Manchester City Announces Partnership with Super Group-owned Betway

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, president of the ANJ, and Catherine Delorme, president of the Addiction Federation, signed a partnership agreement on July 23, 2024 to strengthen the prevention of excessive gambling and the protection of minors, through the implementation of joint actions.

In 2019, the Gaming Observatory estimated the number of at-risk players at 1.4 million, including nearly 400,000 at a pathological level. Problem gambling thus generates more than 38% of the sector’s turnover and 21% for excessive players alone. These figures, which should be updated soon, illustrate the reality of a social problem, for young people in particular, with collateral damage in the player’s immediate entourage: over-indebtedness, family problems, academic difficulties, etc.

In its 2024/2026 strategic plan, the ANJ has set as a priority objective to reduce the share and number of excessive gamblers and to strengthen the ability of gamblers to better control their gaming practices, through preventive actions against excessive gambling, in addition to those implemented by the public authorities.

This strategic plan is based on two cross-cutting foundations which are of particular interest to the partnership with the Addiction Federation: making scientific knowledge of the market and gaming practices the compass of regulation and strengthening the mobilisation of all stakeholders, in particular through the conclusion of partnerships with addiction professionals.

The Addiction Federation is the leading addictology network in France: it represents 850 health establishments and services and more than 500 professionals, individual members. It brings together 80% of addiction treatment, support and prevention centres (CSAPA) and reception and support centres for risk reduction for drug users (CAARUD) and 20% of health systems (addiction liaison and care teams, follow-up and rehabilitation care, addiction consultations, health networks).

The collaboration between the ANJ and the Addiction Federation will focus on different areas of intervention such as:

• Studies, prevention support edition,
• The development of tools to support players or addiction professionals,
• The design and intervention in training programmes,
• Joint organisation of events.

In 2024, the ANJ and the Addiction Federation will carry out joint training activities and publish a document on the regulation of gambling for addiction professionals.

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Metric Gaming, an emerging player in premium sportsbook supply, has announced a partnership with Betzone to launch the brand’s new UK sportsbook venture.

This collaboration follows the successful debut of Metric’s much-hyped sportsbook platform in the Netherlands this past May. The deal marks Metric’s entry into another tightly regulated and strategically crucial market, given the B2B provider’s “whiter-than-white” regulatory strategy.

Keith Hayes, CEO at Metric Gaming, said: “We feel privileged to have been selected by the Betzone team before we had a live product out there, and we aim to repay their astute judgement. Of course we’re excited to enter our home market, but particularly as we will showcase our first proprietary product, Racing. With a soccer product in the works too, this is another important step to finally unlocking the power of this incredible platform we’ve built.”

Adam Joseph, Chief Operations Officer at Betzone, said: “We are delighted to announce the partnership with Metric. We have been impressed with their product and proposition, as well as their speed of delivery. We are confident they can support us with Betzone in the UK market, and the other opportunities we are planning.”

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The EFL, in partnership with Genius Sports, has officially launched “Fantasy EFL,” the League’s first-ever 72-club fantasy football game to involve all Member Clubs across the three Sky Bet EFL divisions.

First teased at the 2023/24 Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Finals, Fantasy EFL will be an innovative platform to unify fans of EFL Clubs, fantasy football players, plus the wider football community to play and engage with almost 2000 EFL first-team players, more than 1600 Sky Bet EFL fixtures and all 72 Clubs during the twists and turns of a season.

Available on web, and as a brand-new app for iOS and Android users, Fantasy EFL is free to play and allows participants to become Managers every gameweek of the Sky Bet EFL.

EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said: “We’re very excited to bring the EFL’s first fantasy football game to life as a central product that engages not only with supporters of all 72 EFL Clubs, but also the wider football audience. We’ve interrogated research into what fans would want out of an EFL fantasy football game and been strategic on providing a product that isn’t just a copy of what is already in the market.

“Fantasy EFL is a premium product that enhances the EFL brand and opens further opportunities with our broadcasters and commercial partners. Alongside Genius Sports, Fantasy EFL appeals to both the avid and casual fan and will expand the rising interest in the Sky Bet EFL, our Clubs and their players beyond fans who attend matches and those who watch along at home.”

Genius Sports Chief Partnerships Officer, Steven Burton, said: “Fantasy EFL is unique, interactive, and fun and Genius Sports is delighted to deliver this exciting new game for the EFL and its Member Clubs.

“This new game will test fans’ knowledge of both teams and individual players while providing them with a platform to compete with their friends and family every week.”