Gambling news - page 497

Macau revenues continue to improve

1 Apr 2017

The Macau regulator was as usual quick off the mark with gambling revenue numbers as March drew to a close, releasing the latest figures Saturday which showed that revenue rose 18 percent year-on-year in March, besting expectations and making its eighth consecutive monthly improvement. Revenue reached 21.2 billion patacas ($2.6 billion) as the regulator noted …

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New Elk Studios slot features Hong Kong lights

31 Mar 2017

Online gambling games developer ELK Studios is about to launch its latest internationally-themed online slot (the release date is April 5), titled Hong Kong Tower. The five reel, 99 ways-to-win game takes as its theme the internationally famous Hong Kong city night sky, featuring a dazzling display of coloured light from the super-modern towering office …

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Betsson to distribute 50 percent of net earnings to shareholders

31 Mar 2017

The Betsson boad of directors has announced a change in dividend policy designed to complement the company’s growth profile, advising in a stock exchange statement: “Betsson AB’s new dividend policy is applicable as of the financial year 2017. “The Board’s ambition for the ordinary distribution to shareholders is, provided a continued attractive capital structure, to …

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Swedish gambling review recommendations submitted

31 Mar 2017

Lotteriinspektionen director general Håkan Hallstedt, who led an 18-month review of Swedish gambling, has delivered to government the task force’s conclusions and recommendations, in general confirming earlier Reuters insider reports published this week (see previous  reports). Important recommendations from the panel include a proposal that Svenska Spel’s current monopoly over online gambling should be discontinued …

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Hopes in Texas for daily fantasy sports legalisation

31 Mar 2017

Rep. Richard Raymond, a member of the Texas House of Representatives, told local media reporters this week that he has high hopes for his daily fantasy sports legalisation bill, which he claims has the support of everyone with whom he has discussed the issue. Raymond, who plays fantasy sports, introduced HB 1457 in the week …

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Brief reprieve for Aussie betting companies

31 Mar 2017

The controversial Australian Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 will remain inactive for the next few weeks following the House of Representatives recess, which began Thursday. The House reconvenes on May 9 for a week of budget debate, where the bill is widely expected to be approved.

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New tax rates for Antigua-licensed online gambling operators

31 Mar 2017

The much-discussed new tax rates for Antigua-licensed online gambling operators contained in Gambling Amendment Bill 2017 were passed with little dissent in the Antigua Upper House this week. The official Opposition argued briefly that the tax rates should have been higher in order to benefit athletes and address social issues on the island, but the …

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UK Gambling Commission to review POC tax

31 Mar 2017

UK Gambling Commission chief executive Sarah Harrison addressed the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Betting and Gaming this week, advising MPs that the Commission is reviewing the point-of-consumption tax on online gambling operators following two years of experience with the tax measure. The Commission’s mandate is to study how effectively the tax administration framework and purpose …

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Georgia daily fantasy sports on the back burner for now

31 Mar 2017

A daily fantasy sports legalisation bill almost made it through the political gauntlet in the US state of Georgia this week, passing the House but languishing in the Senate when the state legislature adjourned Thursday until next January. The publication Legal Sports Reports claims that supporters of the bill in the Senate were unsure of …

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Kenya government imposes punitive tax on all gambling

31 Mar 2017

The burgeoning Kenya gambling industry has likely been stopped dead in its tracks, and operators are reeling from Thursday’s 2017-2018 budget revelations imposing punitive taxes on gambling companies. Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich appears to have ignored earlier advice from Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner John Njiraini, who has repeatedly warned lawmakers that over-taxing the industry …

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NFL teams ditch daily fantasy sports sponsorships

31 Mar 2017

Yahoo Sports reports that six US National Football League franchises have “severed ties” with daily fantasy sports market leaders DraftKings and FanDuel, raising speculation that the past eighteen months of litigation, bad press regarding unequal competitions and an increased industry focus on over-throwing PASPA may be behind the cancellations. The teams have been identified as …

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Former Amaya chief sells more shares in the company

31 Mar 2017

Following his announcement Thursday that he had just sold off a further 12 million shares in online gambling group Amaya, the company’s former CEO and founder David Baazov is wealthier to the tune of Cdn$ 267.7 million, letting the shares go at an average price of Cdn$ 267.7 million. Baazov, who stepped down last year …

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Australian TV network criticised over gambling adverts

31 Mar 2017

Australia’s Channel Nine television network has been criticised by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) following a complaint from a member of the public that the network screened Crown gambling adverts during the 6.30 pm film The Spiderwick Chronicles on channel 9GO!. The 2008 fantasy film, which Nine screened late last year, carried a …

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Player complaints system needs improvement, says gambling commission

30 Mar 2017

Following a review of complaints systems in the UK gambling industry, regulator the Gambling Commission has called for an improvement in how customer (player) disputes are handled, and urged online gambling operators and ADRs (alternative dispute resolution providers) to up their game. Commenting that the current system is “not working for consumers”, the Commission says …

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Visa Europe experiencing delays due to ‘technical issues’

30 Mar 2017

If you’re wondering why your online casino pay-out in Europe is taking longer to arrive than usual, here’s the reason; Visa Europe has advised merchants that it is experiencing a ‘technical issue” in an advisory sent out this week which explains: “Due to a technical issue on Visa Europe’s side, settlement of funds for Visa …

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Online casino Wunderino takes NextGen games on board

30 Mar 2017

Online gambling software and games provider NYX Gaming advised in a press release Thursday that online casino operator Wunderino has taken on games from NYX subsidiary NextGen Gaming. Wunderino has licensed NextGen Gaming content via NYX’s Open Gaming System (OGS), with the first games already live, and including Foxin’ Wins and Merlin’s Millions Superbet, Doubleplay …

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Malta online gambling affiliate manager handed jail sentence

30 Mar 2017

Christiaan Alexander Van Dalen (41), a former affiliate manager with the Betsson gambling group in Malta has been convicted of fraud, money laundering and other computer-related offences which prosecutors claim prejudiced his employers to the tune of Euro 153,000. The Malta Today newspaper reported Thursday that Van Dalen has been sentenced to six years in …

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American Gaming Association predicts $36.5 billion will be wagered on Major League Baseball in 2017

30 Mar 2017

The American Gaming Association continued its crusade for wider sports betting legalisation in the United States this week, issuing a statement that claims this year’s Major League Baseball competitions will trigger a $36.5 billion wagering spree – 97 percent of it illegal. The season starts in a few days’ time, and the AGA claims that …

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Online casino operator agree more sports sponsorships

30 Mar 2017

Online gambling operator 32Red has announced that it has inked a new deal to sponsor Frank Warren’s blockbuster boxing shows, televised on BT Sport and BoxNation. The multi-event agreement, which will kick-off with the stacked April 8th show from the Manchester Arena, will feature some of Britain’s best talent involved in world title action as …

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Massachusetts Gaming Commission head clarifies position on online gambling

30 Mar 2017

Media reports from Massachusetts this week have highlighted some interesting developments in both online gambling legalisation and the state lottery’s attempts to get legislative permission to go online. Our readers may recall that last year the Senate voted 22-17 to give the State Lottery the green light for online activity, but the measure was not taken …

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South Australian government critical of federal online gambling amendments

30 Mar 2017

John Rau, the South Australian government consumer minister, has criticised changes to online sports betting laws at federal government and other states levels, saying these are “cosmetic and inadequate”. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Rau said that the provincial government wants an end to online betting advertising during sports events, which he claims are “normalising” gambling …

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Tabcorp jelly beans start a political storm in a teacup

30 Mar 2017

Australian betting giant Tabcorp came under fire from a Green Party politician this week over its “Nothing’s as sweet as a win” PR promo, which involved handing out packets of jelly beans at a busy railway hub in Sydney. One of those who was handed a bag of the candies bearing the promo slogan turned …

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William Hill plc appoints new finance chief

30 Mar 2017

Online and land gambling group William Hill plc has announced the appointment as Chief Financial Officer of Ruth Prior, who will fill the vacancy left open when her predecessor Philip Bowcock was appointed CEO of the group. Prior will join the company later this year from Worldpay, where she is now chief operating officer and …

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Evolution Gaming claims its new Speed Roulette is the fastest in the world

30 Mar 2017

Live dealer provider Evolution Gaming has launched Speed Roulette, extending its Live Roulette games offering with what it claims is the world’s fastest online Live Roulette game. Speed Roulette – available on desktop, tablet and smartphone portrait and landscape – is a super-fast version of Evolution’s live dealer Roulette. In this Speed version, game rounds …

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