Author: Andrew Fletcher

BlackRock, Inc. has increased its total holdings in Entain PLC to 5.01% of voting rights, crossing the key 5% regulatory disclosure threshold once again. The move was confirmed through a regulatory filing that notified Entain of the threshold crossing on August 3, 2026. BlackRock completed the notification at its London office located at 12 Throgmorton Avenue, one of the firm’s primary European bases of operation. The investment giant’s position includes 4.06% of voting rights held through a combination of direct and indirect share ownership in the gambling operator. An additional 0.95% of the total stake is held through financial instruments,…

Austria’s government has taken a significant step toward reshaping its gambling landscape by submitting proposed Gambling Act reforms to the European Commission. The Austrian Finance Ministry confirmed the draft has entered the European Union’s Technical Regulation Information System, known as the TRIS notification procedure. This submission triggered a three-month standstill period during which the Commission and other EU member states can review the draft and issue comments. Austria cannot formally adopt the new legislation until that standstill period concludes, giving regulators across the bloc time to weigh in on the proposals. The draft, certain details of which were revealed in…

Betfred is reportedly preparing to cut ties with rugby league’s Super League after a partnership that has lasted close to ten years. Love Rugby League, one of the sport’s leading publications, reported that the deal looks unlikely to be extended beyond the current 2026 season. The sponsorship stands as one of the longest-running commercial arrangements in UK sports history, making its potential conclusion a significant moment for the game. In recent years, the partnership expanded well beyond the top flight to include the Challenge Cup, Wheelchair Rugby League, World Club Challenge, and the Women’s Super League. The reported split would…

Austria has taken a significant step toward reshaping its gambling landscape by submitting proposed Gambling Act reforms to the European Commission for review. The Austrian Finance Ministry confirmed the draft has entered the EU’s Technical Regulation Information System, known as the TRIS notification procedure. This submission triggers a three-month standstill period during which the Commission and other member states can examine the draft and issue formal comments. Austria cannot adopt the legislation as law until that review window has closed, giving European partners an opportunity to raise concerns or objections. The draft, certain details of which were revealed in May,…

The Jockey Club has announced it is withdrawing its membership from the Racecourse Association, dealing another significant blow to the struggling horse racing trade body. The decision follows the conclusion of the RCA’s governance review, a process that had been running since March of this year before producing its key recommendations last Saturday. The Jockey Club joins Ascot in walking away from the organisation, with Ascot having already signalled its intention to quit the RCA before the end of the year. The RCA’s governance review proposed moving away from the existing one member, one vote structure in favour of a…

Continent 8 Technologies has appointed Mike Small as its new chief executive, ending Michael Tobin’s 28-year tenure at the helm of the company he founded. Small officially assumed the role on 15 July 2026, with Tobin transitioning to chairman after leading the business since its launch in 1998. The leadership change arrives as Continent 8 pursues an ambitious expansion of its global footprint across cloud, cybersecurity, infrastructure and AI-enabled technology services. Small brings more than 25 years of experience in the technology sector to the position, having held senior roles across several major global organisations. Most recently, he served as…

ThrillTech, a provider of side-bet jackpot technology, has appointed Amy Santos as its new chief operating officer effective 3 August 2026. Santos brings with her an extensive background across some of the most recognised names in the gambling industry, including Rank Group, William Hill, and Pragmatic Solutions. Most recently, Santos served as director of client relations and programme at Pragmatic Solutions, a position she held for over four-and-a-half years before stepping down. Before joining Pragmatic Solutions, she spent almost two years as strategic programme manager at William Hill, building a strong foundation in operational delivery. Her earlier career included two…

Sportradar delivered a strong second-quarter revenue performance in 2026, but the Swiss sports technology firm simultaneously cut its full-year financial outlook, unsettling analysts. The company reported revenue of €378m for the three months ending 30 June, a 19% increase compared with €318m recorded in the same period a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA also rose 19% to €76m, with the margin edging slightly higher to 20.2% during the quarter. CEO Carsten Koerl said: “Strong demand for our premium content, data and technology solutions, including increased monetisation of our IMG ARENA rights portfolio, drove double-digit growth while deepening our relationships across our…

SOFTSWISS has published a detailed analysis of betting behaviour across the FIFA World Cup 2026, uncovering major shifts in how players engaged with its Sportsbook platform. The tournament produced a threefold increase in activity on the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, underlining the scale of engagement that major international football events consistently generate. Global wagering on the tournament reached approximately $210bn according to preliminary estimates, representing roughly double the volume recorded during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Under normal conditions, live betting accounts for approximately 80% of activity on the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, with pre-match wagers making up the remaining 20%. During the World…

Romania has launched a significant overhaul of how player winnings from gambling are taxed, marking a major shift in the country’s regulatory approach. The new regime places fresh financial obligations on players who receive winnings from licensed gambling operators operating within the Romanian market. Romania has been steadily tightening its gambling regulations in recent years, with authorities keen to bring the sector in line with broader European standards. The updated tax framework is expected to affect a wide range of gambling verticals, including online casino, sports betting, and other licensed gaming activities. Player winnings taxes are increasingly common across regulated…