The new appointment is the latest step amidst Intralot’s restructuring efforts. The gaming and lottery technology provider severely underperformed last year, but several promising high-profile agreements may herald substantial improvements. Bateson’s extensive industry experience and history of success may be just what the company needs to get back on its feet.

In December, Intralot SA posted dismal Q3 results, recording a 65.8% drop in profit year-to-date. Despite the disappointing financials, the company’s management remained optimistic, pointing to the positive effects of its ongoing re-organization efforts. Furthermore, rising inflation, interest rate hikes, and economic instability likely harmed Intralot’s bottom line.

Despite such ongoing challenges, the lottery provider continues to pursue expansion opportunities. In December 2022, the company penned a 5-year sports betting contract with the Ohio Lottery Commission, pledging to provide retailers and customers in the state with its critically-acclaimed solutions. February saw another vital milestone for Intralot as the company partnered with NeoGames to enhance Brazil’s Loteria Mineira.

The recent successes are a breath of fresh air for Intralot as the company tries to regain momentum. February’s change of CEO had Nikolakopoulos Nikos take the reins, hoping to capitalize on his vast management experience. With Richard Bateson stepping in as CCO, Intralot is ready to capitalize on its favorable position.

The New CCO Should Be a Valuable Addition

Bateson’s extensive experience in the lottery industry makes him a perfect fit for the position. He spent most of his career with Camelot, which managed the UK national lottery. Over his tenure there, he rose to the international senior vice president, honing his skills across both sides of the Atlantic.

The new CCO’s resume also includes several other lottery-related advisory positions with companies like Jumbo Interactive and Teneo, culminating with his tenure as executive director appointment at management consulting service provider Hector Consulting. Bateson has over 20 years of relevant experience, which should prove invaluable in his new position.

Bateson is well-respected across the gaming industry. In 2022, he partnered with the European Lotteries, lending his vast industry knowledge to the next generation of lottery talent. He also recently attended ICE London 2023, staying in touch with the most recent gaming technology developments.

Bateson will report directly to CEO Nikolakopoulos as the developer focuses on the booming US market, seeking further expansion. Successful partnerships with retail sportsbooks are instrumental to these goals. With more states legalizing sports betting, Intralot should have more opportunities to repeat its Ohio successes and build its reputation.

Wynn Resorts has taken another step toward its goal to recreate the Las Vegas Strip in the United Arab Emirates. The global gambling operator has announced that the main contractor for the construction of the unprecedented Marjan Island property is ALEC Engineering and Contracting.

The contractor, a part of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, was provided with the main contract to turn Wynn Resorts’ vision into a reality. In the meantime, Bauer International will take the piling and enabling works.

Wynn Resorts’ UAE property will be a first-of-its-kind venue in the United Arab Emirates – a region known for its disfavor of gambling. Ras Al Khaimah, one of the emirates comprising the UAE, is currently working on its gambling laws, which will allow Wynn Resorts’ Wynn Marjan to operate.

The emirate will base its rules on tested regulatory frameworks such as the ones in the United States and Singapore.

Wynn Is Optimistic about Its New Property

Wynn Resorts plans to capitalize on being a pioneer in the UAE and recreate the famous Las Vegas Strip in the Middle Eastern country. The company is bullish on this goal as attested by its recent actions, which saw it register “Arabian Strip” and “Marjan Strip” as trademarks.

RAK Hospitality Holding is one of Wynn’s main allies in the region. The local developer will see through the construction work of Wynn Marjan, helping the global operator bring Vegas-styled casino experiences to the UAE.

The UAE, however, is yet to completely overturn its harsh stance on gambling. Establishing the Marjan Stip as Wynn envisions it might prove to be difficult if the UAE refuses to allow gambling.

Despite that, Wynn is determined to finish this project and turn it into a signature property that will amaze locals and tourists alike.

Wynn Resorts Continues to Expand Its International Business

Wynn Resorts remains committed to expanding internationally and conquering new markets with its premium casino resorts and exciting gambling offerings. Despite the setbacks in Macau, the company remained committed to supporting its business in the region throughout the pandemic and even provided its local subsidiary with a $500M loan during the worst months for the local gambling industry.

Wynn Resorts finished 2022 with strong results, which it published last month. The company’s revenues remained more or less the same but it experienced strong EBITDA growth and managed to cut its losses drastically.

Last year, Wynn finalized the sale of Encore Boston Harbor, an integrated resort in Massachusetts.

Launched in December, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee sought to examine the regulation of gambling in the UK. The Committee invited industry stakeholders such as gambling operators, nonprofit organizations, researchers and other organizations within the gambling sector to answer a series of questions.

The invitation for written evidence was opened through February 10, 2023. It included multiple questions regarding the market in the UK such as “what is the scale of gambling-related harm” in the country, as well as what “should the key priorities be in the gambling White Paper?”

Additional questions included “how broadly should the term, ‘gambling,’ be drawn” and also if it is possible “for a regulator to stay abreast of innovation in the online sphere?” The final question that the DCMS sought to receive an opinion on included “What additional problems arise when online gambling companies are based outside of UK jurisdiction?”

Gambling Operators and Industry Stakeholders Respond to the Inquiry

Now, on Tuesday, the written responses received by the DCMS regarding the Gambling Act review were published by the Public Accounts Committee. Overall, 91 different organizations or individuals submitted a response to the query of the Committee.

Respondents included leading betting and gaming industry operators such as 888 Holdings, bet365 and Bally’s Corporation, among others. Additionally, the DCMS inquiry received written responses from UK Hospitality, Bournemouth University, Channel 4 and The Christian Institute, among other organizations.

The recent publication of written evidence submitted by stakeholders within the gambling vertical comes at a time when the White Paper on the review of the Gambling Act has been delayed multiple times. In fact, by now, the White Paper is known to be in a constant “to be released” soon state, with lawmakers hinting that it will be published shortly. Yet, no solid date is set for the release of the White Paper.

At the same time, the single industry body representing the gaming and betting industry in the country, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), recently released a new study outlining that a majority of gamblers in the UK favor promotions and bonus offers. The study found that 82% of gamblers favored “promotions such as free bets,” while 54% confirmed that a possible ban on such incentives may push users to the black market.

Massachusetts recently launched its own sports betting market. Retail wagering went live on January 31, followed by an online launch on March 10. As interest in sports bets grows, the state introduced a self-exclusion program for people who wish to shield themselves from gambling.

The so-called Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program (VSE) is a statewide program that allows players to exclude themselves from any kind of wagering for a predetermined amount of time. Joining the program also means that players will forfeit or suspend all their reward points and will be removed from marketing lists.

The program was developed to help people bar themselves from gambling, regardless of their reason. The exclusion scheme, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, represents an agreement between itself, the Massachusetts operators and the self-excluded player.

The VSE allows players to either exclude themselves from casino gaming or exclude themselves from sports betting. The first option will make players unable to enter any Massachusetts casino or play online games, while the second one will prevent them from placing bets on sporting events.

Alternatively, players can pick the dual self-exclusion option to completely bar themselves from gambling. Operators, on the other hand, may extend the exclusion of certain players for a variety of reasons.

If people wish to return to gambling after the end of the exclusion period, they must first complete a brief reinstatement session.

There Are Many Ways to Enroll

There are various ways to enroll in the VSE. One of them is contacting the 24-hour Safer Gaming Education Line. Alternatively, customers can visit GameSense’s website and use the 24/7 chat.

Alternatively, there is a variety of in-person ways in which players can exclude themselves from gambling. Gamblers can schedule an appointment with the Massachusetts Gaming Commission by visiting its headquarters after securing an appointment through phone or email. Players can also visit any GameSense Info Center without an appointment and exclude themselves from gambling there.

When a person opts to join the VSE program, they will be connected with a professional who will help them make an informed decision. To exclude themselves from gambling, players will need to provide a piece of identification with their photo and signature clearly visible. Gamblers will finally be asked to sign a Voluntary Self-Exclusion Agreement and have a photo taken.

Player information is confidential, allowing players to sign the VSA with confidence.

In other news, Massachusetts recently waived some of the restrictions regarding affiliate agreements for sports betting operators.

Regulated media and sports betting company, Rivalry, confirmed the launch of its casino product in its home market in Ontario, Canada. The company said Wednesday that Casino.exe, its interactive casino platform, will debut in Ontario, featuring a total of 8 casino games.

Rivalry has identified the potential of the iGaming vertical and has been continuously growing this segment of its operations. Last summer, the company announced the launch of Aviator, its first-ever third-party casino game. More recently, Rivalry confirmed the addition of live dealer games and as well as table games. The expansion of casino offerings included games such as Roulette, Blackjack and more.

It didn’t take long for the company to see the benefits of the casino segment. Since the launch of casino games, the company reported that the casino segment was responsible for 15% of its revenue, as well as 30% of its betting handle for the third quarter of 2022. At the same time, Rivalry noted that those results came after “minimal marketing efforts.”

The Company Remains Focused On Growth

Besides the launch of its interactive casino platform, Rivalry confirmed plans for further growth within the market in Ontario. In addition to the platform, the company said that it plans to strengthen its presence and offering by launching a mobile app as well.

“Launching our casino experience with a proven product that we’ve validated in our other markets is an exciting next step as we continue to grow our reach and offering in Ontario.“

Steven Salz, co-founder and CEO of Rivalry

Steven Salz, Rivalry’s co-founder and CEO, explained that launching in Ontario represents another major step for the company that has been continuously growing its presence. According to him, the company’s interactive casino platform delivers engaging, proprietary and interactive experiences for the customers within the market. Salz added that this, in turn, helps Rivalry stand out from the competition in the region.

The co-founder and CEO added that the company focused on prioritizing user experience, design and targeting specific audiences. Finally, Salz said that Rivalry remains committed to driving innovation within the vertical via new customer experiences and supreme entertainment offered through its platform.

The leading developer of cutting-edge, innovative gaming content present in more than 18 regulated jurisdictions has announced its collaboration with the Romanian operator as a means of strengthening its presence in the country. 

Fresh Playson Releases to Reach the Romanian Market 

According to the freshly-inked deal between the two parties, LasVegas will add Playson’s rich selection of top-tier games to its constantly growing players database in the country. 

Both online and offline players visiting the largest network of elegantly designed gaming rooms in Romania will enjoy the chance to test out the cool variety of slots featuring different themes and game mechanics that have already proven their potential to drive engagement.

The list features some of Playson’s freshly released titles such as Treasures of Fire, Pirate Sharky, and Luxor Gold: Hold and Win, among other player-favorite games like Mammoth Peak Hold and Win, Bozo Cats, Pirate Chest Hold and Win, Solar Queen, Book of Gold Multichance, and Wolf Power Megaways. 

By adding LasVegas to its roster of Romanian operators, Playson will further establish itself as one of the leading suppliers in the regulated market in the region while preparing the ground for the rest of the year.

The provider’s chief customer officer Tamas Kusztos spoke about their well-established presence in Romania, calling the fresh partnership with the operator one that would reaffirm Playson “as a leading provider within the Balkans.”

Ready for a “Fantastic Collaboration”

Kusztos also praised “LasVegas’ ability to prove its worth in the last few years and turn into a “brilliant online casino” while expressing their eagerness to kickstart what they hope would be a fantastic collaboration. 

LasVegas’ chief executive officer Radu-Birsan Alexandru said they were “delighted to forge a partnership with Playson,” putting special emphasis on their rich portfolio of highly respected games in all parts of the planet.

Owned and operated by Dimsacon LTD, a Malta-registered company, LasVegas has chosen “SKY IS NO LIMIT” as its motto. With over two decades of experience in the Romanian gambling market, the gambling company has been awarded multiple titles in the past years, including a prize for “The brand with the most dynamic development in the gaming industry” and “The best gambling operator outside of Bucharest”. 
At the start of the year, Playson inked a content integration deal with Grand Casino Baden in Switzerland. Last month, Playson announced the launch of its games with Bingoal in the Netherlands.