BetonSports hoping to reopen within a week
BetonSports is hoping to restart its operations within a week according to a report in the UK Daily Telegraph newspaper. The beleaguered betting company hopes that the sacking of its CEO will give it enough leverage with the U.S. Department of Justice to reopen.
U.S. gambling bill put on 'hold'
Congressional sources cited in the Washington Post have said that the bill banning most forms of internet gambling was not going to pass. It is thought that some Republican senators have broken rank and put a 'hold' on the legislation, which will prevent it from being brought up for vote until concerns on the measure are resolved.
888 sales fail to meet forecast
Shares in 888 Holdings dropped by more than 6 per cent after it announced that sales for the second quarter of the year had not reached the expected forecast. The company did report that its sales had risen by 23 per cent in the period and casino revenues were up year-on-year by 9 per cent.
Playtech reduces exposure in the U.S.
Playtech has increased revenue by 22 per cent from the first to the second quarter of this year, and reassured investors that it was continuing to reduce its exposure to the U.S. market. The company reduced the percentage of income from its U.S. players to 48 per cent, down 10 per cent compared with the same period last year and 49 per cent for the first quarter.
Ladbrokes face fresh takeover rumours
Bookmakers Ladbrokes is at the centre of fresh rumours over a takeover bid after more than 6 million shares changed hands since the recent US crackdown on Internet gaming. Private equity bidders are thought to be looking to cash in on the current unrest bought on by the arrest of David Carruthers, with Ladbrokes shares currently trading at just over 385p per share.
Culture secretary admits talking to Prescott over casinos
Culture secretary Tessa Jowell has admitted that she had talked with the Deputy Prime Minister about casinos and their potential for regenerating inner cities. The Liberal Democrats culture spokesman, Don Foster, called the admission growing evidence of Prescott's personal interest in casino policy and reiterated calls for a full investigation into his involvement.
Conservatives accuse Prescott of compromising casino process
London's Millennium Dome has won the initial round of competition to host the UK's first regional casino, triggering fresh speculation over Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's influence on the selection process. The Conservative Party's shadow culture secretary, Hugo Swire, said that Prescott's relationship with AEG owner Philip Anschutz has compromised the super-casino selection process.
Blackpool plans to strengthen bid
Spokespeople for Blackpool's casino bid have said that they would now concentrate on 'improving its score' after placing third in the Casino Advisory Panel's first study of super-casino locations. The head of Blackpool's corporate policy and development, Alan Cavill, said that had the importance of the different categories been weighed, their bid would have been higher.
Caborn to release Tote price
The minister for sport Richard Caborn is due to release the price set by the government for the transfer of the Tote to a racing trust. Because EU law determined that the betting company could not be sold at a reduced price, Caborn has been determining 'fair market price', which will be in the region of £300 - £360 million.
Lottery chief wins achievement award
Camelot's chief executive Dianne Thompson has won the business category of the Women of Achievement Awards 2006. Judges said they were most impressed with her strategy for 'bucking the international trend of falling lottery sales.'
Whitbread takeover talks boost share prices
Shares in the leisure group Whitbread rose by 72p to £12.44 after rumours circulated that the leisure company was about to receive a takeover approach from US private equity group Starwood Capital. According to reports in the UK's Guardian newspaper, Starwood is talking to investment bank JP Morgan about the possibility of a £3 billion deal.
Plan to cut poker machines dealt blow
A plan by the Liberal Party in Victoria, Australia to reduce the number of poker machines was rejected by the party's traditional coalition ally, the Nationals. The Nationals leader, Peter Ryan, called the proposed bill a distraction from the real issue of dealing with problem gambling.
Harrah debates Asian casino bid
Harrah's Entertainment is still contemplating whether it should bid for a casino in Singapore ahead of the 31st July deadline. "We are continuing to evaluate our position in Singapore," said a spokesperson for the company. "There is a considerable amount of effort that is ongoing as we review our position."
Scrutiny council report in
Ten 'scrutiny councils', introduced by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to monitor the impact of the Licensing Act, have reported that residents are now far more aware of their rights with regard to licensed premises and licensees are more aware of their responsibilities. The councils have also made a number of recommendations for improvements, including changing the current advertising arrangements and increasing the amount of time during which police can object to a temporary event.
Woods win causes record loss
Tiger Woods' victory at the Open last week is said to have cost the bookies in the region of £10 million, a record loss for any single golf tournament. A spokesperson for Ladbrokes told Gaming Industry News that the victory was a 'Punters Paradise', adding: "It was the darkest day in our golf history."
New arcade plan gets heavy criticism
An application to turn an empty shop in Chorley's town centre into a Goldrush amusement arcade has met with heavy criticism from the local community. Councillor Eric Bell, executive member for Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment, said: "We already have two arcades and you would have thought that would be enough."
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