Leisure & Gaming report disappointing results
Online gaming company Leisure & Gaming has reported an eight percent fall in first-half profits to £3.6 million and warned that second-half results would be weaker than expected. Chief Executive Alistair Assheton called the results disappointing, but was confident in the group's prospects.
Think tank lodges Tote complaint with EU
A Westminster-based free-market think tank has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission over the UK Government's proposed £350 million sale of the Tote. The Adam Smith Institute argued that the sale would breach EU competition rules and would 'distort the market'.
Gamesys ranked first in Tech Track
Jackpotjoy owner Gamesys has been named the UK's fastest-growing private technology firm by The Sunday Times' Microsoft Tech Track 100 chart. Gaming companies Betfair and Bet365 also made the list, compiled by Oxford-based Fast Track, which ranks Britain's fastest-growing unquoted technology firms by sales.
Putting the gaming into video gaming
Activision's CEO Robert Kotick has defined in-game wagering as the "Holy Grail" of the business. Speaking to investors at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia XV conference in New York, Kotick forecast that organised competition for prize play and cash play is going to be the floodgate of opportunity for new audiences.
Barcrest job losses as company restructures
Barcrest announced a restructuring of its UK design operations which will result in a number of redundancies at its Ashton-under-Lyne site. Managing director Lee Berridge called the changes inevitable and blamed the industry's challenging trading conditions.
LibDem u-turn on lottery policy
Liberal Democrat culture spokesman, Don Foster MP admitted that his party was wrong to oppose the creation of a national lottery. Speaking at a fringe meeting, Foster conceded that while mistakes had been made, the "vast majority" of [good cause] schemes were popular.
Sportingbet incumbent defiant over US threats
Andrew McIver, who is set to become the new CEO of Sportingbet in October, has vowed to redouble the company's efforts in attracting more US custom. In an interview with the Financial Times newspaper, McIver played down announcements made last week by PartyGaming and 888 Holdings emphasising their non-US plans to investors saying that the US was the "only market worth serious investment".
Council makes revised casino bid
Scotland's Renfrewshire Council has submitted a revised application to the Casino Advisory Panel in a renewed attempt to gain one of the smaller casino licenses. The council believes that a casino development would inject £5 million into the local area by 2015 and create around 100 jobs.
Betbull for Spanish market
Betbull has signed a joint venture agreement with Spanish gaming company Grupo Orenes. Under the terms of the deal both groups will actively pursue licensed betting retail opportunities in the country's provinces.
Gaming VC results below expectations
Luxembourg-based Gaming VC warned that its results for the year will be 'materially' below original expectations after announcing a fall in profits from euros11.2 million, to euros6.7 million, for the first half of 2006. The internet casino operator said that the drop was due to poor trading during the third quarter and unforeseen direct mail disruptions.
PBL finalises Aspinall share deal
Australia's Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (PBL) has finalised terms to acquire up to 50 per cent of the UK-based Aspinall casino business. PBL said it would initially acquire a 46 per cent interest from Ancarac Pty Limited for $91.8 million and would acquire an option for 4 per cent of the company from a third party.
Cyberview signed for additional FOBTs
Ladbrokes bookmaker has signed Cyberview Technology to supply and install an additional 4,000 Fixed Odds Betting Terminals to its stores by March 2007. In April of this year, Cyberview agreed to supply the betting company with 3,000 FOBT machines.
EiG announces CEO panel
Executives Mark Blandford from Sportingbet, 888.com's John Anderson and Roger Raatgever of Microgaming will be facing delegates on the last day of Barcelona's European i-Gaming Congress and Expo 2006 (11-13 October). The panel will be available to share their 'unique' knowledge of the i-gaming industry at the closing plenary session.
Brand building At The Races
UK Horse-racing TV channel At The Races is to extend its interests into books and magazines with a series of new horse racing, general betting and gaming activity titles. The venture will include third-party licensed magazines already in existence.
New football boss has casino designs
Irish property investor and new chairman of struggling Peterborough United Football Club, Darragh Macanthony, has revealed that within five to ten years he hopes to build a new 30,000-seater stadium for the club, complete with casino, hotel and other leisure facilities. Macanthony is currently in due diligence to acquire the club.
Interactive Gaming aims to grow non-US customer base
Online sports betting and gaming operator Interactive Gaming Holdings Plc will raise £300,000 through the placement of 6 million ordinary shares at 5 pence each. The company said the fundraising would help market its online products and services with the intention of attracting new non-US customers.
Strip re-search
ATEOnline has teamed up with fixed-odds betting virtual sports specyclopcasinots Gextech to bring industry professionals the chance to win a complete football team kit, comprising up to 15 full sets of Fantastic League shirts, shorts and socks. To enter the competition click here and answer six simple questions. Results of the survey will be announced from the Gextech stand (412) at EiG 2006, which takes place in Barcelona, Spain on 11-13 October.
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