The ugly head of match-fixing has made its first major appearance in the burgeoning eSports vertical, with South Korean police investigators reporting the arrests of nine individuals on fixing allegations in StarCraft 2 competitions. The Korean eSports Association reports that the arrests included two prominent South Korean professional gamers, Choi Byeong-Heon and Choi Jong-Huk, and …
The reasons for the Romanian gambling regulator’s actions last week in withdrawing licenses and blacklisting Bwin and Bet365 (see previous reports) still lack clarity and could result in a legal challenge from bet365, online media reports suggested Monday. Our readers will recall that the punitive actions came after both companies had coughed up substantial sums …
Well known and respected California legal expert, Martin Owens, authored a telling op-ed article in the Sacremento Bee this week, bemoaning the lack of progress on legalising online gambling over the past eight years which has denied substantial revenues for the state. Owens says that California has all the elements that could have made it …
Amaya Inc. said Monday it will limit its daily fantasy sports (DFS) brand StarsDraft from real-money games and tournaments in most U.S. states following pending reviews in a number of jurisdictions (see previous reports). “We have previously called for state regulation and licensing of DFS to ensure consumer protection and strict government oversight of operators,” …
The German Association of Telecommunications and Media (DVTM) will submit a blueprint for a liberalised and regulated gambling market to lawmakers later this week in response to the failed German licensing process (see previous reports). “Our proposal creates a win-win situation for the government, consumers, and policy provider,” Zille Renatus, chief executive officer of DVTM …
Malaysian authorities are keeping the pressure on illegal online gambling operations with the arrest of forty male individuals under its integrated district anti-vice and gaming “Operation Dadu” in the first 18 days of October. Thirteen computers, thirty-one laptops, thirteen tablets, six Wif-Fi modems, four account ledgers and cash totalling RM 2,705 was confiscated from eight …
Florida-headquartered gaming firm Ortiz Gaming launched a range of new products under its Ortiz Interactive arm at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. The company debuted a range of interactive bingo products bringing its entire content portfolio online across multiple platforms. Ortiz’ iContent product can be integrated across social, mobile and online platforms and …
Pini Yakuel, chief executive officer of Israeli mobile marketing company Optimove, revealed some interesting insight into web vs. mobile gamers during an afternoon session on Monday at the Casual Connect Tel Aviv conference titled “The Platform Duel: Web vs. Mobile in Social Casinos”. According to Optimove data, mobile game players are 1.9 times quicker to …
Gaming Realms Plc released a trading update Monday reporting a strong third quarter with revenues up 48 percent and the launch of Slingo.comon its proprietary platform. Slingo.com, recently acquired from Real Networks Inc., is expected to materially enhance Gaming Realms’ revenues into 2016 the company said. Key performance highlights for the 12 weeks ending September …
Zeus Services are set to release “Le Mystère du Prince” this week, a video slot based on the popular Beauty and the Beast fairytale.
TitanbetUK has entered into its first commercial partnership with a professional football club as the official sponsor of Sheffield Wednesday FC’sWest Stand at Hillsborough for the 2015/16 season. Under the terms of the deal, Titanbet will receive a number of promotional and branding opportunities.
Alea Gaming Ltd-owned SlotsMillion has announced the launch of an immersive virtual reality version of its online casino. Players are required to download the VR/3D online casino app and log-in with their SlotsMillion account to enter a private casino room with over 40 real-money games that can be played using Oculus Rift goggles or simply …
According to the recently published Italian draft budget law, 80 additional online gambling licences are proposed for consideration during fiscal year 2016. The draft budget outlines the award of 80 new online licenses with the process opening in May 2016 at Euro 200 000 each for a six-year term. New retail betting licenses are also …
The president of one of daily fantasy sports operator DraftKings important investors said over the weekend that the beleaguered DFS company is willing to accept regulation and would welcome the oversight. Kraft Group president Jonathan Kraft (he also owns the US football franchise New England Patriots) was speaking on the Sports Hub radio show ahead …
Malaysian national police in Kuantan carried out a late night online gambling raid on three venues Saturday, arresting fifteen men for illegal activity and seizing 11 laptops and other evidence. State Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Raja Shahrom Raja Abdullah said the police also seized a simulator that was modified for gambling purposes.
In an article over the weekend respected online gambling journalist Steve Ruddock follows up on a suggestion by Bill Pascrell at this year’s Global Gaming Expo that it’s time for an online gambling trade association, and that one may be in the wings. Ruddock notes that the idea has been flighted before, but never seems …
IP Converge Data Services Inc., a subsidiary of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.’s information and communications technology arm ePLDT, is expanding into Europe via a partnership with Alderney Gambling Control Commission in the Channel Islands, the company has announced. Under the partnership, IPC will serve as the Internet data centre provider for Alderney, president Rene …
Online gambling games developer World Match reports that an anonymous Italian player has struck it rich with a Euro 182,000 progressive slot jackpot playing the desktop version of the company’s Book of Pharaon game on the Intralot.it website. Unfortunately, the release contains little in the way of information about the player or his/her intentions, focusing …
Facing a Florida Grand Jury subpoena, an FBI investigation and a ban on unlicensed daily fantasy sports activity in Nevada (see previous reports), the Fantasy Sports Trade Association has announced to its membership that it is pulling its winter conference, scheduled for January, out of Nevada. ESPN reports that the trade association is cooperating with …
Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, perhaps better known in the online gambling industry for his sponsorship in the US Congress of Sheldon Adelson’s Restoration of America’s Wire Act, has joined the growing list of politicians calling for a Congressional hearing on daily fantasy sports. As a candidate for Speaker of the House and chairman of the …
The old adage that it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good appears to hold true in Pennsylvania, where a House Gaming Oversight Committee is set to look into the furore around daily fantasy sports next Wednesday, but will now also include a committee vote to progress state Senator Kim Ward’s proposal to …
The mainstream media in the United States continued to have a field day with new developments in the ongoing daily fantasy sports saga (see previous reports) late Friday, reporting: * The Nevada Attorney General quoted comments from DraftKings’ founders in a Redditt interview three years ago in which they compared DFS to a casino and …
NetEnt has released the preview for its new 5 reel, 20 pay-line online slot Koi Princess, revealing that it is the most feature-rich game the company has developed. As the title suggests, the game has an Asian theme replete with dragons, masks and ornamental fish. Features include Free Spins, a bonus Fortune Wheel, four bonus …
Online gambling software provider NetEnt’s games provision agreement with the Gala Coral group (see previous reports) has completed the integration phase and the games are now live, the company reported Friday. Gala Coral is one of the largest European betting and gaming companies with a focus on the regulated markets in the UK and Italy, …