EUROPE: Sweden; Stan James; LCG/BetVictor; Skrill; Cashpoint

Flag of European UnionSweden’s gambling regulator has a new head of communications with Joakim Rönngren joining the Lotteriinspektionen. Rönngren formerly worked for Ladbrokes where he handled the company’s communications in the Nordic region and as such he’s worked in the area since 2003. His role at the Swedish regulator will involve communicating, to the public, any changes made to the Swedish gambling industry and monitoring various other tasks. It comes as the country is considering overhauling its gambling industry with new legislation expected later this year and regulations implemented in 2014.

British bookmaker Stan James’ name will be plastered over a fleet of taxis for the next 12 months after an agreement was signed in Manchester. Stan James signed the deal with London Taxi Advertising of Manchester and it will see scores of taxis rebranded in the company’s distinctive green livery. The Drum also reports that cabs will feature the strapline “BET NOW ON YOUR MOBILE” with an image of ‘Stan’ on one door and ‘James’ on the other.

Beleaguered spread betting specialists London Capital Group have signed an agreement to provide BetVictor with a white label financial spread trading platform. The platform will allow BetVictor customers to trade indices, FX, equities, bonds and commodities via the firm’s new BetVictor Financials site, and Victor Chandler, company chairman, added: “We recognise their product offering to be at the forefront of their industry as they, like us, embrace new technology and delivery. We certainly look forward to reaping the rewards of this new partnership.”

Payment provider Skrill is taking aim at the German market after announcing a new partnership with Cybits Holding. Skrill, who acquired a stake in the company in December, will use Cybits’s [verify-U] product that will give them online age verification and enable them to comply with the most recent legal requirements set out by the German government. Skrill CEO Siegfried Heimgaertner confirmed the partnership, and added: “Our strategic partnership with Cybits provides a fully rounded service for online retailers, especially those in the German gambling market.” The deal could eventually be extended internationally with Cybits able to take advantage of Skrill’s global profile.

German facing betting firm Cashpoint has signed up to become the main sponsor of the country’s Ice Hockey league. The Malta-based firm has signed a long-term partnership with the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) to be the league’s major partner and Cashpoint DEL is now visible at every arena around the league. The firm is a subsidiary of the Gauselmann Group and has been running since 2005. It has a licence to operate in Schleswig-Holstein and they are “hopeful” that they will get a licence to take bets in the remaining 15 Lander.