This Week's Sports Betting Update

Hi there, we’ve taken a look at what’s news, trending and being talked about in the sports betting world this week. Grab a coffee, take five minutes and we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know.

One big story?

KSA takes tough stance against sports clubs and operators over impending gambling sponsorship ban

The Dutch regulator of online gambling in the Netherlands, the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has warned sports clubs and betting operators not to try and circumvent impending rules prohibiting gambling sponsorships.

The KSA’s chair, Michel Groothuizen, told Dutch news network NOS that gambling brands should not try to find loopholes in the new regulations, which take effect from 1st July 2025.

All Dutch sports clubs and operators will face a blanket ban on gambling sponsorships from this date. The KSA has overseen strict restrictions on gambling advertising on media, outdoor, TV, radio and print advertising since July 2023.

The KSA is following the lead of Belgium’s Gaming Commission, Kansspelcommissie, which forged ahead with restrictions on gambling sponsorships, allowing only brands that don’t operate games of chance.

Click here to get more from KSA chair, Groothuizen, on the threat of operators getting creative with their sponsorship deals as has been seen with multiple Belgian Pro League clubs of late.

What you need to know

Commercial

• iGaming investment fund Xanada Investments has closed the acquisition of Bettorify, its first investment of 2025. Bettorify is an Asia-focused iGaming software developer and platform based in Costa Rica. Xanada CEO, Vladimir Malakchi, believes Bettorify is well-placed to thrive in what he describes as an “under-served” Asian iGaming market. More?
• Roobet has been announced as the official regional betting partner of Latin America and Canada for Chelsea FC. The Curacao-licensed crypto sportsbook has penned a multi-year deal with the West London club, aimed at bolstering their exposure in newly regulated markets like Brazil. More
• Soft2Bet has been given the green light to enter the Spanish iGaming market, having been granted a licence from the DGOJ. Soft2Bet is trying hard to expand its licensed markets, having recently launched in Nigeria. The brand has also secured its first African media partnership, after teaming up with media network Channels TV. More
• Altenar has sealed a deal to integrate FeedConstruct’s sports betting solutions into its sportsbook offering. The arrangement gives Altenar access to real-time, accurate, and fast in-play data, as well as competitive pre-game and live odds for a contemporary sports betting experience. More???

Regulation

Members of the Legislative Assembly in Northern Ireland are set to debate a cross-party motion from private members on tackling gambling-related harm in the country. The motion comes after a 12-month inquiry led by the All-Party Group (APG) into public health approaches to treating problem gamblers in Northern Ireland. More

Technology

Full roll-out of British horseracing’s new state-of-the-art administration platform, Racing Digital, has been delayed until the start of 2026 at the earliest. The joint venture between Weatherbys and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is aimed at making horseracing ownership, race entries and declarations simpler, replacing the existing Racing Administration website. More

People news

Brian Mattingley confirms his resignation as Playtech chair

Playtech chair, Brian Mattingley, is to step down after four years in the role. The FTSE 250-listed gambling technology giant has also announced further changes to its board of directors.

Mattingley was appointed chair in April 2021, within weeks of leaving his post as CEO of 888 Holdings. Mattingley will stay in situ while the company seeks his successor.

Playtech is due to restructure some of its committees from 1st March 2025, with the Regulatory & Compliance and the Sustainability & Public Policy Committees being merged for efficiency and oversight purposes.

Click here to get the parting comments of Mattingley on his time at Playtech, stewarding the firm through a key transitional phase.

This week's talking point

Horse racing trainers at loggerheads with UK racecourses over fair prize money

Racing Post’s industry editor Bill Barber has revealed that British racehorse trainers have locked horns with UK racecourses over the fairness of their prize money.

The 170+ trainers affiliated with the Professional Racing Association (PRA) are keen to make a stand against UK racecourses. The PRA believes racecourses should be deducted ￡500,000 from the payments media rights firms make to venues to improve the overall financial picture for horse racing’s participants.

Reports had suggested the PRA was exploring asking its trainers to boycott interviews with broadcasters during live race meetings, including this weekend’s meeting at Sandown. However, the Association has since backed down from taking such action in the “best interests” of the sport.

It has already warned its member trainers could avoid entering their horses at racecourses that don’t meet the PRA’s criteria for fair contributions towards race prize money.

Meanwhile, Jon Hughes, co-founder of the race horse ownership pressure group, Keep Owners In Racing (KOIR), has voiced his own frustrations at the sport’s decision makers and their inability to agree new funding arrangements. Hughes admits further disruption from trainers is inevitable if the situation is allowed to continue.

Click here to learn about the latest in a growing line of disagreements in British horse racing right now.

This week's insight

Exploring the renaissance of the Italian gambling market

Italy’s reimagined gambling sector is experiencing something of a renaissance. Last year’s changes to its regulatory framework were a tailwind for the Italian market. In fact, Stefano Tino, managing director of Betsson Italy, believes it could soon be remembered as a defining moment for its industry.

Many iGaming operators have bowed to the concessions requested by the Italian government, including new licence fees, responsible gaming adverts and modest tax hikes.

Tino believes that the assumption Italy’s iGaming market is mature is misleading. In fact, Tino feels there remains plenty of room for growth, with Italy’s online casino market growing 18% year-on-year. Even its sports betting market is growing 6.7% year-on-year.

Functionality like bet builders, which are already popular in other well-established sports betting markets, are yet to take hold in Italy.

Click here to learn why Tino is passionate about Italy being the European iGaming market to watch for industry stakeholders.

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