The European Gaming and Betting Association, a trade body representing the interests of most of Europe’s major gambling companies, has thrown down the gauntlet on lottery licenses issued to Dutch companies last year, challenging the process as “non-transparent and discriminatory” in a formal complaint to Kansspelautoriteit, the regulator. The multi-year licenses were awarded to De …
The British Gambling Commission is planning to advise the government on what fee structure changes may be necessary to take account of the significant changes in the population of operators that it regulates and to address identified problems in the current fees structure. The previous coalition government indicated that it would consider reviewing the Commission’s …
Genesis Gaming announced Wednesday that it is about to launch a new line of video slots tailored for the American social casino market. Titled The Vegas Line, the new range consists of games optimised for mobile play, developed by designers with experience in both American land-based slots and in European online gaming. Since land-based casino …
Scientific Games Corporation announced Wednesday that it has launched Hot Shot Casino on Facebook – the first social casino to combine subsidiary companies Williams, Shuffle Master, and Bally content in one game. Hot Shot offers some of the newest slots in both land-based and online casinos, and will feature popular games such as Zeus III, …
The Roxy Palace Casino has reported a major progressive jackpot hit on Monday on Microgaming’s Major Millions slot. In an email announcement the company reported: “We made a player at Roxy Palace Casino a millionaire on Monday when Eric D. hit the Major Millions jackpot scooping a cool Euro 1,166,534. There is still a huge …
New research into social casino activity has been published by global research firm Newzoo, which reports that nearly half of US social casino players spend money on the games. The market research firm analysed players of 17 casino franchises in the United States and Western Europe, and found that 46 percent spent real money in …
The Aussie social sports betting group Favourit, currently chasing a listing on the Australian stock exchange, has appointed Sportingbet veteran Gary Harris as chief executive officer. Previously the IT director and a board member of the Sportingbet Australia Group between 2004 and 2013, Harris was responsible for technology development and operations, growing online turnover from …
Australia’s perennial anti-online gambling crusader Sen. Nick Xenophon was quick to take advantage of Social Services Minister Scott Morrison’s call for a fresh review of the Interactive Gambling Act of 2001 (see previous reports), quickly scoring several media interviews on the topic Wednesday. He urged the federal government to ban gambling advertising during live sport …
The news Monday that the Bwin-Party directorate still favours the 888 Holdings bid for it seems to have spurred rival bidder GVC Holdings to exert more media pressure in the ongoing bidding war. The Reuters news agency reported Wednesday that in a Times interview GVC chairman Lee Feldman did not discount the option of “going …
Privately-held California-based Betcade is planning the launch of an Android-based app store for real-money gambling, initially in the UK market in July 2016. The outfit founded and headed up by David Chang, claims it will be “the first dedicated Android app store for the gaming industry and the premier destination for players to discover, download …
NetEnt has received a transactional waiver from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement for the Borgata and bwin.party brands ahead of approval of its application for a Casino Service Industry Enterprise Licence for the New Jersey market. NetEnt’s recent deals with Golden Nugget and Caesars Interactive Entertainment will need to follow the same process …
Prague games developer Endorphina will distribute a 30-title portfolio through SoftSwiss-powered BitStarz and Chance Hill online casinos. The portfolio includes titles such as Origami, Minotaurus and Blast! Boom! Bang!.
Seattle-based eSports startup Unikrn’s latest investment round has raised $7 million in funding and attracted celebrity attention through Sound Ventures, a recently formed venture capital firm founded by Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary. Kutcher is known within tech circles “as a savvy angel investor”, according to GeekWire, whose list of past tech investments …
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) and the Jersey Gambling Commission (JGC) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that covers arrangements for the acquisition, exchange, handling, protection and use of information. “This is a welcome development – it’s increasingly important for gambling regulators to work together, not just to share best practice, but in …
Social casino developer Plumbee has expanded its Mirrorball Slots Platform with the addition of “Mermaid’s Treasure” developed by Platipus Gaming and now live on Facebook. Landing three scatter symbols will trigger seven free spins, during which time the first reel will be fully wild. Every free spin Mermaid on the reels following will create a …
Isle of Man software provider Microgaming has tantalised with two new graphic-rich preview titles “Titans of the Sun, Theia” and “Titans of the Sun, Hyperion” due for release on the Quickfire platform in October. Both games feature Wild and Scatter symbols alongside a host of mythical symbols. The 15-line God and Goddess-themed titles offer a …
“Super Graphics Super Lucky” is the latest release from British gaming firm Realistic Games. The new three-reel title, released across Phone, tablet and desktop, carries a Japanese capsule vending machine theme and is the sister-game to the company’s successful “Super Graphics Upside Down” title. A bonus round includes 12 free spins, a progressive multiplier and …
Czech social democrat parties ANO and Christian Democrats have agreed changes to a proposed rise in betting industry tax from 25 percent to 23 percent, Reuters reports. The lower increase in betting tax, which currently stands at 20 percent , will significantly benefit market leaders such as Fortuna Entertainment Group. “We agreed in the coalition …
The Canadian online gambling group NYX Gaming has confirmed the appointment of Leon Thomas as its managing director of US operations (see previous reports). Thomas joins the Toronto listed group following a four month period as a marketing consultant to Caesars Interactive Entertainment. He will be charged with leading NYX’s commercial development with US clients, …
The Swedish online gambling software provider NetEnt has received a transactional waiver from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, allowing it to launch its digital gaming products via the Borgata and bwin.party brands. Having applied to the DGE for a Casino Service Industry Enterprise Licence earlier this year, the transactional waiver permits NetEnt Americas …
Gambling statistics for August 2015 released by the Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau Tuesday show that for the fifteenth consecutive month revenues fell…this time by 35.5 percent year-on-year as the regional crackdown on corruption and a pronounced economic slowdown continued. The number of visitors from China slumped by 6.1 percent in July. Reuters reports …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfCm6PJuL5I The independent television advertising monitor iSpotTV reports that daily fantasy sport provider DraftKings continues to spend big, over the last seven days investing $15.93 million – an average of over $2 million a day – and more than the previous week (see earlier reports). This sort of marketing investment positions the DFS operator up …
The California Gambling Control Commission continued to lose top management experience and talent this week when its high-profile executive director Richard Schuetz headed for greener pastures in the Bahamas. Our readers will recall the conflict of interest considerations earlier this year which resulted in the resignations of Commissioner Tina Littleton and later Commission chief Richard …
Quebec’s online and land gambling operator Loto Quebec has started fiscal 2015-2016 with a bang, reporting that its Q1-2015 ended June 29 recorded higher revenues and net earnings. Revenues reaching Cdn$860.5 million (+0.9 percent) and net earnings of $298 .7 million (+2.6 percent), whilst tight resource management helped reduce total expenses by $9 million (-3.7 …