Weekend Report: Betfair exits New Zealand, GamCare ends young people initiative
Welcome to the Weekend Report, where iGB looks at the news that you may have missed across the last few days. This week: Betfair confirms New Zealand exit, GamCare to halt young people programme and Betano scores Bayern Munich deal.
Betfair confirms New Zealand exit
Flutter Entertainment-owned Betfair has announced it will cease operations in New Zealand later this month.
Betfair will continue to accept bets up until 23 July. After that date, players in the country will no longer be able to access Betfair, according to The Straight.
The withdrawal comes ahead of significant change within the New Zealand online gambling market. In July 2024, the government set out plans to regulate iGaming in the country, with changes now imminent.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the upcoming change and poorer user experience,” Betfair said in statement. “Unfortunately, Betfair has to make the upcoming change to comply with the legislative amendment.”
Last month, the government introduced the Online Casino Gambling Bill into the House of Representatives. This included plans for 15 licences in the newly regulated market. It is unclear whether Betfair will apply for a licence.
Funding issues forces GamCare to end young people initiative
In the UK, GamCare has confirmed it will halt its young people-focused harm prevention programmes due to funding issues.
GamCare has delivered programmes to over 250,000 children and young people, parents and professionals across the UK since launching the initiative five years ago.
However, from October this year, GamCare said it will cease the programmes, blaming lack of sustainable funding. The charity will continue to run its Youth Advisory Board to ensure young people’s voices still inform its work.
“GamCare remains committed to reducing gambling harm and none of our other services are affected by this change,” it said.
Luckbet welcomes Paulin as new marketing chief
Brazil-facing Luckbet has appointed Vitor Paulin as its new chief marketing growth officer.
Paulin brings with him experience in various industries and a range of management roles. This includes working across branding, digital marketing, data-driven strategies, CRM and user experience optimisation.
He joins the operator from Open Mind Brazil. Paulin has also worked for Grupo Aposta Ganha, Serasa Experian, DDM Company and Excola Conquer.
“Leading Luckbet’s marketing is a unique opportunity to consolidate the brand in a sector undergoing transformation,” Paulin said. “Our goal is to build a brand presence that combines light and fun entertainment with a fluid and personalised user experience, reinforcing our commitment to responsible gaming.”
Evolution enters Rhode Island with Bally’s
In the US, Evolution has secured access to the Rhode Island market through a partnership with Bally’s.
Under the deal, Bally Casino’s iGaming offering in the state will now feature content from Evolution. This includes games from NetEnt, Red Tiger and Big Time Gaming.
Also linked to this deal, Evolution will introduce exclusive Bally’s-branded live dealer blackjack tables in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
“We’re thrilled to deepen our collaboration with Bally’s by delivering world-class gaming experiences and extend our reach into Rhode Island, a first for Evolution,” said Jacob Claesson, CEO Evolution North America.
Betano scores Bayern Munich deal
Sports betting provider Betano has entered into a new partnership with German Bundesliga football club Bayern Munich.
The agreement will see Betano becoming an official partner of FC Bayern for a number of years.
Betano is owned and operated by Kaizen Gaming. The brand is active in Germany, as well as Portugal, Brazil, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Ontario in Canada.
“Germany has always been one of the most important markets for us, the second where Betano ever launched,” Kaizen Chief Commercial Officer Julio Iglesias said. “Now, we are announcing our biggest partnership in the country.”