Overseas competitors have paid close attention to the UK gaming industry in recent years

With the development of sports betting and online betting markets, the UK gaming industry has received attention from many overseas competitors in recent years, especially gaming companies from the United States. Recently, MGM Group of the United States intends to acquire the famous British bookmaker Ladbrokes at a purchase price of US$11 billion, but it was rejected by its parent company Entain. Entain believes that MGM Group underestimated its market value and hopes to hear more. High purchase price. However, in 2020, MGM Group has invested about 1 billion U.S. dollars in digital operations, and due to the regulatory regulations for stock market acquisitions, MGM Group must propose a clear acquisition plan on February 1.

As the ban on sports betting begins to gradually loosen, the US betting market is optimistic that sports betting will become the next big leap into the gaming industry. Since 1992, the U.S. Federal Court has banned almost all states except a few states (including Nevada) from gambling. But in 2018, after being approved by the United States High Court, the sports betting industry in New Jersey is officially legal, and related bills in other states are also undergoing court hearings. So far, only 3 states have banned any form of sports betting.

However, the gambling industry in the UK has always been more tolerant than the US, and has made a lot of technical developments in the past few decades. Therefore, the US gaming companies always like to cooperate with British gaming operators. It is inclined to directly buy expertise in the UK gaming industry to take advantage of its advantages in the industry. Recently, due to the negative impact of the new crown pneumonia and Brexit on the British gaming industry, the stock prices of various companies have fallen, allowing American companies to carry out acquisition plans at lower prices.

Just last year, gaming operator Caesars Entertainment bought William Hill for £2.9 billion. After becoming the exclusive betting partner of Caesars Entertainment, William Hill opened 12 William Hill sports betting points in Caesars gaming properties in Iowa, New Jersey, and Nevada. The head of investment of stock brokerage service AJ BELL also said that after the biggest obstacle to sports betting was removed in 2018, the US betting market has become a big opportunity for British peers.