In order to encourage a socially integrated work environment, the Company has placed an emphasis on investing in the local communities in which it operates. In Guernsey, where the Company’s primary licenced operations are based, the Company has invested a significant amount of time and money into the local community, including the sponsorships of Heather Watson, the UK’s number one and world number three ranked junior tennis player, the Channel Islands Athletics Club, and local events like the Sportingbet Guernsey Marathon and the Sportingbet Channel Islands Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
In Antigua, where the Group has held sports betting and gaming licences for many years, the Company has donated a significant sum of money to fund both the building of a library at the Island Academy International School and bursaries for a number of less privileged local children. The Antigua Girls High School has benefited from a donation to provide desks and other key furniture, as part of the school’s commitment to update its resources.
In the last twelve months the Company has invested significantly in sport. In football in the UK, Sportingbet announced its sponsorship of the Premier League team, Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, for the 2009/2010 season. In addition, Sportingbet is the official online betting and gaming partner of Portsmouth Football Club. Commencing in April, Sportingbet.com became the official sponsor of Monday Evening Racing at Windsor Race Course, and sponsored over 75 individual horse races across the UK throughout the summer. In conjunction with this, in the last financial year Sportingbet.com has become the main supporter of HEROS, the leading charity dedicated to the welfare of former racehorses to ensure they have a comfortable existence once their race days are over. In Europe the Company’s investment in sport has focussed on football and basketball sponsorships, through partnerships with the Romanian football team, Steaua Bucharest, the Bulgarian team Slavia Sofia, the Spanish team Real Ovieda, and the main sponsorship title of the Euroleague Basketball.
In Australia, the Group is the major sponsor of the Brisbane Broncos, one of Australia’s leading Rugby League teams, and Carlton Football Club, one of Australia’s largest Aussie Rules teams.
Finally, in Brazil, Sportingbet is the main sponsor of Brazilian football league’s second division - home of Corinthians, Brazil’s most popular team.
