Genius Sports is latest operator to end activity in Russia
Genius Sports joins an increasing list of companies who have withdrawn from the Russian market as a result of ongoing aggression in Ukraine. The online data company has released a statement saying that it will no longer continue with commercial operations in Russia and Belarus. There has been widespread condemnation of the unprovoked invasion by Russia of its neighbor and companies and countries have been reacting to the worsening situation.
Gambling operators withdraw from Russian and Belarussian markets. ©ELG21/Pixabay
#Stand With Ukraine
Genius Sports have published a very straightforward statement on their website which they have also shared to their social media accounts. It simply reads:
“Genius Sports confirms that as a result of events in Ukraine we are ceasing all commercial operations in Russia and Belarus. At all times our priority remains ensuring the safety and well-being of our colleagues, their families, and loved ones in the region. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people. #standwithukraine”
What do Genius Sports Do?
Genius Sports is a data company that powers the global ecosystem that connects sports, betting, and media. They are the official trusted partner to over 400 sports organizations around the world. They are responsible for capturing the data from many of the largest leagues and federations including AFA, EPL, FIBA, NASCAR, NCCA, NFL, and PGA. Their betting partners include William Hill, Bet 365, Betsson, and DraftKings. They create immersive fan experiences for sports, betting, and media organizations. Their technology is used in over 150 countries worldwide. They are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Latest Major Betting Industry Player to Take a Stand
Genius has brought a close to all its Russian operations. In addition, it has done the same in Belarus. Belarus is a key military ally to Russia and is supportive of the military operations.
Statscore
The Polish enterprise Statscore has said that it will no longer be handling data from any Russian or Belarus sports fixtures. The company announced on Twitter that they do not play sports with invaders. The full text of the tweet reads:
“We do not wish to provide any sports data and live scores for competitions organized by countries that just savagely assaulted other nations or helped in this process. Therefore, from March 1st, you will no longer witness any Russian and Belarusian competitions in our offer.”
Bet365
This follows a move by betting giant Bet365 who pulled out of Russian operations last week. While it did not specifically reference the war, it gave its customers until 15th March to withdraw funds from their accounts. Registrations on its Bet 365.ru site and the acceptance of new deposits have already ceased. Bet365 has told its partners to remove any logos or marketing materials that could be used to promote its brand in Russia.
Parimatch
On March 3rd Parimatch announced that it would be withdrawing its franchise from Russia in response to the country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. They are a Cyprus based but Ukrainian founded organization and was the first operator to receive approval for a full Ukrainian gambling license in 2021. It also announced that it would be launching a €2.9 million fund to provide direct support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces who are fighting back against the Russian invaders throughout the country. They said that the fund would be used to provide ammunition, food, and medical supplies. Parimatch was one of Ukraine’s first online businesses, founded in Kyiv in 1994. The company has said that it will continue to pay salaries and hire new people despite the conflict.
European Lotteries
The European Lotteries (EL) has called on its members to suspend the membership of Belarussian and Russian lottery providers and to cease taking bets from those countries. A statement on their website says:
“EL and its Members condemn the war acts of Russia against Ukraine. A true value of the EL Membership is to stand united for the benefit of society. As Ukrainian society is under violent attack, EL and its Members stand united against this war, call for peace, and share their solidarity with the EL Members in Ukraine and the people of Ukraine. The situation has compelled the EL Executive Committee to recommend EL Members to stop taking bets on Russian and Belorussian teams and leagues. Furthermore, it has made the decision to suspend the membership of its members in Russia and Belarus.”
Other action
The Swedish company, Leo Vegas has also withdrawn from the market, while KKCG Group and Allwyn have penned a joint letter opposing the conflict. Points Bet, Draft Kings and FanDuel have all withdrawn their support for any sporting events in Russia and Belarus. The Gaming Industry Ukraine has announced an initiative to raise £250,000 for Choose Love’s Ukraine Crisis Fundraiser which aims to support the public during the ongoing refugee crisis. Despite diplomatic and commercial efforts, the conflict seems to be intensifying and huge numbers of Ukrainian citizens have been displaced. More than 2 million people have fled their homes. Over half of them are now in Poland. Hungary is reported to have welcomed in excess of 190,00 people, while 140,000 Ukrainians are now in Slovakia.
Sporting Fixtures Canceled
Russia is facing growing pressure over its military deployment and aggression towards its neighbor. Many sporting organizations have broken their ties with Russia. The National Hockey League’s regional betting partnership with Liga Stavok has been suspended. The 2022 FIFA World Cup has Russia banned from competing. The UEFA League Champions are now taking place at the Stade de France in Paris rather than the St Petersburg Gazprom Arena.
Companies distancing themselves from Russia
The moves by the gambling and sports industries are all part of an overall sanctions package that is aiming to bring pressure on Russia by commercial organizations and Western Governments. The growing refugee crisis and vicious attacks on Ukrainian citizens mean that organizations are distancing themselves from both Russia and Belarus. Over the weekend Coca-Cola bowed to consumer pressure and announced that it would cease trading in the country. The list of global players who are condemning the war is growing day by day and represents the full spectrum of global players from banks and payment platforms to automotive companies, social media giants, and retailers.
