With the completion of its $6.4 billion acquisition of International Game Technology now in sight (see previous reports), GTech has commenced a corporate restructuring dividing the new super-group into four divisions and moving into the future with IGT as the main corporate brand. The company announced this week that the holding company will be titled …
Last year’s hacking attack on a Sheldon Adelson Las Vegas Sands land casino in the USA (see previous reports) was the work of Iranians, the Washington Post reported Thursday, quoting a top US intelligence official. Given Adelson’s voluble and financial support for Israel, his business would appear to be a logical enough target for the …
The next Olympics will see Nevada punters allowed to bet on sports events following a positive vote by the state regulators Thursday. Industry veterans have recalled that Olympic betting was common two decades ago, and proved very popular. The US division of UK bookie William Hill was quick off the mark following the regulatory approval …
After failing to persuade French politicians that shared pools are essential to success in online poker last year and earlier this year (see previous reports) the French regulator ARJEL is taking another run at it, according to various online media reports. This week ARJEL confirmed the reports that it is to seek political support to …
Online gambling will again be front-and-centre in California later this year when the third annual Indian Country Congress meets June 10 in Pala. The intensive one day conference is organised by the Spectrum Gaming Group and Pechanga.net and will take place at the Pala Casino Spa and Resort. Attendees will include tribal gaming operators, gaming …
English online gambler Joshua Walwyn (23) was sentenced by the Bradford Crown Court this week to 2 years in jail for stealing GBP 231,383 from his telecom firm employer Abzorb over a period of two years to feed his online gambling habit. The court was told that the 23-year-old’s criminal conduct – he created false …
A no-show at an open debate on online gambling legalisation in Washington DC this week has left opponents of the concept vulnerable to jibes from the Poker Players Alliance, which spoke on behalf of the industry. The debate, “Full House: Whose Got the Winning Hand?” was arranged as part of the annual Conservative Political Action …
Thursday was an important day for all US Internet users, with the Federal Communications Commission approving 3 to 2 additional “net neutrality” regulations in what has been characterised as a “landmark decision.” The new rules prohibit Internet service providers from discriminating against legal content flowing through their wired or wireless networks, such as by charging …
With internet cafe “sweepstakes” style betting clearly in mind, the Kentucky state Senate has unanimously passed a measure adding internet-access computers to the list of proscribed gambling devices under certain circumstances. The bill, which defines internet-access computers as gambling devices when they are used by businesses in games of chance that pay rewards in money …
666BET will incorporate Metric Gaming’s SuperLive and Bettor Option products into its sportsbook offer following a licensing agreement this week. SuperLive is Metric Gaming’s flagship product which, optimised for mobile devices, deploys HTML5 and push technology for in-play betting. Metric’s Bettor Option is the company’s latest release and offers bettors the option to double their …
Fantasy sports provider DraftKings, Inc. has announced its latest partnership with the UFC, a prominent mixed martial arts organisation. As well as being named UFC’s Official Fantasy Sports Partner, DraftKings will receive prominent stadium and PPV brand placement for all major events, as well as joint promotion across all UFC web properties and social channels. …
The Netherlands gaming authority Kansspelautoriteit has introduced the slogan “Play Responsibly” giving licences and operators across the Dutch gambling sector until July 1, 2015 to integrate the slogan into all advertising and promotional activities.
Vermantia has entered into its second content supply deal this week with independent platform provider Leander Games. Vermantia will integrate its remote game server (‘RGS’) to Leander’s LeGa platform providing its full portfolio of virtual and instant win games. Following integration, Leander will be able to offer its customers an immersive gaming experience, driving player …
Richard Glynn, CEO of the UK online and land gambling group Ladbrokes plc, departs on a decidedly low note this year after a difficult five years at the helm, with the company reporting preliminary FY 2014 results that are hardly stellar. Performance included: * Operating profits down 9.3 percent to GBP125.4 million in 2014; * …
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 …