The Latest Sports Betting News from Around Europe

When the announcement was made that the English Premier League (EPL) was making a come-back, householders around the world celebrated! Restarting the football season has been a long-time coming, but with many football stars still hitting the headlines for testing positive for Covid-19, how safe is it? It was announced this week that the Premier League will begin on June 17^th with a showdown between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at 6pm (GMT), followed by Manchester City vs Arsenal at 8pm.

All games will be played behind closed doors and with no two matches being played simultaneously, the league is being hailed as a World Cup style event. Sports betting companies have already started to release odds and promotions relating to its comeback, with many offering free bets as a way of welcoming back old customers.

You’ve Been Warned

In other betting news, GVC Holdings, known for bookmakers like Bwin.com and one of the UK’s biggest gambling operators found itself hurled before the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over two gambling-related adverts. Ladbrokes were the first to be questioned over complaints their televised campaign was glorifying gambling in everyday activities, but ASA ruled against the complaints.

Over to Coral now, where complaints were made against a tweet of theirs which encouraged punters to place bets on horses, which isn’t detrimental in itself, but add to that a video with the message “have another go!” and it’s sending out the wrong message! An investigation was carried out but unlike Ladbrokes, this time, the complaints were upheld.

ASA stated: “we considered that the claim ‘Have another go’, together with the video ad which featured a man whose mood was instantly lifted following a free bet back, gave the impression that the decision to gamble had been taken lightly and was therefore likely to encourage some consumers to take up the offer repetitively.

For that reason, we concluded that the ad was likely to encourage gambling behaviour that was potentially harmful and therefore breached the code.”

Box Clever

Is it a case of Deja-vu for Connor McGregor fans as the UFC star announcing his retirement once again? In 2016 and in April 2019 the Irish fighter announced his retirement from the sport, only to return less than 12-months later and now, June 2020, he’s back again with another announcement.

The 31-year old former featherweight and lightweight champion revealed he’s become bored of UFC because of the recent behind-closed-doors fights, and as a result of this, he is hanging up his gloves (again). Taking to Twitter to reveal his plans, he said;

“Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting.

Thank you all for the amazing memories! What a ride it’s been!

Here is a picture of myself and my mother in Las Vegas post one of my World title wins!

Pick the home of your dreams Mags I love you!

Whatever you desire it’s yours (heart emoji)”

Vrooming Marvellous

Formula 1 are among the many sporting companies to reveal they are making a comeback and like the others, the events will be held behind closed doors with no spectators. The 2020 calendar has been opened with the announcement of eight scheduled races, which are as follows:

• Formula 1 Rolex Grosser Preis von Osterreich at the Red Bull Ring in Austria between July 3-5
• Formula 1 Pirelli Grosser Preis der Steiermark at the Red Bull Ring in Austria between July 10-12
• Formula 1 Aramco Magyar Nagydij at the Hungaroring in Hungary between July 17-19
• Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix at Silverstone in the UK between July 31 – August 2
• Emirates Formula 1 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone in the UK between August 7-9
• Formula 1 Aramco Gran Premio de Espana at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain between August 14-16
• Formula 1 Rolex Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium between August 28-30

Formula 1 Gran Premio Heineken d’Italia in Monza in Italy between September 4-6.