Sports Betting
The Betting and Gaming Council Appoints Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board
The Betting and Gaming Council has aappointed Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
The HBLB administers a proportion of profits from bookmakers to improve breeding, advance veterinary science in the sport and contribute to the wider improvement of horseracing. It is administered by a board of seven members, including one appointment from the BGC, to represent bookmakers.
Entain Customer Communications Director Simon Clare formally replaced Mike O’Kane on October 7.
BGC members are expected to contribute to £105m in Levy payments to the HBLB for last year, according to figures released in May. The contribution, provided by the independent HBLB, is an increase of £5m on the previous year. As a result of this additional funding, the HBLB announced an increase of £3.2m in its prize money contribution for 2024 versus 2023, from £67.3m to £70.5m.
It is the third year in a row that Levy contributions have increased, from £97m in 2021/22, to £100m in 2022/2023 and now £105m in 2023/2024.
Grainne Hurst, CEO of the Betting and Gaming Council, said: “We’re delighted Simon is joining the HBLB.
“He brings an unrivalled wealth of experience from his many years with Ladbrokes and Coral, where he has become respected as a vocal and passionate champion of the sport.
“I know his wisdom and knowledge will be crucial assets to the HBLB over the coming years. I would also like to pay tribute to Mike O’Kane who has been an excellent representative to the HBLB on behalf of BGC members.
“Over his time with the HBLB Mike has brought a strong voice for the sector to the Board at a time of significant change for racing and also record Levy contributions. We wish Mike well in the future and are delighted to welcome Simon to the HBLB.”
Simon has spent close to three decades in the betting and horseracing sectors. After graduating with a Degree in Politics at Liverpool University in 1992, he was accepted on The Jockey Club Graduate Scheme, where he had a placement with the Horserace Betting Levy Board.
After a spell at the Jockey Club, and then the newly formed British Horseracing Board in an Executive Assistant role, Simon then joined Ladbrokes as a PR Manager in 1996, before joining Coral in 1997 to become their Racing PR Manager.
Following the merger with Ladbrokes in 2016, Simon became responsible for PR, Sponsorship and Social Media for both brands, and is now the Customer Communications Director for Entain UK Brands – responsible for PR, Sponsorship and Social Media for Ladbrokes, Coral, Gala, Foxy and Partypoker.
He has been a longtime, passionate supporter of horse racing, and even learned to ride in 2014 before taking part in a charity race at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival.
Entain Customer Communications Director Simon Clare, said: “I am extremely honoured to be joining the Horserace Betting Levy Board as the betting representative.
“Mike O’Kane will be a hard act to follow, and I would like to thank him for the great contribution he has made in his time in the role.
“I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a long and varied career within the betting industry with Coral, now Entain, alongside a lifelong passion for horse racing and all major sports, so will hopefully be able to make a valuable contribution to the Board.”
The post The Betting and Gaming Council Appoints Entain’s Simon Clare to the Horserace Betting Levy Board appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The company opens a new chapter
DATA.BET, the sportsbook solution supplier, strengthened its portfolio capabilities by adding sports betting.
The new sportsbook covers over 50,000 sporting events per month, featuring over 63 pre-match and 38 live sports, along with 1000+ available markets. From the most popular leagues to niche categories, the company delivers comprehensive sports coverage backed by trusted official data providers. DATA.BET’s 24/7 in-house trading team ensures over 93% market uptime, dynamic odds adjustments, and automated settlements.
Combined with Player Props, operators can deliver a broader, player-centric betting experience. Cashout functionality is also available, allowing players to settle bets early on single and multiple bets. User engagement is further increased through integrated Video Streaming of events for football, American football, tennis, and basketball as well as interactive Widgets across key sports — keeping users engaged within the platform and eliminating the need to seek information elsewhere. This seamless access to match insights, player data, and betting markets enhances the overall experience and supports higher retention, deeper engagement, and increased betting volumes.
Today, DATA.BET’s portfolio includes esports, sports, and virtual sports, providing a complete solution for betting operators. Integration is available via an upgraded SPA or through a direct Odds Feed. Depending on operator needs and market focus, each vertical can be connected individually or as a combined solution.
“With the expansion of our sports betting solution, we are entering a new phase in supporting our partners,” commented Otto Bonning, Head of Sales at DATA.BET. “This update equips operators with a complete betting solution, while ensuring continued access to DATA.BET’s trusted tools for flexibility, control, and fast content delivery.”
The post DATA.BET Rolls out Full-Service Sportsbook Solution appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Playtech PLC has struck an agreement to exit its Happybet online gambling and retail betting unit in Germany.
The gambling software company had closed the Austrian Happybet business in the second half of 2024 and in March of this year, said it kicked off a process to sell the remainder of the unit in Germany.
The move was in line with its aim to sharpen its focus as a “predominantly pure-play business-to-business operator”.
It has now struck a deal with NetX Betting Ltd, a subsidiary of Frankfurt-listed betting group pferdewetten.de AG.
Dusseldorf-based pferdewetten.de will have the chance to contact franchise partners of Happybet shops in Germany.
“As part of this agreement, pferdewetten.de will also assume ownership of certain associated hardware,” Playtech said.
“There will now be a transition period to allow pferdewetten.de to negotiate with the relevant franchise partners and for the relevant regulatory approvals to be sought from the competent authorities in Germany. It is intended that any remaining Happybet assets not transferred to, or assumed by, pferdewetten.de will cease operations and, where relevant, will be wound up.”
Playtech shares fell 0.8% to 319.85 pence each in London on Wednesday morning.
At the end of last month, Playtech completed the sale of Snaitech Spa to Flutter Entertainment PLC for EUR2.30 billion.
The Isle of Man-based firm said the completion of the deal allowed it to focus on its technology-led offering in high-growth business-to-business gambling markets.
The post Playtech Agrees Deal to Exit Happybet German Betting Operating appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bet Builder bets are taking the global football betting world by storm, with Entain’s Global Sportsbook reporting record-breaking growth in 2024 and 2025. Thanks to major tournaments like EURO 2024 and Copa América, Bet Builder stakes more than doubled last year, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing.
In September 2024, all Entain digital brands completed the transition to an in-house built Bet Builder product. It is being improved and developed by the product and technology teams constantly to great effect with Bet Builder share of bets doubling in the first half of 2025. This Saturday’s Champions League Final between Inter Milan and PSG is on track to become the most popular club match ever for this type of bet.
“Bet Builders have quickly become one of the most influential innovations in modern sports betting. In an otherwise low-scoring sport, customers can create bets that align with their predictions for the flow or story of a game. They offer fans customisation, interactivity, and the chance to leverage niche insights in a strategic way,” said Tom Ritzema, Group Trading Director at Entain.
Highlights:
• The Argentina vs. Brazil World Cup qualifier in March was the biggest Bet Builder event of 2025 so far.
• England vs. Spain in the EURO 2024 Final remains the largest Bet Builder match ever recorded.
• Spanish football leads globally, with around 20% of all football bets now being Bet Builders, while it is also hugely popular in the Brazilian market.
• Shots on target has surged as a top market, especially in South America, alongside match result and total goals.
The trend is especially strong among recreational bettors who prefer frequent, lower-stake bets with higher returns. In Brazil, nearly 40% of all wagers on key domestic fixtures like Corinthians vs. Palmeiras were Bet Builders, as well as Brazil’s major international fixtures.
With increasing global adoption, especially in Europe and South America, Bet Builders are reshaping how fans engage with football betting, offering unprecedented personalisation and control. The next step will be to offer the bet builder product In-Play across all Entain labels.
Top Bet Builder Markets (2025):
Spain
Brazil
Canada
Belgium
Greece
Most Popular Bet Builder Selections:
Match Result
Total Goals
Player Shots on Target
Total Corners
Both Teams to Score.
The post Bet Builders Boom: Entain Reports Record Growth in Customised Football Betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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