Genting ups stake in Stanley, submits unconditional bid
Malaysian gaming group Genting said its offer for Stanley Leisure was now unconditional, after raising its stake in the UK-casino operator to 69.4 per cent. Chairman Lim Kok Thay said that the group was positioning itself to take full advantage of further gaming deregulation in the UK.
Stake and prize issues not straightforward
The UK AWP sector could be facing a slower uptake in demand for the new stake and prize configuration of 50p/£35 for Category C machines. The increase has attracted a £1,000 hike in Amusement Machine Licensing Duty per machine, meaning that operators will be more less likely to order new jackpot models in significant numbers. The tax could place machine suppliers in the pub sector in a particularly difficult position, though, as retailers are likely to demand a major injection of £35 models. The industry has until the next Budget, thought to be April 2007, to lobby the government for a sensible realignment of AMLD levels. Commenting on the situation was Games Media chief executive officer Andrew Ludlow who said: "Clearly the taxation issues regarding £35 jackpot levels will have some impact on the testing and rollout process. We must ensure that the industry is structured in its drive to ensure that the AWP (Cat C) is taxed at an equitable level for all stakeholders." For a full analysis see this week's Coinslot, published Friday.
Puttnam issues call to action for gaming industry
Lord David Puttnam has called on the UK games industry to support the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association's (ELSPA) new initiative to promote video games as educational tools. He told the launch for its new report 'Unlimited Learning: Computer and Video Games in the Learning Landscape', that children now expect more engagement than is currently offered by textbooks alone.
Greenway issues £3m warning
In an interview with October's edition of Betting Business, John Greenway - chairman of The Responsibility in Gambling Trust - has warned that the government will have 'no hesitation' in introducing a social responsibility levy if the £3m funding target is not met by voluntary means. Greenway's warning appears in October's record 64 page edition of Betting Business. To subscribe click on the Betting Business link on the top of the page.
PartyGaming shares in recovery
Speculation over PartyGaming's consolidation plans has helped its share price rebound after they lost 60 per cent of their value in the wake of the U.S. gaming regulation. The firm today (Monday) led the FTSE 100 leaders with a rise of 12per cent, to 45p.
Ministers lobbying for favourable online tax regime
The Labour government wants to turn Britain into a 'world leader' in internet gambling according to a report in the UK's Sunday Times newspaper. Internal Whitehall documents revealed that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been lobbying the Treasury, on behalf of the online gaming industry, to introduce a favourable tax regime.
World Gaming shares suspended
World Gaming has asked for its shares to be suspended 'with immediate effect' due to uncertainty over its ability to continue trading. The online gaming company's value had plummeted from £56.6 million to £7.7 million in the wake of the new U.S. legislation.
Trinidad bans slots and online gambling
Trinidad and Tobago is to outlaw online gambling and has banned casino slot machines after Prime Minister Patrick Manning claimed they encouraged vice. Speaking at his budget proposal speech, Manning called gaming activities a 'great concern' to the country and announced that he would also discontinue the country's national lottery.
GTech signs Caribbean lottery deal
US technology provider GTech Corp has signed a five-year, $78 million contract with Trinidad and Tobago's National Lottery Control Board despite the country's proposed plan to ban internet gambling. The Rhode-Island based company will provide the NLCB with 800 computer terminals and 400 handheld lottery devices for online gambling, and will also provide the lottery with 250 keno monitors and 400 express lottery ticket terminals.
EiG announces record pre-registration
Organisers have announced that pre-registration for EiG, which begins Wednesday, has already exceeded the 850 attendees that came to last year's event. Taking place from 11-13th October in Barcelona, EiG will be welcoming delegates from over 40 countries and from 485 different companies.
GB unveils location monitoring software
GB Group has launched the extended version of its international identity verification technology which can now monitor the geographic location of customers when they place bets. The ID3TM software is able to divert customers from a 'restricted zone' to a legal 'free play' area, or block the transaction altogether.
Clarion announce enhanced floorplans for ATEI
Visitors to ATEI, ICE and ICEi will have additional help in negotiating their way around the Earl's Court exhibition halls following the release of new 3-D floorplans. The easy-to-follow maps are available online and will be deployed around the exhibition, held across 23-25th January, 2007.
U.S. horse racing industry 'buys' exemption
The American horse racing industry reportedly made over $3 million of contributions to politicians to ensure that it was exempt from the country's restrictions on online gambling. According to the UK's Independent newspaper, the money was given in the form of political donations, and on entertainment and 'education' for politicians.
Ministry shuts Moscow mafia casino
Russia's Interior Ministry has closed the Golden Palace Weekend casino in Moscow because of suspected links to the Georgian mafia. It is the third venue in the city, allegedly owned by Georgian crime bosses, to be shut down this month by the ministry's Economic Security Department, for violations of the country's tax code.
Trust buys M&B pubs
Trust Inns has bought 102 properties from operator Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) for £101 million. The pubs, for the year to August 2006, made pre-tax earnings of £10.2 million. Under terms of the deal M&B will provide services to Trust Inns to support the pubs for an additional nine months after completion.
Ukbetting confirms approaches
Ukbetting has confirmed that it had received a number of takeover approaches since the online ban in the U.S. The sports betting company added that there had been no formal approaches as yet and that there can be no certainty that any offers will be forthcoming.
Busy week in conference calendar
Possibly the busiest week in the gaming industry exhibition and conference calendar kicks off Tuesday with GamCare's annual conference in London and the SAGSE show in Buenos Aires. Wednesday sees the European Interactive Gaming Congress and Expo (EiG) in Barcelona and London's Preview begin while Italy's Enada 2006 follows on Thursday in Rome.
NLB launches legal challenge on 'illegal' lotteries
South Africa's National Lotteries Board (NLB) has launched legal action against the First National Bank (FNB) and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for running 'illegal' lotteries. The NLB has petitioned the Pretoria High Court to stop the companies from conducting their respective Million-A-Month and WiniKhaya competitions, arguing that both competitions contravene the country's Lotteries Act.
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