Australia
Sportradar partners with Australia’s Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) for Global Broadcast Rights and OTT
Sportradar, the world-leading provider of sports data intelligence and sports entertainment solutions today announced a multi-year partnership with Australia’s Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL) to bring its Live broadcast to a wider audience as the international media (broadcast rights) distributor and OTT partner, starting from the upcoming NBL season due to commence in mid-January 2021.
Sportradar will work closely with the NBL to enhance distribution and coverage for its media rights across broadcast and online platforms, utilising its global network, unique combination of audiovisual technology and data expertise to deliver the best possible fan experience for global audiences, including basketball nations such as China, South East Asia, the US and Europe. As part of this partnership, Sportradar will also be powering the NBL’s OTT platform with plans to include NBL1 games on the relaunched platform for the first time.
In addition to the exclusive Global Broadcast Rights and OTT deal, Sportradar will also become an official integrity partner to the NBL. Sportradar will provide odds monitoring services across Australia’s top men’s and women’s competitions – including the NBL, NBL1 and Big V – to detect any betting irregularities through its market-leading Fraud Detection System. This would see 1,781 matches across professional and semi-professional basketball in Australia monitored by Sportradar.
The Hungry Jack’s NBL’s global profile is rising, breaking new records for online viewership and attendance during the 2019-20 season and it is now widely considered to be one of the premier leagues in the world outside of the NBA.
A record audience of nearly two million fans watched last season’s game between the SKY Sport New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks featuring recently drafted NBA players LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton live on Facebook.
David Edwards, Director of Sports Media and Partnerships – Oceania, said, “There’s no question that the NBL has rapidly become one of the top basketball leagues in the world, with a great mix of homegrown and imported talent across the competition. Sportradar is looking forward to expanding the NBL’s global footprint through our technology-based, data-driven approach to rights distribution, and helping the league unlock new commercial partnerships and opportunities off the back of that increased engagement.”
“The Sportradar-powered OTT platform will also be featuring a high volume of live and VOD matches across the NBL1 (state) leagues. We’re proud to help showcase the next generation of Australian basketball talent via a single dedicated streaming service for the very first time.”
The NBL’s Chief Commercial Officer Brad Joyne said: “The Hungry Jack’s NBL is delighted to work with Sportradar. Through a combination of NBL’s local market reputation and growing fanbase and Sportradar’s focus on integrity and technology excellence proven in global markets, we feel confident that we can expand the NBL’s sphere of influence together and I very much look forward to seeing it happen.”
This is the latest in a series of high-profile deals for Sportradar in the Asia Pacific region. The firm has leveraged its global experience, cutting edge technology and expertise in intellectual sports property rights to bring live games to audiences the world over during a difficult environment for sport. In late 2019, Sportradar signed a partnership with Korea’s K LEAGUE which helped the league expand its reach globally through online and broadcast platforms.
In addition, the company extended their relationship with Tennis Australia, leveraging its audiovisual (AV) and data content, encoding technology and Integrity Services to protect matches and expand their presence across global audiences. Sportradar is also powering the National Premier League OTT platform, NPL.tv, in cooperation with Football New South Wales and Football Queensland.
Australia
NSW Govt Appoints New Board Members to ILGA
The NSW Government has made appointments to the board of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), including a deputy chairperson and two new members.
Associate Professor Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles have been appointed following a rigorous public expression of interest selection process. Additionally, existing member Chris Honey has been appointed deputy chairperson.
ILGA is a statutory decision-maker responsible for a range of liquor, registered club and gaming machine regulatory functions including determining licensing and disciplinary matters.
The appointments follow the end of the term of appointment for outgoing deputy chairperson Sarah Dinning, and also fill vacancies that existed on the board.
Mr Honey, who was appointed a member of ILGA earlier in 2024, has been named deputy chairperson until the end of his current appointment term (11 February 2027).
Mr Honey has extensive experience in the advisory and restructuring field, including working extensively in highly regulated sectors.
Associate Professor Thorpe and Mr Nichles have both been appointed for four years commencing 6 November 2024.
Associate Prof Thorpe is with the Faculty of Law & Justice at the University of New South Wales and an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court.
Mr Nichles was previously a Consul General and Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Australian Government agency Austrade, based in the US.
The new appointments bring the ILGA board membership to seven. The new appointments will join chairperson Caroline Lamb, new deputy chairperson Mr Honey and current members Cathie Armour, Jeffrey Loy APM and Dr Suzanne Craig.
The post NSW Govt Appoints New Board Members to ILGA appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas Announced as Speaker for Regulating the Game 2025 Sydney
The organisers of Regulating the Game 2025 have announced that Mr Brendan Thomas, chief executive officer of AUSTRAC, will be a featured speaker at the 2025 edition of the conference, taking place at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour from 10-13 March 2025.
Mr Thomas, who began his 5-year term as AUSTRAC CEO in January 2024, brings extensive experience in leading public services and delivering reforms, particularly within NSW’s criminal and civil justice systems.
As the head of Australia’s financial intelligence unit and AML/CTF regulator, he oversees AUSTRAC’s efforts to safeguard the financial sector from criminal exploitation while providing critical intelligence to support national security, law enforcement and regulatory partners.
AUSTRAC has intensified its focus on the gambling sector, following a series of high-profile enforcement actions against major casino operators and several corporate bookmakers. Reports in the Financial Review have also highlighted AUSTRAC’s increased scrutiny of pubs and clubs in the wake of the 2022 NSW Crime Commission’s Project Islington, which, while finding no widespread laundering of criminal proceeds, revealed significant amounts of illicit funds being gambled in these venues.
Paul Newson, principal at Vanguard Overwatch and organiser of Regulating the Game, said: “Having Brendan Thomas speak at the conference signals AUSTRAC’s ongoing commitment to the gambling sector. His participation emphasises the importance of making sure the industry is alert to money laundering risks and continually strengthened against financial crime.”
Mr Thomas’ presentation is expected to offer invaluable insights for regulators, industry leaders and key stakeholders, especially as AUSTRAC’s role in combatting financial crime is set to expand further with the anticipated passing of the Government’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2024. This legislation aims to extend the AML/CTF regime to high-risk professions, such as real estate agents, lawyers, accountants and dealers in precious metals and stones, marking a pivotal shift in Australia’s regulatory landscape.
Regulating the Game 2025 will be held in Sydney, Australia, from March 10 to 13. The event will once again serve as a platform for thought leaders, innovators and regulators to come together and explore the most pressing issues in the gambling sector.
The post AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas Announced as Speaker for Regulating the Game 2025 Sydney appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Australia
The Star: New Debt Facility Arrangement
The Star Entertainment Group Limited announced that the Group’s corporate lenders have executed a commitment letter for a new debt facility (of up to $200 million in two-tranches) which will become effective upon completion of long-form documentation and satisfaction of various conditions precedent.
The Group’s existing $450 million facility has been reduced to $334 million which is fully drawn.
The Company’s lenders have agreed to provide covenant waivers for the next two testing dates, being 30 September 2024 and 31 December 2024, with the waiver for the latter date being subject to execution of long-form documentation for the new debt facility and other customary conditions.
The new facility comprises two tranches of $100 million each. The first tranche is expected to be available to be drawn, subject to conditions precedent, from the end of October 2024 through to 20 December 2024.
The first tranche is subject to certain conditions precedent being met, including:
•the provision of unsecured guarantees from some of the Group’s regulated entities and enhanced security granted to lenders;
•regulatory consents and government approvals as required for guarantees and enhanced security for the lender group;
•the establishment of a disposal proceeds account with a credit balance of an amount representing the net proceeds of the sale of the Treasury Brisbane casino building and any other non-core asset proceeds completed before the draw down; and
•other customary conditions precedent.
The second tranche is subject to more extensive conditions precedent but, if satisfied, would be expected to be available to be drawn from the end of December 2024 and have a 4 month availability period following the drawing of the first tranche.
The conditions precedent for the second tranche drawdown include:
•the receipt of required regulatory consents and finalisation of documentation for the granting to the lender group of security over the Group’s regulated entities;
•provision of information in relation to the Group’s long-term strategy;
•all lender approval of the Group’s strategic plan and long-term financial forecasts;
•the Company raising additional subordinated capital of at least $150m; and
•other customary conditions precedent.
The all-in coupon for the new facility is 13.50% per annum (assuming cash pay is elected), and the existing $300 million term facility has been repriced to this level:
•the Company has the flexibility to capitalise a component of the interest at its election; and
•there is a reduction in the coupon subject to the Group’s Adjusted Net Leverage Ratio falling below 4.0x.
The maturity date for the new facility is consistent with the existing term loan (December 2027). The Group will also retain up to $34 million of bank guarantees under the existing revolving credit facility.
The post The Star: New Debt Facility Arrangement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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