South African MP and member of the official opposition, Geordin Hill-Lewis, is nothing if not determined and is taking another run at legalising online gambling with a private member’s bill despite government’s avowed opposition to the concept. Zodwa Ntuli, deputy director-general for the Department of Trade and Industry, reiterated government’s opposition to the idea this …
The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission and the Netherlands Gaming Authority have signed a Letter of Intent expressing a mutual wish to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding once online gambling has been legalised under the Gaming and Betting Act in The Netherlands. Spokesmen for the two bodies said the LOI is a precursor …
The UK online betting group Skybet is interested in further involvement in Football League sponsorship going into 2017, possibly for two further seasons when its current agreements are completed, the League announced this week. The company is the title sponsor of the Sky Bet Championship, Sky Bet League 1 and Sky Bet League 2 for …
The recently London-listed online bingo operator Stride Gaming achieved impressive growth, according to its half-year report for the period ended February 28 this year. CEO Eitan Boyd reported that NGR came in at GBP 11.7 million – a significant 173 percent increase on the corresponding period in 2013-14, whilst EBITDA was recorded at GBP 3.6 …
Sportech plc announced Thursday that it has agreed to sell its stake in a 50-50 venture with NYX Gaming to its partner in the social gaming joint venture for GBP 12 million. The purchase price will be made up of GBP 5.2 million, 2.2 million NYX ordinary shares equating to an aggregate value of GBP …
The listed British online gambling group Betfair plc has announced the appointment of chief operating officer, Mark Brooker, to the Board as an executive director, effective June 1 2015. Brooker has held the management responsibility as COO since April 2014, having joined Betfair in March 2010. He was previously managing director of the company’s Sportsbook …
The Kiron Interactive and Vermantia partnership has launched its virtual games TV channel with two operators in East Africa. Uganda’s Kings Bet and BETnSport are the country’s first retail bookmakers to take the premium service, which went live with Nigeria’s largest operator, Nairabet, last month . The virtual solution, which features human commentary, showcases Kiron’s …
Online financial transactions provider Optimal Payments plc has announced the acquisition of Montreal-based mobile platform developer FANS Entertainment Inc. for a consideration of Cdn$16 million. The consideration is payable to the vendors by issuing 3,163,633 shares in a subsidiary of Optimal Payments which are exchangeable on a one-for-one basis into shares of Optimal Payments over …
The UK spreadbetting firm Plus500’s run-in with the Financial Conduct Authority over money laundering precaution shortcomings (see previous report) caused more red faces this week at the company’s annual meeting when CEO Gal Haber found himself apologising for what he admitted were “major failings” at the company. These failures have resulted in tens of thousands …
The tenth and latest Global Gambling Report from the Isle of Man-based consultancy Global Betting and Gaming, claims that global gambling revenues surpassed US $450 billion in 2014, growing 3.2 percent compared to the previous year. Asia continues to hold the top spot, accounting for almost 33 percent of global gambling revenues, the report notes. …
Pennsylvania Representatives John Payne and Nick Kotik, strong supporters of legalised online gambling in their state, used the publication PennLive.com to lay out the benefits of online gambling legalisation in an op-ed piece this week. The duo align the current situation in Pennsylvania with that which existed a decade ago, when the state allowed the …
The Italian regulator Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli’s latest report illustrates that illegal activity in the Italian online gambling market is an increasingly hazardous and risky business. State officials blocked more than 5,200 online gambling sites in 2014, and 114 prosecutions resulted in the imposition of 98 penalties amounting to Euro 907,999. The report …
The East Coast Gaming Congress in Atlantic City opened this week with a panel discussion on internet gambling in which delegates were told great potential exists despite current challenges that include political uncertainty, difficulties with credit card companies and opposition from a reactionary land casino mogul with money to burn. And improvements are gradually taking …
Susan O’Leary has been appointed by the States of Alderney as director of eCommerce effective August 2015. She replaces Robin Le Prevostwho has held the position since 2006. O’Leary will concentrate primarily on promoting the jurisdiction as the centre of choice for eGambling operators under the regulatory regime of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC). …
Rival Gaming has launched its newest 50-line, 5-reel video slot based on the classic novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. The “World of Oz” slot features the famous Dorothy who is magically albeit strangely teleported by tornado from Kansas to the magical world beyond the rainbow accompanied by her canine pal Toto. Players will meet …
French operator Pari Mutuel Urban (PMU) has revamped its brand strategy instilling a sense of fun and vibrancy as it progresses its strategic transformation plan. Set for launch at the end of this week, PMU’s extensive new global branding and positioning centres around the bettor and their emotions and utilises the strapline “PMU, live your …
Amaya Gaming Group will begin trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 8, 2015. The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) approved the listing of Amaya’s common shares under the symbol “AYA”. The company’s common shares will also continue trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AYA. “Our listing on the Nasdaq …
Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul Jockey Club will launch a totalising system allowing the simultaneous transmission of horse racing in Brazil and Uruguay with real-time interaction. Customers situated in Brazil and Uruguay will be able to bet into the new common betting system which will link wagering from races taking place in the Cristal Race …
A Bear Group Limited, SpinGenie.com TV ad and website promotion has been censured by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for appealing to under-18’s. The TV ad invites viewers into a “world of magic and fun featuring animated coins, treasure and a mythical island while the website promotion showed an animated dog called Spin along …
BetConstruct is offering potential customers the opportunity to trial their own online gaming website at no charge. Prospective clients can create a fully functional betting and gaming website complete with a choice of user interface without having specialist technical skills. “Providing immediate and straightforward access to a customised gaming website is part of a wider …
Norwegian independent gaming developer Afternorth has partnered monetisation platform CashPlay allowing play in real money tournaments on its Game of Words. A new “Play for Cash” functionality allows players to match their skills against opponents worldwide while playing for real-money. To kick off, new users playing the game can play for free and win a …
James Henderson, chief executive of William Hill, will succeed former Ladbrokes chief executive officer Richard Glynn on the Responsible Gambling Trust’s Board of Trustees. “In recent years we have had representatives from Coral and Ladbrokes on the Board of Trustees and James will ensure that we continue to benefit from the experience and knowledge of …
The possible sell-off of Gala Coral’s 132-club bingo interests in the UK – said to be worth around GBP 250 million – is progressing well, with several suitors lined up, according to British media reports. Aside from the management buy-out offer led by Gala Bingo managing director Simon Wykes, media reports indicate that the Gauselmann …
Federal prosecutors in Nevada must be feeling frustrated after their new conspiracy charge against Paul Phua suffered an evidentiary setback Tuesday in a Nevada court. For the past year Phua has been fighting a battery of charges emanating from alleged illegal sports betting activity in Las Vegas at the time of last year’s World Cup …