Gambling news - page 852

Alabama man pleads guilty to online sports betting offences

29 Aug 2014

Birmingham, Alabama and federal enforcement officials have revealed that Mark Andrew Edmondson (39) has entered a plea agreement on charges associated with online sportsbetting. Prosecutors allege that Edmondson operated the betting website Betkill.net for three years and profited by $67,000 – an amount which is now subject to forfeiture. The online bookie will be arraigned …

Read now

Dolly slot now more widely available

28 Aug 2014

For some months the Leander Games slot themed on country and western singer Dolly Parton has been exclusive online at Gala Casino, but this popular product is now more widely available. The latest operator to offer the game is Unibet, where players can enjoy its different bonus games, free spins, wilds and scatters backed by …

Read now

Online version of Cash Coaster slot launched

28 Aug 2014

For several years land slot fans have enjoyed IGT’s colourful, funfair-themed Cash Coaster slot, which has now been launched in online format at operators like Kerching Casino and Vera & John casino. The central theme graphic and sound effects are focused on a roller coaster, which can turn reels Wild as it dives and climbs, …

Read now

New chief marketing officer for Betclic

28 Aug 2014

The Betclic Everest online gambling group has appointed Henrik Svensson, formerly marketing executive for the Mr Green Casino group, as chief marketing officer. Svensson will oversee development marketing and commercial projects, commencing work at Betclic on September 1 and working with both the London and Malta offices. Welcoming Svensson, Betclic Everest CEO Isabelle Andrès said: …

Read now

SoftSwiss power for new online casino

28 Aug 2014

Princess Casinos International, which operates 36 land casinos around the world, is to enter the online casino and sports betting world with Princess Casino Online, powered by Austrian online gambling software developer SoftSwiss. The new online business will be targeting its existing players visiting the operator’s network of land-based locations, and will also cover the …

Read now

Chief exec change at major U.S. online and land racing firm

28 Aug 2014

Top US internet and land gaming and racing operator Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) has appointed William Carstanjen as its new CEO. In a statement Wednesday, the company announced that incumbent Robert Evans will stand down  but continue to serve the group as chairman of the board of directors. Previously CDI’s chief operating officer and president, …

Read now

Street football in latest Betfred television advert

28 Aug 2014

Two middle-aged football punters move along an urban street showing their skills at keeping the ball in the air in the latest Betfred television advert, devised by the Brothers and Sisters agency. The marketing publication The Drum reports that the UK betting group is looking to align its brand with entertainment in its latest campaign, …

Read now

Gambling revenues in Nevada edge up

28 Aug 2014

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has released gambling statistics for the month of July, reporting that revenues were up less than 1 percent compared with the same month last year. The state’s casinos brought in $932 million, with the Las Vegas Strip up 5 percent to $563 million, while downtown Las Vegas revenue declined 3 …

Read now

Live dealer adds live baccarat to portfolio

28 Aug 2014

The Manila-based live dealer technology provider Entwine Tech has announced the addition of a new VIP baccarat game to its portfolio. Company spokesman Ian Dunning says the new offering has been designed to offer an unrivalled experience for VIP players at licensee websites, and provides gaming operators with a new tool to market and enhance …

Read now

Macau land casino warns on trademarks

28 Aug 2014

Following the example set by several US land gambling groups, Macau-based casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd has fired a general warning shot across the bows of online casino operators that it says are infringing its trademark rights. In a public notice, the company warns: “Recently, it came to our attention that our hotels and/or …

Read now

Playtech continues to shine

28 Aug 2014

Playtech plc, a UK-listed online gambling software provider, has filed its interim results for the six months to June 30 2014, underlining an impressive financial performance and solid business deals in ket markets. H1-2014 financial highlights include: * Total revenues up by 21.2 percent to Euro 214.4 million (H1-2013: Euro 176.8 million) * Adjusted EBITDA …

Read now

Strong growth at Paddy Power plc

28 Aug 2014

Online and land gambling group Paddy Power plc has released its H1-2014 results for the six months ended 30 June 2014, underlining strong growth but a decline in operating profit following adverse sports results. Highlights from the report include: * Strong and accelerated growth with sportsbook stakes up 17 percent; * Online active customers up …

Read now

Fortuna earnings rise

28 Aug 2014

The Czech betting company Fortuna Entertainment Group has posted H1-2014 results that include a 16.4 percent increase in EBITDA, thanks to the additional business flowing from the FIFA World Cup held earlier this year in Brazil. Amounts wagered rose 20.8 percent to Euro 333.2 million, with gross winnings up 14.7 percent to Euros 65.9 million, …

Read now

British government to consult on betting levy

28 Aug 2014

The often controversial topic of the UK betting levy is again in the British media headlines this week following the announcement by Sports Minister Helen Grant of a consultation on modernising the levy. The 10-week consultation will ask for views on two options – reforming the existing levy or replacing it with a bespoke statutory …

Read now

Are gamblers greedy bird brains?

28 Aug 2014

Psychologists at Warwick University in the United Kingdom say the risky decisions that gamblers make are similar to the tendencies of greedy pigeons! Reporting on the results of the university study, United Press International records that the academic researchers put gamblers and pigeons through a series of tests, or chance games, featuring high-risk-high-reward decision making. …

Read now

Swedish gambling declines in first half 2014

28 Aug 2014

Sweden’s restrictive gambling regulatory regime continues to hobble the industry in the Nordic nation, with Lotteriinspektionen – Sweden’s gambling and lottery authority – reporting this week that in the first half of 2014 revenues declined by 3 percent compared to H1-2013. Only sports betting showed positive results, with all other verticals delivering at best a …

Read now

OPAP results hit by 2010 tax demand

28 Aug 2014

Earlier this week the privatised Greek gambling monopoly OPAP warned the market that a tax demand dating from 2010 would impact its quarterly earnings (see previous report), and that proved to be the case Wednesday, when the operator booked a Euro 29.6 million tax debit, explaining that historically it had negotiated a deferred payment with …

Read now

Fruit and ice cream from Thunderkick and Net Entertainment

28 Aug 2014

Stockholm-based games developer Thunderkick has pumped out another new and innovative slot this week in Sunny Scoops, a game with an ice cream theme presented through sharp and colourful graphics. The theme includes a bonus feature attached to each flavour, and Thunderkick’s unusual horizontal dynamic “reels” and clean, minimalistic lay-out. A demo is available on …

Read now

Record annual revenues for Bally Tech

28 Aug 2014

Bally Technologies, Inc., a major US gambling equipment and content supplier, has posted its fiscal FY 2014 results, highlighting record revenues up 22 percent to $1.2 billion, pushed by increases of 30 percent in systems revenue and a stand-out performance from wide area progressive network revenues. The company reported that its quarter ended June 30 …

Read now

ASA rules on Betdaq religious faux pas

27 Aug 2014

Betdaq.com’s advert featuring Christ the Redeemer during the World Cup 2014 was reviewed by the UK Advertising Standards Authority following a complaint that objected to the use of an image of Jesus Christ to promote gambling. Ladbrokes International Ltd trading as Betdaq featured an image of the statue with the surrounding city of Rio de …

Read now

New game releases

27 Aug 2014

Williams Interactive has released “Roman Chariots” to its Remote Game Server, the first game powered by the offline game engine, Supercharged Reels. Games powered by this engine feature three miniature bonus reel sets above the main slot game.  One or more of these sets will charge up with win multipliers each time Wild symbols fill …

Read now

Cherry AB reports muted half year performance

27 Aug 2014

Stockholm-based online gambling group Cherry AB has reported its half year results to 30 June 2014, with record turnover numbers, but declines in EBITDA. Highlights of the group’s Q2-2014 include: * Group turnover up by 24 percent to SEK 76.4 million (61.6). * EBITDA down SEK 4.1 million (-9.2). * Profit after tax down SEK …

Read now

West Virginia state lottery mulls online operations

27 Aug 2014

Worried by out-of-state gambling competition, the West Virginia State Lottery is giving serious consideration to the introduction of online and mobile wagering and gaming facilities. Lottery director John Musgrave told members of the state Lottery Commission Tuesday that officials met with state land casino executives and their technical staff last month to discuss potential intrastate …

Read now

888 Holdings reports a good H1-2014

27 Aug 2014

Online gambling group 888 Holdings plc has posted its H1-2014 results for the six months ended 30 June 2014, highlighting another successful reporting period that included the following highlights: * Revenue increased 13 percent to $225.1 million (H1 2013: $200.1 million) * B2C revenue increased 9 percent to $192.8 million (H1 2013: $177 million) * …

Read now