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Betting Brands may Shift Focus from Sports to Casino Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

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COVID-19 has shaken up the world. No one and no business has been left unaffected by the virus, and that includes the betting industry. Land-based casino and betting shops have especially felt the impact of the novel coronavirus, which has forced these establishments to close to help stop the spread of the disease. Even the biggest sports betting brands in the UK have suffered online and offline from the widescale suspension, postponement or cancellation of major sporting events.

There’s no question that as far as the gambling industry is concerned, brick and mortar betting shops and casinos have taken the hardest hit, with one of the worst cases being in Nevada, which shut down every casino on its famous Las Vegas strip back in mid-March. Nevada depends on tourism more than any other U.S. state and is used to catering to tens of millions of visitors annually. Unemployment rates are expected to go up by a minimum of 30% in the state, according to the Nevada Resort Association. This has left many to wonder and worry if Vegas’ big names like Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts, and Sand Crop. will survive the virus’ economic impact, even with help from the financial relief plan.

That said, the closures caused by the coronavirus have been felt across the industry. For instance, the impact on big groups like GVC has resulted in the company taking steps to do what it can to alleviate the strain that has been placed on its operations. Like other companies, GVC has been working hard to lower costs and re-prioritize activity to preserve free cash while making sure its customers continue to be able to enjoy great experiences. Among these re-prioritisations has been reducing the amount spent on sports content, online sports marketing, and trading costs.

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Even online Sportsbook is not Immune to Coronavirus

Naturally, the online gambling industry has a massive advantage over its land-based counterparts. No one needs to social distance online and gambling can be enjoyed safely from home 24/7 via a computer or mobile, whether one is self-isolating or in full quarantine. However, in spite of this fact, online sportsbooks continue to find it a challenge to make the most of the internet advantage.

With no active mainstream sports, online bookies have been forced to fill the void with more emphasis on the virtual world of sports, including animated versions of major horse races like the Grand National, which was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Virtual Grand National, like other virtual races, was a computer-simulated race. It included virtual spectators and virtual ambulances that followed the runners and riders around the courses.

Beyond virtual sports, digital bookmakers have also placed greater focus on eSports as well as other lesser known events. Still, even with the focus on these other events, all online bookmakers have seen a dramatic decline in depositors and increased churn rates because it is simply far too difficult to retain players when the major sports betting markets are at a standstill.

Many of the big name gambling operators have watched the value of their shares suffer from the COVID-19 outbreak. Some of these include:

  • William Hill shares have dropped by more than half since the 21st of February 2020
  • GVC Holdings (owner of Ladbrokes Coral) has seen a drop in share prices by more than 20%
  • Flutter Entertainment (owner of Paddy Power Betfair) has seen its share value tank by over 15%

Sportsbooks May Shift their Focus to Online Casinos

Online casinos, which offer online slots, virtual table, and card games, scratch cards, live casino games, etc. are in much better shape than their sportsbook cousins and that’s because they don’t depend on sports or other major events to continue carrying on with business as usual.

As such, many bookies that also offer a casino platform may consider cross-selling their online casino products to their existing sports betting customers in an attempt to recoup some of the money they’ve lost. This tactic could work as bored housebound punters, who previously focused solely on sports, can be keener to engage in casino entertainment until they can bet on their favorite football matches or horse races again.

Since March, COVID-19 has shut down most economies and sent more than a billion people into lockdown. Like many other businesses considered non-essential, land-based gambling establishments have closed their doors until the outbreak and restrictions ease. While only time will tell how well gambling operators will fare once the worst of the pandemic has run its course, for now, all they can do is focus on their online operations and survive as best they can. For some, online casinos could potentially provide the life raft they need to stay afloat.

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Industry Awards

Stats Perform Named Live Streaming Supplier of the Year at EGR B2B Awards 2025

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Stats Perform has been named Live Streaming Supplier of the Year at the EGR B2B Awards 2025, in recognition of the strength, innovation, and global scale of its Bet LiveStreams platform for licensed sportsbook apps, websites and retail betting venues.

Bet LiveStreams, first launched as ‘Watch&Bet’ in 2005, now delivers more than 40,000 exclusive low-latency live events each year, across 15 sports. Football, the world’s largest betting sport, accounts for more than 15,000 matches, with rights including LaLiga, CONCACAF, English Football League and top domestic leagues and cups across Europe, South America, and APAC. Other sports include tennis, basketball, volleyball, darts, badminton, rugby and cricket.

Judges noted that Stats Perform’s Bet LiveStreams is unique because of its extensive year-long, round-the-clock coverage and high performance. In 2024, the platform securely delivered billions of live video sessions to hundreds of licensed global sportsbooks such as bet365, Betano, Superbet, Betfair, FanDuel and many more.

They also praised its interactive, built-for-betting features like betslip integration, instant highlights, and in-stream contextual stats (also known as Opta Interactive Overlays) that have made the watching and betting experience more engaging for bettors.

“Our focus with Bet LiveStreams has been to make live streams easy to watch and bettable, whoever is playing,” said Mike Perez, Chief Operating Officer at Stats Perform. “The features give bettors more entertainment from every stream, whether it’s a headline fixture like Tottenham v Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, or a six-goal thriller in South America that might otherwise have been overlooked. We’re delighted our efforts have been recognised with this award.”

The judging panel pointed to three standout recent Bet LiveStreams innovations:

  • Opta Interactive Overlays: Live game and player stats and odds available directly in-stream, with bets added to the slip in one click
  • Instant Highlights: Key moments can be replayed during the game to help bettors quickly catch up on relevant action, such as the moment their bet won, or see action they missed in other live games, with multi-game playlists across competitions
  • Live Match Gallery: Easier discovery of concurrent events, helping bettors follow more matches and sports at the same time

Adoption of these features has been fast and operators have reported a 7x increase in interactions per session, longer watch times and more in-play bets placed.

“This award is a reflection of how far streaming can go when it’s built for betting, not just viewing. We’re excited to continue to integrate our Opta data and AI into the experience to make the future of streaming on sportsbooks more engaging, intuitive and bettable,” added Perez.

The post Stats Perform Named Live Streaming Supplier of the Year at EGR B2B Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Compliance Updates

WorldMatch gains Malta Gaming Authority recognition

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WorldMatch, leading provider of online casino games, is pleased to announce that it has obtained the Recognition Letter from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). This important milestone officially authorizes WorldMatch to provide its services to B2C operators holding an MGA license.

The acquisition of the Recognition Letter represents a significant step forward for WorldMatch, greatly expanding its commercial opportunities in regulated markets beyond those it currently serves, and further strengthening the company’s position in the online gaming sector.

“We are extremely proud to have received the Recognition Letter from the Malta Gaming Authority,” said Andrea Boratto, CEO of WorldMatch. “This recognition not only confirms our commitment to high standards of compliance and transparency, but also serves as a key lever to consolidate our presence in regulated markets and grow our customer base globally. In many ways, it’s a return to Malta and at the same time a new opening toward growth opportunities.”

The Malta Gaming Authority is widely recognized for the excellence and rigor of its regulatory standards. Obtaining the Recognition Letter complements a series of certifications already acquired by WorldMatch in major European markets, further strengthening the company’s reputation as a reliable, compliant, and innovative partner.

With this new authorization, WorldMatch is ready to strengthen its presence in international markets, providing its B2C operator partners with a broad library of high- quality, technologically advanced games.

The post WorldMatch gains Malta Gaming Authority recognition appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Spinomenal presents new slot: Queen of Oasis

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Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has released its latest title, Queen of Oasis.

Set against the rolling ancient Egyptian dunes and lush, palm-lined oases, Queen of Oasis immerses players in an elegant world of riches. Camels, vultures, antelopes, snakes, and the powerful Queen herself bring this 5-reel slot to life. The reels sit within two ornate marble pillars where the bejewelled Queen represents the Wild symbol.

During the main game, the Queen counts for any symbol except Free Spins and Bonus symbols. Finding five Wild symbols on a winning line pays x2,000 the bet.

Queen of Oasis is a crowning triumph thanks to the two superb features, a Bonus game and Free Spins. Three or more Scattered Free Spins symbols trigger the special feature. Before Free Spins commence, players can either accept the current number awarded or throw caution to the wind to earn more – up to 50 free spins. Once activated, one to three stacked Wilds are placed on random reels during each spin and boosting potential returns.

The bonus game is initiated when three or more Scattered Bonus Symbols land on the reels. Players kick off with three spins and the goal is finding as many urns as possible to increase the multiplier metre which pays out once the spins are finished. Each sector of the multiplier metre is filled by five winning symbols and there is an opportunity to bag an extra spin by finding the +1 symbol.

Synced Reels and Expanding Reels add another exciting element to the Bonus Game.

Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Queen of Oasis is a beautiful blend of visual elegance and bold gameplay. Every feature has been created to captivate, reward, and raise the bar for what an Egyptian-themed slot can deliver.”

The post Spinomenal presents new slot: Queen of Oasis appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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