BetonSports chief waives bail hearing
BetonSports chief executive David Carruthers waived his right to a bail hearing after appearing in court and is reportedly planning to plead not guilty to the charges against him. Carruther's lawyer Tim Evans said the bail hearing would be held when the defendant arrived in St Louis.
PartyGaming calls US 'consistent'
PartyGaming's new boss has insisted that the US' curb on gaming companies was not aimed at all online betting firms and called US authorities consistent. Chief executive Mitch Garber did say that he had no imminent plans to travel to the US though.
Coral halts US betting on website
UK betting firm GalaCoral has said that it had blocked US residents from wagering on its websites due to uncertainty over the current legal situation. "A very small number of US citizens have played bingo and poker on the website and Gala has never taken bets on US sporting events and has never advertised in the US," a spokesperson for the company said.
Online investors mulling legal action
BetonSports investors are threatening legal action against the company and its advisors after shares in the company were frozen. The group of investors are claiming they should have been told that founder Gary Kaplan had been arrested in America on gambling charges in 1993 before they bought shares and that the AIM prospectus was inadequate.
Vegas exhibition cancelled
Online sports betting firm Bodog has cancelled its annual gambling conference in Las Vegas amid overwhelming concerns from attendees over the US legal situation. A statement from the company cited a high level of uncertainty from guests as the main reason, and said that the conference would take place at an international destination later in the year.
Poker float faces doubt
Pokerstars proposed £1.6 billion flotation is in serious doubt following the recent arrest of David Carruthers. The online poker company has been working with HSBC and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein on its strategic options but sources claimed that a float was not an option at the moment.
Prescott gets 'slap on the wrist'
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has been given a 'mild rebuke' over his ranch stay by the British parliament's standards and privileges committee. Prescott has accepted the findings, while Downing Street says the problems 'have now been resolved'.
Sportsman calls in administrators
The Sportsman has called in administrators after just four months, having spent its initial £11.5 million start-up budget and failing to secure a further £4.5 million from backers. Sports Betting Media's chairman Jeremy Deedes, the paper's publisher, told staff that it was business as usual as far as publishing the paper while the company sought additional funds.
Stanley announces satisfactory results
Liverpool based Stanley Leisure has announced an increase in turnover from £220 million to £224 million, a rise of 2 per cent, with pre-tax profits of £19.1 million compared with £16.2 million from the last period. Shareholders will be getting a 10 per cent increase in the total dividend, from 10.5p to 11.6p.
Clarion announces ATEI 'Inward Mission' for journalists
Clarion ATE has announced details of an Inward Mission of Journalists designed to help promote the 2007 exhibition visitor sell-in. The Mission takes place in early September and will see up to 20 editors of coin-op b2b titles from across 13 countries convene in London for the three day programme.
Irish ministers call for betting limit on legalised casinos
Ministers in Ireland are calling for the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras and a betting limit to be applied to the country's first legalised casinos. Ministers also supported the idea of local authorities deciding whether casinos should be allowed in their area and asked that casino owners produce tax-clearance certificates before licences are granted.
Whitbreads sold for nearly £500 million
Mitchells & Butlers has bought Whitbreads' freestanding pub restaurants estate, including the Brewers Fayre and Beefeater chains, for £497m. M&B chief executive Tim Clarke said that the acquisition would accelerate the company's repositioning towards the higher growth eating out market.
Gala workers threaten strike
Workers from Gala's London casinos are threatening strike action after demands for a 5.1 per cent pay increase were rejected. The workers were also demanding hot meals and provisions for safe travel home.
Towers ride investigated after crash
A rollercoaster ride at Alton Towers is still closed while investigators continue their search for the cause which saw 29 people injured last week. Two women were taken to hospital by air ambulance after the front carriage of the Runaway Mine Train became separated from the ride and rolled back into the following carriages.
IGT revenue grows by 6 per cent
International Game Technology has posted a slight fall in quarterly profits from $114.7 million to $114.1 million citing a decline in unit shipments amid limited expansion opportunities. The slot machine maker's international sales grew by $18.6 million to $114.7 million while North American sales rose from $182.6 million to $187.2 million and total revenue grew by 6 per cent to $612.4 million.
Tabcorp criticises Victorian Liberal party
Australian gaming company Tabcorp has spoken out against Victoria's Liberal party plans to cut poker machines by 20 per cent in pubs and clubs if they win government support in the upcoming election. Matthew Slater, Tabcorp's chief executive, said that the amount of machines available did not promote problem gambling while a reduction would impact the enjoyment of a large number of customers.
Casino company plans $8 billion investment
Las Vegas Sands is planning to invest more than $8 billion in its casino, leisure and convention facilities in Macau over the next four to six years according to UK's Financial Times newspaper. The investment will take the form of two $3 billion development phases for the Cotai Strip and in developing Heng Qin island.
|