A news item from South Korea intrigued many gambling observers this week, referring to a noisy demonstration by famers against moves by the government to reduce risk for problem gamblers by the introduction of e-cards. Why would farmers have such a lively interest in the issue? The answer is that the Emergency Committee of Farmers, …
2014 proved to be another good year for Playtech plc, the Isle of Man-based online gambling software developer, which posted its full year audited results Thursday. Financial highlights included: * Revenue up 24 percent to a record Euro 457 million (2013: Euro 367.2 million) * Adjusted EBITDA up 30 percent to a record Euro 207.1 …
The long wait on the finalisation of Portugal’s online gambling laws may be over, if speculation in local media is to be believed. Several reports suggest that the reforms, which have languished in the government’s Council of Ministers for months, may be implemented before the end of February. The last-known content of the bill included: …
Big Fish Games, a Seattle-based social gaming company acquired late last year by Churchill Downs Inc., for $13.9 million (see previous reports) turned in an impressive performance in the fourth quarter and FY results posted by CDI this week. Big Fish generated Adjusted EBITDA of $3.8 million since acquisition. Including the pre-acquisition results, Big Fish …
The online betting operations of the Coral UK gambling group are currently under fire following player complaints that misleading bets advertised on its website had prejudiced players, but that the company had refused to approve refunds of deposits. Reporting on the row, the publication Information Age recounted that the incidents concern confusion over bets on …
Republican Representative John Payne has wasted no time in getting online gambling legalisation on to the agenda in this year’s sitting of the Pennsylvania Legislature, introducing his bill HB 649 to the House, although the full content has yet to be seen. Rep. Payne has revealed that the provisions include: * 14 percent tax on …
Three Oregon men, Binh Hoang, Kiet Anh Vo and Vinh T. Nguyen – pleaded not guilty on illegal sports betting and money laundering charges this week when they appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta in Portland. Judge Acosta noted the pleas for a subsequent trial and allowed the men to remain out of …
Atlantic City casino operator Resorts Casino Hotel has been given the greenlight for internet gambling operations by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement after a comprehensive five-day test period overseen by DGE inspectors. Our readers will recall that Resorts is a potential partner for Pokerstars, when and if that company can secure DGE approval, …
The Hong Kong-based and China-focused online lottery provider 500.com suffered a 15 percent decline in its share price this week amid rumours that the Chinese government could revoke its the licence. It was the biggest hammering the shares have taken in the past year, and took place despite, or perhaps as a result of, an …
WinADay has released its latest proprietary slot a 15-payline cosmic-themed offer titled “StarDust”. “This one sort of falls somewhere in between our premium games and the penny slots,” said WinADay casino manager Michael Hilary. “It’s a fairly basic game, but we did include a cool bonus game that our players love – a chance to …
Telematic Interactive-owned and freshly Bulgaria-licensed eCasino.bg has taken on Casino Technology’s LEOPARD Online Gaming Platform in a bid to rapidly expand its operations and customer base. The new online casino initially launched with Casino Technology games streamed by the company’s ELEPHANT™ Remote Game Server. “LEOPARD™” is marketed at offering customers all the tools needed to …
Apollo Entertainment Ltd-owned Casino Classic was in the hot seat this week when the UK Advertising Standards Authority assessed a complaint that challenged an e-mail promotion recruiting new customers to the online wagering website. The promotion was headed “Play Casino with a £500 FREE Casino Bonus £500 FREE No Deposit Required”. Text in the body …
666Bet-owned Metroplay has launched a new BetConstruct sportsbook to augment its existing Casino vertical. Metroplay customers now have a choice of over 20,000 live games a month, a newly developed UK horse racing product and more wagering opportunities on non-derivative markets and novelty events.
Germany’s Lottery association, Deutsche Lotto- und Totoblock (DLTB) has criticised Deutsche Telekom’s proposed online sports betting launch (see previous report) saying the media giant is flouting German regulations and will be operating illegally. Deutsche Telekom intends operating its proposed Tipp3.de offer in the German market under its Austrian license saying it is perfectly within its …
After just a year in operation social gaming operator Plumbee is to shutter its Mirrorball Bingo offering on Facebook, closing its in-game coin purchasing facility on March 3 and shutting down by the end of that month. Plumbee CEO Raf Keustermans has explained that the product has not performed as well as had been expected …
Google’s tough restriction of gambling advertising may be taking a more reasonable approach as far as social gaming is concerned following reports this week that the giant search engine is to launch a beta test program with major companies in March. The program involves the acceptance of advertisements for social gaming from selected companies in …
The Nevada-Delaware interstate compact to share player pools to boost online poker liquidity was signed a year ago (see previous reports) yet has still not materialised, but that may be about to change, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. In an interview with Nevada governor Brian Sandoval, the Journal’s Steve Tetreault was informed by …
Republican Representative Robert Cherry’s bid to legalise online horse race betting in Indiana – HB1270 – is making surprisingly good progress, reports the publication The Statehouse File.com. The bill focuses exclusively on horse race betting, and there is apparently little prospect for a wider expansion into online casino or other sports betting. Cherry claims that …
The on again – off again bankruptcy sale of the $2.4 billion Revel Casino Resort in Atlantic City appears to have been successfully concluded, subject to the approval of the local bankruptcy court…and shrewd Florida property developer Glenn Straub has a bargain at $82 million – a hefty discount from his original $95.4 million bid …
The share prices of casino resorts on the Chinese gambling island of Macau went into decline this week as the stats on Chinese New Year gambling proved disappointing, and a local official revealed plans to restrict the number of tourists to the island. The island’s casino operators are already struggling with lower performance numbers brought …
New Jersey Monmouth Park Racetrack has teamed up with Anthem Media Group’s Fantasy Sports Network (FNTSY) in a marketing partnership that will see the launch of a paid Monmouth Park Daily Fantasy Game. The game, which will be developed by an as yet to be selected website game developer and operator, will feature professional sporting …
Online game developer Gamevy has won the inaugural Pitch ICE competition as the start-up with the most potential, earning 32 percent of the 741 public votes cast. An employee-owned company, Gamevy pitched its “BornLucky Gameshows” mobile and tablet app which allow players to be star of their very own gameshow. “The number and strength of …
Mobile casino LeoVegas’ latest marketing strategy was flighted on TV this week, the company’s first foray into this type of media, marking its first anniversary doing business in the UK. In addition, the company released 999 red helium balloons, 200 of which were carrying GBP 5 notes, in celebration of their first year of operation …
Deutsche Telekom, through its recently acquired 64 percent stake in Deutsche Sportwetten GmbH (DSW), is looking toward cashing in on the estimated multi-billion Euro German sports betting market with the launch of a purely internet-based sports betting offer during the first quarter of the year. DSW founder, Austrian Sportwetten GmbH, (OSW), will retain a minority …