International News
Caesars Entertainment’s William Hill Acquisition: strategic move for the US market?
![Caesars Entertainment’s William Hill Acquisition: strategic move for the US market?](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/william-caesar.jpg)
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.
Asia
1spin4win expands in LatAm and Asia with Betandreas collaboration
![1spin4win expands in LatAm and Asia with Betandreas collaboration](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/New-Partnership-1200x800-1.png)
1spin4win, a fast-growing online slot provider, has formed a strategic partnership with an iGaming operator, Betandreas. Founded just two years ago, Betandreas has quickly become an influential name in the online gambling industry, providing sports betting and online casino experiences worldwide.
The platform has a growing number of active users and operates in various regions, from South America to Asia, making this collaboration a major step in 1spin4win’s efforts to expand in these markets.
Betandreas’ players can now enjoy the latest and most exciting games from 1spin4win. This includes themed games like Luck’n’Power and Sun Treasure, as well as fruity slots with the popular Hold and Win mechanic, such as Lucky Crown Hold and Win and Cash the Gold Hold and Win.
Tanya Pisarchuk, Sales Manager at 1spin4win, said: “We’re excited to partner with Betandreas and share our high-quality games, featuring robust mathematics and balanced gameplay, with more players in LatAm and Asia. This helps us expand our global presence and connect with new audiences worldwide.”
Sales Manager at Betandreas: “We are delighted with the successful integration of 1spin4win into our platform. This addition strengthens our dedication to providing our users with an exceptional gaming experience. We believe that adding new games will help us meet the demands of even the most discerning customers and provide them with unforgettable emotions and opportunities to win significant prizes. Thanks to our partnership with 1spin4win, our players can enjoy an even wider range of high-quality gaming options!”
Compliance Updates
Aruze Gaming Announces Rapid Expansion Throughout North America and Asia
![](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2-4.jpg)
Aruze Gaming Global (AG2) has announced rapid expansion throughout North America and Asia. AG2 has now met the rigorous requirements and has been granted approvals from the following jurisdictions, across North America and Asia. These new gaming licenses dramatically expand AG2’s addressable markets in more than 160 new jurisdictions, including recent approvals in Macau (SAR) China (DICJ), Philippines (PAGCOR), Pennsylvania, Virginia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and dozens more that are in process. Additionally, AG2 is establishing offices and distributorships in the Netherlands, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam to further extend its international reach. AG2 has now been granted licenses for over 160 gaming jurisdictions world-wide, up from just 76 licenses in August of 2023.
This accomplishment marks a substantial expansion for AG2, solidifying its commitment to providing cutting-edge gaming solutions with the highest standards of regulatory compliance. The recent approvals underscore the company’s dedication to fostering strong relationships with its partners across the globe while ensuring responsible and transparent gaming practices.
Kelcey Allison, Global Chief Operating Officer, said: “The timing could not be better for the new gaming licenses. Coupled with the recent release of several new titles that are performing at 2 to 3 times house average – thus giving us some amazing new content for our existing and newly accessible markets.”
Betty Zhao, SVP of International Operations, said: “Our explosive growth and high-performing new content is fueling a lot of excitement with our new customers.”
International News
Bragg Gaming and Light & Wonder Agree to an International Distribution Deal
![Bragg Gaming and Light & Wonder Agree to an International Distribution Deal](https://gamingamericas.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/BRAGG_Partnership_LightWonder_V3.png)
Collaboration will see Bragg content featured on Light & Wonder’s ecosystem
Bragg Gaming Group Inc., a global B2B gaming technology and content provider, announced it has signed an international online casino content distribution agreement with Light & Wonder.
The agreement will see high-performing games from Bragg’s proprietary studios, Atomic Slot Lab, Indigo Magic, Wild Streak Gaming and Spin Games added to Light & Wonder’s online ecosystem.
Exclusive content from the supplier’s Powered by Bragg partners will also be integrated, providing Light & Wonder with a wide selection of highly localized and unique titles.
The deal will encompass numerous European regulated markets as well as the USA and Canada, significantly growing the reach of Bragg’s content to new audiences and strengthening the supplier’s casino offering with new titles.
Matevž Mazij, Chief Executive Officer at Bragg Gaming Group, commented: “Light & Wonder is a world-leading platform and games provider, and this distribution deal will be hugely beneficial for us, as our content will be in front of new audiences through its large operator network boosting exposure of our games.
“We have focused on strengthening our content portfolio over the last year and this partnership is a testament to the popularity and appeal of our games which have been proven successful in markets globally.”
Steve Mayes, Senior Director Digital Partnerships at Light & Wonder, said: “We are thrilled to be working closely with Bragg, and are looking forward to offering their content across our network. This deal is a great showcase for the power of our aggregation platform and global scale. We already have a number of key operators lined up to launch Bragg games and excited to further expand our portfolio of games partners.”
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