The main trade associations for each of the five sectors of the UK gambling industry have been working together for some time on responsible gambling initiatives, according to a joint statement released Thursday by a new body titled Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG). The establishment of IGRG formalises those arrangements and provides a structure …
A political debate on taking the national lottery online is shaping up in Sri Lanka as the Marxist-leaning Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party seeks more open access to information on the ruling party’s project. In parliament this week MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the JVP called on the government to disclose details of the new scheme, …
The troubled land and online gambling group Ladbrokes released its formal annual report this week, confirming earlier warnings that it was not going to make happy reading for investors. The group continues to trail behind its peers in the online and mobile sectors, with just 15.7 percent (down slightly at GBP 175 million) of overall …
The major UK tabloid The Sun, which already has online and mobile gambling deals in place with Gamesys and LeoVegas (see previous reports) is reportedly about to clinch a new white label sports betting deal with Gibraltar-based BetVictor. The tabloid joins rivals like The Guardian, which recently sealed an agreement with FSBTechnology for an online …
The sale by Erik Voorhees of the controlling interest in Bitcoin-denominated online gambling company SatoshiDice.com (see previous reports) appears to be under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a report in Bloomberg business news. Voorhees revealed last July that he had sold the shares in a Bitcoin-denominated deal to an anonymous …
The introduction of two bills seeking a federal ban on all online gambling – including online poker – is reportedly imminent, with Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz set to follow the earlier announced initiative (see previous reports) of Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The Washington DC publication Politico reports that Graham, who announced his intention …
Sports gaming information portal VegasInsider.com will soon offer a self-branded daily fantasy sports platform in partnership with MGT Capital Investments Inc. Under the terms of the deal, MGT subsidiaries FanTD LLC and MGT Sports Inc will exclusively provide the technology infrastructure in a revenue-sharing agreement with VegasInsider.com who said it “has been eyeing the fantasy …
The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) has restated its view that a rate of 15 percent for the new UK point of consumption (POC) tax is too high; and has expressed its concern that the regime still does not appear to make allowances for bonuses and incentives. This heightens the risk that British licensees will lose …
The UK Gambling Commission has strengthened its senior team in anticipation of the implementation of changes in the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill. Sue Harley, Ladbrokes’ Customer Services Director will join the Commission early next month on a fixed-term contract. As an Executive Director, she will take on responsibility for a broad policy and management …
The House of Lords addressed the third reading of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Bill Tuesday, giving it a final chance to ‘tidy up’ the bill and make changes. A Government amendment to extend the horserace betting levy scheme to offshore bookmakers, was discussed along with the Government’s pledge to develop wider levy reform options …
Paddy Power’s controversial advert that appeared in a UK newspaper at the start of the South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial has been ruled as bringing advertising into disrepute by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The advert garnered an unprecedented number of complaints forcing the ASA to step in and …
Spanish media company MARCA has partnered with London-based social betting technology supplier Oddslife Ltd for the launch of “MARCA EL GURU”, a customised social sportsbook platform that allows users to engage and compete with each other using their knowledge of sports. The social sports solution brings players missions, profile badges, virtual trophies, leveling up and …
Realistic Games has moved to strengthen its commercial team with the appointment of Abid Riaz. The former Ladbrokes and Betsson Head of VIP will manage the expanding supplier’s operation in Gibraltar after they were granted a B2B Remote Gambling Licence. Riaz will work closely with existing customers and support the recruitment of new ones for …
According to the publication Dutch Media News, Endemol’s UK managing director Jurian van der Meer (42) will return to the Netherlands on April 1 this year to take over as group commercial director responsible for concepts and licensing as the Dutch government closes in on the regulation and licensing of online gambling. Van der Meer’s …
Questions around the monopolistic nature of Swedish online gambling are again under the spotlight as the remote gambling industry trade body European Gaming and Betting Association again urges the European Commission to trigger infringement proceedings, and the Swedes stall for more time to comply with EU norms through reform measures, promising that changes might be …
The Bahamas government continues to dither on the issue of whether to legalise and tax the currently illegal web shops (informal outlets that facilitate betting on US lotteries) and the establishment of a national lottery. Back in 2012 the Progressive Liberal Party won the national elections and took power, and early in the following year …
The latest filings on Teddy Sagi’s SafeCharge plans for a $100 million IPO on London’s AIM exchange (see previous reports) indicate that the float is being scheduled for early next (April) month. SafeCharge International Group Limited is a payment partner across a diversified, blue chip client base, according to the announcement. The group is a …
Australian land casino operator Crown Resorts, which is currently Betfair’s equal partner in its Australian enterprise, has indicated that it is interested in taking full ownership by boosting its shareholding from 50 percent to 100 percent, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. If successful, the move would give Crown full control …
The Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with FIFA subsidiary Early Warning System GmbH (EWS) in anticipation of the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil competition. The MoU agrees close cooperation between the two bodies for the early detection of suspicious activities in sports betting which includes the …
San Francisco-situated social casino gaming firm Idle Gaming (formerly Idle Games) has launched its second social product titled Slots of Fun to accompany its popular Fresh Deck Poker app launched early last year. Slots of Fun is available as a free download in the Apple iTunes App Store and on Google Play, the company claims …
ISIS Lab Corporation has appointed Dmitri Dain, the former head of PokerStars software development arm PYR Software, as its chief technology officer (CTO). Dain has almost two decades of experience in both the private company and public company sector. Prior to PYR Software he served as CTO of E*Trade Israel, MIS manager of AVX Corporation …
Fiona Thorne has been appointed by the Gala Coral Group in the newly created role of Corporate Affairs Director. Thorne, the former chief executive officer of Fishburn Hedges, will take up the role in early April and report to Gala Coral Group chief executive officer Carl Leaver. She will be responsible for the development and …
Fairfax Media’s The Sydney Morning Herald reports Crown Limited is set to buy-out Betfair UK’s 50 percent share of Betfair Australia, a joint venture between the two companies. Betfair is apparently keen to offload its share of a business that has been less profitable than it had initially hoped, unlike rivals Paddy Power and William …
Yggdrasil Gaming has closed a deal with the major online gambling group Unibet to provide its full games portfolio. Unibet is the largest operator Yggdrasil Gaming has partnered with to date and a fast growing business in the European regulated gaming market, having posted record earnings in 2013. In its most recent results its fourth …