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Entain Announces Extension of Pitching In Trident League Partnership

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Community Engagement and Volunteering focus of unique sponsorship programme   

Entain, the global sports betting, gaming and interactive entertainment group, and the Trident Leagues are delighted to announce a multi-year extension of their groundbreaking, community sports investment-based partnership. The extension will provide critical funding in the coming years, backed by the Entain Foundation under the ‘Pitching In’ banner, for the 248 clubs that make up the Northern Premier, Isthmian and Southern leagues – collectively known as the Pitching In Trident Leagues, which make up steps three and four of the national league system.

Initially launched in 2020 the Pitching In partnership was specifically created to provide the financial investment required, to not only to ensure the successful operation of the leagues through the Covid-19 pandemic, but to enable individual clubs to engage with their local communities and make a positive social impact.

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The Pitching In partnership has been designed from the ground up to deepen links between clubs and their local communities. The successful delivery of this aim has been supported by two major initiatives, the Trident Community Fund (“TCF”) and the Pitching In Volunteer Hub, both which, will see further investment as the partnership continues.

In December 2020 Entain became the founding partner of the TCF, investing £150k every year specifically to enable clubs to engage in a wide range of vital community-based projects and invest in their local areas. To date over 65 grants of up to £5,000 have been made with a focus on strengthening community relations. Successful projects include: programmes to enable disadvantaged children to participate in football; youth, women’s and disability coaching schemes; community fitness clubs; walking football for older generations; first aid and steward training; youth development schemes and; mental health support. (See notes for editors for TCF case studies).

In May 2022, Entain unveiled the Pitching In Volunteer Hub, a unique online portal that has become a one-stop-shop for every Trident League club to connect football fans with potential volunteers. The Volunteer Hub provides a simple web-based interface through which clubs are able to post volunteering vacancies, while fans can search for available opportunities either at a specific club or based on their location. (See notes for editors for volunteering case studies).

Stuart Pearce, the former England legend and captain, who famously spent over five years in non-league football as a Wealdstone FC player, will continue to serve as the Pitching In ambassador.  Commenting on the launch, Pearce said:

“This is fabulous news not only for the Pitching In Trident Leagues themselves but for football in general. It provides a vital injection of cash to help the leagues to thrive but, perhaps even more importantly, it is helping to bring the clubs and their local communities together.

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“The Trident Community Fund is just a brilliant initiative to allow cubs to really connect with their local people while the Volunteer Hub is a real gamechanger for promoting volunteering at the community level.”

Entain CEO, Jette Nygaard-Andersen said: “We are truly proud of what we have achieved with Pitching In and our partnership with the Trident Leagues, particularly in the positive impact it is having on grass roots sports and for social engagement.

“Through the Entain Foundation we are committed to making a positive contribution to grassroots and community sport, which plays such a huge role in the lives of our customers.”

In a joint statement, the Pitching In Trident League Chairs – Nick Robinson, Isthmian League), Mark Harris (Northern Premier League) and Anthony Hughes (Southern League) said:

“We couldn’t be more pleased that Entain are extending their Pitching In partnership with us. This is truly unlike any other sponsorship that we have been involved in. The entire focus of the programme is around how, together, we can help clubs to develop and deepen their engagement with local communities.

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“The TCF and Volunteer Hub are fantastic examples of their commitment to non-league football and how it can make a positive difference in people’s lives.”

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Cynthia Liu

Seneca Gaming Corporation Appoints Cynthia Liu as its Chief Marketing Officer

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Seneca Gaming Corporation has appointed Cynthia Liu, an accomplished brand leader with extensive experience in hospitality, travel and leisure, as its Chief Marketing Officer.

A key member of the senior management team, Liu will lead strategic marketing initiatives for the corporation and its three world-class gaming properties, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, NY, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca, NY, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, NY, as well as Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course in Lewiston, NY. She will oversee areas including brand strategy, advertising, digital transformation, player development, revenue management, group sales, database marketing, entertainment, and loyalty programs.

“Cynthia is a dynamic executive and leader with a vision to bring renewed energy and elevated awareness to our properties and the experience we offer our guests. We know that our Seneca properties represent the best places to work, stay and play. With Cynthia’s vision, we are going to make our brands, and the promise behind them, stand out in new and exciting ways,” Seneca Gaming Corporation President and CEO Kevin Nephew said.

Liu brings more than 20 years’ experience to Seneca Gaming Corporation, including a wealth of expertise in launching new brands, creating impactful integrated marketing strategies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve shared business goals. She was most recently Vice President of Global Brand Management for Travel + Leisure Co., where she led brand marketing strategy supporting $2 billion in sales revenue and elevating brand awareness for over 20 brands. Throughout her career, she has held global marketing positions with companies such as Caesars Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

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“I am thrilled to be part of Seneca Gaming Corporation and its exceptional culture. I am passionate about brand building. SGC has great history, a solid brand portfolio, beautiful properties, efficient operations, and a loyal guest base. I look forward to working with our team members to tell compelling brand stories and cultivating lasting relationships with current and new guests,” Liu said.

The post Seneca Gaming Corporation Appoints Cynthia Liu as its Chief Marketing Officer appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Compliance Updates

ANJ Sanctions Committee Imposes €800,000 Fine on SPS Betting

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On 22 January 2025, the Sanctions Committee of the French National Gambling Authority (ANJ) met to examine a procedure referred by the ANJ Board concerning the operator SPS Betting, which had allegedly failed to comply with its obligations relating to the self-exclusion system offered to players on the Unibet website and application. The Committee confirmed the breaches and imposed a public penalty of €800,000, justified by the large number of players who were unable to benefit from this protection system. This decision, which is unprecedented in its scope, is a reminder of the Committee’s commitment to penalising operators who fail to meet their obligations to prevent excessive gambling.

In 2021, following reports, the ANJ services discovered a computer malfunction on the “Unibet.fr” application and website for devices using the iOS operating system. According to estimates by the ANJ and the operator, several thousand players who had requested self-exclusion for a period ranging from several weeks to several months were likely to have been able to play again within a few days. In fact, players self-exclusion requests made in months were automatically converted to days. Therefore, a player who requested a twelve-month self-exclusion was only self-excluded for twelve days.

For players who wish to take a break from gambling because they feel vulnerable or need to take a step back, the legislator has introduced a system of self-exclusion from gambling.

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Online gambling operators must provide players with a mechanism enabling them to request their exclusion from gambling. Players are free to determine the duration of their exclusion, which must be a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 12 months.

The malfunction at Unibet occurred from 2 March 2021 to 11 December 2022 before being fixed by the operator. However, during an update, the malfunction reappeared and affected players playing on an iOS device from 29 December 2022 to 2 February 2023. In total, the anomaly persisted for almost 22 months.

In view of these repeated malfunctions and given their duration and seriousness, particularly regarding the prevention of excessive gambling, the Sanctions Committee confirmed the breaches observed and imposed the following penalties:

• A fine of 800,000 euros;

• The publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the French Republic;

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• The display, from 17 to 31 March 2025, on the homepage of the ‘Unibet.fr’ website and the Unibet applications, of a box mentioning this sanction and referring to the press release published on the ANJ website;

• The publication of the non-anonymised decision on the ANJ website, from the date it is pronounced and for one year (until 3 March 2026). After this date, the decision published on the ANJ website and on Légifrance, as well as the associated press release, will no longer allow the operator to be identified.

This decision may be appealed to the Conseil d’État within two months of its notification.

The post ANJ Sanctions Committee Imposes €800,000 Fine on SPS Betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Industry News

IGT Wins Seven Awards at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show

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International Game Technology has won seven awards at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show. The EKG Slot Awards Show is a performance-based, annual programme produced by Eilers & Krejcik Gaming (EKG) that recognizes excellence in slot game development in the casino gaming industry. IGT won the most awards of any gaming industry supplier, taking home trophies for seven of the program’s 25 categories.

IGT won the following categories at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show:

• Top Performing NEW Premium Game: Tiger and Dragon Cash on Reels

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• Most Innovative Land-Based Game: Tiger and Dragon Cash on Reels

• Top Performing 3rd Party IP Branded Game: Whitney Houston Slots

• Top Performing Game – EMEA: Magic Treasures Dragon

• Top Performing NEW Video Poker/Keno Game: Mega Hot Poker

• Top Performing NEW Online Table Game: Blackjack Poker & Pairs Surrender

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• Best Overall Supplier of Online Content: IGT PlayDigital

“IGT winning seven awards at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show is a significant achievement that speaks to our performance momentum across multiple product categories and the immense talent and dedication of IGT employees worldwide. We look forward to continuing to help our customers benefit from these strong IGT themes in 2025 and beyond via follow-up games for Tiger and Dragon, Whitney Houston Slots, Magic Treasures and Mega Hot Poker,” said Nick Khin, IGT President, Global Gaming.

“It was exciting to see IGT PlayDigital honored at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show in the most esteemed iGaming category, ‘Best Overall Supplier of Online Content,’ and recognized with the ‘Top Performing NEW Online Table Game’ award for Blackjack Poker & Pairs Surrender. Developing and delivering market-leading content and performance tools is a cornerstone of IGT PlayDigital’s strategy and I wish to congratulate the entire team on these remarkable accomplishments,” said Gil Rotem, IGT PlayDigital President.

The post IGT Wins Seven Awards at the 2025 EKG Slot Awards Show appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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