British online gambling operator
Sportingbet is a British online gambling operator, owned by Entain plc. The company was listed on the 2️⃣ London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index prior to its acquisition by GVC holdings.
History [ 2️⃣ edit ]
The company was founded by Mark Blandford in 1997.[2] Sportingbet acquired Paradise Poker in October 2004.[3] On 7 September 2️⃣ 2006 Sportingbet reported that its then chairman, Peter Dicks, was detained in New York City on a Louisiana warrant while 2️⃣ traveling in the United States on business unrelated to online gambling.[4] Louisiana is one of the few states that has 2️⃣ a specific law prohibiting gambling online. In March 2007, all Louisiana warrants involving the company were cancelled.[5]
In October 2006, Sportingbet 2️⃣ announced Paradise Poker would stop taking deposits from US customers, although most would be allowed to continue to play for 2️⃣ another month.[6] Additionally, Sportingbet sold all its US-facing sports betting and casino businesses, including Sportsbook and Sports, to a group 2️⃣ of private investors forR$1, and an assumption ofR$13.2 million in debts.[7]
In February 2007, Sportingbet announced it was eliminating its Paradise 2️⃣ Poker software and migrating players to its Sportingbet Poker platform. Prior to this, the two platforms had approximately the same 2️⃣ number of players, but the Sportingbet platform had higher liquidity because that platform was part of a larger network. The 2️⃣ brand name of Paradise Poker was retained.[8]
In 2008, Netbet (Pty) Ltd, a company in South Africa, licensed the Sportingbet brand 2️⃣ for online gambling in South Africa.
In October 2012, Sportingbet announced its board had agreed to preliminary terms for a £530 2️⃣ million takeover bid from UK bookmaker William Hill and Isle of Man-based GVC Holdings.[9] Under the terms, Sportingbet's Australian and 2️⃣ Spanish operations were bought by William Hill.[10]
Operations [ edit ]
Sportingbet operates local-focused sportsbooks, virtual games and casino sites, and the 2️⃣ online poker cardroom, Paradise Poker. Overall, the company has over 2.5 million registered customers in 200 countries, who place over 2️⃣ one million bets (casino, poker, sports and virtual games) per day.
Sportingbet operates several websites. The largest of these are wholly 2️⃣ owned and operated by Sportingbet. They also use a system similar to a franchise, in which independent website operators use 2️⃣ Sportingbet's centralised software, financial services, trading, and customer service under license. These web sites receive a cut of the profits 2️⃣ their customers generate.
Sportingbet's corporate offices are located in Guernsey. They also have offices and call centres in the Republic of 2️⃣ Ireland and Costa Rica. The PLC is located in Moorgate, London.
The company sponsored Premier League, Championship and League One football 2️⃣ team Wolverhampton Wanderers from the 2009–10 season until the 2013–14 season.[11] This link-up with a football club first began in 2️⃣ January 2009, when Bulgarian football club Slavia Sofia announced a 3-year sponsoring deal. As a result, the logo of the 2️⃣ company appeared on the club's shirts for the 2008–09, 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons of the Bulgarian A PFG. Sportingbet also 2️⃣ sponsored Steaua Bucuresti of Romania for the 2009–10 and 2010–11 season. The logo also appeared on Steaua Bucuresti II, Steaua's 2️⃣ reserve team's shirt, which now plays in Liga. Sportingbet also sponsored division 1 Victorian amateur football team Banyule FC for 2️⃣ the 2010–2011 seasons.[12]
PAOK FC[13] (2024–2024)
CFR Cluj (2024–present)
Série B[14] (2024)
Copa Libertadores[15] (Brazil only) (2024–present)
Copa Sudamericana[15] (Brazil only) (2024–present)
