Gala plan '£5.5 billion' float in 18 months
Neil Goulden, chief executive of Gala Coral, has said that a float by the company was 'inevitable'. Speaking in the UK's Financial Times newspaper, he went on to say that he was intent on delivering profit growth over the next 18-months, and that by autumn 2007 the business would "attract a value of £5.5 billion".
Microsoft buys Massive advertising
Microsoft has announced that it is buying Massive Inc., a firm that helps companies place ads in video games. The software company said that it would be 'looking at ways to use Massive's technology to incorporate advertising into its other online services.'
AGA calls for one-year study on internet gaming
The American Gaming Association (AGA) has called on the US government to conduct a year long study into internet gaming. AGA president Frank Fahrenkopf wants Washington to evaluate "whether legislation, regulation and taxation of the Internet gaming industry would be a more advisable course than a complete ban on online gambling."
Worldspreads launch two European operations
WorldSpreads Group has launched operations in Greece, with the approval of the Hellenic Capital Markets Committee, and Hungary in a joint venture with NET Media Rt. The Irish spread betting firm said that this was part of its medium term strategy to focus on the emerging markets of Europe.
888 accused of unethical marketing
A report by Silicon.com claims that 888.com has been blacklisted by the International Gaming Affiliate Marketing Initiative (iGAMI) for 'unethical marketing techniques'. It is alleged that affiliates of the online casino operator have been using web crawling technologies to spam message boards and chat forums with links to the 888 site, leading iGAMI to claiming that the online gaming company had 'breached its code of practice.'
Fairground acquires Spin Palace for £66 million
Fairground Gaming has completed the $66 million acquisition of the Spin Palace-Piggs Casino group. Its London AIM shares were temporarily suspended on Friday as the purchase was finalised.
Wyoming uphold Instant Racing ban
Wyoming's Supreme Court has upheld a ban on 'Instant Racing' machines, which allow customers to put bets on horseraces that have already taken place. It ruled unanimously that the computerised game constituted a form of illegal gambling as the races didn't happen in real time.
Bingodrome wins Best Bingo award for the fourth time
Bingodrome has won the Best Bingo Overall award for the fourth time in a row. The online bingo site has won 22 awards since its inception two years ago and listed in the Top 10 for Which Bingo's Site of the Year for 2005.
Tote discussing support for Channel 4 sponsorship
The Tote has said that it intends to hold discussions with the Racecourse Association and the Levy Board before renewing the £3 million sponsorship deal it signed with Channel 4 last year. Chairman Peter Jones said: "We are definitely going to continue to support the deal. The only things there are doubts about at the moment are the level of our support."
Gamestec extends brewery contract
Gamestec has extended its license with brewery Holt and will now operate on 40 per cent of Holt's estate. The gaming and amusement machine operator will put soft AWPs and SWPs in 53 sites round the country.
Betfair could provide £50 million in revenue for US
Betfair's director of US business development, Christian Hellmers, said that the betting exchange could provide up to $50 million in new shared revenue for itself, racetracks and horsemen by 2008 if it is permitted to operate in the country. Hellmers explained that it could increase the $134 million annual wagering market in the US, while gross revenue could hit $30 million by 2007 and $50 million by 2008.
Cryptologic loses one contract, extends another
Cryptologic has lost its contract with Ritz Club, but said that, as the account only makes up less than 2 per cent of its revenue, financial results would not be impacted. The software development company also announced that it had extended its contract with Overseas Internet Gaming Entertainment NV until 2012.
Greenway takes over at RIGT
MP for Ryedale, John Greenway, took over the role of chairman for the Responsibility in Gambling Trust last Friday. Greenway, who resigned from the Conservative frontbench in the summer of 2003 to take up the Chair of the pre-legislative Scrutiny Committee for the draft Gambling Bill, succeeds Sir David Durie in the post.
Blackpool considering arcade on arson site
Blackpool council is considering Crown Leisure's application to place a new amusement arcade on the old Grab City arcade site, which was destroyed by a fire in 2002. Blackpool's Public Protection committee will meet later this week to discuss the proposal.
Montreal gears up for 8th GIGSE
The eighth annual Global Interactive Gaming Summit & Expo (GIGSE) is set to take place in Montreal next week. The three day event, taking place from 16-18 May, will feature panels with experts Warwick Bartlett of Global Betting & Gaming Consultants and Andrew Beveridge from eCOGRA.
Gextech to unveil Fantastic technology at GIGSE
Gextech, the interactive gaming content provider, has confirmed that it will be using next week's GIGSE show in Montreal to unveil details of its trade marked Smart Stitch technology. Smart Stitch is the driving force behind the company's flagship Fantastic League fixed odds football betting game. A further six mobile games will be launched by the company at GIGSE.
Charity grudge match at GIGSE
This years GIGSE will see a number of industry luminaries take part in the Velcro Drag Racing charity grudge match-ups. The expo will also feature an auction to raise money for the River City Group charity.
GIGSE expecting record turnout
GIGSE's organisers are expecting record numbers of delegates to attend the expo this year. Last year saw over 250 gaming software suppliers, 210 operators and 340 consultants attend, alongside 266 gaming CEOs.
AMUSE brings a smile to the industry
AMUSE UK, one of the most sociable exhibitions on the coin-op calendar, opens its doors to the industry this week at Blackpool's Norbreck Castle Hotel. Over 50 exhibitors will be at AMUSE, a third of whom will be attending for the first time.
SAM unveils Fast Soccer at AMUSE
SAM Leisure will be presenting Fast Soccer at AMUSE UK, a football themed variation of its four-player Double Fast Track air hockey game. Amuse runs from 10-11th May.
CMS to unveil Jackpot programmes
CMS/Thomas Estates will be unveiling a new program for its Jackpot Bingo game at AMUSE, which will make sure the machine stays as a bingo product and not a S16 machine. It will also be displaying two traditional reel based games and one 2-screen poker game, all available as kits for previous models from the company.
Ainsworth all gold at AMUSE
Ainsworth, which was formed by Barry Marchini 12-months ago, will be displaying its Golden Road and Free Game Fever at AMUSE. Both games will be housed in its Celebrity Cabinet.
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