Author: Charles Shephardson

Pragmatic Play is set to phase out its sportsbook and bingo products following an internal strategic review, doubling down on its core business offerings. The Gibraltar-based supplier will also shutter its virtual sports category as part of the same strategic pivot away from non-core B2B products. The company intends to gradually wind down these offerings over the coming months, giving partners time to migrate to alternative platforms during the transition period. Pragmatic Play originally launched its bingo product in 2018 and added its sportsbook vertical in 2022, meaning both had been part of its portfolio for several years. A Pragmatic…

Former Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes has come under sharp political scrutiny following his appointment as principal consultant at London-based strategic advisory firm Hawkbridge. Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Reform, says the transition “appears to be a clear conflict of interest and raises real questions.” Duncan Smith, who led the Conservative Party between 2001 and 2003, has called on government departments to act quickly in reviewing the appointment and its implications. He argued that a cooling-off period should have applied, stating: “In such a job as CEO of the Commission, surely,…

iGaming content provider ICONIC21 has officially launched its live casino portfolio with international GameTech operator Novibet, marking a significant step forward for both companies. The deal expands ICONIC21’s distribution network while giving Novibet players access to a suite of live titles built around speed, quality, and player engagement. Novibet has established itself as a fast-growing international GameTech company powered by its own proprietary platform, continuously strengthening its entertainment offering through strategic collaborations. The partnership aligns naturally with Novibet’s broader approach to sourcing innovative and immersive gaming experiences for its player base across multiple markets. A headline feature of the deal…

Bally’s Intralot has “no intention” of selling off any of evoke’s assets following its agreed all-share acquisition, according to CEO Robeson Reeves. The deal, confirmed on 5 June 2026, values evoke’s assets at £243.1m and is expected to close in Q4 2026 or early 2027, pending gaming and anti-trust approvals. Evoke is the parent company of both William Hill and 888, making it one of the more significant targets in recent European gambling consolidation activity. Speaking across several calls following the announcement, Reeves firmly dismissed speculation that evoke could be broken up once the acquisition is finalised. He stressed that…

Non-executive chair Danny Gladstone and company secretary Mark Ludski have stepped down from Ainsworth Game Technology following reports of undisclosed bonus payments. The departures come after the Australian Financial Review alleged that both former executives received undeclared bonus payouts connected to a major share sale made years ago. Kjerulf Ainsworth, son of company founder Len Ainsworth, had publicly called for both men to resign following those allegations. According to a new ASX filing, Gladstone and Ludski informed the board of their intentions to resign “in light of recent media reports regarding personal payments made to them over eight years ago.”…

Prediction markets are drawing fierce criticism from one of the most powerful unions in the US gaming industry, with calls for Congress to act immediately. UNITE HERE, which represents gaming industry workers across the United States, has warned that the rise of prediction markets could lead to significant job losses in land-based commercial and tribal casinos. The union’s president, Gwen Mills, accused prediction market operators of violating state laws and tribal sovereignty by offering contracts that closely resemble sports betting products. Unlike traditional sports betting and casino gaming, prediction markets currently fall outside the parameters of standard gambling regulation, meaning…

Mancala Gaming has unveiled a sweeping set of updates designed to keep both players and operator partners more engaged than ever before. The supplier has moved from two game releases per month to four, a decision driven by demand from players and partners who wanted a faster content pipeline. The company was clear that standing still was never part of the plan, stating it never wanted to become known as “that one cool game from last year.” To support the increased release schedule, Mancala Gaming expanded its development team and revisited a backlog of ideas it had been building for…

Prediction markets rivalry turned into full spy thriller territory this week, with Polymarket quietly assembling a dossier on competitor Kalshi codenamed “copycat.” According to a New York Post exclusive, the dossier catalogues roughly a dozen instances in which Polymarket believes Kalshi has stolen its ideas and front-run its product launches. Insiders told the Post that the documented cases represent “only one tenth” of what Polymarket believes it has identified, suggesting the full list is extensive. The suspicions range from near-identical social media advertisements to uncannily timed product announcements that appeared to mirror Polymarket’s own planned launches. The breaking point came…

The Brazilian Football Confederation has thrown its public support behind the Bets Law, Brazil’s federal framework governing the regulation of online gambling. CBF Vice President Michelle Ramalho made the remarks during a panel dedicated to online betting at the 14th Lisbon Forum on 2 June. Ramalho’s comments came as debate continues over the future of the legislation, which has faced criticism since its introduction as the country’s primary regulatory structure for the sector. The Bets Law was designed to bring order and oversight to Brazil’s rapidly expanding online gambling market, establishing a licensing framework for operators. Ramalho defended the role…

Bally’s Intralot has officially confirmed a takeover bid for evoke, the gambling group behind some of the industry’s most recognisable brands, valued at £243.1 million. The offer has been set at 52p per share, marking a significant development in what has been one of the more closely watched potential deals in the UK gambling sector. evoke is the parent company of a major portfolio of betting and gaming brands, including William Hill, Mr Green, and 888, giving the bid considerable strategic weight. The confirmation follows several weeks of negotiations between the two parties, during which details of the potential deal…