Author: Charles Shephardson

Andrew Rhodes, the former Gambling Commission Chief Executive Officer, has landed a new role that is drawing sharp criticism from across the gambling industry. Rhodes has been appointed as a Principal Consultant at Hawkbridge, a consultancy firm owned by Harris Hagan, marking his transition from regulator to industry advisor. The appointment has triggered a wave of negative reactions from prominent figures who feel strongly that the move raises serious questions about accountability and conduct. Among the most pointed criticisms circulating in response to the news is the blunt assessment that “politics is rotten,” a sentiment clearly shared by more than…

FeedConstruct has struck a landmark deal with the Romanian Football Federation, securing exclusive data and streaming rights across the country’s football competitions. The agreement covers the full 2026/27 season, granting the SoftConstruct-owned company rights across a broad range of Romanian football tournaments and competitions. Competitions included in the deal span the Cupa României, Super Cup, the men’s second and third divisions, and the Super Liga Women’s division. Women’s national team matches and Liga 1 futsal fixtures are also covered under the terms of the agreement, making it a comprehensive package. This represents FeedConstruct’s sixth major partnership of 2026, continuing a…

Sportradar has renewed its agreement to serve as the exclusive global distributor of official Wimbledon data and audiovisual betting content worldwide. The multi-year deal runs beyond 2026 and covers both The Championships’ main draw and the qualifying competition, securing a significant long-term partnership. Sportradar originally gained access to the Wimbledon package through its acquisition of IMG Arena in 2025, which broadened its overall portfolio of premium betting content considerably. Under the renewed arrangement, the company will continue supplying betting operators with live odds, player markets, and more detailed in-play wager products. Sportradar will also provide integrity services around the tournament,…

MGM has received a takeover bid from Barry Diller’s People Incorporated, the rebranded IAC internet and media conglomerate, valuing the company at $18bn. The approach arrived just days after restaurant and gaming tycoon Tilman Fertitta tabled a $17.6bn take-private offer for Caesars Entertainment at $31.00 per share. Macquarie analyst and managing director Chad Beynon told NEXT.io that both companies are trading at historically low levels, which is attracting strategic investors. Beynon said: “These stocks are trading at historical low levels. So, I think these investors, whether it’s IAC/People’s or Tilman Fertitta – they’re strategic operators, but I really just think…

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has issued a formal warning to football clubs about the dangers of accepting sponsorship from unsanctioned financial firms. The regulator published a note on its website on 3 June, highlighting how certain crypto companies and trading sites exploit sports partnerships to bypass proper regulatory approval. The FCA confirmed it has written directly to clubs, primarily those in the Premier League, following an identified increase in such commercial arrangements. According to the regulator, some sponsors may be providing regulated financial services without authorisation or making unlawful financial promotions, both of which are criminal offences under the…

Crypto entertainment platform 1win has officially announced that MMA fighter Ilia Topuria has joined its exclusive VIP Community, with the contract signing made public on June 2, 2026. Topuria enters the 1win VIP Community as one of the most dominant fighters of his generation, carrying a flawless professional MMA record of 17 wins and 0 losses. The VIP Community is 1win’s flagship exclusive project, bringing together prominent figures from the worlds of sports, music, and entertainment under a single global brand umbrella. The platform describes Topuria’s excellence in sport as a unique asset and source of inspiration for other members…

Allwyn AG has appointed Khalid Reede Jones as CEO of Allwyn North America, with the former Virginia Lottery executive set to begin his new role on 6 July. Jones will be based out of Allwyn’s Chicago, Illinois office as he takes the helm of the company’s North American operations. His primary focus in the new position will be expanding Allwyn’s footprint across the United States lottery sector in a meaningful way. That work will include supporting the Illinois Lottery in Allwyn’s capacity as an operating partner, though it will not extend to majority-owned fantasy sports brand PrizePicks. Jones brings more…

Finland’s state-owned gambling operator Veikkaus is introducing a new personalised responsible gambling framework targeting younger users with tighter financial controls. The operator has labelled the initiative its “individual care model,” with the new loss checkpoints scheduled to take effect from 9 June 2026. Under the system, players who reach a pre-set loss threshold will be contacted directly by a Veikkaus team member to discuss their gambling behaviour. Following that contact, players who wish to continue gambling can set additional thresholds, up to a defined maximum annual loss limit. The thresholds vary significantly by age group, with the strictest limits reserved…

French civil servant Pascal Chèvremont has been proposed as the new president of France’s national gambling regulator, l’Autorité nationale des jeux (ANJ). The formal proposal was made by French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and subsequently confirmed by Élysée, marking a significant step in the appointment process. The proposal must now be reviewed by the relevant committees of France’s National Assembly and Senate before the appointment can proceed under Article 13 of the Constitution. If approved, Chèvremont will succeed Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, who is nearing the end of a six-year, non-renewable term that began in June 2020. Falque-Pierrotin is a senior French…

Traffy, a performance marketing agency specialising in in-app traffic acquisition and ROI-driven user growth, has published a case study detailing how it scaled iGaming campaigns across Africa. The agency describes Africa as a high-potential macro-region in iGaming, while noting that working with in-app traffic there requires a systematic approach and precise analytics. Over a two-month campaign period, Traffy generated 137,000 installs that converted into more than 14,600 first-time deposits for the 1xBet product. The campaign ran across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya on Android devices, using Moloco, Mintegral, and Unity Ads as traffic sources under a CPA payment model. Ad formats…