WEBMASTER NEWS
GOOGLE PLAY TO ACCEPT GAMBLING APPLICATIONS FROM AUGUST
GAMBLING APPS ARE SET to
become available through Google Play
in the UK and some other markets later
this year.
The marketplace that serves millions
of Android users worldwide is to end
its restrictions in the UK, France and
Ireland according to an email sent out
to gambling operators.
Previously, gaming sites have only
been able to offer their mobile app via
their own or third-party channels.
That has been restrictive for
gambling operators, who, in an era
of mobile growth, have not been able
to promote their services through the
main download platform for Android,
which holds nearly 50% market share
across handheld devices in the UK.
The Google Play correspondence was
reported by UK-based tech company
Degree 53, which provides app
development services to companies
such as BetFred.
According to Andrew Daniels,
Degree53’s managing director, Google
said: “From the beginning of August
2017, Google will accept applications
for the distribution of gambling apps
within the Play store in the UK,
France and the Republic of Ireland.
At a later date, this policy change
may be expanded to new regions
and countries."
Daniels added: “Upon submission,
developers will be required to
provide documentation for the apps,
including licences for the countries
they’re looking to target. This process
will likely be similar to Apple’s,
taking slightly longer to approve to
make sure everything is done correctly
and legally.
"This is a huge opportunity for
gaming operators to grow their
Android app portfolio and user base.”
At present Google Play's terms
and conditions still says: "We don’t
allow content or services that
facilitate online gambling, including
but not limited to, online casinos,
sports betting, lotteries, or games of
skill that offer prizes of cash or
other value."
NBA COMMISSIONER: US BAN WILL END IN ‘NEXT FEW YEARS’
SPORTS BETTING WILL BE LEGAL
in the US in “the next few years”
according to NBA chief Adam Silver.
The North American basketball
league’s commissioner has long been a
proponent of legalising sports betting,
and he went so far as to write an opinion
piece for the New York Times on the
subject in November 2014.
Now, in an interview with Sport
Business Journal, Silver said he believes
that demand across the country will lead
to the end of laws that prohibit sports
betting in all but four states.
"My sense is the law will change in the
next few years in the US," he said.
"People want to bet throughout the
game. It results in enormous additional
engagement with the fans."
Silver discussed the future of US
sports betting with the commissioners
of the other three major North
American sports leagues during a
conference session titled 'GameChangers:
Creating the Future of Sports' in
New York in July.
MLB baseball chief Rob Manfred
said not all betting markets should be
viewed with equal suspicion. He added:
"There's a difference between someone
betting on whether the next ball is
a strike or betting on the outcome of
a game."
NHL hockey chief Gary Bettman also
said he doesn't foresee a problem with the
Las Vegas Golden Knights set to debut
this upcoming season.
"We're a small part of betting
compared to football and basketball,"
Bettman said. "I don't worry about
fixing games."
In June, the Supreme Court agreed
to hear an appeal from the state of
New Jersey regarding the legalisation
of betting on professional and college
sports at casinos and racetracks.
Despite Silver’s support, the NBA
is part of a group, which includes the
other major sports leagues in the US,
which opposes NJ’s legislation and
have twice sued the state to prevent
its implementation.
The American Gaming Association
(AGA) recently rolled out a new
campaign in an effort to convince the
US government to lift a federal ban on
sports betting.
GIG EXPANDS PORTFOLIO WITH STK MARKETING ACQUISITION
GAMING INNOVATION GROUP
(GIG), through its subsidiary Innovation
Labs, has further expanded its portfolio
through its acquisition of Scandinavian
network Stk Marketing.
The deal is GIG’s fourth affiliate
acquisition of the year, costing the
company a total of €26m ($30m),
which is its largest purchase to date.
GIG said it expects the new assets
to generate more than €7m during the first
12 months, with 70% expected
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iGB Affiliate Issue 64 AUG/SEP 2017
to be generated from perpetual revenue
share agreements.
The network will be integrated
into Innovation Labs’ BI/Data
proprietary systems and marketing
platforms, providing technological
and operational functions to
improve margins.
"We have set an ambition for
Innovation Labs to become the
largest lead generation business in
iGaming and we are well underway in
realising this. Furthermore,
we have now established a leading
position in the Nordic affiliate market,”
said Robin Reed, chief executive
of GIG.
“In line with previous acquisitions
and GIG´s vision, the Stk acquisition
will enable Innovation Labs to
refer more customers to our B2B
partners and thus benefit all parties
engaged in the expanding GIG
iGaming eco-system.”