888 close to signing mobile deals
888 Holding is close to signing a number of deals with Europe's mobile phone operators according to Reuters. Negotiations were 'in the final stages' and would see the company's gambling services offered over handsets.
Betfair linked with Timeform purchase
Betfair is being linked with a £15 million deal to buy Portway Press Ltd, publisher of the 'punters bible' Timeform. The online betting exchange called the negotiations 'confidential', while further reports suggested the deal could be finalised as early as Friday.
Breaking the ICE
ICEi will be hosting a networking party at the Albannach cocktail lounge in London's Trafalgar Square during the 2007 show. Entitled 'Breaking the ICE', the event will be held on the evening of Tuesday 23 January, and will be spread across the bar's three floors and encompass the venue's 'Doon' nightclub.
Opponents criticise pub gambling plans
The UK government has been accused of encouraging a dangerous mixture of alcohol and gambling after reports suggested that it was getting ready to ease restrictions on playing card games for money in pubs. Mark Griffiths, professor of gambling studies at Nottingham Trent University, called the combination a 'heady mix' while the opposition Conservative party's shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire said the government should be warning about the dangers of gambling addiction rather than encouraging the 'dangerous mixture' in pubs.
Tabcorp praises increased wagering
Australia's Tabcorp Holdings has announced company revenue growth of 4.8 per cent for the year to 18 November, based mainly on an increase in wagering to 8.8 per cent. MD Matthew Slatter said that overall gaming had earnings (EBIT) of Au $260.2 million, up 0.3 per cent, with the casinos division declaring earnings of Au $423.3 million.
ATEI reports on new exhibitors
At least 60 of the 212 exhibitors attending ATEI 2007 will be new to the coin-op spectacular according to the latest organiser update. Registration is free to the three-day event which takes place at Earl's Court, London 23-25 January.
Bognor bingo caller wins national title
Brett Hyrjak of Bognor Regis' Gala Bingo Club has been named Bingo Caller of the Year after beating competition from six regional winners at the South East London competition. 30-year old Hyrjak said that he was 'absolutely speechless' after winning £500 and a trip to Las Vegas.
Greek Intralot to bid for Turkish lottery
Greek gaming company Intracom has announced that its subsidiary Intralot would 'absolutely' be involved in submitting a bid during the privatisation process of the Turkish National Lottery. Intracom CEO Socrates Kokkalis said that it would be setting up a consortium comprising four companies, one of which would be Turkish, for the process.
Research reveals nearly 6 million online visitors
As many as 5.8 million people a month visited online gambling sites from April to September according to figures compiled by the internet media and market research company Nielsen/Net Ratings. Recent research by the Gambling Commission for the UK government stated that there were one million regular UK online gamblers.
Former officer arrested in covert bingo scam
A former police officer who told staff at a Bradford bingo hall that he was on a 'covert mission' in an attempt to steal money has been jailed for four-years. Matthew Brakewell, who later told officers that he had been testing the hall's security systems, was caught after being recognised from CCTV footage circulated from a similar crime two weeks earlier.
Betting industry warned of US-style backlash
Arbuthnot Securities' analyst Paul Leyland has said that current lobbying pressure on the EU gambling market could act as the catalyst for a US-style crackdown on the betting sector. Speaking to the UK Independent newspaper, he also warned that individual states, rather than the EU, would rule the market for the 'foreseeable future'.
VWE signs worldwide distribution deal
Vegas Wireless Entertainment (VWE) has signed a non-exclusive agreement with WirelesStudios Inc. to distribute mobile gaming content across its international network. Under terms of the agreement, VWE will initially launch 2 games from its Play4Fun platform on the network to operators and portals in the UK, Italy and Canada, and through third parties throughout Europe and Asia.
Korea announces April crackdown
South Korea's government announced that a ban on amusement arcades using gift certificates for payouts would be enforced from April next year. Minister of Culture and Tourism Kim Myung-gon also said that the government was planning to instigate stricter licensing regulations for arcade operators.
Computec to launch video game magazine for women
German-based media company Computec Media AG is launching a magazine targeted specifically at female video gamers. Game Vanilla will begin its regular print run in March 2007 after a trial supplement period in a women's lifestyle magazine.
Scientific signs Games Media purchase letter
In a statement issued today (Monday), New York-headquartered Scientific Games said that it had signed a letter of intent to purchase UK-based digital content specyclopcasinot Games Media Ltd and related companies. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but Scientific said that it expected the acquisition to close prior to the end of 2006.
Betspoker bucks trend, announces listing
Bestpoker.com is preparing to list on the Plus market (previously Ofex), through a reverse takeover of NetGames Holdings. The online gaming company said that it was proceeding because it does not take bets from the US market.
Commission approves half of new casino applications
The UK's Gambling Commission has confirmed that almost half the casino operators who entered applications for venues ahead of April's new gambling regulations had been approved. The Commission announced that it had dealt with 29 applications so far and that all had been passed, with another 34 applications currently being processed.
Ainsworth to launch SLIMLINE at ICE
Gaming machine manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology will be using ICE 2007 to launch its new Ambassador SLIMLINE cabinet on the market. GM of Ainsworth's European operation, Georg Steiner, said the company would also use the London Earls Court show, held across 23-25 January, to culminate the international roll out of Ainsworth's corporate re-brand.
Blackpool Tower's terror walk approved
Leisure Parcs' plans for a 168ft high 'Walk of Terror' across the legs of Blackpool Tower have been approved by the city's Borough council. The tower's owner must now wait for approval from the secretary of state before revealing plans of the walk.
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