Bodog completes Betcorp buyout
Calvin Ayres' online group Bodog has agreed to purchase Betcorp for a reported $9 million after shareholders for Betcorp agreed the sale. Betcorp, which operates sportsbooks BetWWTS.com and Oasis, lost around 85 per cent of its revenue when the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act was implemented, necessitating the move.
Seminal tribe leads Hard Rock bid
The US' Seminal tribe is believed to be favourite to win the Hard Rock Cafe auction after tabling a £530 million bid for the chain. The Native American tribe from Florida already operates two Hard Rock cafes under license with current owners Rank, and entered the bidding at the last minute according to reports.
Duma passes gambling zone bill
Russia's State Duma has passed President Vladimir Putin's bill enforcing gambling zones on its first reading by a 440-0 vote, with just one abstention. The bill outlines new gambling zones within Russia and a new set of legislation for permits within these areas.
Channel 854 closed by Hill
William Hill has pulled the plug on its greyhound racing TV Channel 854. The bookmakers communication director David Hood told Betting Business that the closure was due to its failure to attract significant players of its interactive games.
Namco restructures European business
Namco Europe Limited is undergoing a name change to Namco Holdings UK Limited as part of its European business restructure. The coin-op distribution and the web and mobile content businesses will be incorporated in new companies, respectively trading as Namco Europe Limited - of which current sales director John Mckenzie has been promoted to MD - and Namco Bandai Networks Europe Limited. Namco Operations Europe Limited, Brent Sales and Brent Electronics are unaffected by the changes
Bingo to big business, Ticketline UK sold
Cardiff-based ticket agency Ticketline UK has been sold to two Welsh businessmen for an undisclosed sum. The multi-million pound company, which boasts an annual turnover of £6 million and ticket sales of more than 100,000 per year, started in the 1970s by organising coach trips for a bingo club at a Church in the Docks area of Cardiff.
BISL blasts Jowell's planned gambling fees
The UK's Business in Sport and Leisure has called for the government's planned fees for premises licences and gaming permits to be changed after branding them 'outrageous'. BISL's chief executive Brigid Simmonds warned that customers who enjoy gambling as a leisure activity may be forced underground.
MGM boss accuses US of pandering to religion
MGM's CEO Terry Lanni has said that the US' new anti-gambling legislation 'makes no sense whatsoever'. Speaking at G2E he accused the Republican party of 'pandering to the religious right' and urged the new Democrat leadership to explore the legalisation of online gambling.
Earls Court show announces international line-up
ATEI has announced that nearly 50 per cent of its 105 confirmed exhibitors for the January 2007 show will be international. Italy is on course to be the most represented country with 19 exhibitors making the trip followed by Spain (14), Poland (10) and Taiwan (9). For free registration details, click here.
Ladbrokes announces slowdown in gross win
Shares in Ladbrokes have fallen almost 5 per cent after the bookmaker announced that gross win had only risen by 8 per cent over the first 10 months of 2006. Chief executive Christopher Bell attributed the slow performance to a spate of poor racing and football results.
RGA has a bigger role to play
The Remote Gambling Association's chairman Nick Rust has said that his organisation has a bigger role to play since the upheaval in America and Europe. Speaking at the recent AGM, he emphasised the importance of a unified trade association in the current climate. For a full report, see the latest edition of Betting Business, published this week.
Technology at forefront of G2E
Downloadable server-based gaming on slot machines was being tipped as the technology of the future at this year's G2E exhibition in Las Vegas, with Bally and Aristocrat confirming they had entered into a joint partnership to develop downloadable games on their respective platforms using common protocols.
Octavian International acquired by eBet
Australian casino systems company eBet has bought its European counterpart Octavian International in a deal worth more than $45m. Announced on the second day of the G2E trade show, the move sees Harmen Brenninkmeijer, founder of Octavian, become the new executive chairman with the company, which is also changing its name to Octavian Global Technologies.
NSM and Sound Leisure settle patent dispute
A long and protracted legal dispute between NSM Music Group and Sound Leisure has been halted. Instead, both firms have jointly announced that they have settled their differences in connection with key digital download and network management patents. NSM and Sound Leisure have entered into an agreement providing Sound Leisure rights to certain key, patented technology, allowing for the download of music to jukeboxes and remote management of multimedia networks, such as digital jukeboxes. Additionally, NSM and Sound Leisure have agreed to pursue joint policing of the key patents across Europe, taking steps to ensure infringement by third parties is eradicated. For a detailed report read this week's Coinslot.
EU urges code of conduct for video games
The European Union is urging the video game industry and EU member states to start talks on a voluntary code of conduct for violent video games. A spokesperson for EU Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini said that the Commission did not want to prohibit violent games, and was considering a pan-European rating system.
Concerns raised over Racing UK's anticipated charges
Ivan Yates, owner of Irish-based Celtic Bookmakers, has said Racing UK's plans to charge bookmakers extra for coverage from its 30 racecourses makes no sense. "All we'll be getting is extra costs," he told Betting Business magazine. For a full report, see the latest edition, published this week.
Playtech stamps presence in London show
Israeli-based Playtech Software is set to have the largest presence at ICEi 2007, after the organisers confirmed it had taken the biggest stand for the show. Other exhibitors with notable stands at the Earls Court show include Boss Media, Malta Lotteries and Gaming Authority and the Isle of Man Government.
Tote consortium discussing foreign investment
The racing consortium vying to buy the UK's state-owned Tote bookmakers is thought to be discussing options with foreign operators in an attempt to meet the £400 million price tag. The group, comprising the Racecourse Association and Racecourse Holdings Trust, is reported to be holding talks with Australian operators Tabcorp and Tattersalls, and South Africa's Phumelela.
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