August 30, 2020
Share Share Submit StumbleUpon FSB selects Glenn Elliott as new COO August 12, 2020 The governance of FTSE100 gambling group Paddy Power Betfair Plc has confirmed that it has officially sanctioned the firm’s corporate rebrand to ‘Flutter Entertainment Plc’.The Flutter Entertainment rebrand was approved outright (99%) by company shareholders at the firm’s 15 May 2019 AGM.As previously communicated, the FTSE betting group undertakes the rebrand to ‘better reflect its broader business’ within a changing global gambling sector.Undertaking significant M&A investments, with the aim to boost the betting group’s global profile, during the past year Paddy Power Betfair has added US DFS operator FanDuel and Georgian operator Adjarabet to its portfolio of assets.The company’s executive team has supported the rebrand, stating that Flutter Entertainment will accommodate the firm’s flagship brands Paddy Power and Betfair with its new market assets of FanDuel and Adjarabet, marking a new era for the UK betting group.The corporate rebrand is implemented effective immediately, with Flutter Entertainment Plc trading under the ticker symbol of ‘FLTR’ on its shared placement on the London FTSE and Euronext Dublin exchanges. ‘Deal maker’ Rafi Ashkenazi ends Flutter tenure August 27, 2020 Flutter moves to refine merger benefits against 2020 trading realities August 27, 2020 Related Articles
A potential tie-up between Norges Sjakkforbund (NSF) – Norway’s Chess Federation – and online bookmaker Unibet may turn into a political showdown for multiple national stakeholders.Norwegian media reports that NSF has been approached by Kindred Group Plc’s flagship sportsbook property Unibet, offering the federation a NOK 50 million (€5m) partnership – Norwegian Chess’ biggest ever sponsorship.Reacting to the news, NSF has been ordered by TV 2 (Egmont Group) to reject the ‘controversial proposal’, as the broadcaster seeks to bring the 2020 Chess World Cup to the South Western city of Stavanger.Working alongside Norway’s Ministry of Culture, TV 2 governance is reported to be preparing its Stavanger 2020 bid, seeking to host Norway’s biggest ever chess event and further cashing-in on the popularity of Chess Grand Master Magnus Carlsen.A potential NSF-Unibet partnership will likely jeopardise TV 2’s bid, as Norway has outlawed the promotion of ‘foreign unlicensed operators’ by national media incumbents.Nevertheless, Norway’s vague laws on marketing have allowed Unibet to approach NSF, with a sponsorship offer that is reported to be twice the value of TV 2’s World Cup offering.Kjell Madland, Chairman of NSF, has stated that the federation notes media and political concerns, but that Unibet’s significant proposal will be reviewed in the interest of Norwegian Chess development.Should NSF move forward with Unibet’s offer, it will likely come head-to-head with gambling regulator Lottstift, during a period in which it has enforced its ‘toughest stance on restricting remote gambling operators’.Unibet is prepared to undertake Chess’ biggest sponsorship to date, with the online bookmaker highlighting the success of its lead sponsorship of the 2018 FIDE World Chess Championship in London between Magnus Carlsen vs American Fabiano Caruana.An epic encounter featuring 51-hours of play across 12 drawn matches, Carlsen Vs Caruana drew worldwide audiences, with Unibet stating to SBC that the FIDE Championship had been one of its ‘most successful sponsorships ever‘.Speaking to national media, Trine Skei Grande – Norway’s Minister of Equality & Culture – detailed that his department would not seek to influence NSF decision with regards to partnering with Unibet, but warned that NSF events could be restricted in promotion as Norwegian Chess’ governing body is a subordinate of the Norway Sports Federation. Kindred marks fastest route to ‘normal trading’ as it delivers H1 growth July 24, 2020 Share Related Articles Share StumbleUpon Submit Norway’s Ministry of Culture seeks to end gambling’s triple guardianship June 30, 2020 Unibet backs #GoRacingGreen as lead racing charity July 28, 2020
StumbleUpon Share Bookies Corner: Trump Presidency sinks as US 2020 enters its 100 day countdown July 29, 2020 Share Submit Flutter moves to refine merger benefits against 2020 trading realities August 27, 2020 Related Articles The Irish gambling landscape is set to face some major changes in the coming months, but what has been a surprise to many is the mass seat gains of Sinn Féin.Speaking to Joe Lee, Head of Political Betting at Paddy Power, he explained that punters are backing a second general election before the end of the year, while a Fianna Fail, Sinn Féin and Green Party coalition is currently a punter favourite._______________________Joe Lee – Paddy PowerSinn Féin seems to have shocked much of the electorate with its significant gain in seats. Has this been the biggest political upset of 2020?Joe Lee: There’s no debating that this was an Irish political landscape game changing election but to call it the biggest political upset of 2020 might be a little premature considering it’s only February and we’ll have the US going to the polls in a Presidential Election in November!Sinn Féin have most likely shocked themselves as much as anybody else. The fact that it decided to run only 42 candidates, securing 37 of the 160 seats, was evidence that Sinn Féin did not expect this level of success. Our early seat projections had them in the high teens or low twenties.In this election, to the surprise of many, no one party has gained an outright majority. Are punters showing any backing towards a particular coalition agreement? Or could we see a stalemate in the Dáil?JL: The last majority government in Ireland was Fianna Fail back in the ’70s, so the fact that a coalition will be required is no real surprise, however the parties that may come together could be. FF topped the seat count with 38, but that’s a long way from the ’50s where they were projected.With such a significant shift, it’s the first time in the history of the state where no two parties can come together and form a majority. With that in mind the current favourite (3/1) in terms of a coalition government is for Fianna Fail, Sinn Féin and Green Party to come together.These combined would see 87 seats and exceed the 80 required. Next most popular with punters is a substitution of the Social Democrats (a relatively new party) for the Green Party; at 7/1 there may be a little value here but the total seats wouldn’t give much wriggle room with 81.Could we see Ireland looking for another general election by the end of 2020?JL: A stalemate is a strong possibility with plenty of pundits suggesting this would be a mistake with some very important Brexit related trade deals on the horizon. But given an unclear picture and the noises coming from party members across the spectrum around early-stage negotiations to form a coalition, 5/2 about another Irish General Election in 2020 has been very popular with punters.This is not only a winner if a Government fails to be formed, but also should an unstable government come crashing down before December; a relatively strong possibility given the divided nature of this election. Paddy Power raises awareness of Missing People with Motherwell ‘silhouette’ stand August 7, 2020
Share UK gambling adopts toughest online advertising code to protect underage audiences August 27, 2020 BGC lauds success of whistle to whistle ban August 21, 2020 UK gambling trade body, the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), has welcomed Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s economic package, which provides struggling businesses with access to a £330 billion government-backed fund providing loans to overcome COVID-19 disruptions. Yesterday afternoon, Sunak pledged that the UK Treasury would ‘do whatever it takes’, providing a total of £350 billion in economic support to help UK businesses of all sizes. The Chancellor’s headline proposals included: Providing SMEs with expanded access to £5 million in business loansDeveloping a Bank of England-insured credit facility made available to large-scale enterprisesGuaranteeing all insurance claims related to leisure, entertainment and hospitality businessesRemoving all ‘rateable value’ (location-based) costs for UK leisure and retail businesses, set to a £51,000 capProviding small ‘uninsured businesses’ with a £25,000 emergency cash grant bridging any cash flow impactsThe BGC was among several UK trade bodies urging the government to form an action-plan to protect UK retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.However, despite loan support, the BGC detailed disappointment that the Treasury failed to sanction measures to help SMEs counter day-to-day employment costs, including a suspension of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and National Insurance Contributions (NIC) liabilities.Issuing a response this afternoon, the BGC detailed: “We welcome the Chancellor’s package of support for businesses in the leisure and hospitality industry which helps address some of our concerns, but we will study the details and will be seeking urgent clarity on the measures. “We are however disappointed that there is no direct support for employment costs and remain concerned about the devastating impact on our members and their colleagues. We will continue to work with DCMS and HMT to ensure the financial viability of our members.” Share Related Articles ASA monitoring sweep marks gambling as the worst underage advertising offender August 26, 2020 StumbleUpon Submit
Daybreak Games, the creator of H1Z1 has partnered with Twin Galaxies to establish a new H1Z1 Pro League Division. Ultimately, the aim of the league is to create a sustainable ecosystem in partnership with teams for the benefit of H1Z1 players, viewers and partners.Credit: H1Z1 Pro LeagueThe League will launch its inaugural season in 2018, and will include minimum salary (around $50,000 subject to governance discussion), team owner and player representation on the governance committee as well as a “Player Bill of Rights” and a revenue-sharing model for those involved. The Pro League will see 15 teams compete over the course of two 10-week splits, leading up to the Championship in late 2018. As aforementioned, a Governance Committee will oversee the league, including representatives from Daybreak, Twin Galaxies, team organisations and players. There shall be no buy-ins or costs for teams to enter the league, but the teams will be selected through an application process to take place towards the tail-end of 2017. The teams set to compete will be announced in 2018, and those that are interested are able to attend a private briefing that will take place at TwitchCon on Friday, October 20th. “H1Z1 burst on to the esports scene with its first Battle Royale tournament over two years ago and has continued to serve the community with events like the H1Z1 Invitational, Elites Series at DreamHack and the primetime broadcast of Fight for The Crown on The CW Network. Our goal with the H1Z1 Pro League is to create a world-class experience worthy of our incredibly competitive community,” said Anthony Castoro, H1Z1 General Manager at Daybreak Games. “We chose to partner with Twin Galaxies because they bring a unique and compelling vision for how H1Z1 can reshape the world of professional esports, and they share our core value of putting players first.”“Twin Galaxies’ Pro League Division’s mission is to create, govern and operate best-in-class esports leagues, tournaments and special events in a true partnership with leading game publishers,” said Stratton Sclavos, Board Member at Twin Galaxies and a Partner at Vision Venture Partners. “Daybreak’s leadership in bringing the Battle Royale format to esports creates a tremendous opportunity to elevate this amazing category into the next true professional esport ecosystem. As the Managing General Partner of the San Jose Sharks professional hockey team from 2011-2015, I’m well aware of the benefits of raising the profile of the players, establishing economic incentives for all constituents and delighting the fan base with compelling content. H1Z1 Pro League will be maniacally focused on those goals.”It’s certainly a big move from H1Z1 as they look to regain arguably lost momentum following the ridiculous numbers that Battle Royale competitor PUBG continues to bring in. There remains a big crossover between many H1Z1 players and PUBG players, and should these people not be convinced of PUBG’s sustainability, they may well be tempted to be involved in the Pro League. With the salary base believed to stand at a whopping $50,000 (depending on governance discussions) it’s certainly no small investment for a team, and equally not a bad salary for a player at all. It will definitely be interesting to see just how many teams go for a spot in the latest league that has popped up.Esports Insider says: Big, big moves from H1Z1, Daybreak and Twin Galaxies. We may well see a resurgent H1 scene with this news, as those that made hopped over to rival PUBG may well be booting up a different game tonight with this kind of money being wafted around.
Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) has recorded its first win in the ongoing Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games after 2-1 victory over Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).Photo Credit: Osei Bernard EsarIn a game dubbed “Match of the debutants”, it was GIJ who came up top with a solid second-half performance.Nii Adjei gave GIJ the lead in the second half to get their fans excited.Ghana Institute of Journalism doubled their advantage via beautifully taken free kick by the captain of the side, Hussein Abdul Ganiyu.The midfielder lobbed the ball beyond the defensive block and straight beyond the GIMPA goalkeeper who had no chance of parring the ball wide.A goalkeeping error made GIMPA pull one back in the last 10 minutes of the game.The win gives Ghana Institute of Journalism 5 points from five games and they are 7th on the league standings in the 2020 GUSA Games.GIJ will next play the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on Tuesday, 14th January 2020 and GIMPA will face the same opponent on Monday, 13th January 2020.Images from the game:The Rectors of GIMPA (Left) and GIJ (Right) – Photo Credit: Osei Bernard EsarPhoto Credit: Osei Bernard EsarPhoto Credit: Osei Bernard EsarPhoto Credit: Osei Bernard EsarPhoto Credit: Osei Bernard EsarPhoto Credit: Osei Bernard EsarPhoto Credit: Osei Bernard EsarPhoto Credit: Osei Bernard Esar
Wimbledon has been cancelled for the first time since World War Two because of the coronavirus pandemic.The tournament was due to be played between 29 June and 12 July.The entire grass-court season has been abandoned, and there will be no professional tennis anywhere in the world until at least 13 July.Wimbledon is the latest major summer sporting event to be called off, with Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics postponed for 12 months.It follows the postponement of the French Open, which was due to begin in May but has been rescheduled to 20 September-4 October.“This is a decision that we have not taken lightly, and we have done so with the highest regard for public health and the wellbeing of all those who come together to make Wimbledon happen,” said Ian Hewitt, All England Lawn Tennis Club chairma.“It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of the Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars but, following thorough and extensive consideration of all scenarios, we believe it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year’s Championships, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon’s resources to help those in our local communities and beyond.“Our thoughts are with all those who have been and continue to be affected by these unprecedented times.”Why decide now?The All England Club did not need to make a decision before the end of April, but the writing has been on the wall for some time.That is when on-site preparations would have had to begin in earnest: a forlorn hope given the current restrictions in place in the UK.As was the thought that by the end of June, 40,000 people would be able to take their seats in packed stands, and jostle for the best vantage point in the narrow walkways bordering the outside courts.The government’s advice that large gatherings should not take place is aimed, in no small part, at relieving the pressure on the emergency services, which would otherwise be in attendance. It is undeniably optimistic to assume the demands on the health service will have returned to normal levels by mid-summer.Swift cancellation should help reduce any losses that Wimbledon, and the LTA’s series of grass-court events, might incur – but there is also the issue of perception.The All England Club would not want to be seen to be pushing ahead with a sporting event as the death toll continues to rise and the country remains in the grip of the pandemic.Sticking resolutely to a place on the calendar, only to cancel abruptly, or postponing by a few weeks before having to concede defeat, is messy. It is not the way Wimbledon does things. Better, instead, to face facts and plan to return with a flourish in 2021.What about refunds and impact on finances?The All England Club had the foresight to take out insurance policies which will shield them from eye-watering losses. They will therefore be able to refund ticket holders, broadcast partners and sponsors – a bill which, even according to conservative estimates, will top £200m.The Lawn Tennis Association will also receive its ‘annual surplus’ of profits. The payment, which effectively funds British tennis’ governing body for the year ahead, was over £40m in 2018.It is likely to fall, but should not leave an irreparable hole at the heart of the LTA’s finances, especially as it has reserves of over £160mBut the LTA has lost over £12m in the past two years, and will also be hit by the loss of all of the summer grass-court events. Of those, only the Fever Tree Championships at Queen’s Club actually returns a profit, but as they are not insured against cancellation, this year’s losses will inevitably be greater.But the biggest blow for British tennis is the loss of the best shop window of the year. No Queen’s, Eastbourne or Wimbledon means no BBC TV exposure for the sport, and even if we are allowed to return to the courts, there is very unlikely to be the dramatic spike in participation usually seen in the months of June and July. Source: BBC
AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to MoreAddThis8th Graders of Mrs. Romel’s Science class got down and dirty to help keep Alpena clean.The students participated in a community service project and the Thunder Bay Junior High’s ‘Pride Program,’ which stands for: “Personal Responsibility of Our Community.” Mrs. Romel said it’s important to teach students to care about their community while they are young. “I think that it’s important for students to show their pride and ownership in whatever they do. For them to be able to experience how to give back to the community in such a small way of cleaning up an intersection I think that’s a sphere head for future engagements, and giving back,” Romel said.Becoming inspired by her own hobby, Adopt a Highway; Mrs. Romel said doing service starts within your own home.“Well you know it starts with pride in your own home, and outside your home. You just give you don’t have to ask to do something and so if you start from a very young age they feel that reward, that gratification that they’ve done something good. When students drive by that intersection they’re going to know that they helped clean it up and in the future they will take more pride in their community around their home and not have to have their parents ask them to do things, they will naturally do it,” Romel added.Thunder Bay Junior High seems to stay very busy when it comes to community service. 6th Graders clean up the beach, and other students help maintain the local trails.AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to MoreAddThis Tags: Adopt a Highway, Garbage, Local Roads, Thunder Bay Junior HighContinue ReadingPrevious Alpena ‘Get’s Growing’ With Chamber Annual BreakfastNext 6th Graders of Thunder Bay Junior High Travel to Lafarge for an Educational Trip
AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to MoreAddThisALPENA, Mich.– Today’s “Pets of the Week” features Berri, Sherbet, and Amelia.This is Berri. He’s a four–year–old pit bull who loves going on walks. He’s still quite young for a dog, and has a playful and curious personality. When he’s outside, he loves nothing more than running around. When he’s indoors, Berri loves a squeaky soft toy.Next, meet Sherbet. When she came to the shelter, she was a bit of a shy girl, but now she’ll latch onto you and cuddle all day long. She loves playing with other cats, and her favorite toys are the kind she can chase around.Finally, meet Amelia. She’s about two and a half months old and something of a tomboy. She loves to rassle with other kittens and climb around wherever she can.To learn more about adoption, visit huronhumanesocietyinc.org.AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterShare to MoreAddThisContinue ReadingPrevious Governor Whitmer encourages all Michiganders to get a flu vaccineNext Bond set for Alpena man who threatened another with a baseball bat
Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal are not about to offer Didier Drogba a route back to the Premier League.Drogba left Chelsea for Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua during the summer, but has since been linked with a number of English and European clubs. The 34-year-old Ivorian has reportedly been at the centre of a power struggle in Shanghai, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid touted as possible destinations should he depart.However, if Drogba agreed to cancel his contract it is highly unlikely FIFA would sanction a move to another club as a player must be a free agent when the transfer window closes to qualify for a free transfer before January. The only exception is when a club goes out of business. Last March, Bolton signed Gregg Wylde from Rangers but as he agreed to rip up his deal with the beleaguered Scottish club, FIFA blocked him from playing for the Trotters until the start of this season.Wenger maintains the Gunners are not preparing to go back into the market for Drogba, who gave their defence so much trouble during his eight years at Stamford Bridge.“At the moment no. In my opinion he is not free. He has just left England. I don’t know about the situation because he came out with a completely different statement.“You hear he might go to Real Madrid – but then he says ‘I am staying in China’. Is it just because he wants to be paid off? I don’t know,” Wenger said. Wenger, meanwhile, remains hopeful Bacary Sagna will extend his stay at Arsenal. The France defender is currently close to a return from a broken leg suffered at the end of last season.He recently voiced his concerns in a French newspaper following the sales of captain Robin van Persie and midfielder Alex Song, as well as the desire to secure trophies like former team-mates Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri have done since joining Manchester City.The 29-year-old revealed, despite heading towards the final season of his current deal in 2013, discussions had not yet started on an extension. But Wenger is not concerned about the situation.“Bacary didn’t want to be negative, but you all know what you can do with any statement,” Wenger said. “It is important to understand what he wanted to stay. What he wanted to say was not exactly the spirit of the whole thing, but you have the freedom to say what you want in life.“It is also important you understand what people feel about the club and their job. It is always important to have good communication with them. With Sagna we want to extend his contract. He is 29, so his contract finishes when he is 31. So of course we can’t give him five years. “We lost players until now, but the situation is changing and will be in favour of Arsenal much more because of financial fair play. We will be in a very strong position.”
Recent Comments