The UK Government has extended Walter Merricks’ term as Commissioner of the Gambling Commission for a further year, ending December 31, 2017. Merricks chairs the boards of IMPRESS, the independent monitor for the press, and JUSTICE, the law reform charity. He was the inaugural Chief Ombudsman of the Financial Ombudsman Service for a decade, and …
It’s going to be costly for Macau online gambling and junket tycoon Jack Lam to return to the Philippines following his rather hurried departure last year with allegations of economic sabotage, bribery and tax evasion swirling around him (see previous reports). On Monday a Philippines Senate hearing evidence on a P50 million bribery at the …
The European Court of Justice Attorney General Maciej Szpunar’s rejection of the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association’s arguments on the UK p.o.c. tax and his opinion that the UK and Gibraltar were one entity in these circumstances (see previous reports) could have major implications, opines an article published by Bloomberg business news this week. Tim …
Privately-owned online sports betting operator Interwetten delivered robust full year results for the 2016 fiscal period, in which the company has almost achieved doubling its revenues over the past four years, success it attributes to its in-house developed platform and targeted marketing. Key performance indicators for the 12 month period, ending December 31, 2016 include: …
The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) will formerly launch its newly founded, Malta-based European division at the upcoming ICE expo. The expansion enables the GSA to better focus on the regional needs of its members outside of North America and underscores its recognition and commitment to growing European membership. “The intent is to continue fostering an …
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has reportedly terminated Betway’s three-year sponsorship partnership as an extension to their anti-match fixing and sports integrity policy. “The ITF took the decision to end the Betway partnership early as part of a policy decision to cease having betting sponsors,” Dave Haggerty,president of the ITF, commented. “We strongly condemn any …
Content provider Konami will provide its Gypsy Fire and Fortune Stacks slot games to Rush Street Interactive-operated PlaySugarHouse.comon an exclusive basis in the New Jersey real-money online and mobile wagering market. The inclusion follows success of the Konami portfolio on SugarHouse’s social casino site sugarhouse4fun.com. “These Konami games are found at hundreds of casino locations …
A London-based construction worker’s year got off to a great start when he hit the Loot’enKhamun jackpot at bwin casino. The GBP 3.8 million payout is one of bwin’s biggest jackpot hits to date. “I am in complete shock at the moment,” the lucky punter said. “I haven’t really thought about what to do with …
Online betting operator OneBet has partnered the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship in a multi-year official sports betting partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, OneBet will offer a range of betting markets on the Rally which kicks-off in Sweden next month. “OneBet is delighted to work closely with WRC and to …
Online casino operator Mr Green has become the first sponsor of the free-to-air UK television channel Front Runner, which carries poker content along with coverage of extreme and other sports. Only four months old, the channel is expecting more sponsors to come on board, attracted by its viewership in 19 million households via Sky ch468, …
The Russian Finance Ministry’s latest tax advisory has confirmed a two-fold increase in gambling taxes as a result of the latest amendments to its May 2016 draft legislation, and among the taxes are hefty increases for the country’s currently two online bet processing centres (TSUPIS) owned and operated by competing self-regulatory bookmaker associations. The TSUPIS …
Chinese online lottery operator 500.com has announced major executive changes to the company with the apparently amicable departure of director and chairman Man San Law, as well as director Weiguo Zhao from its board of directors, effective January 20, 2017. In a stock exchange filing Sunday the changes were announced, with Lian Qi taking over …
The Chinese official news agency Xinghua reports that according to figures from the Ministry of Finance released Monday, Chinese lottery sales in 2016 rose 7.3 percent year-on-year to 394.64 billion yuan (about US$57.53 billion). Welfare lottery sales increased by 2.5 percent to 206.49 billion yuan, and the sports lottery rose 13.1 percent to 188.15 billion …
Thailand police report that over the weekend an illegal online gambling operation was shuttered following a police raid on a luxury villa in Chonburi, Pattaya. Pol Lt Col Chitdecha Songhong said that four South Korean nationals were arrested in the raid, and evidence that included computers and internet routers seized. He did not elaborate on …
Australian betting giant Tabcorp’s SunBets venture into the UK market in partnership with News UK last year (see previous InfoiPowa reports) represents a powerful alliance in which Tabcorp delivered the technical and betting expertise, whilst News UK provided the influence of its massive readership and media assets…but the partnership was preceded by months of technical …
Ahead of its preliminary results on 7 March, on Monday Paddy Power Betfair plc published a post close trading update for the three month period ended 31 December 2016 (Q4 2016) and the year ended 31 December 2016 (FY2016). The announcement reveals that group revenue in FY2016 was up 18 percent year on year (+11 …
A few more details have emerged on Sen. Bruce Tarr’s new online gambling legalisation bill SD618 just filed in the Massachusetts Senate (see previous report). The bill appears to nix any online gambling enterprise that threatens the state lottery, including this proviso: “Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, a gaming license pursuant …
With the inaugural presidential lunch coming to a close Friday afternoon, US Congressional reporter Paul Kane offered an interesting tweet, noting: “It’s my 5th inaugural luncheon – I don’t ever recall a mega donor being in this lunch. But there’s Sheldon Adelson at Table 23 with (former House Speaker) Boehner.” Interesting, because Adelson is the …
Daniel Sebag, the Amaya online gambling group’s first and only chief financial officer with ten years’ service under his belt, has retired, according to a company announcement Friday. The announcement advises that Sebag has elected to retire this year once his successor is identified and appointed, but will assist Amaya in ensuring an orderly transition …
The Vegas Crest Casino has announced the addition of 30 new video slots to its games inventory from developers GameArt and Xplosive. The individually themed and multi-featured games are available through desktop and mobile channels and include Cleopatra Jewels and Kitty Twins. The additions bring the Vegas Crest games selection for players to 450.
Bookmaking firm Stanleybet has filed a legal action against the government of Cyprus, claiming Euro 12.5 million as compensation for what it claims is loss of profits and opportunities, prejudice to image and business reputation and legal costs. The Malta branch of the company operates in Cyprus under a Class A licence, but has been …
A Paf online casino player has had a great start to 2017 by hitting the Mega Fortune Dreams jackpot for Euro 3.5 million. In a statement Friday NetEnt advised that the lucky player is a 62-year-old woman from central Finland who won the seven-figure sum from a Euro 1 stake. The winner’s dream became a …
The Montreal-based Amaya online gambling group has issued a trading update covering FY 2016 and improving its forecast revenue and earnings numbers. Highlights include: * Revenues of $1.153-1.158 billion, up from previously predicted $1.137-1.157 billion; * Adjusted EBITDA of $521-526 million (previous forecast $510 million); * Net Earnings of $364-374 million (previous estimate $334-354 million)…an …
Industry visitors to the recent TVC Bookmakers Trade Fair in Solihull, UK were much taken by Spanish betting technology firm Optima Information Services’ iShop product, and the company went on to win the SBC Best Retail Betting Product award with it last month. Betting shop operators and the public at large will have another opportunity …