The UK government plans to introduce a voluntary code for prize-draw and competition operators later in 2025, minister Baroness Fiona Twycross said. The code will not require operators to obtain a Gambling Commission licence, and the government will consider legislation later depending on the code’s success.
Prize-draw operators may face new player-protection expectations without a licensing requirement.
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ZEAL Network plans to acquire the remaining shares in SevenCanyon, a UK prize draw business, for £38.6m, according to the report. SevenCanyon operates multiple prize draw platforms.
ZEAL Network SE reported group revenue of €198.8 million for the first nine months of 2026, up 22% year on year. EBITDA rose 9% to €58.7 million despite one-off costs associated with the acquisition of SevenCanyon, the company said. ZEAL raised its revenue forecast to €270 million to €280 million following SevenCanyon’s consolidation.
Reportedly, ZEAL Network has named York Scheunemann vice president of games to head its online gaming division. His responsibilities include expanding the games portfolio and developing international partnerships. Scheunemann previously held leadership roles at Google for more than 12 years.
ZEAL Network signed an agreement to acquire the remaining 96.5% of SevenCanyon, entering the UK prize-draw market, the company said. The consideration is about £33.8 million, with an earn-out of up to £4.8 million over six months; ZEAL plans to fund the purchase with a €40 million, seven-year term loan arranged by Deutsche Bank.
Aristocrat Interactive has expanded its agreement with ZEAL Network’s Lotto24 brand to distribute content across all 16 German states. The deal will introduce games from NeoGames Studio, with ZEAL planning to launch about 10 to 12 titles annually, the companies said.