Entain Launches EnTrain Initiative

British gambling giant Entain Plc launched its EnTrain initiative this week. EnTrain is the company’s new corporate sustainability reporting, or ESG, directive. Its goal is to improve access to technology in addition to improving diversity.

The Ladbrokes and partypoker owner unveiled the EnTrain initiative at an event in London called “Entain Sustain.” Chief Executive of Entain, Jette Nygarrd-Andersen explained more via a statement to the London Stock Exchange.

“Entain is ambitious business and sustainability is one of our two core strategic pillars. It benefits our customers and is also good for our business and the wider communities we are part of. I believe passionately that we have a vital role to play in inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in technology. As we reshape the future of interactive entertainment, we also want to help many more people become involved. Our new EnTrain initiative provides the building blocks to help them, through access to academic and vocational courses and the technological expertise and equipment they need to succeed.”

The Four EnTrain Core Pillars

EnTrain consists of four key pillars, each designed to help underprivileged people.

• 1.) Entain Academy: Supplying transformative technology training for the next generation
• 2.) Entain Scholarships: Providing the platform for a diverse selection of candidates to become digital pioneers
• 3.) Entain Apprenticeships: Upskilling and developing our existing employees, and further expanding external apprenticeship schemes with new and existing partners
• 4.) Entain Partnerships: Partnering and collaborating with organisations around the world who amplify and support diversity in technology

Entain is rolling out EnTrain to under-represented and especially disadvantaged groups in communities across the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and the Americas.

The Entain Foundation is funding nine apprentices with the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education (YGAM) in the UK. The plan is to fill these roles before 2021 ends.

Daniel Bliss, the Director of External Affairs at YGAM, is thankful for the funding.

“We are extremely grateful for this support from Entain. This initiative will support our ambitious people strategy and help develop the expertise of our staff team. As a result, our charity will be better equipped to continue our growth and increase our social impact.”

EnTrain is finalising a strategy to deliver improved outcomes for under-represented groups in technology in Australia. The Pathways Academy is there to help enhance pathways into technology-based industries for women, migrant workers, indigenous, and neurodiverse groups.

About Entain Plc

Entain Plc is one of the largest gambling companies worldwide. It is the parent company for several poker, casino, in addition to sports betting companies.

It started life as Gaming VC Holdings in Luxembourg before beginning trading on the London AIM in 2004. Kenneth Alexander revigorated GVC Holdings after joining the group in 2007.

GVC continued growing and acquired Sportingbet from William Hill in March 2013. It paid $2.02 billion to acquire bwin.party Digital Entertainment Plc. GVC wasted no time in buying Ladbrokes-Coral Group in a deal worth up to $7.34 billion.

Neds was the next big name added to the company’s portfolio, doing so in November 2018. GVC rebranded to Entain on December 9, 2020. Furthermore, Alexander left the company.

DraftKings Pulls Out of $30.1 Billion Entain Deal

There has been a lot of consolidation in the gambling world of late. Entain and its EnTrain programme will not be part of those mergers and acquisitions yet, although this could change.

American Daily Fantasy Sports giant DraftKings showed interest in buying Entain Plc. Figures of US$22 billion ($30.1 billion) were touted, making it one of the biggest, if not the biggest, gambling deal in history.

DraftKings was unwilling to meet some of Entain’s demands and, therefore, pulled out of any negotiations.

“The decision not to make a firm offer, which was received favourably by the market, eliminates any potential equity-dilution risk from adding European brand intended to complement DraftKings’ U.S. online sports betting focus.” Those were the words of Brian Egger, a senior gaming industry analyst.

Shares in Entain fell 6.3% following the news. However, shares in DraftKings rose 7.8%.