The gambling market in the UK has always been subject to change, as betting companies look for new ways to appeal to the public. From the emergence of thousands of betting shops in the 1960s to the internet revolution, new trends have a habit of emerging and changing the way we gamble. One of the latest examples comes from Slingo, so what are these games all about? A Cross Between Slots and Bingo The basic...
Ryanair has been accused of turning its back on elderly travellers after confirming plans to scrap paper boarding passes in favour of a digital-only system from November. The low-cost carrier, led by Michael O’Leary, will force the 40 million passengers who currently rely on printed tickets to switch to using its smartphone app from 12 November. Campaigners said the decision would isolate older customers, with millions lacking the skills or devices needed to navigate the...
A 31-year-old cryptocurrency entrepreneur has stunned the tech world by raising more than £750m ($1.1bn) to build Britain’s biggest artificial intelligence data centre — despite his company never having completed one before. Josh Payne’s start-up Nscale, founded just 18 months ago, has secured heavyweight backing from Nvidia, Nokia and Norwegian investment giant Aker. The deal catapults the business into the ranks of Britain’s most valuable AI players, with an implied valuation of $3bn. The Essex-based...
Artificial intelligence data centres are set to devour a massive share of the world’s electricity growth over the next decade, according to BP’s latest World Energy Outlook. The oil giant estimates that data facilities powering AI applications will account for 10% of global electricity demand growth by 2035. In the United States, the world’s most advanced AI hub, that figure could skyrocket to 40%, raising urgent questions about the strain on energy systems. “The seemingly...
The pound fell sharply on Wednesday after Andrew Bailey suggested the Bank of England could cut interest rates if inflation eases further, in remarks that underscored the fragility of the UK economy. Sterling slipped 0.7 per cent against the dollar to $1.34 after the governor said there was “a further journey down” possible for borrowing costs, though any cuts would hinge on the inflation outlook. “It will depend on the path of inflation going down,”...
Rachel Reeves is facing a mounting revolt from Britain’s business leaders, with chiefs across sectors warning that her tax hikes and labour reforms are throttling investment, driving out wealth, and tipping the economy toward recession. BT chief executive Allison Kirkby (pictured) warned this week that Britain is already at “peak government-inflicted costs.” Speaking at the Connected Britain conference, she revealed that BT pays ten times more in business rates, energy levies and compliance costs than...
The government is weighing extraordinary measures to shield Britain’s manufacturing base from the fallout of Jaguar Land Rover’s crippling cyberattack, including buying up parts from suppliers to prevent mass job losses. Business Secretary Peter Kyle is understood to be considering a scheme where ministers would purchase parts from JLR’s 700-strong supplier network and sell them back once production resumes. The move comes after a hack on 31 August forced JLR, owned by India’s Tata Motors,...
Forget bricks and mortar — from Oscars to rare whisky, luxury assets are becoming the new collateral of choice in Britain’s growing bridging market. Suros Capital, a specialist in lending against high-value possessions, is carving out a niche by financing deals secured against everything from Warhol paintings and Rolex watches to gold bullion and Banksy prints. Ray Palmer, director at Suros, told Business Matters the firm’s loan book includes some of the strangest transactions in...
The Co-op has revealed that a “sophisticated cyberattack” earlier this year has wiped out £80m of profits, underlining the mounting cost of cybercrime for Britain’s biggest companies. In results published this morning, the mutual said the hack disrupted its grocery and funeral operations, leaving gaps on shelves and delaying services, with an estimated £206m hit to revenues. The group said it acted “quickly and decisively” by temporarily shutting down a number of systems to contain...
Lloyds Banking Group will close another 49 branches across its Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands next year, in the latest blow to Britain’s high streets. The closures, which will take place between January and October 2026, mark a further retreat from in-person banking as millions of customers move online. Lloyds said the shift reflects changing habits, with 21 million people now using its apps to manage their money. The move will see...
