El Habanero

About El Habanero

The partnership doesn’t end at this stage, as Wazdan is going to further implement new releases for the operator’s local content library and offer players new opportunities as they come back to play. 

Wazdan has been methodically building up its footprint across regional and European markets, with the supplier signing up a content partnership with Jupiter Gaming earlier in September, and similarly bringing its portfolio of player-favorite games to the operator in the UK.

Besides Europe, Wazdan has also been focused on expanding in the North American market. To this end, the supplier teamed up with Caliente.mx, a brand operated by Caliente Interactive in Mexico, bringing the supplier’s games to the local market.

About El Habanero

Betfred’s retail business still heavily depends on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and in-shop gambling. Despite the maximum stake limit being cut to £2 in 2019, FOBTs account for roughly half of Betfred’s shop profits. Done emphasised that without these machines, retail betting wass “impossible”.

According to Done, such a tax rise would lead Betfred to close 495 of its shops within a year, resulting in the loss of 2,575 jobs and roughly £67 million in foregone tax revenue for the Exchequer.

Betfred has already shuttered 132 outlets this year, following last year’s RGD increase.

How to play El Habanero

Several other operators have responded to the UK tax hikes by announcing shop closures.

In March, William Hill told staff it plans to permanently close approximately 200 of its retail shops in the UK, around 15% of Evoke’s retail estate.

Last month, meanwhile, Betfred announced plans to shutter 132 of its UK betting shops, reducing its workforce by over 600 employees.