Eye Of Medusa

What is Eye Of Medusa?

Entain highlighted data from H2 Gambling Capital that warned black market stakes in the UK are expected to nearly double from £17 billion ($22.7 billion) in 2025 to over £33 billion by 2028.

Entain emphasised offshore operators do not employ the same player protection measures and anti-money laundering standards that licensed companies must.

The company also highlighted its own research that suggests over 80% of consumers cannot “confidently distinguish” licensed operators from unlicensed ones.

What is Eye Of Medusa?

But what has changed is what shareholders want those companies to prove – and the price they are willing to pay for that proof.

Fantini points to land-based examples like Red Rock Resorts and Monarch Casino as companies that can still attract capital because they offer sensible growth and strong management. That is a telling comparison with the industry’s recent past.

London’s problems are real. Entain’s removal from the FTSE 100 and Flutter’s move away from its London primary listing are evidence of that. But Flutter’s experience in New York shows that changing the listing does not remove the pressure.

About Eye Of Medusa

VIP operations have changed drastically over year last ten years. In October 2020, a new code of conduct came into force in the UK following a consultation process between the Gambling Commission and the Betting and Gaming Council.

This required operators to subject players to rigorous checks before signing up new VIPs, including having their betting behaviour being closely monitored. 

Operators were also banned from incentivising customers based on losses, and reward programmes must be overseen by senior management. The code restricts any player under the age of 25 from taking part.