48 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024 PULSE enforcement efforts, we’re not just reacting to the problem, but proactively targeting illegal operators.” The UKGC plans to continue refining its approach to better protect consumers and address the illegal gambling market in Great Britain. NBA and La Française des Jeux announce the extension of their marketing partnership in France for several years Everi Holdings stockholders approve the pending simultaneous agrees $6.3bn IGT acquisition of Everi and the Gaming & Digital business of IGT by Apollo Global Management. IGT Strengthens Partnership with La Française des Jeux via ThreeYear Contract to Launch Innovative Instant Tickets Scientific Games Continues Primary Scratch Card Partnership with La Française des Jeux La Française des Jeux (FDJ) announces the success of its tender offer for Kindred Group La Française des Jeux (FDJ) announces its revenue to end-September 2024. Upward adjustment of the 2024 outlook Revenue to end-September up 12% to €2,097m, up 6% on a like-forlike basis1 o Gaming revenue in France2 up 8% to €1,907m • Lottery revenue up 7% to €1.5bn, thanks to a strong performance across all game ranges • 13% revenue growth in sports betting and online gaming open to competition to €407m o Point-of-sale revenue rose by 3% in France and by 9% including Ireland. Digital revenue came to €302m, up 39% or 25% on a like-for-like basis, representing 15% of total revenue • 2024 outlook revised upward o In the FDJ scope, the Group now expects revenue growth of close to 9% and above 5% for its gaming activities in France, along with a recurring EBITDA margin of around 25% o Including Kindred from 11 October and based on the activities retained by FDJ, growth in reported 2024 revenue would be around 16%, with a recurring EBITDA margin of around 25% • Success of FDJ’s tender offer for Kindred o FDJ owns a 91.77% stake in Kindred since 11 October, which will be increased to 100% in the coming weeks following the extension of the tender offer period to 18 October and the squeeze-out o This acquisition creates a European champion with a diversified and balanced profile Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and CEO of the FDJ Group, said: “FDJ continues to deliver a solid financial and non-financial performance, which allows us to confirm our growth and profitability trend for the year as a whole. This performance was driven both by the lottery and by sports betting and online gaming open to competition, and by all our distribution channels, with a network of points of sale in progression and strong momentum from digital games. The Group also reached a major milestone in the implementation of its strategy with the completion of the Kindred acquisition in early October, creating a European champion with a diversified and balanced profile for the benefit of all our stakeholders.” EU Commission deems FDJ monopoly fair, but requires payment of €477m in consideration for receipt of state aid. FDJ stock prices jumped 5.6%. The ruling comes following FDJ’s completion of its tender offer for Kindred Group, which it completed in early October by acquiring over 90% of its shares. Online gambling in Finland: regulated market could launch earlier than expected A cross-party steering committee was reviewing the proposed legislation this week with an eye to submitting it to the European Commission (EC) for review next month. If that goes ahead as expected, the government would be submitting the proposed legislation to the EC three months earlier than planned. It could feasibly receive approval from the EC by the middle of next year. In the meantime, the state-owned gambling operator Veikkaus has been in contract negotiations with up to 620 employees which could lead to more redundancies. The move follows a drop in gross gaming revenue (GGR) of 21 per cent in H1 and as Finland prepares to open the gambling market to competition. Finland is one of the few remaining countries in Europe that still has a state monopoly over gambling. Norway is another major example. The Norwegian conservative party, Høyre, the main opposition in the country, has made a manifesto commitment to open the Norwegian gambling market to competition. The Greek gambling market has experienced 14% growth in 2024. This surge was primarily driven by online betting, which accounted for approximately 70% of the total, or €20.1 billion ($21.83 billion). Ireland's new gambling regulation bill becomes law the The bill provides for the establishment and operation of the National Gambling Exclusion Register and introduces tight restrictions on the advertisement of gambling activities. It also provides for the creation of a Social Impact Fund to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities. With regard to black market operators, the Bill contains a suite of measures to address illegal or criminal gambling activity and includes explicit prohibitions on illegal activity or practices, some of which could result in significant custodial sentences. It provides for a new streamlined, simplified and coherent licensing framework - one that reflects the nature of gambling in modern society and addresses the proliferation of digital gambling activities and advertising in recent years. At its core, this legislation is a public health measure aimed at protecting our citizens from gambling harm, including younger people and those more vulnerable in our communities. When established, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), will have the necessary enforcement powers to enable it to take appropriate and focused action where providers are failing to comply with the provisions of the Authority’s licensing terms, conditions and regulations. Once the Bill is enacted, the GRAI will be established with a seven-person authority. A Program Board has been established in the Department of Justice to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel, allowing the Authority to commence operations, on a phased basis, as soon as possible after enactment and appointment of the Authority members. The Bill introduces a number of additional measures to protect people who participate in gambling and provides for the creation of a Social Impact Fund, which will be used to finance research and related initiatives to address problem gambling behaviors, to support awareness–raising and educational measures and to support problem gambling treatment activities." As part of Budget 2025 announced on 1st October, the GRAI will receive €9.1 million in 2025, including €4 million of ICT capital investment. The Bill takes a responsible approach
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