Bet365 lands French licence for World Cup debut

(AsiaGameHub) -   Jake Pollard Jake Pollard reports that the UK giant’s entry is poised to stimulate marketing and heighten competition within the mature French sector… just in time for the World Cup. Bet365 is set to launch in France imminently, following the receipt of its online sports betting license. The approval was granted after a scheduled session by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ) last Thursday, with the official announcement following yesterday morning. The news of Bet365’s expansion into France was first reported by SBC-Gaming&Co last October, with the UK operator filing its license application through its subsidiary, Hillside (New Media Malta) Plc, in January. This development allows Bet365 to begin marketing to French consumers ahead of the World Cup, meeting the internal deadline the company had set for its 2026 launch. Its entry represents a significant shift for the French online sports betting (OSB) industry, as it marks the first time in years that a new operator with the financial resources and brand equity to challenge established leaders like Betclic, Winamax, and Unibet has entered the market. Furthermore, with PMU introducing its new PMU Play app—which emphasizes converting horse racing bettors into sports punters—competition in this sector is expected to intensify. Although OSB is not PMU’s primary focus, the company informed G&Co that it intends to make online poker and sports betting central components of its digital strategy. Previously, Bet365 had opted against entering the French market. However, as the group has grown across Europe, Australia, and more recently the US, France has increasingly become a strategic priority. As SBC-G&Co noted in October, the firm’s “financial firepower provides it with the luxury of time to promote its offerings and absorb initial losses, a strategy it successfully employed during its expansion into Australia and the US, where it is now live in 14 states.” France refreshes Euro ambitions Corporately, a French launch extends Bet365’s growth trajectory and increases its footprint in another major regulated market, potentially setting the stage for a future sale. Bet365 reported a 9% year-on-year revenue increase to £4bn for the 12 months ending March 2025, bolstered by a 5% rise in sports betting and a 25% surge in online casino revenue. Nevertheless, pre-tax profits fell by 41% to £349m for the 2024/25 period, while operating profits dropped 40% to £218m, driven by costs rising from £687m to £896.5m due to expansion into new regulated territories. The company’s arrival is expected to drive up media inventory costs. With affiliates prepared to launch promotional campaigns, a surge in marketing activity is anticipated in the coming weeks. As a globally recognized betting brand, Bet365 already enjoys strong awareness among French bettors despite its previous absence. Additionally, its global UEFA Champions League sponsorship runs through 2027; the new license will allow the brand to advertise directly in French stadiums during UCL matches, replacing the "Follow Scores" branding used previously. France remains a mature, highly regulated, and heavily taxed market, where OSB serves as the primary growth driver in the absence of regulated online casino gaming. Following the announcement, industry insiders told SBC-G&Co that while they are not thrilled about the arrival of such a formidable competitor, they acknowledge that increased competition typically drives operational improvements and better product development. Natives ready to battle Nicolas Béraud – Betclic At the time, Nicolas Béraud, founder and president of Betclic (Banijay Group), told Les Echos that Bet365 possesses a “powerful brand” capable of impacting all operators. However, he noted that its “traditional English model, which focuses on technical bets favored by sophisticated players,” differs from Betclic’s approach, which he believes is “better suited to the French market.” Béraud also pointed out that while one of Bet365’s core strengths is its vast array of betting options, the strictly “regulated and limited offer” in France will restrict its ability to differentiate itself. He added that the country’s 85% Return to Player (RTP) requirement prevents the operator from utilizing its typical “best price,” low-margin model. Nevertheless, Béraud conceded that if the UK firm invests “millions of euros in marketing—which they have the resources to do—it will inevitably impact existing legal French operators.” This article is provided by a third-party. AsiaGameHub (https://asiagamehub.com/) makes no warranties regarding its content. AsiaGameHub delivers targeted distribution for iGaming, Casino, and eSports, connecting 3,000+ premium Asian media outlets and 80,000+ specialized influencers across ASEAN.

Sterling Partners announces the launch of its 2026 “Fast Track” initiative for the New Zealand Active Investor Plus (AIP) residency programme

AUCKLAND, NZ – April 24, 2026 – (SeaPRwire) – Edgar Sterling Partners, a premier institutional-grade advisory firm, today announced the launch of its 2026 “Fast Track” initiative for the New Zealand Active Investor Plus (AIP) residency programme. As global investors increasingly seek stability and efficiency, New Zealand has emerged as the preferred destination for high-net-worth families. The 33-Day Residency Revolution In a significant shift for the investment migration landscape, 2026 data reveals that well-prepared applications for the New Zealand AIP programme are currently averaging an “Approval in Principle” (AIP) timeframe of just 33 working days. This speed, combined with the fact that New Zealand does not require an English language test for the Active Investor Plus visa in 2026, has created a unique window of opportunity for families looking for global mobility without the traditional bureaucratic hurdles. Institutional-Grade Strategy for Global Families Edgar Sterling Partners specializes in bridging the gap between international wealth and New Zealand’s disciplined regulatory framework. The firm offers two distinct, portfolio-driven pathways: The Growth Alpha Portfolio: A NZD $5 million investment with a 3-year term and a minimal 21-day physical presence requirement. This strategy focuses on high-growth sectors including Future Tech, AI, and Renewable Energy. The Balanced Anchor Portfolio: A NZD $10 million investment with a 5-year term. This pathway prioritizes wealth preservation through the NZX 50 and offers the immediate “Lifestyle Perk” of eligibility to apply for residential property purchase consent for homes valued over NZD $5 million. A Commitment to Transparency “We act as the insurance policy for our clients’ government investments,” says Steve Jones, a Director of Edgar Sterling Partners. “By operating a strict ‘Fee-Only’ model, we ensure our interests are 100% aligned with the security of our clients’ capital and the success of their residency”. Edgar Sterling’s proprietary “Unbroken Chain” forensic audit process ensures that Source of Wealth (SOW) and Source of Funds (SOF) documentation meets the highest standards of Immigration New Zealand, significantly reducing the risk of processing delays. About Edgar Sterling Partners Edgar Sterling Partners provides integrated wealth structuring, portfolio design, and residency coordination from its headquarters in Auckland, New Zealand. The firm serves globally mobile families across the United States, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, ensuring that New Zealand residency allocations align with global asset objectives and family succession goals. Media Contact Edgar Sterling Partners Level 8, 139 Quay Street Auckland 1010, New Zealand +64 9 243 0538 media@edgarsterling.com www.edgarsterling.com

FastX Announces Its Launch, a New Generation Global Trading Exchange

NEW YORK, Apr 24, 2026 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) - FastX today announces the official launch of its platform, a next-generation exchange built for professional and active traders who require institutional‑grade tools without surrendering custody or control of their assets. FastX goes live globally on 5 May, with traders able to access the platform directly at fastx.co.FastX combines deep on‑chain liquidity, multi‑asset perpetual futures markets, and an advanced copy-trading engine designed to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the decentralized digital asset ecosystem. By leveraging blockchain technology, the platform delivers low‑latency mirroring of trades across major decentralized networks worldwide—while keeping users in full control of their own wallets and risk."FastX was created by traders for traders," said Adelene, Chief Executive Officer of FastX. "We've spent our careers on Wall Street desks and in crypto markets, and we've seen the same problems repeat: opaque execution, misaligned incentives, and copytrading systems that ask users to blindly outsource decisions. FastX is our answer—a decentralised, transparent infrastructure layer where traders keep custody, and technology works to augment, not replace, their edge."Backed by a team of veteran traders with more than 50 years of combined experience across top Wall Street institutions and leading crypto trading firms, FastX is built from the ground up as a decentralised protocol. Users connect their own wallets, maintain self‑custody at all times, and interact with smart contracts that execute trades on‑chain, rather than relying on a centralised broker or custodial exchange.At launch, FastX will offer:Deep, on‑chain liquidity across a wide range of perpetual markets, designed to support serious position sizes with tight spreads and minimal slippage.A fast, intuitive trading interface accessible directly via fastx.co, allowing traders to plug in with their preferred wallet and start trading in minutes.A transparent affiliate and points system that shares a meaningful portion of platform fees with the community and rewards traders and partners who help grow liquidity and volume.The flagship feature of FastX is its next‑generation copytrading system. Unlike traditional social trading products that mirror orders on a single venue with unpredictable delays, FastX's engine is designed to route and synchronise copy trades across major decentralised exchanges, layering those capabilities on top of FastX's own liquidity.The result is a copytrading experience that aims to:Minimise latency between lead and follower execution.Mitigate structural risks such as slippage, desync, and obvious forms of manipulation.Exploit decentralised advantages, such as transparent on‑chain track records and programmable risk controls, without turning the platform into a centralised black box."Copytrading has always been typecast as a blind, autonomous disaster waiting to happen," Adelene added. "FastX takes the opposite stance. We use technology to bring more transparency, not less—on‑chain track records, built‑in risk parameters, and infrastructure that reduces front‑running and execution games wherever possible. Over time, our goal is to layer AI‑driven intelligence on top of this foundation so that users can benefit from advanced analytics and risk management, rather than just 'follow and hope'."FastX is currently seed‑funded by a network of angels deeply embedded in the global crypto trading ecosystem. These backers share a common view that the next generation of markets will be built on open, verifiable rails and that traders deserve better, more transparent instrumentation for expressing and managing risk. FastX is assembling a strong advisory board of experienced traders, market makers, and technologists to guide the exchange through its next phase of growth.As a decentralised protocol, FastX does not take custody of user funds and does not operate as a traditional broker. All positions, liquidations, and fee flows are visible on‑chain, giving traders clear, verifiable insight into how the system behaves under all market conditions."Our vision is simple," said Adelene. "We want professional‑grade perpetuals and intelligent copytrading to live where they belong: on transparent, decentralised infrastructure, not in a black box. Launching FastX on 5 May is the first step. From here, we'll continue to ship faster execution, smarter tooling, and AI‑enhanced copytrading that helps traders survive and thrive in 24/7 markets."Traders can learn more and access the exchange at https://fastx.co.About FastXFastX focuses on building decentralised financial infrastructure and tools for professional traders and sophisticated market participants. The company backs products that prioritise self‑custody, transparency, and robust risk management in rapidly evolving digital asset markets.Media ContactBrand: FastX Perpetuals ExchangeContact: Ella HuangWebsite: https://fastx.co/ Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com