The major banking group HSBC has placed a ban on its customers using their bank credit cards for online gambling transactions, citing concerns at the spread of unlicensed gambling, according to reports over the weekend in the Malta Independent Online news site. The publication reports that Maltco, the island’s lottery provider, has advised agents to …
In what has become a political rather than practical battle in the Minnesota Legislature, House representatives have joined their Senate counterparts in voting 126-2 for a bill halting the state lottery’s expansion into online gaming (see previous reports). Comments by politicians after the vote illustrate the real reason for the reversal of a successful state …
A company titled Buck & Butler, aided by OddsMatrix operational expertise and licensed in Malta, has started generating pre-launch publicity for its new Nordic-facing online casino, as yet apparently un-named. The casino and sportsbook enterprise will be powered by Net Entertainment and Omi Gaming software and initially will be available in English and Norwegian language …
Three Canadian men arrested as part of the combined police action against illegal online sports betting dubbed Operation Amethyst (see previous report) pleaded guilty before an Ottawa judge Friday and now await sentencing. Alleged ringleader Benedetto “Car Wash Boy” Manasseri (50) and associates Stephen Parrish (36) and Domenico Arecchi (48) appeared before Judge Hugh Fraser, …
Things can move quickly in the Minnesota legislature when there’s the political will to make things happen; Thursday’s compromise solution on the issue of the state lottery’s online activities was quickly translated into a Senate vote Friday in which 56 vs. 5 senators voted for the compromise, sending the bill on to the House for …
The National Council of Legislators from Gaming States released its much-anticipated framework for standards in online gambling at state level Friday, presenting a guide for lawmakers in individual US states who are considering or intend to consider the legalisation of internet gambling. The Council stresses that it has not taken a position on the question …
The need for alternative tax revenue sources to help fix South Carolina’s disintegrating road network has prompted the state’s Democratic Party to ask state residents for their views on internet gambling legalisation, reports the WLTX television station. The referendum envisaged by the party in the June ballot will ask whether the $20 billion road and …
NextGen Gaming, the Sydney, Australia based games studio of NYX Gaming Group, has announced the first in a series of multi-channel launches of slot titles to Gala Coral. Leading the way is the popular slot Foxin’ Wins, which this week debuted on terminals across the Coral UK LBO estate, online and mobile simultaneously. The extended …
Calls for legislation halting the expansion of Minnesota lottery games via the internet and mobile channels (see previous reports) resulted last week in the House voting against such a ban, whilst the Senate wished to impose one. To find some common ground, three members each from the Senate and the House met Thursday as a …
The Montreal-based online and land gambling software provider Amaya Gaming has posted a set of Q1-2014 results that show strong revenue growth compared to the same quarter in 2013…but reports that adjusted net earnings at Cdn 3.3 million are down on the Cdn$3.8 million earned in Q1-2013. Highlights of the quarter included: * Revenue of …
Ramesh Srinivasan is out and Richard Haddrill is back in the chief executive officer hot seat at Bally Technologies in what appears to be an amicable rearrangement which also sees Srinivasan stepping down from the board of the online and land gambling supplier. Announcing the change without explanation Friday, the new chairman of the board, …
Novomatic’s online gambling software subsidiary Greentube has launched its turnkey private label social casino marketing platform, Greentube Pro. Designed to enhance player retention and boost new player acquisition for land-based casinos, Greentube Pro integrates loyalty strategies with the mass appeal of online and mobile play into a custom branded experience. Greentube Pro engages with players …
With the legalisation of online gambling in the Netherlands now in sight, the Dutch state lottery (Staatsloterij) has announced that it plans to offer new types of games on the internet in the near future. The Dutch Remote Gaming Act is scheduled for implementation next year, creating opportunities for both domestic and EU operators to …
Online slots fans can take a peek at what looks like an outstanding forthcoming attraction from the Isle of Man-based internet gambling software developer Microgaming here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUZIplf0Xg0 It’s Microgaming’s branded take on the blockbusting Terminator movies featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger and a host of super-functional and deadly other characters, all wrapped around a 5-reel, 243 ways-to-win …
In what is being seen as a reaction to activist investor Jason Ader’s SpringOwl Investments proposal to replace four of the directors on Bwin.Party Digital Entertainment’s board (see previous reports), Bwin announced Friday that it is in the process of making directorate changes itself. In a rather wordy press statement, the company described how chairman-elect …
The UK-based online gambling operator bet365 has extended its sponsorship of two flat races at Britain’s Haydock Park course. The new deals run until the end of 2014, and are for the two feature races during the course’s 7 July meeting, the Old Newton Cup and the Lancashire Oaks. As a result of the new …
Online and retail bookmaking companies in Australia will soon feel the sting of substantially increased fees following the announcement today (Friday) by Racing Victoria that it will adopt a blended model in charging what is known as ”race-fields” fees in order to garner more income in particular from the fast-growing online bookmakers. Fees for online …
The US Department of Justice and the national sports leagues opposing New Jersey’s attempt to implement sports betting in the Garden State despite the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act have submitted their response to the New Jersey appeal for a Supreme Court hearing to finalise the issue. In their response, the organisations claim …
Former California Assembly Speaker and mayor of San Francisco, Willie Brown, has switched sides in the battle for online gambling, taking a 180 degree about turn from supporting legalised online poker to seeking a blanket federal ban after joining land casino baron Sheldon Adelson’s Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling. Brown will also be working against …
After three years of running the outsourced Illinois state lottery, operating firm Northstar is still catching flak for not meeting its projections for the lottery…and failure to meet targets has resulted in penalties of $60 million being paid to the state, according to Gov. Pat Quinn’s office. This week state Representative Jack Franks again shone …
In a statement Thursday the Remote Gaming Association welcomed the main findings of a European Commission funded study on sports organisers’ rights in the European Union. The study concluded that there is no legal basis nor rationale for an EU-wide right to consent to bets (i.e. “sports betting right”), and that the French sports betting …
Gaming Realms, a UK company that creates and develops interactive next-generation online gambling games delivered via mobile, tablet and desktop computers, has announced the appointment to its board of Atul Bali as a non-executive director. Bali was recently in the news following his appointment as president of Real Networks’ games division (see previous report) and …
The British government’s bill requiring all online gambling operators accessing the UK punter to take out licensing with the Gambling Commission and pay British taxes has successfully passed the Royal Assent stage and now moves closer to implementation. Operators seeking to comply with the UK Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill have had online access to …
Online gambling operator MyBet Holdings has posted a set of weak Q1-2014 results with revenues 8 percent down on the same period last year. However, a 1.2 percent increase in sports betting to Euro 10.7 million helped to reduce the impact of poor online casino and poker results, where revenues dived 16.5 percent to Euro …