harsher penalties for operating illegal gambling establishments, including those housing unauthorized slot machines. Additionally, it aims to deter such activities by prohibiting the advertising of unlicensed betting venues. 

Rep. Salzman emphasized the importance of protecting consumers from the dangers of unregulated gambling, citing its links to illicit trades such as drug trafficking and human exploitation.

While the bill received committee approval, several members expressed reservations about its potential ramifications. Rep. Dan Daley, Christopher Benjamin, Mike Gottlieb, and Patricia Williams raised concerns ranging from the broad scope of the language to the potential impact on unwitting individuals, such as low-level managers, who may not be aware of violations occurring on the premises they oversee.

Rep. Salzman Defends Controversial Bill Amidst Criticism Over Unintended Consequences

In response to these concerns, Rep. Salzman defended the bill, highlighting provisions intended to protect managers who are unaware of illegal activities taking place under their supervision. However, critics argued that despite potential legal defenses, the mere accusation of involvement in illegal gambling could have severe repercussions for individuals, affecting their future prospects and reputations.

Representatives of the amusement machine industry echoed these concerns, emphasizing the potential strain on local resources resulting from legal disputes arising from unintentional violations. Jonathan Zachem, representing the Amusement Machine Association of Florida, warned against the detrimental effects on small-scale operators caught in the crossfire of enforcement efforts.

Despite opposition, supporters of the bill argue that enhanced penalties and stricter enforcement are necessary to curb illicit gambling practices. Rep. Randy Fine emphasized the importance of maintaining regulatory oversight to prevent the proliferation of unregulated gambling activities.

As the bill progresses through the legislative process, it faces further scrutiny and deliberation. With similar legislation progressing in the Senate, the issue of illegal gambling remains a focal point of legislative action in Florida.

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The bold iGaming provider leading the way with innovative solutions, EveryMatrix, has announced that its co-founder, Stian Hornsletten, will move to the position of chief executive officer of the Games division at the start of next month.

The news comes after the WLA Safer Gambling–certified company appointed Nikolina Gabelica as the new head of lottery earlier in the week. 

The Move, Ahead of ICE London 2024

From his new position as CEO, Hornsletten will manage the Games team right ahead of the much-anticipated ICE London 2024 that will return at ExCeL London on February 6-8. 

The event will once again reunite representatives of the gaming industry over the course of three days packed with education and networking. 

ICE London 2024 visitors will be able to visit EveryMatrix representatives at the stand N6-210.

Hornsletten to Keep His Active Senior Role on the Board

The new CEO of the Games division will focus on “driving both in-house development and third-party content partnerships” which should also feature building on the provider’s worldwide distribution network and exclusive content. 

In parallel, Hornsletten will preserve his active senior position on the company’s board.

As a former chief commercial officer, he has been one of the main actors behind EveryMatrix’s commercial strategy and product development in the past decade and a half, carrying the business from a simple vision to one of the quickest-developing, most trustworthy suppliers of technology in the iGaming world. 

He has also helped attract some of the biggest brands and convinced them to integrate EveryMatrix’s state-of-the-art software and services. 

As one of the most prominent figures in the industry in the last 20 years, Hornsletten has employed his leadership skills and rich knowledge to help the company turn into a global leader in terms of tier-1 technology suppliers.

The CCO position will be filled shortly. EveryMatrix has announced it will soon appoint someone who will be responsible for the commercial department and who will also closely collaborate with every business unit to improve the company’s international efforts.

The group’s chief executive officer, Ebbe Groes, praised Hornsletten for his crucial role in making EveryMatrix become a reality while expressing his gratefulness for discussing the idea of “starting the business together 15 years ago.”

Groes added that Hornsletten would benefit from all his support as well as the full support of the company while expressing his belief that he would “immediately” take EveryMatrix to a new level while breathing his amazing energy, passion, and innovation into the crew. 

Last November, EveryMatrix announced a deal with Caesars Digital to help with its growth plans in North America. 

Earlier in the same month, the company published its Q3 2023 results that reaffirmed its growth trajectory.

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In a move towards a healthier environment in Pennsylvania’s casinos, Allegheny County Democratic Rep. Dan Frankel is making strides to ban indoor smoking within the state’s gambling establishments. Frankel, also the majority chair of the health committee, is leading the charge with House Bill 1657, known as the Protecting Workers from Secondhand Smoke Act. 

Pennsylvania’s Smoking Ban Bill Advances to Crucial Health Committee Meeting

Scheduled for a vote on November 15, the bill aims to eliminate smoking inside casinos, creating a cleaner and safer atmosphere for both employees and patrons. The proposed legislation has already completed the initial stages, with Frankel actively garnering support from colleagues to co-sponsor the bill and successfully navigating it through committee discussions.

The health committee meeting, slated for next week, will mark the crucial fourth step in the process. At the meeting, 25 committee members, comprising 14 Democrats and 11 Republicans, will have the opportunity to offer amendments to the bill, which will be voted on individually. 

Frankel expressed confidence that the bill would receive an affirmative vote and bipartisan support, emphasizing that he does not bring a bill forward without certainty of its success, reported PlayPennsylvania.

While the timeline for the bill’s progress remains uncertain, Frankel is optimistic about its prospects. He hopes to see the bill on Gov. Josh Shapiro‘s desk for approval by March or April, a move that would mark the final step in the process. Frankel expressed confidence in Shapiro’s support for the legislation, underscoring the importance of prioritizing public health and safety in Pennsylvania’s thriving casino industry.

Parx Casino Paves the Way for Healthier Workplaces in Pennsylvania

One of the key arguments in favor of the smoke-free initiative is the positive impact it could have on the casino industry’s workforce. Parx, a leading casino operator, demonstrated that eliminating smoking does not hinder success. Both of Parx’s venues, in Bensalem and Shippensburg, have remained smoke-free since the pandemic. Notably, this decision has led to improved employee morale and reduced healthcare costs, as confirmed by Parx’s Chief Marketing Officer, Marc Oppenheimer.

Frankel emphasized that a smoke-free environment not only benefits employees but also enhances the experience for non-smoking patrons. He pointed out that those who wish to smoke still have the option to enjoy casino games online from the comfort of their homes.

Frankel’s initiative comes after previous attempts to implement similar legislation faced opposition, citing potential revenue drops. Advocates, including Pennsylvania’s Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) chapter, believe the ban could save lives and protect workers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Currently, only a few casinos in the state have voluntarily banned smoking, while others continue to exploit the existing loopholes.

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The 2012-founded leading iGaming technology company that supplies products, services, and solutions to iGaming operators, Gaming Innovation Group (GiG), has announced the appointment of ex-DraftKings and SBTech executive Andrew Cochrane as its new chief business officer for Platform & Sportsbook. 

The move, which will see the new CBO work together with Platform & Sportsbook’ recently appointed chief executive officer Richard Carter for a second time, represents an important milestone in the tech supplier’s plans for growth. Cochrane took it to his social media to announce his excitement about the appointment.

Cochrane, a “Prominent and Highly Respected” Industry Figure 

Described as a “prominent and highly respected figure within the industry” by GiG, the new CBO is expected to bring his rich experience and proven track record of driving revenue growth and shareholder value to the table and help support the company’s success. 

Further augmenting its choice, GiG mentioned the pivotal roles that Cochrane played in driving revenue growth for SBTech where he spent almost two years and occupied the chief commercial officer and chief business development officer positions. 

GiG’s new CBO was also part of the executive team that led the DraftKings business combination which eventually resulted in the NASDAQ listing of the combined business in the spring of 2020.

The customer relations expert who engages with tier-1 and lottery operators also spent close to four years with DraftKings Inc. as senior vice president commercial. 

There, he inked a series of strategic partnerships “with over $50-$100 million in annual partnerships” while busy guaranteeing the best-in-class commercial rates for services and products required by the company’s verticals including Sports Betting, Daily Fantasy Sports, and iGaming. 

Cochrane was also Sporting Solutions’ key account director and sales director between July 2015 and July 2017. He was also Inspired Gaming Group’s global account director with the key responsibility of delivering the agreed service-level agreements and key performance indicators of the contract with the company’s largest leveraged buyout customer, William Hill. 

Speaking about their previous collaborations, CEO Carter expressed his delight in having Cochrane “onboard to help propel our commercial efforts to unprecedented heights.”

What the New Position Brings 

Together with Carter, the new CBO will focus on powering growth for the company’s innovative product suite via fresh agreements in growth global markets while strengthening its position as a leading option for turnkey solutions.

Cochrane will implement GiG’s commercial strategies across its iGaming platform, as well as across its sportsbook and Artificial Intelligence-based solutions. The list will include business development, partnerships, corporate development, and marketing. 

His journey with GiG will begin with selecting and attracting some of the brightest industry pros who can help them unlock all the opportunities that await in GiG’s worldwide addressable markets.

At the start of October, GiG announced it would assist Goldenpark with making its entrance into Ontario’s online market. Earlier in the year, in May, the tech company extended its partnership with bet365.

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Over the years, SBC Events has garnered tremendous support from the iGaming industry globally, which is why SBC cited that support as a primary reason for the unparalleled 2023 edition of SBC Summit Barcelona.

An awe-inspiring audience

The 2023 conference and exhibition attracted an astonishing audience of nearly 15,000 participants, a three-fold growth over 2022 numbers, cementing its status as the industry’s fastest-growing event. Additionally, post-event poll data discovered a Net Promoter Score of 49 for the aforementioned event, emphasizing the SBC’s commitment to maintaining a high-quality standards, even despite the significant increase in participation compared to 2022.

As for the event itself, it got off to a great start at the SBC Leaders Summit, the introductory edition of the private “pre-event, invite-only” event that lured 500 of the industry’s best executives. It also lasted all day and included plenty of conference content, involving Frank Abagnale’s keynote, the man who was the main inspiration behind Steven Spielberg’s “Catch Me if You Can,” a poker tournament and networking chances.

An important peak of the event was the initiation of Jordan Levin (OpenBet, CEO), Brigid Simmonds OBE (Betting and Gaming Council, Chair) and Gustaf Hagman (LeoVegas, CEO and Co-Founder) into the SBC’s Hall of Fame.

Description of SBC Summit Barcelona

The aforementioned SBC Summit Barcelona, which was held from September 19 to September 21, was held in a large conference area of 38.000 square meters conference area that gathered 350 exhibitors, which represented a growth of 175% compared to 2022. Commenting on the event, VP of Global Gaming at IDnow, one of the exhibitors and provider of identity verification solutions, Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk, said: “We are being treated as a partner, not just as a company that pays money to get services. We’re being taken to events and get introduced to people. SBC is a solution-finding partner for us.”

The 2023 exhibition space is practically divided into 5 zones that mark the crucial areas of the industry, such as: Affiliate, Media and Marketing, Emerging Tech, Payments & Compliance, Casino & iGaming and Sports Wagering. Additionally, there was an appointed “Festival area,” which, in addition to exhibitor’s displays, also offered the ultimate casual networking environment, consisting of a tapas & sangria bar, smoothie and juice bar and an ice cream bar in addition to other benefits.

As for the exhibition space, it was enhanced with many networking zones, and the SBC Content+ Lounge acted as a central meeting centre for representatives who arranged their meeting via the official event app. Interestingly, the app involved a lead scoring feature that was actively used, amounting to 2,560 interactions. Answering the question about what makes the SBC Summit in Barcelona special when compared to other events, the Founder & CEO of investment firm Bonmoja, Sab Jhooti, commented: “It’s the community element. Whenever I come, I have the opportunity to meet the who’s who in this industry. Everybody you want to meet comes to this event, so I don’t really have to go anywhere else.”

Involving seven stages, the extensive conference program featured more than 80 hours of conference content and provided insights from more than 450 of the industry’s top firms. In this regard, of the speakers, 89.4% were C-level officials, 63.7% were operators and 8.9% were subsidiaries. However, the standing 24.7% was made up of providers, regulators, associations, sports teams, investors and the media. All of them had to answer a total of 302 questions, which further added to the interactivity of the mentioned event.

Moreover, according to the insights from SBC Connect+, it’s obvious that the next 5 panels were the most requested by the users of the application.

• “Sports Betting’s Makeover: The Influence of Gamification, Streaming, and Stats”
• “Affiliate Leaders Panel: Leading Partnerships in Emerging Markets”
• “Sports & Sponsorship Landscape: Growth Markets and Partnerships”
• “SBC Leaders: Exploring Global Growth Markets”
• “Everything, Everywhere, All-of-the-Time: Managing Marketing, Tech & Compliance”

One of the significant events of the aforementioned 2023 agenda was the opening remarks by reputable bestselling author and metaverse expert, Matthew Ball, and chief executive of Flutter International, Daniel Taylor. With enhanced participation, every day’s program in 2023 completed educational roundtable meetings on verticals, topics or particular markets, of which there were 30 in total.

The ultimate peak of SBC’s events, the First Pitch contest, was created to help startups bring their inventive visions to life, according to its newest champion, SnapOdds. In addition, it also won a desired reward package of more than 60,000 euros, which involves a 2-day workshop experience in Tallinn, offered by Yolo Investments, who is sponsoring the contest, among the list of rewards.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the SBC Awards ceremony took place in the famous Caves Codorníu and gave the official recognition to the industry’s flagship firms in 39 distinguished categories. The MCs of the event were already a familiar face at the SBC Awards, Kirsty Gallacher, TV presenter and Clarence Seedorf, previous professional football player and now manager, and one of the best midfielders of today. However, what is a ceremony without a special guest, which is why Luis Figo, the previous “World and European Footballer of the Year,” who played for Real Madrid and FC Barcelona and is a Digitain ambassador at the moment, appeared as a special guest. On that note, CEO and Founder of SBC, Rasmus Sojmark, commented: “The Barcelona chapter for SBC came to a spectacular close. This event exceeded our wildest dreams as we worked tirelessly to make it the industry’s fastest-growing gathering. With 15,000 attendees filling the exhibition floor, this show will forever be a cherished part of SBC’s history. However, as you all probably know, we’re far from done. The success of this edition paves the way for an even more prosperous next edition. We can’t wait to welcome you all in Lisbon for SBC Summit 2024!” Additionally, Managing Director of Brazilian operator VaiDeBob, Thomas Carvalhaes, added: “The quality and calibre of people attending is very impressive. I was on a podcast recently and they asked what my favourite event was. I said it’s SBC Summit Barcelona – for its relevance, for the people who are here and for giving us a sense of what’s about to come.”

Next location

The SBC has revealed the next location for its famous international leading event, which has now been officially rebranded as the SBC Summit to emphasize its global significance. The next location will be Lisbon’s Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL) and the summit will start from September 24 to 26 and is projected to take place at the massive area of more than 100,000 square meters, where 25,000 participants and 600 exhibitors are expected. It will also include insights from 500 speakers who will be experts in the category they’re speaking about.

Source: “SBC Summit Powers Onto Lisbon After Record 2023 Performance”, European Gaming. October 6, 2023.

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REEVO, a fast-growing B2B content and aggregation platform, has further diversified its library thanks to an agreement with Hacksaw Gaming, a leading provider of iGaming products. As per the deal between the two, the latter company’s library of slot games, scratch cards and instant games will be integrated into REEVO.

Hacksaw Gaming was founded in 2018 and is a disruptive provider of cutting-edge content. At first, the company was primarily focused on digital scratch products but eventually expanded its expertise and now produces many hit slot products and instant win games.

Under the agreement, Hacksaw’s existing and future content will become available to REEVO’s partnering operators, allowing them to greatly improve their offerings. Thanks to the partnership, REEVO’s clients will be able to engage their fans with games such as Le Bandit, Wanted Dead or a Wild, R.I.P. City, Dork Unit and Bloodthirst, among many others.

Hacksaw Gaming’s best-in-class games also recently made their way into N1 Casino in Greece, expanding the company’s international presence.

REEVO Continues to Grow at a Rapid Pace

REEVO’s head of sales, Petra Maria Poola, commented on the new integration, praising Hacksaw Gaming as a developer of outstanding and highly playable content. She lauded the company’s unique touch and said that its games will be a great addition to REEVO.

They [Hacksaw Gaming’s titles] are an excellent addition to our platform that is attracting the biggest and most innovative studios and providing our operator partners with the best possible choice of content.

Petra Maria Poola, head of sales, REEVO

REEVO continues to grow at a rapid pace as the company adds more and more content from third parties. In addition to its proprietary content, the company offers games from over 70 top companies.

Some of REEVO’s latest partners include notable industry names such as Orbital Gaming, Vibra Gaming and Barbara Bang Games. Earlier this summer, the company also penned agreements with AvatarUX, RubyPlay and Endorphina.

Prior agreements also saw REEVO integrate titles from 3 Oaks Gaming, OnlyPlay and Turbo Games into its platform.

Currently, REEVO’s platform sports some 8,000+ games, including slots, table, crash games and live gaming titles. REEVO’s ambition for 2023 is to have added content from at least 60 more providers by the end of the year.

In other news, REEVO just released Rays of Ra, a proprietary Egypt-themed game.

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Booming Games, a developer of online real money gambling games, has revealed that it has moved its Maltese office from Enn Glad, Msida, to the Quad in Mriehel, resulting in the company boosting its presence in a prime and prestigious location, in one strategic move.

Office Upgrade

Having experienced tremendous growth in its operations in Malta, meaning it was able to recruit highly trained professionals, the company needed an updated office space that was necessary to keep pace with the developer’s accomplishments and future goals. Furthermore, when deciding on a location for an upgraded office, an office in the Quad was a suitable solution as it is nicely furnished and provides a number of benefits that involve a gym, restaurants, childcare facilities, and shops among many others. However, that’s not all; because the office space is truly the best with a huge commercial area of 44,000 square meters and more than 7,000 square meters of open space.

Commenting on the new office, Max Niehusen, Chief Executive Officer of Booming Games, said: “I couldn’t be more elated about our recent move to the Quad office, a true embodiment of our success story. Choosing the Quad as our new office location was a natural choice as it aligns perfectly with the vision we have for our future. And for us, it’s more than just an office. It’s a symbol of our relentless pursuit of excellence and our commitment to providing an exceptional work environment for our incredible team.”

In this regard, Frederik Niehusen, the Chief Commercial Officer at Booming, added: “I am thrilled with our move to the Quad office; a dynamic location that perfectly aligns with our commercial aspirations. Its sophisticated design and top-notch amenities, including excellent restaurants, elevate our client meetings, fostering stronger connections, fueling creativity, and propelling our commercial success to greater heights.”

About

The company started operations in 2014 and is now located in Malta. More importantly, it operates under a license issued by the Malta Gaming Authority. In addition, the company also has certificates from other official regulatory bodies such as Agenzia Dogane Monopoli, Spillemyndigheden, and Alderney Gambling Control Commission. Its main focus is on producing high-end games, and so far they’ve been quite successful at that, despite the fact that titles are released in very quick succession. Still, none of their products feel rushed, and their portfolio is massive and consists of a huge variety of different game types.

Games created by the developer are regularly checked by official regulatory bodies such as Spel Inspektionen and Quinel Limited. 

Source: “Booming Games Levels Up: Maltese Office Now Located at the Prestigious Quad In Mriehel”, European Gaming, August 1, 2023

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French lottery operator Française des Jeux (FDJ) has made a significant move in the international gaming market with its agreement to acquire Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), the operator of the Irish National Lottery. The acquisition marks a strategic expansion for FDJ into the Irish gaming landscape, solidifying its position as a key player in the global lottery industry.

The Acquisition Will Elevate the Irish Lottery Experience

For FDJ, the acquisition presents an opportunity to leverage its expertise and experience in lottery operations, bringing a fresh approach and innovation to the Irish market. With a reputation as one of Europe’s leading lottery operators, the company is well-equipped to enhance the Irish National Lottery’s offerings and deliver an exceptional gaming experience to its customers.

Current Irish Lottery operator PLI recorded a GGR of €399 million in 2022, donating nearly €260 million to over 4,000 deserving causes. The new owner’s extensive experience will be instrumental in maintaining the organization’s community-focused approach and ensuring enduring relevance. FDJ chair and CEO Stéphane Pallez noted that the two companies shared a common vision, significantly aiding future integration.

FDJ… remains faithful to its recreational, responsible, and redistributive gaming model. We look forward to working together.

Stéphane Pallez, FDJ chair and CEO

The acquisition agreement will see FDJ acquire all of PLI’s assets, taking over its license to operate the Irish National Lottery until 2034. The French company has a history of success, posting impressive FY22 Results and demonstrating its capability to create balanced value in the medium term while remaining socially responsible. PLI’s acquisition should complete in H2 2023 after regulatory approval.

FDJ Acquires a Well-Established and Successful Business

The Irish National Lottery, established in 1987, has been a prominent fixture in the country’s gaming market, offering a diverse range of games and contributing to charitable causes through its funding allocation. PLI secured its 20-year operational license in 2014, rapidly modernizing the lottery to stay in touch with technological developments.

PLI has over 200 employees across 5,300 retail points and operates roughly 45 draw and instant win games. The operator’s success recently drew the attention of the Czech operator, but FDJ acted swiftly and secured the deal. Integrating such an expansive business will present short-term challenges for the French company but promises significant long-term returns.

With FDJ’s enduring commitment to innovation and responsible gaming practices, the Irish National Lottery is poised for continued growth and success, maintaining its contributions to the welfare of communities and players. The gaming industry will watch with anticipation to witness the positive impact of this strategic partnership, which promises to elevate the Irish Lottery’s offerings and solidify FDJ’s global leadership position.

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