PR87154

LONDON, Dec. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- U.S. growth accelerates as BetMGM plans to double its footprint in three months

- Entain to seek licence in Canada and becomes the first global sports betting

and gaming operator to gain a licence in Latin America

    The global sports betting and gaming group previously known as GVC Holdings

plc, marked the first day of trading under its new name with a range of

measures to deliver on the vision and direction (https://gvc-plc.com/newsrelease/a-clear-strategy-for-sustainability-growth-and-innovation/ ) recently outlined by its CEO Shay Segev.

The new measures extend across all the countries in which it operates with brands

including bwin, PartyPoker, Ladbrokes, Coral, FoxyBingo and BetMGM.

    Last month Entain announced a new strategy to deliver significant growth,

driven by expansion in the U.S., growth across its core business, entry into

new markets, and to new audiences. Entain, which has a very strong track record

of 19 consecutive quarters of double-digit growth in its online business, also

committed to lead responsible gaming with a new Sustainability Charter. Under

this charter, the business pledged to focus only on regulated markets and use

its proprietary technology to raise levels of player protection.  

    As part of these plans to deliver growth and sustainability, Entain today

confirmed strong momentum and market share gains in the U.S. for BetMGM, its

joint venture with MGM Resorts. Between October and January BetMGM is adding

five new states, doubling its population reach in three months to around 75

million across 12 states. Entain also disclosed that BetMGM's most recent state

launch in Tennessee has been its most successful go-live yet with revenues

already ahead of those in more established states. Powered by Entain

technology, BetMGM expects to be in over 20 states by the end of 2021.  

    "We are firmly on track to take further leadership in the U.S. as well as

in many other newly regulated markets that are now opening around the world."

said Segev. "At the heart of our growth strategy is a determination to bring

the best player experiences and protections to our industry as technology moves

sport and interactive entertainment into a new era. In the U.S., we invested in

building the right building blocks for the BetMGM platform to grow and become a

long-term leader in the U.S., with superior technology and capabilities, and

this is now paying off."

    Entain also fleshed out its new Sustainability Charter, allocating money to

new projects which will be delivered through its international Foundation

around the world. It also gave further detail on its new Advanced

Responsibility and Care (ARC) initiative, seeking to revolutionise player

experiences and protection through world-leading research, data science and

technology. Other new measures include:

    Focus on new regulated markets: In line with its stated intention to focus

on fully regulated markets, Entain today announced it has become the first

global sports betting and gaming operator to gain a licence in Latin America

and expects to go live in Colombia over the next month. Colombia is one of the

first countries to issue licences in Latin America with others, such as Brazil

preparing to follow. Elsewhere in the Americas, Canada is also moving ahead

with regulation and Entain confirmed it will be applying for licencing in Canada.

    - Investing in people and communities: Entain has pledged to invest £100

million over five years in the Entain Foundation to fund responsible gaming

initiatives and to support people and communities around the world where it

operates. Today, it announced a series of international commitments:

    UK: Entain and the three Trident Leagues (The Isthmian, Northern Premier

and Southern Leagues) are to launch the Trident Community Foundation to help

fund community-based projects. Grants will be open for the 228 football clubs

that participate in the leagues.

"Pitching In", Entain's recently launched grassroots sport investment

programme, is the founding partner of the Trident Community Foundation (TCF)

and has donated £150,000 to establish the TCF fund, for distribution over the

rest of the 2020/21 season.

    US: The Entain Foundation is rolling out an extensive state-by-state

program with EPIC, a charitable organisation which works with former athletes

and people who have overcome gambling addiction to help educate people on how

to play safely.

    The U.S. project announced today with EPIC extends the program to a total

of 15 Pro Sports teams and over 20 colleges across the country, including

Harvard University, University of Oregon, and the Mid-American Conference.

Entain and EPIC plan to work together to add additional professional sports

leagues and colleges across the US during 2021.

    Germany: The Entain Foundation will continue existing sports integrity

projects in Germany and receive early funds to initiate further activities

around responsible gaming.

    Australia:  The Foundation has announced initial new projects to advance

responsible gaming with Relationships Australia

https://www.relationships.org.au/ , a community-based not for profit

organisation which provides a range of counselling and support services to

problem gamblers and their families. The new funding will be used to support a

social media campaign to reach vulnerable audiences and to raise awareness of

the signs of gambling addiction.

    - Advanced Responsibility and Care (ARC): Under this recently announced

programme, Entain will combine its technology with research and insight from

leading psychologists and Harvard to develop innovative experiences and

safeguards for a new era in interactive sport and entertainment. To this end,

Entain today announced that:

    Dr. Michael Auer, a leading academic and member of the scientific community

at the University of Hohenheim in Germany, specialising in behavioural

psychology and addiction, will join Entain alongside Professor Mark Griffiths,

Distinguished Professor of Behavioral Addiction and Psychology at Nottingham

Trent University. They will evaluate and advise on improvements to Entain's

guidelines and processes in relation to responsible gaming.

    For more information see the Group's website: www.entaingroup.com

    Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1372389/Entain.mp4

    Source: Entain Plc