Author: Charles Shephardson

Kaizen Gaming CEO and co-founder George Daskalakis has publicly touted the company’s $10bn decacorn status at the Panathenea festival in Athens. Speaking at a fireside chat session, Daskalakis reflected on the journey that transformed Kaizen Gaming from a Greek startup into a significant online gambling operator. The term decacorn is used to describe privately held companies that carry a valuation of more than $10bn, a threshold Daskalakis said Kaizen has now reached. While Kaizen has yet to publicly confirm the valuation figure, Daskalakis noted the company began with “just 20 people and a €700,000 investment.” The CEO pointed to several…

Gordon Moody, the gambling harm treatment provider, has appointed Jon Murray as its new chief executive officer following a period of interim leadership at the organisation. Claire Arnold has simultaneously been confirmed as the charity’s new chair of trustees, filling a position left vacant after the death of Nazir Badat. Badat had been connected with the residential gambling harms treatment organisation since 2022, and his passing created a significant leadership gap at the top of the charity. Arnold brings considerable institutional knowledge to the chair role, having already served as a trustee at Gordon Moody for the past five years.…

Paf, the Finnish gambling operator, has completed the acquisition of Bell Casino, a company that runs gaming entertainment across more than 50 ferries and cruise ships. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed publicly, though both parties confirmed the transaction has been finalised and formalised. Bell Casino’s brand will remain in place following the acquisition, with the business continuing to operate under its existing commercial model without significant structural change. All 28 Bell Casino employees will be retained as part of the agreement, ensuring continuity across the company’s operations going forward. Bell Casino founder Morgan Eliasson will continue…

ComeOn Group’s chief product and operating officer Daniela Vella has outlined the company’s approach to AI adoption, stressing that efficiency gains alone do not define a successful strategy. Vella, who has been with the group for 14 years, says she has witnessed a clear evolution in how technology is embraced across the organisation. The company has introduced automations that have since become industry standard, including instant player withdrawals, and later launched pay and play with its Malta-regulated brands. ComeOn views AI in the same way it has approached previous innovations, treating it as a core part of operations and daily…

Paris Saint-Germain defeated Arsenal on penalties in the 2026 Champions League final, held on May 30 at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna. The victory secured PSG’s second consecutive UEFA Champions League title, cementing the French club’s reputation as one of Europe’s most dominant football dynasties. Budapest served as the focal point of world football for the occasion, with the Puskás Aréna hosting what many have described as one of the biggest sporting events of 2026. The 120-minute final kept fans on edge throughout, with certain moments already being described as timeless classics in Champions League history. Interest in the match extended well…

New research from Paysafe has found that 83% of active and prospective US sports bettors are interested in using cryptocurrency to fund their online wagers. The findings come from Paysafe’s ‘All the Ways Players Pay: Crypto Edition’ report, which gathered survey responses from 2,550 individuals who are either active bettors or plan to bet within the next 12 months. The report covered participants from multiple states including Florida, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Virginia, alongside Wyoming and Colorado. Wyoming and Colorado are among the states where crypto deposits are currently permitted, with 45% and 59% of respondents…

Northern Shell, the investment company owned by media tycoon Richard Desmond, has been ordered to pay more than £40m after losing a legal battle with the Gambling Commission. The dispute centred on the award of the fourth National Lottery licence, which was granted to Allwyn in March 2022 following competition from multiple bidders. Allwyn secured the licence after seeing off competition from The New Lottery Company, Italy’s Sisal, and incumbent operator Camelot during the bidding process. The New Lottery Company and Northern Shell jointly challenged the decision, claiming the Gambling Commission had wrongly awarded the licence to Allwyn instead of…

Austria is preparing to replace its long-standing gambling monopoly with a competitive licensing system, following a draft law seen by NEXT.io. The draft legislation would end Austrian Lotteries’ Win2Day online monopoly, opening the market to multiple licensed operators for the first time. A recent study commissioned by Tipico found that 71% of the country’s GGR, approximately €500 million, was flowing to the black market. The draft law explicitly states that its goals include increasing channelisation to the white market and strengthening player protection levels. However, industry stakeholders are expected to push back on several provisions they view as overly restrictive…

Stake has secured a licence to operate in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, granted by the Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos. The approval allows Stake to offer its sportsbook and casino platform across Argentina’s largest province, which accounts for close to 40% of the national population. The Buenos Aires licence marks Stake’s fifth regulated market in Latin America, joining Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Mexico in its growing regional portfolio. H2 Gambling Capital estimated Argentina’s total gambling gross win in 2025 at $5.03 billion, ranking it as the company’s 23rd biggest global market worldwide. Stake said it was attracted…

Evoke, the owner of William Hill, has appointed Janice Duncan as its new Group Finance Director while takeover speculation continues to surround the company. Duncan joins evoke after departing her previous role as Chief Financial Officer at Casumo, bringing significant senior leadership experience to the business. She carries 13 years of industry experience into the LSE-listed company, a background that spans several prominent roles across the gambling sector. Her career history includes previous positions at William Hill itself, making her appointment a notable return to familiar territory within the broader business. The appointment arrives at a particularly active moment for…