Pennsylvania Representative John Payne’s Gaming Oversight Committee has a busy week ahead, with hearings in the legislature and out at two land casinos, where it will consider measures to help land casinos meet the challenges from neighbouring states, and discuss the legalisation of online gambling. The hearings start today (Monday) with a hearing on internet …
If the fading gambling revenues being experienced at present persist, the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau could be headed for its biggest recession in 33 years, researchers at the University of Macau predict. Gross Domestic Product could shrink by 14.7 percent if the current gaming income remains in the patacas 20 billion (US$2.5 billion) a …
Table games specialist Games Marketing has licensed two of the world’s top side bets to UK online gambling software developer Realistic Games. The deal will see Perfect Pairs and 21+3 made available to Realistic’s licensed operators, further extending the games’ popularity and success. Games Marketing CEO Chris Reynolds said Monday: “It is a real compliment …
Online gambling software provider Playtech plc has released its Q1-2015 results, reporting further strong growth in all verticals, with the exception of online poker. Highlights of the results include: * Strong performance across regions and most product verticals, both from existing and new business and from acquisitions; * Increased revenues from regulated markets of 40 …
The latest UK Sunday Times Rich List has revealed that father and daughter Peter and Denise Coates, owners of the Bet365 online casino and sports betting group, have almost doubled the family fortune, growing it GBP 1.15 billion to GBP 2.35 billion – an increase of 96 percent. The duo climbed from 78th on the …
Iowa state lottery director Terry Rich made a strong case for online ticket sales to the state House Government Oversight Committee late last week, telling lawmakers that the enterprise must adapt to “…player expectations for convenience and use of technology” or face the consequences of declining business. The lottery must use channels and technologies such …
The Swedish government’s gambling enterprise Svenska Spel has experienced another less than impressive quarter, reporting lower Q1-2015 results, although the online division fared better than other verticals in the business. The quarterly results included: * Revenue down 4.7 percent year-on-year at SEK 1.19 billion; * Online revenue up 5.5 percent to SEK 421 million; * …
APTN National News in Canada reported over the weekend that Quebec’s minister of aborigine affairs, Geoffrey Kelley, had talks last week with representatives from Kahnawake, arguably one of the largest internet gambling hosting services in the world. The subject was the contentious and long-running issue of online gambling, where the Quebec government has claimed it …
In yet another illustration of the political power wielded by land casino owner Sheldon Adelson, industry observers report that the billionaire will be interviewing potential Republican presidential candidates this weekend, presumably to decide who to support with campaign funding. A staunch Republican, in the past Adelson and his family have donated well over a hundred …
Fantasy sports fans and operators in Kansas will be pleased with an opinion issued by state Attorney General Derek Schmidt at the request of the legislature which appears to accept the legality of fantasy sports as a game of skill. Kansas was one of the few states that have not embraced fantasy sports, and the …
In what looks like a possible reprise of the difficult situation at Zynga several years ago, when the social gaming developer saw an exodus of management talent, its chief operating officer has stepped down. The departure of Clive Downie comes just weeks after CEO Don Mattrick left the company in the hands of founder Mark …
The MetroPlay-666Bet online casino, whose licence remains suspended pending the outcome of UK Gambling Commission enquiries into its suitability, appears to be at last making concrete moves toward getting its players paid. A website notice Thursday advised owed players: “In preparation for you being able to access your account and make a withdrawal can we …
At 3:47am on the 23rd of April, most people in Sweden were sleeping. However, one person was busy becoming Guts.com’s first ever millionaire, and with a click of the spin button she won the jackpot on the Arabian Nights progressive slot worth Euro 2,633,036. Player Monica could scarcely believe her good fortune when casino management …
The global success of Warner Bros. top television comedy show “Big Bang Theory” has prompted land casino games developer Aristocrat to obtain a concept licence and create a new slot, which was released this week. The game reflects the American sitcom amusing theme, with common threads of nerdy science fiction, fantasy, comics and video gaming. …
Daily Fantasy Sports provider FanDuel has quickly followed its signing earlier this week of DFS partnerships with 15 NFL teams (see previous report) with a press release announcing that the Chicago Bears has also inked an agreement. With the Washington Redskins deal earlier this year, this brings the total of US National Football League franchises …
The famous Route 66 Casino Hotel in New Mexico has become the latest land operator to integrate Scientific Games’ Play4Fun online product, providing entertainment for visitors and preparing for possible US legalisation at some future point. SG subsidiary Williams Interactive powers Play4Fun, which will be available on iOS and Android mobile platforms later this year. …
Loretta Lynch, the US Attorney General candidate that Senator Lindsey Graham attempted unsuccessfully to persuade to comment in favour of his RAWA bill during confirmation hearings (see previous reports), has been confirmed for the post by the US Senate. The 56-43 vote ended a five-month political deadlock that made her wait longer for confirmation than …
Swedish gambling group Betsson AB has posted a strong Q1-2015 report, with highlights that include: * Revenue up by 24 percent to SEK 847.4 (686.0) million – the highest quarterly revenue figure ever reported; * Organic growth of 14 percent; * Operating income up 39 percent y-o-y at SEK 238.0 (171.2) million; * Operating margin …
The Taipei Times reports that a Taiwanese man has been picked up in a joint international probe into an online gambling syndicate that has seen the arrests of 1,063 people. Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) has confirmed said that it assisted in the international investigation that smashed what may prove to be the largest illegal …
Turnkey online casino and sportsbook provider EveryMatrix has announced the promotion of Doina Stefanescu as Chief Operations Officer. She will take over from Jan Ridenfeldt, who has moved to NYX Gaming as managing director (see previous report). Described as an insightful, results-oriented manager, Stefanescu joins the top management team after successfully leading the EveryMatrix Account …
The marketing publication Drum reports that 20-year marketing professional Gav Thompson has been appointed to the Chief Marketing Officer post at land and online gambling group Paddy Power, and will take up his new responsibilities in June this year. Thompson has worked with several major companies in a successful strategic marketing career, including Guinness, PlayStation, …
Tropicana, the US land gambling group that is already active online in New Jersey in partnership with Betfair, has the social gaming vertical in its sights following a partnership agreement with San Francisco-based Ruby Seven Studios. The project envisages free-to-play casino games in the online desktop and mobile social environment Tropicana president and chief executive, …
One of the market leaders in daily fantasy sports, FanDuel has scored a major coup by signing multi-year sponsorship agreements with 15 US National Football League teams, significantly augmenting an earlier agreement with the Washington Redskins (see previous report). The new deal includes the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Diego …
Gary Watts, the 57-year-old Bicester adviser who was entrusted to handle the finances of a 92-year-old woman and elderly man, but spent GBP 800,000 of their money on internet gambling (see previous reports) has been sentenced to three years in jail. Watts appeared for sentencing at the Oxford Crown Court after earlier pleading guilty to …