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, …
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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) * …
Police in the Taiwanese city of Tanchung have used camera surveillance footage from a number of sources to quickly track down two men believed to be complicit in the kidnapping and murder of wealthy gambling and business entrepreneur Shih Chia-chin (57) (see previous report). Barely a day after Shih’s body was found in a ditch …
Following growing player and affiliate interest on a number of forums on the radical and rapid changes at Club Gold online casino (see previous reports), the management has issued a rather belated communication to marketing affiliates, blaming bonus inflexibility for its sudden switch to a largely unknown software. The communication, allegedly signed by affiliate manager …
Moves by the National Conference of State Legislatures this week should give US federal politicians like Sen. Lindsey Graham and Rep. Jason Chaffetz pause for thought in their attempts to push through a resurrection of the Wire Act that would effectively ban most forms of online gambling. The NCSL has on a number of occasions …
UK National Lottery operator Camelot found itself on the wrong side of the UK Gambling Commission earlier this week. Following a Lotto draw on 19 October 2013, Camelot incorrectly calculated the Lotto jackpot prize tier. The draw originally broadcast a jackpot of GBP 6.2 million which was subsequently recalculated to GBP 4.8 million. Three punters …
The Latvian Lotteries and Gambling Supervision Inspection (IAUI) has issued another update to its list of blocked domains which was introduced at the beginning of this month. The latest to be added comprise twenty-two domains that include netbet.com, pokerheaven.com, redbet.com, whitebet.com, lv.unibet.com, heypoker.com, comeon.com and four Sky Bet destinations. Latvia’s list currently comprises around 82 …
Australian gaming firm Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd delivered strong full year results to June 30, 2014, reporting an 18 percent increase in profit after tax to A$61.6 million. The Group achieved its fifth consecutive year of double digit revenue growth with sales revenue amounting to A$244.1 million, a 23 percent increase over 2013. Other key …
Net Entertainment has released “Attraction”, a new electromagnetic video slot set deep underground in a secret lab filled with computer screens, glowing lights and tangled wires. The game is a 5-reel, 3-row, 10-line video slot featuring the Magnet, the main feature of the game. The Magnet feature works together with the Wild symbols to activate …
Scandinavian operator Tivoli A/S has launched Tivoli Casino.com expanding its Danish focus to an International audience. As with Tivoli’s Danish-facing operation, this destination is driven too by Play’nGO’s independent GAT e-gaming platform. ” With the launch of TivoliCasino.com, we are incredibly excited to be able to offer our guests the unique Tivoli experience, not just …
UK operator Gala Coral said its online performance boosted strong growth in its quarter three results. Key performance indicators for the 12 week period ending July 5, 2014 include: – Total group EBITDA of GBP 67.2 million (Q3/2013: GBP 56.9 million), up 18 percent. – An increase of 15 percent in continuing operations turnover to …
Playtech has extended its existing partnership with Sky Bet providing the operator with casino and live dealer products. Sky Bet customers will have access to Playtech’s casino games library along with a live casino offering that will provide branded and customised content. “We are delighted to launch Sky Casino where our customers will enjoy a …
Microgaming and Quickfire operators have much to look forward to in September, with a trio of new online slots set for release by the online gambling software developer in the new So Much More themed series. The first three new games are So Many Monsters, So Much Candy and So Much Sushi, each with a …
The Swedish online gambling and lottery games developer Yggdrasil Gaming has entered the Swedish regulated gaming market via a collaborative project with Svenska Klubbspel AB – the joint venture between media partner Metro and casino operator Cherry – to deliver bespoke lottery gaming products in support of a number of Swedish beneficiaries and the non-profit …