Despite indications that the UK Gambling Commission has approved the use of cyber-currencies like Bitcoin by its licensees, the Malta regulator is taking a more cautious approach and for now will monitor the industry whilst considering possibilities in collaboration with banking and financial authorities. The chief of the Malta Gaming Authority regulatory body, Joseph Cushieri …
The UK online and land gambling group William Hill plc has posted disappointing H1-2016 results in the wake of last month’s sudden departure of CEO James Henderson. Characterising the first half as “challenging, interim CEO Philip Bowcock revealed that the company’s key online vertical (it makes up a third of the business) had seen revenue …
In a fast-moving sequel to Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte’s unprecedented attack on “oligarchs” in general and Roberto Ongpin in particular (see previous report), Ongpin has resigned as chairman of online gambling provider Philweb. His resignation comes after the company’s share price plunged 63 percent in the wake of presidential threats against online gambling and vows …
The release of Tabcorp’s financial results this week (see previous reports) was accompanied by another attack on the lower tax levels enjoyed by online operators when CEO David Attenborough criticised what he claims are the gross under-taxation levels enjoyed by online companies licensed in the Northern Territory of Australia. “They are the lowest-taxed providers of …
Amaya’s online sports betting subsidiary BetStars has announced a new deal to become Official Betting Partner of reigning English Premier League football champions Leicester City Football Club for the 2016/17 season. Under the terms of the new deal, Betstars will receive a full suite of rights, including LED advertising and fixed stadium branding, the use …
Australian media reports Thursday indicate that the provincial government of Western Australia may be thinking about following the example of South Australia by hitting online gambling operators with a 15 percent on revenue point-of-consumption tax. The tax would include bets on horse, harness and greyhound racing, along with sports betting such as AFL, cricket and …
The latest online slot from Playtech is themed on the historic plains of North America and the once-great herds of buffalo and other wild life that once roamed there (actually the correct term is bison). Titled Buffalo Blitz, the game is a six reel slot with four rows and 4096 ways to win, and offers …
Major Australian gambling group Tabcorp gave investors a shock Thursday when it released its FY 2015-2016 results, reporting a 49.3 percent year-on-year plunge in net profit at A$169.7 million (2014-2015: A$334.5 million.) Overall, revenue climbed 1.5 percent to A$2.19 billion, whilst operating expenses rose 2.2 percent in 2015-16 to A$378 million. The company attributed the …
A New York state bill defining daily fantasy sports as a game of skill which was passed in June this year (see previous reports) has finally been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo….in time for the NFL season for relieved operators. The bill gives the New York Gaming Commission the responsibility of monitoring and …
The UK online and land gambling group Ladbrokes has published its unaudited interim results for the half-year ended 30 June 2016, reporting a performance ahead of expectations despite a tough and competitive environment. Highlights include: * Group operating profit up 61 percent at GBP 52.3 million – ahead of management’s expectations; * Strong free cash …
New Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has already shown that he pays little heed to diplomatic or politically correct language; lashing out at corruption and publicly declaring his desire to do away with online gambling in comments that have hammered the share price of companies involved in the vertical like Philweb (see previous reports). Philweb, or …
Multi-billionaire entrepreneur Carl Icahn has apparently decided to cut his losses on his Trump Taj Mahal casino investment following battles with the New Jersey government and local trade unions. Presidential candidate Donald Trump has not been involved in the business for several years, although he allowed the Trump branding to remain. On Wednesday the Associated …
Playtech has announced the launch of SunBets for the Australian betting giant Tabcorp in partnership with a partnership with media company News UK, describing the enterprise as “a comprehensive, business intelligence-enabled Casino and Live Casino offering” equipped with quality games from Playtech. The gaming suite includes the Age of the Gods series and forthcoming Warner …
Online gambling games developer start-up Gamevy has signed up to supply its innovative range of games to the Quickfire platform, a statement Thursday announced. In a relatively short space of time Gamevy has become respected for its original skill gameshows, such as The Heist and Gears of Fortune, where players prove their skill by answering …
Bellevue, Washington state-based online video gaming group Valve, which is the leading provider of games used in eSports competitions, has signed up for nine floors of offices in a new office tower in the city, located on Lake Washington opposite Seattle. Valve has leased 225,000 square feet of prime office space on floors 11 to …
Malaysian police spokesman Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh told local reporters in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday that 15,323 computer sets have been confiscated by police in illegal online gambling raids in the city between January and end-July this year. 2,531 individuals associated with the illegal enterprises had been detained, and significant amounts of cash and evidence …
Penn National Gaming (Penn) has acquired social gaming company Rocket Games for a consideration that could potentially reach “up to $170 million”. Penn will pay $60 million in cash, as well as earn-outs of up to $110 million based on company performance over the next two years. Based in San Francisco, Rocket Games was co-founded …
Those with interests in the New York State daily fantasy sports (DFS) market will learn the future of the popular pastime within the next ten days. A bill, legalising and regulating daily fantasy sports, which was passed by the Legislature mid-June this year (see previous reports) reportedly landed on New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo’s …
French regulatory authority ARJEL has strengthened ties with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in anticipation of the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games later this week. Previous cooperation during the London and Sochi Olympic Games has been extended to Rio in the fight to preserve sports integrity and ARJEL has committed again to comprehensive …
William Hill has expanded is football sponsorship portfolio with the addition of English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspurs. The betting and gaming firm was named Official Betting Partner for Europe and Australia for the next two seasons beginning 2016/17 and provides an option to renew. This is William Hill’s second high profile sponsorship in a …
Australian gaming firm Tatts Group confirmed it is in “exclusive” acquisition talks with Greek gaming machine monitor INTRALOT for its Australian and New Zealand operations, saying the discussions had been ongoing for some time. No final proposal has been made by either company, but discussions have advanced to a confirmatory due diligence stage, Tatts group …
The Sun Bets brand launched this week backed by a multi-million pound ad campaign from in-house creative agency Pulse Creative, which is due to flight later this week to coincide with the start of the new Premier League Season. Sun Bets is a joint venture between News UK and Tabcorp, agreed in February this year …
Amid growing reports that gambling regulators in Malta and the Isle of Man are considering following Curacao in approving Bitcoin as an acceptable currency for gambling, the UK Gambling Commission has amended section 5 of its Licence Conditions and Code of Practice to permit the use of digital currencies with effect from the end of …
Tabcorp Holdings Limited announced Wednesday that Bruce Akhurst and Vickki McFadden have been appointed to its board as Non-Executive Directors, subject to the receipt of the necessary regulatory and ministerial approvals. Akhurst is currently executive chairman of global digital advertising and technology services firm Adstream. He was CEO of Sensis Pty Ltd from 2005 to …