Company type | Public limited company |
---|---|
Industry | Holding company |
Founded | August 2004 |
Defunct | October 2010 |
Fate | Administration due to insolvency |
Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
Areas served |
|
Key people |
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Subsidiaries | Betshop |
Leisure and Gaming plc (also "L&G")[1] was formerly a holding company based in London,[2] and listed on the London Stock Exchange with major assents in the global interactive betting and gaming industry. Its interests spanned from software development to marketing.
L&G was incorporated in England and Wales in August 2004.[3] Its registered holders are BNY Norwich Union Nominees Ltd, Chase GA Group Nominees Ltd, Chase Nominees Ltd, CUIM Nominee Ltd, and Vidacos Nominees Ltd.
L&G acquired Betshop, a European betting and gaming business, in 2006.[4] In October 2006, immediately preceding passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006,[4] the company sold its US-facing online gambling business to a private group for US$1,[4][5] and no longer accepted wagers from US residents.[6] The subsidiaries divested in this exit were Bon Bini, ECom ServCorp, English Harbour, Nine.com and VIP.[4] This left Betshop as the company's main operating subsidiary.[4]
By 2008[update], the company's properties consisted of BetShop Italia, BetShop.com, GoalsLive.com and Acropolis Casino, the focus of which was expansion in Italy and Central and Eastern Europe.[7]
Trading in shares of the company was suspended in May 2010.[8][9] By October 2010, the company had received a demand from bankers for repayment of debts,[1][8] and was subsequently placed into Administration due to its insolvency.[9] Two principles of FRP Advisory executed a purchase of Betshop, thereby maintaining the company as a going concern and preserving operations in the UK, Italy, Cyprus and Greece.[9]
Henry Birch assumed the role of chief executive officer (CEO) in 2006, having served as director since 2004.[2] Birch had previously served as the chief operating officer of the Israeli online and TV gaming platform developer Bettingcorp.[10]
Richard Creed was named the company's finance director in May 2008, succeeding Michael Baird; Creed had formerly been finance director for BetonSports.[7]
Also in May 2008, Neil Craven was appointed as the company's non-executive director, succeeding Benjamin Shaw.[7]
In August 2008, Creed succeeded Birch as the company's CEO.[2]