UK’s National Lottery operator, Camelot UK Lotteries Limited, announced this weekend the end of its ongoing acquisition by the winner of the fourth National Lottery license in the country, Allwyn Group.

Transaction Completed

The completion of the transaction with Allwyn brought together two leading lottery operators ahead of the start of the next National Lottery license at the beginning of 2024, heralding the upcoming new and exciting chapter for the National Lottery. Camelot will continue to operate the lottery until its license expiry in January 2024.

The operator which is currently running lotteries in Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Cyprus and Italy, saw the transaction as a natural continuation and consolidation in the UK market after Camelot admitted to having lost the competitive bid for the fourth National Lottery license.

Camelot was threatening to take the UK Gambling Commission to court for alleged violations of the bidding process but in the end, decided not to pursue legal action and admit defeat, and thus, paved the way for Allwyn’s takeover bid.

The acquisition was first confirmed in October when the Czech Republic-based pan-European lottery operator announced it was in talks with Camelot to acquire its UK business, and in January, the UK Gambling Commission approved the acquisition and greenlighted the transaction completion.

Upon completion, the acquisition also triggered several previously announced changes to the board and management team of Camelot, including the stepping down of Camelot’s Chairman since 2018, Sir Hugh Robertson, who was replaced by Sir Keith Mills.

Following the departure of Nigel Railton, former Chief Financial Officer Clare Swindell and former Commercial Director Neil Brocklehurst, were appointed as Co-Chief Executive Officers to lead Camelot into its new business chapter.

Bridging the UK with the US

Allwyn went one step further and entered into an agreement with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan to acquire Camelot Lottery Solutions group of companies for an undisclosed fee and gain a much-coveted entry into the US lottery market.

Chicago-based Camelot LS Group has long-term agreements to operate the Illinois Lottery as a private manager and to partner with the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and help the lottery enhance its operations, and its acquisition is seen by Allwyn as an essential step for the group’s future growth path.

Allwyn said that the transaction that is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023 would not bring changes to Camelot LS Group leadership team and that the team members would continue to serve its lottery partners, leveraging Allwyn’s in-depth lottery operating experience gained in over a decade in Europe.

Supplier of online casino content PlayAGS announced another game content partnership with a high-profile US gaming operator, DraftKings, to continue to expand its presence in the North American iGaming market.

Turbocharge DraftKings Casino’s Operations

The new content deal with Boston-based DraftKings will see PlayAGS deliver a portfolio of over 20 proprietary slot titles to help DraftKings speed up its online casino operations in the US and build on the existing casino content partnership between the parties.

Commenting on the latest content deal with a market leader in the US, Gary Hardy, senior vice president and general manager of Interactive at PlayAGS, hailed the launch of the company’s real-money gaming (RMG) content on DraftKings Casino as “a considerable accomplishment for the company.”

“We are pleased to provide DraftKings players in New Jersey with the differentiated, exciting, and high-energy gaming experiences we are known for delivering, and we are excited to further expand our partnership with DKNG moving forward,” Hardy concluded.

The new deal is set to build on the current DraftKings Casino offering of PlayAGS’ games in New Jersey of over 10 titles, including some of the supplier’s most popular and player-preferred games such as River Dragons, Fu Nan Fu Nu, Rakin’ Bacon!, Jade Wins, and Capital Gains, as well as two titles from PlayAGS’ Imperial 88 game family, Peacock Beauty and Tiger Lord.

New Title Launches Set to Continue

DraftKings Casino and PlayAGS are planning to go live with additional titles, including the highly acclaimed Golden Wins Deluxe which received in the 5^th Annual Eilers & Krejcik Gaming Slot Awards a nomination for a top-performing new online game in the iGaming category .

Beginning as a supplier of Class II Native American content, PlayAGS branched out to become an all-inclusive commercial gaming supplier, offering a suite of high-performing Class II and Class III slot products, an expansive portfolio of table games, RMG platforms and content, social casino solutions and excellent service to its casino partners.

The content partnership signed with DraftKings is the latest for the casino content supplier with a leading US gaming operator, after the agreement PlayAGS reached with Caesars Sportsbook & Casino last month.

PlayAGS agreed to deliver high-performing titles from its portfolio of online gaming content to help boost Caesars Sportsbook & Casino’s online RMG operations.

The game selection included more than 30 titles from the supplier’s interactive content library, including Capital Gains, Rakin’ Bakon!, Gold Wins Deluxe, Tiger Lord, and other titles that have proven their popularity among players across land-based venues.

Dabble, the self-proclaimed “betting app of today,” has acquired the mobile sports betting platform Moneyball Australia. The former company, a socially-charged betting specialist, will thus be able to expand its business as it tackles the local market.

Moneyball Has “Some Bittersweet News to Share”

As noted in Moneyball’s announcement, the company, as fans know it, is closing down. However, its team feels very optimistic about the acquisition considering Dabble’s dedication to excellence. Following the agreement, Moneyball will become a part of the bigger company which is famous for offering engaging inclusive and social betting experiences.

The acquisition of Moneyball by Dabble is in line with the latter company’s continued expansion strategy. The financial aspect of the deal was not publicly disclosed. What was disclosed, however, is the fact that Moneyball users will now gain access to Dabble’s products and social network, improving their social betting experience.

Dabble and Moneyball will continue offering an exciting variety of betting offerings, including innovative mechanics and features. This will notably include Dabble’s beloved Activity Feed, Banter Channel and Copy Bet feature. Moneyball players’ accounts will be automatically transferred to Dabble, ensuring a seamless transition.

There Are Inherent Synergies Between the Two Operators

Moneyball used to be one of Australia’s leading daily fantasy sports operators before relaunching as a full-fledged sports wagering site in 2021.

Dabble, on the other hand, was founded in 2020 and quickly grew into one of the biggest sports betting companies in Australia. The company takes inspiration for its offering from the biggest social media platforms in the world, resulting in a platform where bettors and sports enthusiasts can feel a part of a community.

Attesting to the success of this formula, Dabble now has some 150,000 customers who enjoy its socially-charged betting experiences. The social element is particularly appealing to younger bettors, with 80% of the customers aged 18-35.

Dabble’s CEO Is Excited about the Acquisition

As reported by Dabble, its chief executive officer, Tom Rundle, said that his company is excited to grow Dabble. He believes that the uniqueness of the platform’s offering makes it a unique platform in Australia.

The best thing, according to Rundle, is that Moneyball customers are already familiar with community-oriented casino experiences. He is sure that the acquisition will help the Dabble community expand substantially.

With many of Moneyball’s customers already familiar with the community-based element of wagering via their strong daily fantasy sports background, we believe there is a tremendous alignment that will appeal to these customers and make our community stronger.

Tom Rundle, CEO, Dabble

Last year, Dabble leveraged Facebook’s AI chatbots to acquire new customers.

Provider of online lottery products to German state and charity lotteries ZEAL Network announced today changes to its Supervisory Board, adding Kenneth Chan to replace Marc Peters.

Appointment on an Interim Basis

According to the official announcement, the Hamburg Local Court has appointed Chan as a new member of the Supervisory Board at ZEAL at the request of the Executive Board and Advisory Board of the company.

Chan, who is the Managing Director of the London-based hedge fund manager Working Capital and holds a diploma from Yale University, will fill the void left by the departure of ZEAL Peters on an interim basis until this year’s Annual General Meeting after the co-founder and ZEAL shareholder has resigned from his position.

Peters has been on ZEAL’s Supervisory Board since 2019 when he returned to the company he had co-founded in 1999. He was among those who were the most vocal in support of the combination with Lotto24 in 2019 and even issued a letter to the company to express his support for the transaction.

Prior to re-joining ZEAL, Peter served as the Managing Director of Haus & Hof Hamburg, a local real estate company he joined in 2012 and was a partner at Elbe Venture Capital. At ZEAL, Peters also served on the Investment and Special Committees.

Newly-appointed member of the Supervisory Board Chan joins the likes of Thorsten H. Hehl and Jens Schumann who are also serving as members of the board chaired by Peter Steiner, with Oliver Jaster serving as Deputy Chairman.

The Supervisory Board of ZEAL Network is responsible for advising and overseeing the work of the management board, as well as participating in the process of approval for important measures for the business.

Local Lottery Market Presence

ZEAL Network began operating as a German lottery broker under the name Tipp24 and in 2005 went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as one of the most successful public offerings at the time.

Following the acquisition of Lotto24 AG in 2019, ZEAL Network became one of the leading German lottery providers on the internet, brokering lottery tickets to state and charity lottery operators through its Tipp24 and Lotto24 portals.

ZEAL brokers tickets from LOTTO 6aus49, Spiel 77, Super 6, Eurojackpot, GlücksSpirale, lottery clubs, Keno, the Deutsche Fernsehlotterie, Scratch Games, the Deutsche Traumhauslotterie and freiheit+.

In November, ZEAL issued a trading update for its financial performance for the third quarter and first nine months of 2022 and revealed that the business has registered a 14% increase in revenue out of a 10% increase in transaction volume, attributing the growth to jackpots.

Light & Wonder’s in-house crew has developed the innovative product for operators in the UK looking for a market-focused suite of fresh content that is created with players in mind. 

Wonder 500 to Answer Operators’ Requirements

The leader in cross-platform games and entertainment currently uses advanced technology and distribution solutions, enhanced creativity, and excellent teamwork to tie brick-and-mortar content with content on online channels.

Further working on its goal to build a new world of play, the company has created the new solution as a mix of proven themes and game mechanics. Together, they are meant to provide a fresh approach to casino entertainment that players are expected to make the most of in a safe and responsible manner.

The new Wonder 500 solution has been generated after careful assessments of feedback from operators, as a result of player behavior changes along with the forthcoming cut in the maximum online staking levels. 

The pioneering titles will be displayed via the OpenGaming platform known to power the largest network of digital games in the industry. The series will allow players to select a maximum stake level of £2 ($2.41) along with a maximum win capped at 500x the stake. Wonder 500 games will also feature a frequent bonus hit rate that will enable players to enjoy superior entertainment. 

The First Wonder 500 Titles to Reach Players in February

Light & Wonder’s operator partner Sky Betting & Gaming has been chosen to exclusively introduce the first Wonder 500 titles games to their players later in February. The list will include games like ROD & ANNETTE GO FISHING, MIGHTY BLACK KNIGHT, and SPARTACUS. More titles will be ready for launch in the upcoming months. The upcoming launch will feature a dedicated promotional campaign with a Prize Draw that will last for 10 days.

Speaking about the Wonder 500 series launch, Light & Wonder’s vice president for game development, Rob Procter, said that the continuously shifting iGaming market in the UK is where operators are faced with different environments, player dynamics, regulations, and challenges. Procter added the company was constantly busy innovating its iGaming content, making it more engaging for players while maintaining responsible gaming at the core of its activities. 

Sky Betting & Gaming’s head of content, Eamon Beardsley, spoke about the extended partnership between the two companies, emphasizing Light & Wonder’s focus on players when creating new products. According to Beardsley, this strategy perfectly matches their own approach when it comes to the UK gaming market. Beardsley also called Wonder 500 “a fantastic addition” to Light & Wonder’s portfolio while expressing excitement to introduce the fresh product to its own audience. 

In January, Light & Wonder announced that The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians casino would benefit from its technology as a result of a partnership expansion. The provider announced it would integrate its customer loyalty and engagement platform into the casino properties. The list includes Spotlight 29 Casino and Tortoise Rock Casino. 

During the same month, Sky Betting & Gaming announced a new partnership with Push Gaming.

Playtech, which has been Caliplay’s joint venture partner during the latter’s Mexico launch nine years ago, has sought a court declaration that would help solve a contractual disagreement between the two parties. The provider of gambling and financial trading services and software has asked for a clarification that would help put an end to its dispute with Caliplay. 

The point of disagreement refers to whether Caliplay still has the option to redeem the extra service fee as part of the strategic deal that the two companies had signed in 2014. The option regarding the additional fee was put together so that the amount that Caliplay would have to pay to Playtech upon exercise would be either mutually agreed between the two companies, or, provided a mutual understanding would not work, it would be established by an independent investment bank. 

The latter would value Playtech’s current entitlement to get the extra services fee until December 31, 2034. 

For the first half of 2022, the amount of the respective service fee reached £30.8 million ($37.1 million). For H12021, the same service fee was €19.8 million ($23.9 million). 

According to Playtech, the option is exercisable for 45 days following the approval of Caliplay’s audited accounts for the year ending December 31, 2021. The provider added that the option has already expired, which was also included in its interim report for the six months ending on June 30, 2022, and published last September. 

Nonetheless, in spite of Caliplay not looking to exercise the option to date, the leader in the regulated online casino and sports betting market in Mexico believes the option has still not expired and continues to be valid. Hence, Playtech’s decision to get in touch with the UK courts and ask for clarification.

Postponed Spin-Off Plans for Caliplay 

Playtech called Caliplay “a highly valued customer and partner” while also acknowledging their highly successful and fast-expanding business. In 2022, Playtech debated whether it should turn Caliplay into a new and separate company by having the joint venture merge with a special-purpose acquisition company and enable it to go public. 

The plan also spoke about the special-purpose acquisition company partnering with a top media business with a strong focus on LatAm customers located in the US market. In July 2022, because of the significantly deteriorated conditions in the capital market, Playtech gave up the original spin-off plans.

For the time being, Playtech is still contemplating a business that would target Latin American customers in the US via the leading Caliente brand in Mexico.

At the start of the month, Playtech announced an expansion of its lucrative partnership with Paddy Power. 

Initially, the duo inked a deal last year in September. Back then, the entertainment platform was selected as Inter FC’s Official Infotainment Partner. Building upon the initial success of the collaboration, now, LeoVegas.News and Inter have taken their partnership to a new level. As a result, the entertainment platform was selected as Inter’s new Official Training Kit Front Partner of Inter.

In a statement released late last week, the famous soccer club explained that per the deal, LeoVegas.News brand will appear on the men’s and women’s first team training kit. Moreover, the brand will benefit from exposure via pre-match training kits worn by players for warm-ups before all matches.

While the collaboration will ensure brand exposure for the entertainment platform, it will also cater to the fans of the famous soccer club. Thanks to the deal with LeoVegas.News, Inter seeks to deliver new quality content for its growing international fan base. Ultimately, the collaboration is expected to deliver exciting experiences for Nerazzurri and soccer fans alike.

The Deal Brings Excitement to LeoVegas.News and Inter

The latest collaboration isn’t the first time the duo teamed up for a training kit. In December, LeoVegas.News brand appeared on the team’s training kit in Malta, strengthening the initial deal signed in the autumn. Thanks to the aforementioned agreement, which will be effective until 2024/25, the entertainment platform’s logo will also be visible “in the tunnel of at San Siro and on the sidelines at the Suning Training Centre in Appiano Gentile,” explained the soccer club.

“We are delighted to be able to announce this upgrade of the partnership between Inter and LeoVegasNews after just six months.“

Alessandro Antonello, CEO Corporate at FC Internazionale Milano

Inter’s corporate CEO, Alessandro Antonello, said that the club is excited to take its collaboration with LeoVegas.News to a new level. He explained: “The first part of the season was very successful, and this new agreement bears witness to the value of our partnership.” Finally, Antonello predicted that following the deal in Malta, the new collaboration will further strengthen the partnership between the club and the infotainment brand.

“We are extremely proud to announce this new collaboration with FC Internazionale Milano, a historic club of international renown that has fans all over the world.“

Niklas Lindahl, CMO at LeoVegas.News

Niklas Lindahl, LeoVegas.News’ CMO, added that the company is delighted to unveil this new collaboration with the historic soccer club. He pointed out that Inter has a unique and fast-growing fan base that supports its team and Italian soccer as a whole. In conclusion, Lindahl said that this new partnership marks an exciting moment for both Inter and LeoVegas.News.