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WFH could mean your Grand National workplace sweepstake is illegal
Traditional office sweepstake risks falling foul of gambling law if participants enter remotely
Gambling regulation expert provides guidance on how to comply with law when setting up workplace pool
The recent trend towards flexible working means many businesses are at risk of falling foul of gambling legislation, if organising the traditional office Grand National sweepstake, a leading law firm is warning.
With this weekend’s big race at Aintree attracting the interest of not just racing fans but the general public at large, it is typically one of the most popular events for an office sweepstake.
In pre-Covid times there was little risk involved in such a contest, other than perhaps an excess of workplace rivalry, especially given the event’s propensity for surprises and upsets.
However, Poppleston Allen, a leading gambling licensing law firm, says that with the shift towards hybrid working, organisers now need to be more cautious.
“While formal gambling activity is heavily regulated by the Gambling Commission, there is an exception designed to allow the general public to have a bit of fun by taking part in what is officially called a work lottery,” says Richard Bradley, associate solicitor and gambling regulation expert at Poppleston Allen.
“But what many people may not realise is that the rules are very clear in that you can only sell physical tickets and all players must work in the same office – contests running across different office locations of the same company are not allowed.
“Therefore, if the pandemic has led to staff working from other offices or largely working from home, extra care needs to be taken when running a Grand National sweepstake.
“Organisers, whether employers or employees, must make sure they do not sell any tickets via email or over the phone. Any staff member who wants to play must visit the office and buy a physical ticket. If these rules aren’t followed, organisers and players would technically be involved in illegal gambling.”
Bradley says other rules to make sure a workplace sweepstake doesn’t land anyone in hot water with the Gambling Commission include the following:
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All players must pay the same amount for a ticket;
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Horses must be decided by chance, for example, drawn out of a hat;
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No one can make a profit and all stakes must be returned as prizes, though an organiser can deduct administration costs for running the contest;
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The sweepstake can only be advertised at the work premises; and
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There must be a winner – the prize cannot be rolled over.
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WorldMatch Partners with MrBit
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WorldMatch has entered into the dynamic online gambling market of Romania through a strategic partnership with top-tier operator MrBit.
Under this partnership, WorldMatch’s titles will be available exclusively on the MrBit platform, offering Romanian players a unique first opportunity to experience the provider’s games. The operator plans to launch initially with WM’s top performing games, featuring some of their most popular titles like Book of Pharaon Deluxe, Devil Girl, Fortunella.
Xhuljana Demerxhiu, Head of Sales at WorldMatch, said: “We are thrilled to debut in the Romanian market with such an innovative partner as MrBit. The exclusive agreement accentuates the value MrBit places on the quality and uniqueness of our content. We look forward to offering their players an engaging gaming experience, and once we are live in Romania, we will immediately begin preparations for the launch in Bulgaria.”
The post WorldMatch Partners with MrBit appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Nederlandse Loterij Acquires Lotify
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The Dutch Lottery (Nederlandse Loterij) has completed the full acquisition of Lotify. Lotify supports sports associations, sports clubs, charities, events and businesses in organising fundraising lotteries and competitions. With this acquisition, the Dutch Lottery strengthens its position as an innovative and responsible gambling provider.
Since 2021, the Dutch Lottery has held a majority stake in Lotify. The platform offers a comprehensive solution for organising lotteries and competitions that comply with all legal requirements: from permits and technology to participant communication, draws and payouts.
Arjan Blok, CEO of the Dutch Lottery, said: “The Dutch Lottery has almost 300 years of experience organizing fun and responsible games of chance. As a fully integrated part of the Dutch Lottery, Lotify can leverage our knowledge, network, and impact even more effectively. This allows us to support even more sports federations, clubs, and charities. Especially in these times, they are looking for new ways to raise funds.”
Guy van Iperen, founder of Lotify, said: “After four years of intensive collaboration, the time has come to transfer Lotify to the Dutch Lottery. This is in line with the agreements we made in 2021, when the Dutch Lottery acquired a majority stake. I look back with pride on what we have built together and am confident that the platform will continue to grow under this new owner. This way, Lotify can help even more organizations generate additional funding.”
The post Nederlandse Loterij Acquires Lotify appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Oddin.gg Wins the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe for the Second Year in a Row
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For the second consecutive year, Czech-based esports technology company Oddin.gg has taken the top spot in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe, underscoring the company’s sustained momentum and highlighting the global demand for an innovative and high-performing esports betting infrastructure.
The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe program recognizes the region’s fastest-growing technology companies across sectors including fintech, software, communications, environmental tech, hardware, healthcare, media and entertainment. Rankings are based on percentage revenue growth.
Commenting on the win, CEO and Co-Founder Vlastimil Venclík shared: “Being recognized by the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 for the second year in a row is an honor. It reflects not only our growth, but the trust our partners place in us and the hard work of our team. Esports is evolving quickly, and we’re committed to delivering reliable, high-performing infrastructure that helps operators succeed, now and in the years ahead.”
Founded in 2018, Oddin.gg is dedicated to elevating the excitement of digital esports competitions and equipping sportsbook operators with reliable solutions that maximize engagement, betting activity and profitability.
Vlastimil Venclik credits the company’s growth to its industry expertise, its focus on the betting vertical, and its forward-thinking, customer-first product strategy.
“Our team blends former professional players with data scientists and engineers. That mix gives us the deep esports knowledge and technical capability needed to solve real challenges for operators and deliver measurable results, while also reducing their exposure to risk.”
Oddin.gg stands apart by offering a unified, end-to-end ecosystem for esports betting, allowing operators to work with a single vendor for odds feeds, risk management, widgets, BetBuilder, iFrame and 24/7 eSimulators while also producing and managing everything in-house. This integrated approach is a core pillar of Realms Group, where Oddin.gg leads the effort to shape how audiences experience live digital entertainment.
“We’re expanding in two major directions. First, by building faster, smarter, more interactive products that deepen engagement for fans and bettors. Second, by growing geographically, supported by recent certifications in Brazil as well as earlier approvals in the United States and Canada. This makes us one of the most secure and trusted providers in the market,” Venclik said.
The post Oddin.gg Wins the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Central Europe for the Second Year in a Row appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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