Gambling news - page 1029

State legislators given advice on internet gaming

7 Jan 2013

This year’s get-together of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States showed that there has been no lessening of enthusiasm for the introduction of various forms of online gambling in several states; if anything, it showed that interest has intensified as the threat of federally imposed laws grew and then diminished as the year …

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Virgin Games sold to Gamesys

7 Jan 2013

The consideration has not been disclosed, but in a statement Monday Virgin Games and Gamesys confirmed that the former has been acquired by the Gamesys group. The two online gambling companies revealed that Gamesys intends to leverage the powerful Virgin brand to internationally develop social and real money gaming options.  Gamesys already has a partnership …

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NetplayTV reports strong growth

7 Jan 2013

NetPlayTV, the online and interactive television gambling group based in the UK, has published a trading update, reporting a strong Q4 performance and noting that management expects the full year results to be in line with expectations. Highlights include: * 51 percent increase in new depositing casino players to 13,974 (Q4 2011: 9,227) and 17 …

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Serious personal consequences for Russia’s problem gamblers

7 Jan 2013

The Russian government is about to apply severe ‘remedies’ to discourage problem gambling, according to an RT News report over the weekend, which claims that gambling addicts now face very serious personal consequences that go beyond losing money and possibly family. The country’s lawmakers have adopted amendments to existing laws stipulating that gambling addiction is …

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Chinese Welfare lottery keeps growing

7 Jan 2013

China’s welfare lottery sales hit a record 151.03 billion yuan (about $24.08 billion) in 2012, up 18 percent year on year, the Ministry of Civil Affairs announced Sunday. Government spokesmen told the newspaper China Daily that lottery sales raised more than 46.4 billion yuan for public welfare funding during 2012. China Daily reports that half …

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History of gambling on show in Paris

7 Jan 2013

The more things change, the more they stay the same, says an old truism which could be applied to the situation of online gambling in the United States today. In ancient Rome, despite government bans on dice games, the pastime remained a firm favourite with Romans and was widely enjoyed; eventually an emperor even wrote …

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Online football betting ring busted in Vietnam

7 Jan 2013

Police in Da Nang, Vietnam have announced the arrest of seven people who allegedly used online facilities to bet ‘millions of dollars’ on international football games. The newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong reports that the seven include one of the ringleaders, Nguyen Anh Cuong (41) who is likely to be in custody for four months. Two …

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GBP 5.6 billion staked on FOBTs by unemployed punters

7 Jan 2013

British Labour Party politicians were up in arms this weekend over Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in High Street bookie shops, claiming that operators are targeting the poor and unemployed. Always ready to embark on an anti-gambling story, the Daily Mail reported that GBP 5.6 billion was wagered on the machines by gamblers from areas with …

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Why US sports leagues are opposing New Jersey sports betting

6 Jan 2013

The on-going litigation between U.S. major sports leagues and the state of New Jersey, which wants to overturn the PASPA and run its own sports betting facilities, caught the eye of respected Associated Press sports columnist Tim Dahlberg over the weekend, prompting him to write a scathing overview of the dispute, which goes to court …

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Macabre bets in Taiwan cancer scandal

5 Jan 2013

Some gamblers in the Republic of Taiwan off the Chinese mainland have plumbed the depths of decency and sensitivity with a new betting craze – a prediction market on when terminally ill cancer patients will die, reports the China Press. The punters, with bets running up to NT$100 million, allegedly include the patients’ family members …

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New Jersey sports betting court date set

5 Jan 2013

The on-going litigation between major US sports league and the state of New Jersey is set to resume February 14 2013 following Judge Michael Shipp’s choice of that date for continued arguments. The leagues are attempting to halt New Jersey’s new legislation legalising sports betting in the Garden State, which effectively defies the federal Professional …

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New Hampshire operator jailed for online sports betting

5 Jan 2013

John Giannelli Sr. (66) of Danvers, New Hampshire was sentenced this week to 2 years behind bars in a federal prison for his role in an illegal online gambling ring. A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office in New Hampshire and the IRS revealed that Giannelli was also ordered to forfeit $452,000 for running …

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Why was 888’s Danish online gambling licence not extended?

5 Jan 2013

Our readers will recall the news earlier this week that the Danish government had extended the duration of full online gambling licenses awarded to some 31 major industry companies from the current one year to five years….however, it has since emerged that Gibraltar-based 888.com was not among them. 888 is one of the biggest and …

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GambleID polishes its online verification product

4 Jan 2013

Houston, Texas-based identification and verification software developer GambleID has been polishing up its patented Customer Insight Platform system to introduce and integrate further products and services specific to the regulatory requirements sanctioned by gaming control boards. The company claims that the CIP provides operators in the online gambling industry with the most complete end-to-end solutions …

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A good year for Francaise des Jeaux

4 Jan 2013

The majority state-owned French online and land gambling group, Francaise des Jeux, created a new company record with its annual turnover in 2012, for the first time breaching the Euro 12.1 billion barrier, an increase of 6.1 percent according to a report from Agence France Presse. In fiscal 2011, the group reported an 8.5 percent …

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Multi-player virtual horse racing slot from Microgaming

4 Jan 2013

Veteran online gambling software developer Microgaming has enhanced its multi-player portfolio with the addition of a new online slot tournament game titled Sure Win. The new game is a five reel, 25 line video slot, combining outstanding graphics with a superb, bespoke horse racing soundtrack to deliver a thoroughly entertaining racetrack gaming experience. The slot …

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Mybet extends sports sponsorships

4 Jan 2013

MyBet Holding SE (formerly Jaxx SE) is extending its sports sponsorship effort, this week signing an exclusive deal with the German football team Eintracht Braunschweig. The company inked a similar deal in August last year with the small regional soccer club VfR Neumunster while the two teams it sponsored last season, SpVgg Greuther Furth and …

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Key online gambling court case will take place in US next week

4 Jan 2013

Our readers will recall the astonished reaction of the industry last year when the US Department of Justice in New York announced that it intended to prosecute a US internet gambling software developer and provider with promoting an illegal activity. The target the enforcers chose was veteran industry developer Robert Stuart and his company Extension …

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Betting promotion names new CEO

4 Jan 2013

Several management changes have followed Tain’s acquisition of 18 percent of sports betting information provider Betting Promotion Sweden AB. Par Timby, the deputy CEO has resigned and departed whilst Malta-based CTO Christian Malmros is also on his way out. Jonas Ornstein, who was acting as CEO, has now been appointed permanently to the post. He’s …

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US billionaires interested in online gambling

4 Jan 2013

Our readers may recall a story last year in which major business personalities in the United States were identified as having an interest in online gambling, should it be legalised in the United States at federal or state levels. The influential publication Forbes revisited the subject this week, identifying the following: Land gambling mogul Donald …

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Net Entertainment to fight extra tax decision

3 Jan 2013

The decision of the Swedish Tax Agency to impose additional taxes on internet gambling software developer Net Entertainment NE AB has prompted the company to launch an appeal against the ruling, claiming the taxman’s decision is “unfounded” and announcing that it is to appeal. After a tax audit in Net Entertainment NE AB concerning fiscal …

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Online slots for Spain?

3 Jan 2013

Earlier reports that Spain’s online gambling regulator, the Dirección General de Ordenación del Juego, may be gearing up to follow the example of Italy in authorising online slot action have been confirmed with news that the DGOJ is currently consulting with operators on the issue. Fifty three licensees are keen to go ahead with further …

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ITV rejects Mr. Marmite gambling ad

3 Jan 2013

William Hill’s TV advert featuring BBC betting expert Robbie Savage (also known as Mr. Marmite due to his ability to polarise opinions) was rejected this week by BBC rival ITV Sport in its programming on the FA Cup football. The Daily Mail reports that William Hill is sponsoring ITV’s FA Cup coverage, but the company’s …

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Vegas sports books take a hammering in 2012

3 Jan 2013

The Los Angeles Times and other media report that Vegas sports books took a serious, multi-million dollar financial hammering in 2012 as many popular NFL teams beat the points spread during the regular season. Many punters combined their picks in parlays, turning $20 wagers into pay-outs of more than $1,000, depending on how many winning …

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