International News
Caesars Entertainment’s William Hill Acquisition: strategic move for the US market?

Caesars Entertainment’s offer for the William Hill acquisition, which began months ago, would see the company pay $376.15 for a single share which, according to Chairman Roger Devlin: “The William Hill board believes this is the best option for William Hill at an attractive price for shareholders”, as well as: “It recognizes the significant progress the William Hill Group has made over the last 18 months, as well as the risk and significant investment required to maximize the US opportunity given intense competition in the US and the potential for regulatory disruption in the UK and Europe”.
However, the offer needs antitrust and gaming regulatory approvals which Caesars is certain to secure.
Caesars will use existing cash, $2.0Bn of new non-recourse debt facilities, which it intends to secure against William Hill’s non-US businesses, such as on the Italian gambling market, as well as the proceeds of an equity capital raise.
Is Caesars the only bidder?
William Hill recently explained that after an initial proposal by Apollo Global Management received on August 27th, the online betting and gambling sportsbook then received another offer from Apollo, while Caesars made its own offer.
However, Caesars’ has a 20 percent stake in a joint venture struck by Eldorado Resorts with William Hill, which holds 80 percent, and has already stated that any William Hill acquisition agreement with Apollo Global Management would terminate William Hill’s rights to manage online sports betting operations through Caesars’ marketplace, retail sports betting at both Caesars’ and other casino properties in the United States.
New opportunities with the William Hill acquisition
Should Caesars be successful with the William Hill acquisition, it said it will go after improving the customer experience and maximizing the opportunity in the gaming and sports betting industry now that the US markets are opening up for the online gambling world.
Caesars also claims that a combined business with William Hill would help improve services for the U.S. customer base, increase its in-country market presence as well as provide a unified customer experience by consolidating portfolios and applications. The deal would give Caesars a great portfolio of assets and access to existing relationships with events and teams, including being the exclusive casino partner of the National Football League.
Should the William Hill acquisition prove successful, the company will also gain access to Caesars’ loyalty program, which would benefit loyal customers from both companies.
As Caesars’ Chief Executive Tom Reeg stated, the sports betting expertise of William Hill will complement Caesars’ offering, enabling the combined group to better serve their clients in the growing US sports betting and online market.
Mr. Reeg also added that they look forward to working with William Hill, and that they aim to support future growth in the US by providing customers with a comprehensive experience across all areas of gaming, sports betting and entertainment.
Reasons why the William Hill acquisition is taking so long
The reason behind the acquisition taking this long is that GMV and then HBK (at March 31 UK Scheme Court hearing) argued against the deal, and through a letter to the William Hill shareholders they stated their opposition is based upon their belief that shareholders voting on the Scheme did it without all the necessary information that would have allowed them to weigh up the whole agreement.
They also said that it is their idea that the terms of the joint venture agreement entered into between William Hill and El Dorado (now Caesars) dated 6 September 2018 were not fully disclosed by William Hill.
What are GMV’s and HBK’s claims?
HBK and GMV are claiming a lack of transparency related to the list of potential buyers for the William Hill acquisition that the US-based company could consider “restricted”. At the EGM/Court meeting, after being questioned by HBK, William Hill has revealed that there can be a maximum of six names on the list, and Caesars can replace one name every six months.
HBK mentioned that Caesars is moving to include private equity firm Apollo Global Management in this list. The Harrah’s operator has publicly warned William Hill against accepting Apollo’s offer, saying it could effectively end the U.S. deal with Caesars.
When should the agreement be finalized?
Caesars had previously hoped to complete the William Hill acquisition during the second quarter of 2021, and an update published on the 10th of March suggests this timetable should be correct.
William Hill added that Caesars expected to receive all the remaining approvals from the relevant US authorities and other gambling regulators before the end of March of 2021. They also had scheduled a Scheme Court Hearing on the 30th of March, at which the court will be asked to sanction the acquisition. The idea was that if Caesars Entertainment Inc. and William Hill satisfied all the conditions, and the court approved the deal, the acquisition was expected to be completed on the 1st of April with William Hill’s shares cancelled on the 6th of April 2021.
International News
1/ST CONTENT and Italy’s MASAF form new partnership ahead of the Breeders’ Cup

Distribution deal sees leading racing provider for the Americas extend its scope into Italy’s local pool betting via governing body for horse racing
1/ST CONTENT, the pre-eminent provider of premium North and South American horse racing content and a key division of 1/ST, has continued to grow its international footprint in a new partnership with the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry (MASAF) in the run-up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, one of the true highlights on the global racing calendar.
The deal now opens a breakthrough gateway for local pool betting on North American, South American and Turkish racing in Italy – and was soft-launched over last month’s 100th edition of the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands, NJ. This milestone renewal, the pinnacle of harness racing and a format of the sport which is particularly popular with Italian racing fans, fostered immediate fan engagement, as reported by MASAF this month via https://www.grandeippicaitaliana.it/.
The agreement kicks off with the 2025 flagship finale at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in Del Mar (31 October – 1 November) and brings many of the premier stateside races to Italy, including the Pegasus World Cup (24 January) and the Triple Crown contests of Preakness 151 (16 May) and the Belmont Stakes (6 June). In the aggregate, 1/ST CONTENT’s extensive content portfolio maps approximately 90% of all North American racetracks, alongside South American and Turkish venues, neatly complementing Italy’s domestic sporting action with a reliable source of fast-settling betting content between 18:00 and 05:00 CET.
Italian and North American horse racing currently enjoy a strong reciprocal bond, thanks to three of Italy’s leading jockeys in Frankie Dettori, Umberto Rispoli and Antonio Fresu plying their trade in North America. These three Italian ambassadors were recently introduced to a mainstream global audience via Netflix’s acclaimed Race For The Crown.
1/ST CONTENT’s worldwide experience and customer base for pools betting features the Americas, Morocco, Italy, Singapore, Australia, Turkey, Sweden, France, New Zealand and Hong Kong. As a result, by leveraging 1/ST CONTENT’s unparalleled expertise in capturing and streaming elite live-racing events, bettors across Italy can now enjoy a best-in-breed international racing experience.
Key features of the deal include but are not limited to:
- Comprehensive Coverage: exclusive signals of all racetracks in the United States, Canada, South America and Turkey, ensuring an extensive and diverse range of racing content for Italian audiences.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: high-quality, immersive broadcasts, providing viewers with an unparalleled access to live racing and informative content that both engages the seasoned viewer and educates those unfamiliar with the sport.
- Enhanced Viewer Engagement: accompanying innovative marketing strategies, promotions, and engagement initiatives, enhancing the overall viewer experience and speaking to a dedicated racing community in Italy
Simon Fraser, Senior Vice President International at 1/ST CONTENT, said: “We’re thrilled to be working as a partner with MASAF on a program to rejuvenate their horse racing audience and breathe new life into the Italian industry. Our collaboration marks a cornerstone from which we can build together to ensure that racing is competitive with other betting options and further expands 1/ST’s global reach.”
Remo Chiodi, Director General for Horse Racing at MASAF, added: “This partnership is part of a broader framework aimed at strengthening relations between Italy and the United States in the horseracing sector: it is a path that consolidates ties between the two countries, enhances both our national excellence and international achievements, and opens up new opportunities for growth and exchange. It is a step that also involves breeding and training, while highlighting the image of Italian racing excellence in the United States, represented by our most renowned jockeys competing overseas.
“Thanks to this agreement, major American racing events will be broadcast free-to-air on EQU TV, expanding the television offering and allowing betting on the races within a fully integrated system. After years of challenges, Italian racing is redefining the entire sector to restore our sport to a position of strength, both at home and abroad.”
International News
EveryMatrix signs largest ever content aggregation deal with bet365

EveryMatrix has agreed its largest ever global casino aggregation deal supplying bet365 with both its own exclusive content and titles from more than 40 premium games providers.
SlotMatrix, part of the EveryMatrix Group, is the largest aggregation platform in the world with more than 37,000 games from 350+ global suppliers including the Group’s own, Armadillo and Fantasma Studios.
It will offer bet365 more than 40 vendors across multiple regulated markets including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Mexico with further territories slated for future release.
The business unit was further bolstered in 2024 by the acquisition of Fantasma Games and, earlier this year, by a new management team focused on accelerating aggregation and content services expansion across both existing and new regulated markets.
This includes Mark Hothersall, Head of Business Development and Carl Gatt Baldacchino, Head of Account Management, both previously from Evolution Gaming.
They are responsible for driving forward the commercial success of SlotMatrix by accelerating the unit’s in-house games development, continually strengthening its third-party content offering and ensuring SlotMatrix provides exceptional customer service.
Ebbe Groes, Group CEO & Co-Founder EveryMatrix, said: “Today is very significant for the Group highlighting both just how much of a ‘must-have’ product SlotMatrix is for tier-1 brands across multiple markets and how far ahead it is compared to its rivals.
“We’re thrilled such a world-renowned brand such as bet365 has put their faith in us to drive their content strategy. SlotMatrix has truly come of age and, with an increased focus on ramping up our own games development and attracting even more premium vendors to the platform there really is no ceiling as to how far it can go.”
A bet365 spokesperson, added: “We are thrilled to partner with EveryMatrix. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing exceptional products to our customers.”
International News
Scientific Games Wins Top Honors for Organizational Excellence in India

Scientific Games has been honored with the Top GCC award in the Organizational Excellence category at the GCC Workplace Awards 2025. Held on July 11, in Bengaluru, India, these awards recognize global capability centers in India that are transforming the future of work through innovation, culture and forward-thinking strategies.
This honors marks the third award in the past year for Scientific Games’ India operations, building on its 2024 Great Place to Work certification and inclusion in Jombay’s WOW Workplaces of 2025.
“Scientific Games India has proven once again that we are creating a high-performance, future-focused workplace. Our team in India plays an important role in supporting and enhancing the way we deliver technology solutions across our global lottery business,” said Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games.
The GCC Workplace Award highlights Scientific Games’ exceptional progress in building a high-performance, people-first workplace supporting both business outcomes and employee well-being. The company’s Bengaluru-based operations serve as a strategic hub for software development, technology operations, research, and quality assurance.
“What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it reflects how we’ve grown as a team, scaling up in capabilities while staying true to our company culture. Over the past year, we’ve sharpened our focus on leadership development, cross-functional collaboration and building an environment where people feel trusted to solve complex challenges,” said Mahesh Nanjundappa, Managing Director of Scientific Games India.
The GCC Workplace Awards celebrate organizations in India that are redefining what a great workplace looks like. Scientific Games was recognized from a competitive pool of 450 nominated organizations. The selection involved a rigorous, multi-stage process, including quantitative reviews, qualitative assessments of internal policies and programs and benchmarking against peer organizations. Key evaluation areas included leadership and culture, diversity and inclusion, employee well-being, innovation, and external reputation.
The judges awarded the company 5 out of 5 ratings for employee engagement and well-being, as well as workplace culture, citing strong leadership support and structured feedback mechanisms. Its formal rewards and recognition programs, comprehensive benefits including health, dental and vision coverage and diversity and inclusion efforts.
Scientific Games’ India location contributes to delivering the company’s high-performance lottery and sports betting solutions to government-regulated lotteries in 50 countries.
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