Author: Charles Shephardson

Sportradar posted second-quarter 2026 revenue of €378 million, representing a 19% year-over-year increase driven by strong performance across its core business divisions. The company’s Betting Technology and Solutions segment led the charge with 21% growth, while Sports Content, Technology and Services contributed a solid 9% rise during the period. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 19% to €76 million, with the company’s margin expanding to 20.2%, reflecting continued operational discipline across the business. Despite the revenue growth, Sportradar recorded a net loss of €4 million for the quarter, a sharp reversal from the €49 million profit reported in the same period a year…

Betfred founder Fred Done has publicly blamed “over-taxing and over-regulating” for forcing the closure of 132 of the bookmaker’s retail shops across the UK. Done made the emotional remarks on Betfred TV following the announcement of a formal consultation process on the planned closures, describing each shut shop as “killing your own babies.” HM Treasury has pushed back strongly, telling The Times that linking the closures to government policy is plain wrong, pointing out that retail gambling was largely spared in the Autumn Budget. The Treasury’s position holds some weight, as former Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not significantly target land-based…

RETAbet has secured a licence from Portuguese gambling regulator SRIJ, marking a significant milestone as the operator prepares to launch its sportsbook and online casino through retabet.pt. The Spain-based operator is now active in three markets, having previously established itself in Spain and Peru before setting its sights on Portugal. RETAbet Group CEO Xabier Rodríguez-Maribona described the move as a logical progression, telling NEXT.io that Portugal represented a nearby jurisdiction offering significant opportunities. The company has operated retail betting shops in Spain since 2008 and moved online in 2012 under a licence issued by Spanish gambling regulator the DGOJ. Its…

Mancala Gaming CCO Emiliano Sanchez believes the iGaming industry has entered a new phase where attracting players is no longer the primary challenge facing operators and providers. The audience is no longer growing as fast as the number of providers and operators, making player acquisition increasingly difficult and expensive across the board. Sanchez argues the focus must now shift toward generating more revenue from each individual player rather than simply chasing higher traffic volumes. Speaking to NEXT.io, Sanchez outlined how gamification, personalisation, and smarter bonus mechanics are the tools best placed to drive deeper engagement and increased revenue. He pointed…

Betsson has finalised its €64.5 million purchase of Rhino Entertainment Group’s Canadian consumer business and selected technology assets. The deal, which was first announced in March 2026, brings Rhino’s Canadian licences, staff, operating systems, and customer-facing assets under Betsson’s direct control. The transaction also includes proprietary front-end and middleware technology that was previously used within Rhino’s business-to-business operations. Betsson paid €51.25 million at closing, with the remaining €13.25 million due six months later, funded entirely from existing cash resources. Rhino’s acquired operations generated an estimated pro forma EBITDA of €13.7 million during 2025, valuing the business at roughly 4.7 times…

Flutter Entertainment has officially completed the delisting of its ordinary shares from the London Stock Exchange, making the New York Stock Exchange its sole primary trading venue. The group confirmed the delisting was effective as of 8am UK local time on 3 August 2026, marking the end of its presence on the London market. Flutter had first signalled its intention to leave the LSE in June, with 31 July confirmed as its final day of trading on the exchange. The decision followed a review of its LSE listing, which was flagged during the company’s Q1 results earlier in the year…

68% of Brits believe UK bookmakers use anti-money laundering (AML) and responsible gambling checks as pretexts to void winning bets or delay payouts, according to a new survey conducted by GamblingNews.uk. The survey consisted of 316 British punters, and 215 of them agreed that some bookmakers attempt to use regulatory red-tape and mandated responsible gambling checks to avoid paying out winning bets. 76 of the surveyed punters, or 24%, said they believe unregulated bookmakers, including prediction markets platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi, and non-GAMSTOP casinos, are more trustworthy and reliable when it comes to paying out winning bets than regulated…

MGM Resorts International has confirmed it is continuing to review a potential $18bn all-cash takeover proposal submitted by People Incorporated, formerly known as IAC. People Incorporated submitted its takeover proposal in early June, offering $48.30 for each MGM share it does not already own, with the company currently holding 26.1% of outstanding MGM common stock. Speaking during a post-Q2 earnings call, president and CEO Bill Hornbuckle confirmed that MGM had formed a special committee of independent directors to review the offer. Hornbuckle stressed that the committee members have no affiliation or association with People Incorporated, reinforcing the independence of the…

Rush Street Interactive has raised its full-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the second consecutive quarter following another record-breaking financial performance. The company reported Q2 2026 revenue of $393.3m, representing a 46% year-on-year increase and a new all-time quarterly high for the operator. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 61% to a record $64.6m during the quarter, while net income reached an all-time high of $29.3m for the three months to 30 June. CEO Richard Schwartz credited the company’s casino-first approach as a key driver, with online casino accounting for 72% of total revenue during the quarter. Schwartz highlighted the 2026 FIFA…

FDJ United has announced a full market review of its online betting and gaming operations, signalling potential divestments and regional exits across multiple jurisdictions. The announcement came as part of the company’s H1 2026 results report, which revealed significant financial pressure driven by rising gambling taxes across Europe. Stéphane Pallez, president and CEO of FDJ United, commented: “The group’s performance in the first half of the year continued to be impacted by increased taxes.” Gross gaming revenue fell 1.3% year-on-year, while net revenue suffered a steeper decline of 4.5%, reflecting the compounding effect of higher tax rates across key markets.…