Weekend Report: Bet365 enters Peru, South Korean celebrities caught up in illegal betting case

Pakistan cricket legend faces backlash over betting ambassador role 

Starting in Asia, Pakistan cricket captain Wasim Akram has come under fire for taking on a new betting ambassador role with Baji.

India-facing Baji offers online sports betting and casino and has enlisted several celebrities to help promote its services. Akram is among those to come on board despite Pakistan having placed restrictions on promoting gambling.

Fans took to social media to criticise Akram after he shared a promotional video on social media. Questions were also raised as to why Akram is working with an operator that is not licensed in Pakistan.

Bet365 makes Peru move

Meanwhile, in South America, Bet365 has announced the launch of a localised website in Peru.

Players in the country will now be able to access online casino and sports betting through Bet365. This follows approval from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.

“We are delighted to launch a dedicated Bet365 website in Peru, the fourth largest country in the region, known for its vibrant culture and dynamic population,” a Bet365 spokesperson said.

The launch comes as Bet365 continues to await approval in the Brazilian market. Should the operator secure this licence, it could launch in Brazil in January when the licensed market opens.

ATG halts betting on Australian trotting

Continuing our world tour with a stop off in Sweden. Horse racing monopoly AB Trav och Galopp (ATG) has announced it will no longer be offering betting on Australian trotting.

ATG began taking bets on the sports in 2015 but will halt this service from 1 November.

This comes amid uncertainty over rules for the sport. ATG said it has been engaged with officials in Australia for some time, but there is “still no concrete decision” on tightening rules.

As a result, ATG has decided to temporarily pause this service for its players in Sweden.

Bradamante joins Relax as chief growth officer

Elsewhere in Europe, Relax Gaming has appointed Enrico Bradamante as its new chief growth officer.

Bradamante joins Relax having worked in the industry for more than 12 years. He previously spent time as managing director at NetEnt and chief commercial officer of Pariplay, which is now part of Aristocrat Interactive.

In his new role, Bradamante will work with the commercial team and other departments to identify growth opportunities. He will also be responsible for expanding Relax’s footprint in key markets.

“I am delighted to be joining the leading provider and aggregator Relax Gaming at such an important juncture,” Bradamante said.

South Korean celebrities caught up in illegal betting dispute

Finally this week, we end where we started in Asia, where several South Korean celebrities find themselves in hot water over illegal betting.

Comedian Lee Jin Ho recently confessed that illegal gambling has left him in debt. This led to him receiving financial support, including from Jimin, a member of singing group BTS. Jimin is reportedly owed around 100 million won (£56,400/€67,400/$73,500).

Lee, who admitted he has been involved in illegal online gambling since 2020, said: “I have been consistently repaying the debt every month, and I plan to repay all of it on my own, even if it takes until my death. 

“I promise to repay the remaining debts no matter what and deeply apologise to those who are disappointed in me for causing social controversy and trying to cover it up. I will sincerely cooperate with the police and take responsibility for my wrongdoings.”