Sportingbet sign sponsorship deal with Wolves
March 31, 2009 by mbates
Sportingbet who are an internet based betting company that is listed on the London Stock Exchange has today announced a sponsorship deal with Coca Cola Championship team Wolverhampton Wanderers that runs into seven figures has become the largest sponsorship deal in Wolves 132 year history.
The deal which starts from Jone 2009 will see Sportingbet secure the rights to place their logos on home and away shirts and on all of Wolves training kits as well as a major presence at Molineux Stadium on top of becoming the official betting partner of the club and the sponsor of the clubs website.
The Chief Executive of Sportingbet Andrew McIver said “We share a common heritage of passion, skill and teamwork which I believe offers the basis of a great partnership. Football is the bedrock of our business and we look forward to working closely together.”
Click here to open an account with Sportingbet
Bookmakers issue job loss warning to UK government
March 26, 2009 by mbates
Representives from the leading UK bookmakers William Hill and Ladbrokes have issued a warning to the Chancellor that any attempt to increase taxes and regulations in the April budget will lead to job losses and shop closures amid fears that the government is considering a raise of gross profits tax from 15pc to 17pc.
An industry insider said “Analysis by London Economics indicates that an increase in GPT from 15pc to 17pc would result in the closure of 845 betting shops and see the loss of 3,190 full time jobs,”. The gaming industry currently employs 40,000 people and operates over 8500 shops.
They have also indicated that an increase in taxes would see UK based operators relocate certain aspects of their business to offshore locations such as the Isle of Man and Gibraltar where taxes are set at around the 1pc mark.
The UK gaming industry currently contributes at least £1 billion in national and local taxes. This is on top of levies paid to the horse and greyhound industries which are thought to be in the region of £130 million per year.
New sponsorship deals for Wigan Warriors
March 25, 2009 by mbates
One of the UK’s largest Bingo Brands Mecca owned by the Rank Organisation have signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Rugby League side Wigan Warriors taking over from the previous shirt sponsors JJB.
A spokesman for Rank released a statement, “’MeccaBingo.com is proud to be so closely involved with Wigan Warriors as well as the sport of rugby league”
The Chief Exec of Wigan Warriors Mick Hogan said “’It is particularly pleasing to have such a well-known, national organisation in partnership with the Wigan Warriors for the 2009 season”. Tote Sport have just renewed their existing sponsorship deal with the Warriors and will continue to act as the teams betting partner.
Ladbrokes launch Bet British advertising campaign
March 23, 2009 by mbates
The UK based bookmaker Ladbrokes has launched an advertising campaign started from 21st March aimed at encouraging punters to only place bets with UK licensed bookmakers, the campaign will appear in the Racing Post.
A PR spokesman for Ladbrokes said “Very few advertisers in the Racing Post are paying tax or levy in the UK but not many consumers would be aware of this. We are informing betting customers that by betting with Ladbrokes or other UK-based operators they are encouraging employment and tax generation in the UK as well as supporting British racing through the levy. We are also reinforcing the fact that while we are increasingly a global business we remain as British as British beef.”
Ladbrokes is responsible for paying 35% of all Horserace & Betting Levy for 07/08 payments made in the UK during this they paid £100.4m in Gross Profits Tax, £68.5 million in VAT and £49.9 million in Corporation Tax as well as paying £40.4 million in levy to UK horseracing and £45 million in local taxes.
How this campaign will be viewed by other operators is yet to be known but a majority do operate from offshore locations such as the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Malta where companies based in these locations benefit from payer tax of just 1% or less, such as Sporting Bet, Blue SQ and Bet Fred.
Victor Chandler push petition against BBC horseracing proposal
March 17, 2009 by mbates
Just ten years ago the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was covering 79 days of horseracing annually, by 2009 this figure has been reduced to just 27 and in 2010 the BBC plans to show just 14 days. If public support for more days is highlighted then the BBC would have to honour its obligations as a public service broadcaster.
By reducing the terrestrial television exposure of hose racing it will only expedite the end of the horse racing industry which could jeopardise over 20,000 jobs and the tax contributing by the industry of an estimated £280 million per year.
Victor Chandler said of the proposals “BBC TV is looking to drastically cut the amount of racing it covers from 2010. This is a terrible thing for Horse Racing and I am kindly asking all my customers to please sign the petition.”
Click here to go to the Victor Chandler website and sign the petition.
William Hill to cease sponsorship at Ascot
March 16, 2009 by mbates
Following the news from December 2008 that the BBC will only be covering 14 days worth of live racing for each of the next the years it appears the first high profile casualty has appeared. The UK based operator William Hill who have sponsored key events at Ascot racecourse in previous years have confirmed they will not be continuing their sponsorship of jump racing at Ascot.
In 2008 the BBC which is funded by license payers covered five days of jumping from Ascot but these will now be absent from future television schedules, the move has been described by industry insiders as the “the first nail in racing’s coffin.”
Paddy Power payout on wee bet
March 2, 2009 by mbates
The statement released by budget airline Ryan Air that they are considering introducing an in flight charge for toilet breaks has left most people speechless and a few people annoyed but for one punter its meant a great pay day.
Last year the Irish bookmaker Paddy Power ran a campaign as to what fees Ryan Air would introduce next to their flights service. One punter said they would charge to go for a wee and was given odds of 100/1 on a £3 bet as it was believed that would be a step too far! Although Ryanair has yet to fully confirm that they will introduce the fee, Paddy Power have decided to pay out £300 to the lucky punter.
A spokesman for Paddypower said: “Chances are the toilet charge but we had to admire our punters foresight! Who on earth could have seen that coming? At least if Ryanair do introduce wee fees, the £300 will cover the cost of a few hundred trips to the loo!”
