
'Canada performance more important than result'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Entain cashes in on online betting surge as Club World Cup reels in players
Coral and Ladbrokes owner Entain has revealed a surge in online gaming as popular sporting events such as Wimbledon and the men's football Club World Cup reeled in punters. The sports betting giant reported total net gaming revenues – the amount of money the company pockets after paying out winnings to customers – of £2.6 billion for the first six months of the year, excluding its operations in the US. This was 6% higher than the same period a year ago, at constant currency rates. The increase jumped to 8% in the UK and Ireland, the company's biggest market, while online sales in the region surged by a fifth year-on-year. Both the volume of players and the value of sales increased, which Entain said reflected an improved experience for customers as well as previous changes to gambling rules starting to level out. The company had previously warned about the impact from regulatory changes in the UK which were designed to make betting safer for consumers. The FIFA Club World Cup final, which saw Chelsea beat PSG, was the most bet-on football match of 2025 for Entain's brands, with strong engagement coming from Brazil, Spain and the US. Interest in horse racing surged with the Royal Ascot and the Epsom Derby Festival both among the most bet-on competitions, while Wimbledon Tennis and the Women's Euro football tournament were also drawing in bets. Entain nonetheless reported a pre-tax loss of £96 million for the first half, swinging from a £13.7 million profit the prior year which the firm said was driven by one-off costs. On an underlying basis, earnings before tax, interest and other costs came in at £583.4 million for the period – 11% higher than last year. The company said it was now expecting higher sales growth for the year than its previous outlook, with online net gaming revenues forecast to rise by 7%. Annual underlying earnings are estimated to be between £1.1 billion and £1.15 billion.

The National
an hour ago
- The National
Jack Grealish set for Everton loan amid Man City exit
Meanwhile Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is potentially set to depart Paris St Germain this summer. City give green light to Grealish loan Grealish spent a lot of time in the bench last season (Martin Rickett/PA) Everton have agreed a season-long loan deal with Manchester City for out-of-favour England international Jack Grealish. The PA news agency understands the 29-year-old was due to undergo a medical with the Merseyside club on Monday. Grealish, signed by City in a then British record £100million deal four years ago, will hope the move can rejuvenate his career in a World Cup season. He made just seven Premier League starts after falling down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium last season and was left out of the squad for the Club World Cup in the summer. Palace fail in CAS appeal Crystal Palace have lost their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League. The FA Cup winners were relegated to the continent's third-tier competition by European governing body UEFA after it determined that American businessman John Textor had 'decisive influence' at both Palace and Lyon after March 1. Nottingham Forest – who travel to Selhurst Park on August 24 – are expected to take the Europa League place. A CAS statement read: 'The panel found that John Textor, founder of Eagle Football Holdings, had shares in CPFC and OL (Olympique Lyon) and was a board member with decisive influence over both clubs at the time of UEFA's assessment date.' Old Trafford protest on hold The 1958 have called off their planned protest at the weekend (Martin Rickett/PA) A Manchester United supporters' group has postponed a demonstration against the club's ownership planned for the day of their opening game of the Premier League season. The 1958 group had organised a protest march to Old Trafford on August 17, ahead of United's clash with Arsenal, with banners referring to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe . Previous demonstrations have focused on unpopular majority shareholders the Glazers but frustration has now spread to Ratcliffe, who has made series of controversial changes since acquiring a 28.94 per cent stake in United and taking charge of operations last year. However, after conducting a survey, the group has acknowledged opinion is split and the time is not right for a protest. A statement read: 'It's clear there is no unified view on the direction of the club under Ratcliffe. We believe it would be irresponsible to risk creating a situation that could result in any 'red on red' conflict inside or outside the stadium.' Clubs on Donnarumma alert PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could be on the move (Martin Rickett/PA) Gianluigi Donnarumma is open to a move away from Paris St Germain this summer but will not be pushed out by the French club, the PA news agency understands. The Italy goalkeeper has been left out of PSG's squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup match against Tottenham, and it is understood he will now leave Paris this summer if the right move opens up. Manchester United have been linked with the 26-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, but it is understood there has been no contact. The European champions completed the signing of Lucas Chevalier from Lille over the weekend. What's on today? Rangers take a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech city. The first round of the Carabao Cup also gets under way, featuring clubs from the EFL.


The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Jack Grealish set for Everton loan amid Man City exit
City give green light to Grealish loan Grealish spent a lot of time in the bench last season (Martin Rickett/PA) Everton have agreed a season-long loan deal with Manchester City for out-of-favour England international Jack Grealish. The PA news agency understands the 29-year-old was due to undergo a medical with the Merseyside club on Monday. Grealish, signed by City in a then British record £100million deal four years ago, will hope the move can rejuvenate his career in a World Cup season. He made just seven Premier League starts after falling down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium last season and was left out of the squad for the Club World Cup in the summer. Palace fail in CAS appeal Crystal Palace have lost their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against their demotion from the Europa League to the Conference League. The FA Cup winners were relegated to the continent's third-tier competition by European governing body UEFA after it determined that American businessman John Textor had 'decisive influence' at both Palace and Lyon after March 1. Nottingham Forest – who travel to Selhurst Park on August 24 – are expected to take the Europa League place. A CAS statement read: 'The panel found that John Textor, founder of Eagle Football Holdings, had shares in CPFC and OL (Olympique Lyon) and was a board member with decisive influence over both clubs at the time of UEFA's assessment date.' Old Trafford protest on hold The 1958 have called off their planned protest at the weekend (Martin Rickett/PA) A Manchester United supporters' group has postponed a demonstration against the club's ownership planned for the day of their opening game of the Premier League season. The 1958 group had organised a protest march to Old Trafford on August 17, ahead of United's clash with Arsenal, with banners referring to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe . Previous demonstrations have focused on unpopular majority shareholders the Glazers but frustration has now spread to Ratcliffe, who has made series of controversial changes since acquiring a 28.94 per cent stake in United and taking charge of operations last year. However, after conducting a survey, the group has acknowledged opinion is split and the time is not right for a protest. A statement read: 'It's clear there is no unified view on the direction of the club under Ratcliffe. We believe it would be irresponsible to risk creating a situation that could result in any 'red on red' conflict inside or outside the stadium.' Clubs on Donnarumma alert PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma could be on the move (Martin Rickett/PA) Gianluigi Donnarumma is open to a move away from Paris St Germain this summer but will not be pushed out by the French club, the PA news agency understands. The Italy goalkeeper has been left out of PSG's squad for Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup match against Tottenham, and it is understood he will now leave Paris this summer if the right move opens up. Manchester United have been linked with the 26-year-old, who is out of contract next summer, but it is understood there has been no contact. The European champions completed the signing of Lucas Chevalier from Lille over the weekend. What's on today? Rangers take a 3-0 lead into the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie against Viktoria Plzen in the Czech city. The first round of the Carabao Cup also gets under way, featuring clubs from the EFL.