Bolton MP joins bingo campaign
Bolton Labour MP David Crausby has visited the Mecca Bingo hall in Breightmet to pledge his support for the national "Stop Destroying My Bingo" campaign. Crausby discussed putting forward an Early Day Motion in Parliament aimed at abolishing VAT on bingo.
Milan dealt Bavarian fine for Bwin shirt sponsorship
AC Milan has been fined $135,000 for wearing Bwin logos on their shirts in the recent Champions League game against Bayern Munich. Bavarian officials said that the Italian club had ignored warnings, outlining its laws which prohibit advertising of commercial betting companies.
Caborn appeals to betting industry
Minister for sport Richard Caborn has appealed to operators in the betting industry to get their applications in before April 27. Speaking to Betting Business, Caborn said: "Implementation of the Gambling Act is going well and most of the gambling industry has got the message that they need a new licence to carry on operating come September.”
Frank to begin anti-gambling law opposition
US congressman Barney Frank said that he would start pushing to lift the US ban on online gambling within the next few weeks, but warned that it was too early to make any definite moves to lift restrictions ruled illegal by the World Trade Organisation. Frank called the law one of the stupidest things he had ever seen and went on to say: "I want to get it undone. I plan to file legislation."
Tattersall's inks third state lottery deal
Australia's second-largest gaming company Tattersall's will pay A$530 million for the Queensland government's lottery business. Melbourne-based Tattersall's will operate the lottery exclusively until at least 2016 and give the company a monopoly in three of Australia's six states.
Hill threatens Greece with European Court
William Hill warned the Greek government that it will go to the European court should it fail to get permission to establish outlets in the country. Chief Executive David Harding said that the matter would escalate if the bookmaker hadn't heard anything within three months.
Merlin announces Legoland discovery
Merlin Entertainment announced that it was building its Legoland theme park brand with a L200 million chain of indoor Legoland Discovery centres. The theme park operator said that it plans to open up to 30 outlets in the north of England, Scotland, continental Europe and in North America, after recently opening a prototype version in Berlin last week.
Think-tank calls for higher legal drinking age
The Institute for Public Policy Research has suggested that the UK government should raise the legal drinking age to 21. Tony Blair's 'favourite think-tank' said that society was increasingly reluctant to tolerate passive smoking, and would therefore benefit from a clampdown on passive boozing, which it defined as what innocent people experience when exposed to drunken behaviour.
Genting's integrity supported by Singapore
Singapore's government said that it was no longer concerned with Genting International's business integrity after the casino operator sold the shares linking it to a Macau tycoon. The country's minister for trade and industry, Lim Hng Kiang, said that Genting understood its need to maintain probity checks, adding that there was now no longer an issue.
Great Yarmouth casino development begins
Development work has begun on Palatial Leisure’s new L2 million, 17,000sq ft casino in Great Yarmouth. The complex, due to open in October, will put the company into ‘pole position’ for the town's large casino licence if Parliament gives the go-ahead, according to managing director Patrick Duffy.
Reuben brothers acquire Northern Racing
Simon and David Reuben's NR Acquisitions investment vehicle has bought Northern Racing for L65.9 million plus debt. Northern Racing's current management team will remain under the new ownership, which promised to keep the racecourses as going concerns.
China introduces anti-gaming addiction software
China has moved to clamp down on problem gaming by limiting the number of hours that individuals can play online. The government said that it hopes that young gamers will be less motivated to continue playing video games if there is a limit on what can be achieved during the given time.
|