The GI Newswire: 24 June 2024

Bulgarian operator payouts up 147% for 2023

The Association of Gaming Industry in Bulgaria (AGIB) has reported that, in 2023, legal operators within the Bulgarian market paid out close to BGN 5.79bn ($3.18bn) in earnings, accounting for monetary and material winnings over BGN 5,000.?These results were found by the National Revenue Agency, led by Rumen Spetsov. The agency also found that this result reflected growth of close to 147% year-on-year, with winnings paid out in 2022 totalling BNG 2.34bn.?Operators are obligated to report any winnings to players over BNG 5,000 to tax agencies by law in Bulgaria. Read the full story here .

Other stories from Europe:

• Svenska Spel to provide update on 'group revenue health' (Read )
• Axel Hefer named new Tipico CEO (Read )
• Swedish Gaming Authority bans MRSL NV from providing unlicensed games (Read )
• Rishi Sunak responds to election date betting allegations (Read )
• GiG Media rebrands as Gentoo Media following spinoff from GiG (Read )

Boyd Gaming expresses interest in acquiring Penn Entertainment

According to Reuters, Boyd Gaming has approached Penn Entertainment with a proposal to acquire the company. The company has a market value of over $9bn, including debt – according to the sources (although its official market capitalisation is currently $3bn). This potential acquisition, if it proceeds, would be one of the largest mergers in the US gambling sector since Eldorado Resorts' $17.3bn purchase of Caesars Entertainment in 2020. Read the full story here .

Other stories from North America:

• MGM Resorts and Playtech partner to launch live casino content from Las Vegas (Read )
• Caesars finalises acquisition of WynnBet's Michigan iGaming operations (Read )
• Aristocrat Gaming partners with Dallas Cowboys in multi-year deal (Read )
• New Jersey gaming revenue up 8.3% for May 2024 (Read )

Meridianbet approved to bring sports betting services to South Africa

Meridianbet, a subsidiary of Golden Matrix Group, has been granted a sports betting licence by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. After completing the application and passing the necessary regulations, Meridianbet was awarded a bookmaker licence, a bookmaker premises licence and a manufacturer’s licence. These will allow Meridianbet to offer its sports betting products and services in South Africa, with the company providing live and in-play betting across various markets. Read the full story here .

Other stories from Africa:

• Incentive Games partners with OdiBets to launch new suite of crash games (Read )
• Digitain and PlaylogiQ enter distribution partnership (Read )
• SCCG Management boosts African presence with new leadership appointment (Read )
• Booming Games selects Aardvark Technologies for Africa expansion (Read )

Thailand casino bill draft could be ready in four weeks

The final draft of the bill (dubbed the ‘Casino Bill’) would be ready for the Cabinet review in four weeks’ time. The announcement was made by Thailand’s Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, as reported by news agencies in Thailand and Malaysia.?According to a report by The Star Malaysia, Amornvivat have compiled the input of all 16 government agencies regarding the economic and social impacts of said bill for revision within the next three to four weeks; before it would be sent to the Cabinet and the Office of the Council of State for evaluation, then tabled before the House of Representatives.?Read the full story here .

Other stories from Asia-Pacific:

• Gillon McLachlan appointed as Tabcorp CEO (Read )
• ACMA blocks more illegal gambling websites (Read )
• Indonesia President: No social aid for online gamblers (Read )
• Mayor Alice Guo requests fair investigation into illegal POGOs allegations against her (Read )
• SCCG expands into Philippines, appoints new country manager (Read )