Cyprus-licensed online sports betting operators already had a solid leg up on their land-based counterparts before the government suspended retail operations due to COVID-19.

Figures released last month by the National Betting Authority (NBA) of the Republic of Cyprus show locally licensed bookmakers handled wagers totaling €215.5m in the final quarter of 2019, a rise of 21% over the final three months of 2018. Total betting revenue rose 15% year-on-year to just under €27m.

The six so-called Class A (retail) bookies accounted for just under €86.4m (40%) of Q4’s total handle, essentially flat year-on-year. Retail betting revenue rose 2% to €16.8m, representing around 62% of total Q4 revenue.

The nine Class B (online) bookmakers saw their handle shoot up 39% year-on-year to nearly €129.2m, while revenue shot up 45% to €10.15m. The phenomenon of handling significantly more wagers but reaping less revenue than retail bookies is largely attributable to the online bookies’ need to offer bonuses and other incentives, as retail bookies don’t have to compete with internationally licensed competitors.

UK gambling operators have agreed to age-restrict VIP programs and slow down slots spins to create a safer environment for consumers.

On Wednesday, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) announced that “collaborative work” with its licensees had resulted in progress on three issues aimed at making gambling safer and reducing harm. But the UKGC challenged the four working groups it established in January to “go further.”

VERY IMPROVED PRACTICES

One of these working groups was focused on the use of VIP incentives and discussions with the UKGC resulted in an agreement to “restrict and prevent customers under 25 years of age from being recruited” into these incentive programs.

We live in a time where all the tennis greats hail from Europe. Where once we loved the American icons such as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi or worshipped the Antipodean artistry of Lleyton Hewitt or Pat Rafter, we now look up to the Holy Trinity from the European countries of Spain, Serbia and Switzerland. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have changed tennis history and given the game a future where other European players will have to reach the top of their craft to live up to the reputations that preceded them.

Three decades ago, three other European heavyweights redefined the era in which they played. German phenomenon Boris Becker, Swedish serve & volley specialist Stefan Edberg and clay court craftsman Ivan Lendl all commanded huge respect as they carved out careers that stand up to scrutiny today. We conclude our look at three men who reshaped the sport they played in by focusing on a player from the former Czechoslovakia who ripped up the rulebook and grumbled his way to eight Grand Slam titles across a completely unique sporting career – Ivan Lendl.

To say Ivan Lendl was unique is perhaps too baseline a comment. He was a clay-court baseliner in an era of serve-volley powerhouses like the aforementioned Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg. Michael Stich was another who chose the path of power and pace above finesse and all-court fitness. But it wasn’t just the era during which he lived that Ivan Lendl played against type, it was the era before him and after him too. He was an anomaly, and as such should not have been successful. Uniquely, he was incredibly fruitful when to outsiders and fans, it almost seemed to be the if not impossible then counter-intuitive method of being so.

Lendl’s career began with junior stardom, with tournament wins at the French Open and Wimbledon before the Czechoslovakian turned pro in 1978. Success wasn’t instant – Lendl was no Becker – but he clambered up the ranks. Lendl reached his first Grand Slam final in 1981, making it to the final at Roland Garros. Lendl would lose in five sets to Bjorn Borg, but lessons were learned and a desperate ability to hang in sets and matches at the highest level was born.

UK racing bettors will head into relatively uncharted territory this weekend with the running of the Virtual Grand National after the real-world version was pandemicked out of action.

In mid-March, UK’s racing authorities bowed to the inevitable and cancelled the Grand National 2020, which was scheduled to be held at Aintree racecourse this Saturday (4). Aintree owner Jockey Club scrapped the entire three-day meeting to comply with the government’s efforts to minimize further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

With most other sports and racing events having already fallen victim to pandemic mitigation, bookmakers were left with another marquee hole on their betting calendar. Virtual technology has now ridden to the rescue, and while bookmakers won’t directly benefit, they might convince virtual bettors to stick around and see what other fake sports might catch their interest.

For the past three years, broadcaster ITV has aired a simulated version of the Grand National ahead of the actual race courtesy of virtual race/sports stars Inspired Entertainment. Using historical race data and the runners’ form and preferences, computer algorithms plot out how the race is likely to run and CGI takes care of the rest.

Nevada’s casinos will have to stay shut a little while longer to give containment of the COVID-19 pandemic a fighting chance.

On Wednesday, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak issued a formal Stay at Home directive to state residents, forbidding them from leaving their homes for “nonessential activities” in the hopes of minimizing further spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Sisolak also extended the nonessential business, gaming and school closures he originally issued on March 17. That original order required all gaming venues to shut their doors for 30 days but this has now been extended through the end of April. Sisolak’s office said the extension “mirrors the latest guidance from the federal government.”

On Tuesday, Sisolak sent a formal appeal to US President Donald Trump seeking a disaster declaration that would enable Nevada to qualify for additional federal assistance. Nevada had nearly 1,300 confirmed COVID-19 infections and 31 deaths as of Tuesday. Clark County, in which Las Vegas is located, accounted for 961 of those infections and 28 of the deaths.

Cambodian casino operator NagaCorp says it’s not worried about the COVID-19 pandemic because the company believes its Phnom Penh casino monopoly will outlast the virus.

On Wednesday, NagaCorp issued a trading update on its performance over the first three months of 2020, during which gross gaming revenue at its NagaWorld facility in Cambodia’s capital rose 15% year-on-year to US$368.8m.

The Q1 gains were entirely due to the VIP segment, which saw turnover rise 18% to $9.7b, while VIP gross gambling revenue shot up by one-quarter to $270.2m. NagaCorp credited the surge to VIPs viewing Cambodia as having at least appeared to dodge the worst of the pandemic so far.

Mass market table games had a far more tepid quarter, with buy-ins and revenue both falling 1% from Q1 2019, due mainly to many Asia-Pacific nations restricting their citizens ability to travel due to the pandemic. This also impacted electronic gaming machine performance, which reported credits down 25% and revenue down 15%.

Greek lottery and betting operator OPAP is looking for a new CEO just as the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced its operations to a standstill.

On Wednesday, OPAP announced that CEO Damian Cope intends to leave the company following the conclusion of his current four-year contract at the end of May. After that date, Cope will serve as a board adviser from his home in the UK. Cope (pictured) offered no reason for his exit other than saying he was looking forward to “rejoining my family.”

A CEO succession plan is underway that will consider both internal and external candidates, but chairman Kamil Ziegler will serve as interim CEO if a likely lad (or ladette) isn’t identified by the time Cope flies the coop. Ziegler thanked Cope for his contributions as well as his “advanced communication” of his exit plans.

OPAP AT A STANDSTILL AS COVID-19 CLOSURES BITE

Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International (IPI) lost over half-a-billion dollars in 2019 as VIPs — particularly those that owe IPI money — steer well clear of the property.

Figures released Wednesday by the Hong Kong-listed IPI show the company generated revenue of just over HK$539m (US$69.5m) in 2019, representing an 83.4% decline from 2018’s result. Gross profit fell 89% to HK$319.8m, resulting in an after-tax loss of HK$3.94b (US$508.2m) for the year.

Last year’s losses marked a significantly worse showing than 2018’s $378m net loss, while the company’s 2019 revenue was 15% below the roughly $82m profit the company booked in 2017. Suffice it to say, things have been better in IPI world.

As usual, IPI’s woes begin and end with its VIP market. While 2019’s mass market table and slots revenue of HK$249.6m was only around 6% below 2018’s tally, VIP gaming revenue fell by more than 91% to HK$253.8m, barely eclipsing the mass market figure, as turnover tumbled 89% to just HK$14b.