Sportradar acquires Optima
Sports data and content supplier Sportradar has confirmed the acquisition of Seville-based sports betting and gaming omnichannel platform business Optima, with the deal effective immediately.
Optima will extend Sportradar’s current betting services portfolio to become a full-service B2B data, betting, trading and player management platform business. This will create a global “one-stop-shop” technology and services business capable of offering a complete turnkey solution including a dedicated sports betting and iGaming platform supported by existing leading sports data, risk management and marketing services.
“Optima joining Sportradar is the next natural step in the achievement of our company vision,” said Jacob Lopez, Chief Executive Officer of Optima. “There are numerous and evident product synergies between the two companies and we are excited about the potential of the combination of the leading trading, risk management and betting entertainment services with the leading integral omnichannel sports betting and gaming platform.”
DGOJ and tax authority sign cooperation agreement
Spanish regulator Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego (DGOJ) and tax agency Agencia Estatal de Administracíon Tributaria (AEAT) have signed a new cooperation agreement.
Under the new agreement, the DGOJ will have access to updated data on operators’ compliance with their tax obligations, the payments they make to the AEAT, and the payments and withholdings related to State Lottery prizes.
In exchange, the DGOJ will provide AEAT with data related to player accounts, in order to fight more effectively against tax evasion and fraud.
Upcoming Events
The following events may be of interest to members of the GiS community.
Join MGM, Google, Hard Rock, GVC, Facebook, The Stars Group, William Hill, and many more in New York City, November 5 – 6, at Sports Betting USA.
On 5 November, 2019, the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS) will organize a lunch seminar on match-fixing and the new directives for betting on Swedish sports. If you wish to attend, RSVP no later than October 31 to gustaf.hoffstedt@bos.nu.
The second edition of European Gaming Congress, which will be held on 8 November 2019 in Milan, is specially designed to bring together industry experts, regulators, operators, and service providers from all across Europe in order to discuss issues such as compliance in licensing, operations, and marketing.
Attend Reputation matters: the gambling sector in the spotlight on 7 November, 2019 in London to learn more about the key issues and challenges surrounding the public perception of the gambling industry. Kenny Alexander, CEO of GVC, will deliver the opening keynote.
GamblingCompliance Global Regulatory Awards 2020, which celebrate excellence in compliance and responsible gambling initiatives, will be awarded on 22 April, 2020 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in Central London.
The World Gaming Executive Summit will return to Barcelona from 30 June – 2 July, 2020. Key themes on the agenda include AI, the future of land-based gaming, CSR, sustainable marketing, regulation updates, fantasy sports, and emerging marketing opportunities.
World Regulatory Briefing now offers a series of free webinars on topics related to responsible gaming.
Gaming in Spain Conference announces new sponsors for Madrid iGaming derby
The 2019 Gaming in Spain Conference has been set up as a veritable iGaming derby. After spending the first conference day at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu, the second-day sessions will all be held at the state-of-the-art Wanda Metropolitano.
One conference, one city, two stadiums!
To celebrate this derby, Gaming in Spain Conference attendees may participate in a free draw to win a Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid football jersey. Don’t miss out and register today!
Having the 2019 GiS Conference at both these prime locations has been made possible by the generous support of our strategic partners: BetConstruct, Betradar, and Jdigital; our sponsors: Asensi Abogados, Betgenius, EngageMore, GiG, HooYu, IDnow, Leaseweb, MDF Partners, Microgaming, Midway AI, and Win in Melilla, as well as our media partners CalvinAyre, Casino News, Focus Gaming News, GamblingCompliance, Gambling Insider, iGamingCalendar.com, Online Casino Reports, SBCNews, and 5 Star iGaming Media.
Other news
A national investigation by the Spanish police found little evidence of underage gambling across the country’s licensed gambling premises. Trade association Jdigital expressed its support for the investigation.
Technology can play a key role in tackling problem gambling, says Jdigital chairman Mikel Lopez.
Last month, the DGOJ met other European regulators to support a common framework for online gaming.
Spain’s Competition & Markets Authority (CNMC) has allowed Grupo CIRSA to acquire bookmaker Sportiumoutright, permitting the Blackstone owned operator the right to purchase Ladbrokes 50% joint-venture shareholding.
888 is planning to establish an operation hub in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a bid to improve its tax efficiency in the Spanish market.
Sisal is also planning to open a new office in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta to aid its expansion into the Spanish gaming market.
The mayor of San Roque has asked the Spanish government to grant tax advantages in order to attract online gaming companies to Spain’s Gibraltar region (Campo de Gibraltar).
Barcelona’s City Council has ruled that it will not permit the opening of any new gambling establishments for a period of one year.
Valencia’s municipal government has updated its laws governing gambling establishments operating within its jurisdiction.
GentingBet has announced Guillem Balagué as the operators newest football Ambassador for the 2019/20 season.
In a bid to prioritize responsible gambling measures, Åland Islands-based operator Paf has lowered its maximum annual loss limit from €30,000 to €25,000.
Better Collective has acquired 19,99% of the shares in responsible gaming outfit Mindway AI
Bolsa Madrid gambling group Codere SA will launch an investigation into the auditing of its Latin American business unit, as the firm admits to inconsistencies published in its year-to-date financial reporting
Bethard Group has become the latest member of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
Mondobets, the first online betting operator with a professional fantasy football league, has collected over €1m during its latest financing round, thanks to the contribution of 159 investors through the alternative financing platformFellow Funders.