Online Gaming News, März 2007

[Casinonews]

Cellectivity signs platform deal with 888
Mobile content provider Cellectivity has signed a deal with 888 Holdings to create a new 888 mobile gaming platform complete with three casino games from its website: Blackjack, Roulette, and a Progressive Slot Machine. Under terms of the agreement, Cellectivity will make the games available to customers of UK mobile operators 3 and T-Mobile, which it already has existing exclusive gaming content agreements.

Online sector shows signs of recovery
The online gambling sector was showing signs of recovery this week after a number of gaming companies posted strong trading results. Sportingbet led the way, announcing a 54 per cent rise in operating profits to £2 million for the three months to January, while Playtech's total revenues for 2006 showed an 89 per cent increase to $90.1 million.

Gambling Commission publishes remote gambling survey
A new paper from the UK Gambling Commission shows that eight per cent of the country's adults had participated in at least one form of remote gambling in the previous month. The document entitled 'Survey Data on Remote Gambling Participation' revealed that the National Lottery was the main activity for remote gambling, with 18-34 year olds most likely to play.

Irish market prepares for AmEx 2007
AmEx 2007, the 28th Irish amusement and gaming trade exhibition, will be held at the Lynch Green Isle Hotel, Dublin from 6-7 March 2007. Seminar topics at the event will include Ardac Elite Bill Acceptor by Ken Dharwar and Money Controls, Cash Audit Systems and Data Capture by Ray Hazelton.

Break-even some way off for Felix
Felix Group chairman Richard Rose said that the ATM and kiosk developer was some way off from breaking even after posting an operating loss of £2.475 million. He told shareholders that although the potential sales pipeline remains in line with stated expectations, deployment of machines had been a little slower than anticipated. A full report appears in this week's Coinslot, released today (Thursday).

CAMRA survey suggests post ban boost for pubs
A new survey conducted by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has suggested that pub operators should be preparing to welcome nearly a million new customers after the implementation of the UK smoking ban. The poll predicts that 840,000 people who currently never go to a pub said that they will after the ban is introduced. For a full report read this week's Coinslot, published Thursday.

Aristocrat in Bally acquisition rumours
Australian gaming manufacturer Aristocrat Technologies is rumoured to be discussing the acquisition of US-based rival Bally Technologies. Shares in Bally jumped by seven per cent following heavy trading as market speculation circulated, with analysts saying that a move would not be surprising.

BACTA publishes WEEE guidance for members
UK trade association BACTA has issued new guidance relating to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations 2006 and an update on the use of certain hazardous substances. In a bid to simplify the criteria set by WEEE, the association has listed the key requirements that producers of gaming or amusement machines must fulfil. Details of the report appear in this week's Coinslot (published Thursday).

Dates set for Budget 2007
The Treasury announced that the Budget for 2007 will take place on 21 March. It is widely anticipated that Chancellor Gordon Brown will realign the AMLD regime for Category C AWP machines, correcting the current anomaly affecting £35 payout games. For full analysis see Coinslot, published today (Thursday).

Inspired signs FOBT deal with Betfred
Inspired Gaming has signed a three year deal with Betfred to supply the independent bookmaker with over 2,000 of its server-based 'Rainmaker' fixed odd betting terminals. The deal also includes the introduction of open server-based gaming AWP terminals scheduled for September.

888888's former chief summoned for questioning Holdings former chief John Anderson has been summoned for interview by the French Authorities according to the online gaming company. A statement from 888888's former chief summoned for questioning[/b] said that it was too early to be specific about the questioning of Anderson, but made clear that he would be co-operating with any enquiry.

Turftrax speed system gets Japanese trials
Turftrax said the Japanese Racing Association will undertake technical validation trials on its Speed Sensing Technology, beginning in 2007. The Salisbury-based data company recently announced its decision to reduce the number of UK meetings it will cover with the Speed Sensing equipment to just the four all weather courses on commercial grounds, whilst continuing to develop overseas markets.

Netplay agrees to purchase Abstract shares
Netplay TV has agreed to buy the entire issued share capital of Sunderland-based Abstract Games for a capped maximum total consideration of £4 million. The Interactive TV gaming company said the initial consideration is £127,000 in cash, £173,000 in settlement of debt together with the issue of £200,000 worth of NetPlay TV shares alongside a deferred consideration capped at £3,500,000.

Government accepts CAP casino decision
Culture secretary Tessa Jowell confirmed today (Thursday) that the Government is to accept all the recommendations of the independent Casino Advisory Panel on the location of 17 new casinos - including the one regional casino in Manchester. Jowell will now formally issue a single draft order, as the first stage in the process to ask Parliament to approve the panel's recommendations.

Businessman ordered to pay £2 million Aspinall's debt
The UK High Court has ordered Syrian-born businessman Fouad Al-Zayat to pay a £2 million debt to Aspinall's Club. Al-Zayat, who was a regular at the club having visited Aspinall's more than 600 times over 12 years and losing more than £23 million in that time, was disputing the croupiers abilities on an occasion in 2000 at the London club.

Lottery to take burden of Olympic overspend
The UK government is expected to announce within three weeks that the cost of the London 2012 games would nearly double to £5 billion. According to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, the National Lottery is expected to shoulder the brunt of the extra costs.

Mummery returns to private sector
Bill Mummery, head of the Isle of Man's e-gaming division, is leaving the post after two years to take a senior appointment in the private sector. Mummery said that he would continue to be a strong ambassador for the jurisdiction and hoped to contribute to its continuing success.

[Casinonews]

Ladbrokes' 888 takeover off
Ladbrokes' £470 million takeover of 888.com has been called off after running into 'insurmountable' problems according to sources cited in the UK's Sunday Telegraph newspaper. The report suggested that negotiations had stalled due to ongoing litigation over 888's previous trading in the US and the news that non-executive director John Anderson had been called to answer questions by the French authorities.

Rank posts full-year profit, calls for tax breaks
The Rank Group's CEO Ian Burke warned that the gaming group was facing a number of challenges this year - most notably from the upcoming smoking ban - shortly after announcing a full-year profit of £92.9 million. He also called on the government to end the 'punitive' tax regime on bingo, arguing that it was the only gaming institution to be double taxed, incurring both VAT and tax on gross wins.

Jowell warned about formidable opposition to casino plans
UK Culture secretary Tessa Jowell has been warned that she would face 'formidable' opposition in getting the Manchester super-casino recommendation through Parliament. Labour peer Lord Lipsey warned that there was an alliance of three groups in the Lords which would block the government's recommendation.

PartyGaming boss sells company shares
PartyGaming confirmed that chief executive Mitch Garber sold over £1 million of company shares days after it announced a pre-tax profit drop of 57 per cent. The gaming company blamed the profit drop on reorganising costs of $250 million due to the US' online gambling legislation.

GMA launches multi-lingual support service
Gambling support charity Gordon Moody Association (GMA) has launched the first live multi-lingual support service on its gambling therapy e-helpline. The site offers online contact with trained advisors, forums and support groups, and will now "open up the issue of problem gambling to all ethnic groups and cultures in the UK and around the world", according to chief executive Kevin Farrell-Roberts .

FA drops Redknapp betting charges
The English Football Association will not charge Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp over an alleged betting coup on his return to the Pompey side and has dropped the investigation. An FA spokesman said that the body had written to Redknapp to say that the active investigation was on hold, but warned that it would be reactivated if any new evidence is found.

Genting cuts Ho ties
Genting International has pulled out of a proposed partnership with gambling tycoon Stanley Ho to build Singapore's second casino in a move to ease government concerns over the $3.4 billion resort project. The government last week told Genting that it would be subject to suitability checks, along with its business associates, before being awarded the casino licence, which it stated was different from the resort licence already issued.

Aristocrat's Oneile targets Europe
Aristocrat's chief executive officer and managing director Paul Oneile confirmed that the gaming company's growth focus was now 'very much' on Europe, with the UK, Italy and Greece identified as major markets for its business. Speaking to Casino Review, Oneile said that he was interested in seeing how the UK would develop and confirmed that the Australian-based company would be involved in the market once it opens up. To read the full interview or click here for free access to the new Digital Casino Review.

New marketing manager at Clarion ATE
Clarion ATE has confirmed the appointment of Charlotte Skinner as its new Marketing Manager with direct responsibility for the London Shows ATEI, ICE and ICEi. In addition to the London Shows Charlotte she will also be involved in other sectors of Clarion ATE's b2b portfolio including The Betting Show and the revamped AMUSE 2008.

GTech signs three-year NY lottery extension
Italian lottery firm Lottomatica SpA's wholly-owned subsidiary GTech Corporation has signed a three-year contract extension with the New York Lottery thought to be worth more than $200 million. Under terms of the agreement, GTech will continue providing lottery products and services through February 2010.

PokerStars appoints new affiliates director
PokerStars.com has appointed Edward Ihre as its new Director of Partners and Affiliates. Ihre will be based at the company's headquarters on the Isle of Man and will be responsible for the delivery of traffic to PokerStars.com through a variety of online and off-line marketing activities.

Arcade thefts gang charged
A gang of robbers were handed suspended jail sentences and told to do upwards of 50 hours' unpaid work each after attempting to steal more than £1,000 from machines at two amusement arcades in Great Yarmouth. The four travelled from Blackpool for the crime, but were caught after staff noticed them tampering with gaming machines in the premises and notified the police.

Blackpool's new £8 million ride bolted in
The last section of Blackpool Pleasure Beach's new £8 million attraction Infusion has been bolted into place, with the final round of bolt tightening to take place this week. The ride will also begin a number of mechanical and electrical tests before opening to the public in April.

Bwin halts Turkish operations
Austrian bookmaker Bwin said that it would temporarily withdraw from Turkey after the government passed new laws restricting online betting in the country. In a statement Bwin said it would pursue a licence if the Turkish authorities chose to issue any, but added it was unclear when this would be.

Pier competition launched
The British Urban Regeneration Association is launching a national competition to come up with ideas on how to revive seafront piers for development by a new think tank involving senior architects, engineers, business people and developers. The group, which is holding the first Seaside Network Conference in Scarborough next week, said that the pier now represents a 'symbol of seaside decline' but were well positioned to become major economic contributors to resorts.

[Casinonews]

Bwin confirms Sportingbet takeover rumours
Austrian gaming company Bwin confirmed that it is in talks to buy online bookmaker Sportingbet, but said that discussions were at a 'very preliminary' stage. Shares in London-based Sportingbet rose by 15 percent amid takeover speculation, increasing the firm's market value to £255 million.

Merlin in £1 billion Tussauds deal
Legoland owners Merlin Entertainment Group has reached an agreement with Dubai International Capital to buy The Tussauds Group for £1.028 billion in cash. Dubai will receive a 20 per cent stake in the new company, which will form the world's second-largest visitor attraction group after Disney, according to Merlin's parent company the Blackstone Group.

BACTA calls for government to maintain status quo on B3 machines
BACTA has written to the government in a bid to secure a maximum stake of £2 for the new breed of Category B3 machines. In the letter to the DCMS' head of gaming David Fitzgerald, the industry body said the adjustment would allow the industry's current 'status quo' to be maintained. For the full report see this week's Coinslot, released today (Thursday).

Sportech and Ladbrokes discussing £50m pools merger
Littlewoods Pools owner Sportech is holding talks with Ladbrokes over a proposed £50 million deal to buy Vernon Pools from the bookmaker. If successful, the merger would give Liverpool-based Sportech roughly 90 percent of the UK pools market, with over 750,000 customers each week.

Bingo Association launches safeguard campaign
The UK Bingo Association is preparing a campaign entitled "Stop Destroying My Bingo", which will ask England and Wales' 3 million regular bingo players to sign a petition urging the Government to safeguard the future of the game. The Association is arguing that bingo clubs are not getting a fair deal under the current tax laws and the upcoming smoking ban would result in a massive downturn for the industry.

Youth gambling resources launched
A series of specially designed free gambling educational resources aimed at 11-19 year olds has been launched at the House of Lords today. Funded by the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT), the resources entitled 'You bet!' and 'Just another game' are described as practical resources for professionals working with young people.

William Hill rules out Rank interest
UK Bookmaker William Hill has ruled out a bid for gaming company Rank after announcing a profit increase of 47 per cent for 2006. Chief executive David Harding said that a takeover was not on the agenda, explaining that because of the current climate in both the bingo and casino industry it was increasingly unlikely that multi-platform gaming businesses would evolve in the next few years.

Italian betting monopoly declared illegal
The European Court of Justice has ruled that Italy's use of criminal law to stop gaming companies licensed in other European Union nations is illegal. Massimiliano Placanica and two other shop operators who allowed people to place online bets with the UK's Stanley Leisure had faced criminal charges under Italian law because Stanley didn't have a local gaming license.

Caborn and Crow to appear before Lords select committee
Richard Caborn MP and the former Chairman of the Casino Advisory Panel Professor Stephen Crow will be appearing before a House of Lords select committee scrutinising the Draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Casino Premises Licences) Order 2007 next week. The Committee will assess how the selection criteria was chosen in order to improve understanding of how the selection process was carried out.

Industry pledges extra £9m to RIGT as it reaches £3m mark
The Responsibility in Gaming Trust (RIGT) announced that it had hit the 'totemic' £3 million target ahead of the implementation of the Gambling Act. The gaming industry also agreed to fund the RIGT's mid term spending plans by providing £9 million over the next two years. A full report appears in Coinslot, released today (Thursday).

Jowell questioned again over Olympic lottery spending
MPs have questioned Tessa Jowell again over government plans to use National Lottery funds to help pay for the 2012 London Olympics. The opposition Conservative party called on the culture secretary along with Chancellor Gordon Brown to give firm guarantees that good causes will not be "decimated" by the shortfall in funding.

Paddy Power shows strong results
Irish Bookmaker Paddy Power reported a 52 percent rise in annual pre-tax profits to Eur47.6 million, on an overall turnover increase of 31 percent to over Eur1.7 billion for 2006. The Group's gross win rose to Eur219 million, largely due to a 64 percent increase in win from online gaming and FOBTs, the company said.

Playtech signs Chinese supply deal
Gaming software developer Playtech has signed a contract with the Hong Kong-based Foundation Group to supply peer-to-peer gaming software in China. The AIM-listed company said in a statement that this was the second contract Playtech has signed to supply the Chinese market in the past three months and the first nationwide deal.

First global sports betting conference announces keynote speaker
The first annual global sports betting conference, BetMarkets, will be taking place in Vienna, Austria across 26-27 March and is set to include more than 35 speakers with a keynote presentation from the European Commission's Jean Bergevin. Delegates wanting to attend have until Monday (12th) to claim the early booking price before it reverts to the standard fee.

People's playground for Blackpool prom
ReBlackpool has chosen design specyclopcasinots LDA to generate plans for a £21 million 'People's Playground' promenade. The regeneration group's chief executive Doug Garrettt said the project was the first step in turning the town into a world class tourist destination, adding that it would "certainly put Blackpool back on the map." Further details of the project appear in Coinslot, published Thursday.

Hastings Council to fund Pier survey
Hastings Council is expected to fund a £100,000 structural survey of the Pier in an attempt to push owner Ravenclaw into action. The money will be taken from the Seafront Strategy budget, but the council is likely to agree with a further recommendation that it does not take over ownership of the dilapidated structure.

[Casinonews]

Jim Crompton passes away
The coin-op industry has lost one of its true pioneers following the death of Jim Crompton last week. The octagenarian was jointly responsible for the development of the "penny falls" pusher, one of the cornerstones of the seaside amusement business. His name also became synonymous with some of the best amusement equipment exported throughout the world over the last five decades. A full obituary and details of his funeral arrangements will be published in this week's Coinslot.

Bwin not ruling out capital increase to raise funds
Austrian gaming company Bwin said that it was not ruling out a capital increase to raise funds in order to buy the UK-based Sportingbet. Konrad Sveceny, head of investor relations, said that all possible financing options were being considered, although he gave no timescale of when the deal would progress.

ITV play cleared to resume services
ITV Play has been cleared to resume its interactive services by parent company ITV after audit firm Deloitte said that it was satisfied the channel operated in accordance with the Icstsis and Ofcom codes. ITV had suspended all interactive services amid allegations of irregularities with premium-rate phone lines.

Lottomatica posts core profit rise
Italian gaming company Lottomatica announced a core profit rise of 55 percent driven largely by contributions from US subsidiary GTech, which it acquired in August last year. The lottery operator said that its net profit had fallen to 800,000 euros for 2006 from 114.2 million euros the previous year due to the cost of the merger.

Nintendo's 'guru' calls for positive games
Nintendo's top game designer Shigeru Miyamoto said that the gaming sector's reputation had suffered in the past decade because of an influx of violent, but popular video games. Miyamoto - who was referred to as the 'Spielberg of video games' by Time magazine - added that designers had failed to deliver titles which brought joy to the widest possible spectrum of players, and focused too often on hard-core gamers and their lust for gore and realism.

Jowell to address 'spiralling' Olympic budget
Tessa Jowell is due to announce the revised cost of the 2012 London Olympics this week, which reports are suggesting could top £9 billion. The culture secretary will admit that costs have 'spiralled out of control' and will face calls from opposition MPs to cap the bill at £5 billion.

Swedish Gaming Board threatens publisher
Sweden's Gaming Board (Lotteriinspektionen) warned Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that it would be in contempt of court if it went ahead and published an advertisement for Maltese gambling company Expekt. The Södermanland district court confirmed last Thursday that the Board could fine Aftonbladet 150,000 kronor for every foreign gambling advertisement published.

Placanica discussion at EGB
The European Gambling Briefing (EGB) in Brussels (8-9 May) will feature a number of lawyers and regulators - including the EU's Jean Bergevin, CIRSA's Eduardo Antoja and Betfair's Legal Counsel, Fiona Russell - to provide an insight into the current issues affecting the industry. Seminars across the two-day event will be cover topics such as the recent Placanica ruling, how legal issues affect the current business climate in Spain and how to conduct effective lobbying in Europe.

South Africa suspends lottery contract
The South African National Lotteries Board has suspended the award of a seven-year exclusive national lottery contract pending a review after it said that winner Gidani and rival bidder Uthingo had not revealed sufficient information about their shareholders at the time of the tender. The board announced that it would now have to reconsider the process.

Gaming executives have hard time on billionaires list
PartyGaming founders Ruth Parasol and Russell DeLeon, and Bodog's Calvin Ayre have all lost their billionaire status on Forbes annual billionaire survey due to the new restrictions and laws governing online gambling in the US. Sheldon Anderson, chief executive officer of casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp, fared somewhat better ranking sixth on the chart with a fortune of $26.5 billion.

Hill signs £3 million automated commentary deal
Automated solutions provider Eckoh has signed a £3 million deal with UK bookmaker William Hill to provide an automated horse racing commentary and results service. The deal, which will run through 2010, allows customers listening to live horse racing commentary via their phones to connect directly to betting agents.

Fun subsidiary renews contract with EA
Fun Technologies' subsidiary WorldWinner has renewed its exclusive contract with Electronic Arts to provide cash tournaments for gaming portal Pogo.com. Under terms of the agreement, WorldWinner will develop a customised cash tournament site for Pogo.com as well as running adverts across its affiliate sites. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Singapore to continue licence checks
Singapore's casino regulatory body said that it will continue to carry out 'probity checks' on casino operators and owners, even after licences are issued to ensure only the right people were involved. The announcement comes after tycoon Stanley Ho was forced to pull out of a deal with Malaysia's Genting International to develop a resort in the country.

Vegas considers legal action against games developer
Las Vegas tourism officials are considering legal action against video-game maker Surreal Games who are attempting to trademark the phrase "Only in Vegas", saying that it infringes their own trademarked phrase "Only Vegas". Terry Jicinsky, senior vice president of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said that they were concerned that the similarity would lead to confusion and imply that the game was endorsed by the authority.

Video games reduce pet numbers
The Australian Veterinary Association said that pet numbers are dropping in the country because kids are more likely to be playing computer games. President Kirsti Seksel said that although 53 percent of homes had a cat or a dog, advances in the gaming sector over the past 15 years had resulted in a steep decline of pet ownership due to changing lifestyles.

[Casinonews]

Caborn content with CAP
Sports minister Richard Caborn told a Lords select committee that he was "reasonably content" with the Casino Advisory Panel's job in selecting Manchester as the destination for the UK's first super-casino licence. He also rebuked claims that the members of CAP didn't have sufficient knowledge to make the decision by saying that he thought the panel's skill set was sufficient.

Government Baulks at B3 stake evaluation
Calls to the British government to instate a £2 maximum stake for the new category B3 game genre appears to have fallen on stony ground. A statement issued by a DCMS spokesperson said that its position on what has become known as S16 and 21 machines has been consistent throughout and that they would not attract 'grandfather' rights. For the full report see this weeks Coinslot, published today (Thursday).

UK gambling Ad ban lifted
The UK government has confirmed that the ban on TV and radio gambling ads is to be lifted in September as part of the new Gambling Act, although operators would have to adhere to a new set of 'socially responsible' rules. Under new guidelines, gambling adverts won't be allowed during shows aimed at under-18s and feature anyone who appears under 25.

McCreevy denies German monopoly claims
The European Union's internal market commissioner Charlie McCreevy has denied claims that the EU was preparing to uphold Germany's proposed monopoly on sports betting. McCreevy was rebuking claims made by Rhineland-Palatinate's head of state government Martin Stadelmaier who told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the monopoly would be approved next week, albeit with conditions.

Channel 4 racing competition cut
Channel 4 has cut phone-ins from its Cheltenham Festival coverage after auditors found that around 100 people were charged for calling a competition on horse racing show, The Morning Line, after it had closed. Chief executive Andy Duncan told a House of Commons committee that the error was apparently due to a computer glitch at phone service provider Eckoh, and that Channel 4 was contacting the callers to arrange refunds.

888's Anderson may still face charges
888's former chief executive John Anderson could still face charges from French authorities for illegal advertising, despite an 'inconclusive' eight hour interview in Paris yesterday. According to a report in the UK's Financial Times newspaper, Anderson was allowed to leave the country but may be asked to return for further questioning at a later date.

Tabcorp fires CEO
Tabcorp Holdings has fired its chief executive officer Matthew Slater just three weeks after he announced that the Australian company was scraping plans to open overseas casinos for at least 18 months due to a profit slump. The Australian gaming company said that Elmer Funke Kupper, head of the Australian unit, would take over until a replacement was found.

Gamestec locks onto security agreement
Gamestec Leisure has signed a two year preferred supplier contract with independent locking systems designer and manufacturer Lowe & Fletcher. Under terms of the agreement, Lowe & Fletcher will supply solutions for all of the operator's security lock requirements. The full article can be found in the latest Coinslot, published today (Thursday).

Congressman looking at revoking gambling ban
US Democrat Barney Frank is considering drafting a bill to repeal last year's anti-gambling legislation. Frank who chairs the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, confirmed that he was considering the move, but said he had no timetable for the legislation.

Cyberslotz.co.uk reveals sexier website for online gaming
UK gaming website Cyberslotz.co.uk has unveiled its new look, revamped website. Complete with new layout and colour scheme, Cyberslotz said that games now take centre stage on the site, which is currently recognised as one of the top ten most popular online gambling websites in the UK.

US military to explore training using video games
The University of Rochester has been awarded $6.5 million by the U.S. Defense Department's Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative to study ways of using video games to create better soldiers. Project head Professor Daphne Bavelier commented that skills picked up while playing video games often translate well to other situations, unlike the repetitive drills currently practiced by the military.

NRI appoints two new sales managers
Coin handling equipment manufacturer NRI has appointed Andrea Zanella as Italian sales manager, and Mark Simmons as overseas sales manager responsible for the Australasian, African and Middle Eastern markets. The appointments are effective immediately with Simmons being based in the UK and Zanella in the northern Italian town of Schio.

32Red reports annual loss
Gaming company 32Red has reported annual losses of £3.74 million for the year ending 31 December, against a £1.3 million profit in 2005. The company attributed the loss to the Betdirect sportsbook business, which it acquired in June 2006 and has contributed to a 265 percent increase in administrative expenses.

Al-Zayat vows never to gamble in London again
Fouad al-Zayat has vowed never to gamble in London again after being ordered by a judge to pay a £2 million gambling debt with Aspinalls Casino, saying that he was 'disgusted' with the verdict. Aspinalls managing director James Osbourne called al-Zayat a 'very charming man' and said that the company would welcome him back with open arms should he decide to play in the capital again. A full article on the ruling appears in this week's Coinslot, available Thursday.

Intralot unit to resume Turkish operations
Intralot's 45 per cent owned Turkish unit Inteltek is expected to resume its betting operations in Turkey after winning a temporary international tender according to sources cited in Euro2day Newswire. Inteltek had previously won a tender run by the state betting organisation Spor Toto, but the tender was ruled as unlawful by Turkish courts at the beginning of March.

And Finally... Aberdeen heads luckiest city list
Aberdeen has been named as the 'luckiest city in Britain' in terms of gambling and lottery winners in the UK. Figures from a recent survey show that 47 percent of the Scottish city's residents have won £10 on the National Lottery 10 times and that one in 10 has won £2,000 or more. Birmingham came in last with 30 percent of its citizens never having won on the lottery.

[Casinonews]

Bingo Association calls on Treasury for tax relief
The Bingo Association has once again called on the government to remove VAT to save the industry, after warning that the upcoming smoking ban would result in a fall of government revenues by 33 per cent from the industry. Neil Goulden, chairman of the Bingo Association, added that the ban would result in the closure of around 28 per cent of British clubs and overall admissions would fall by nearly 30 per cent.

Intralot subsidiary awarded one-year Turkish licence
Intralot's Turkish subsidiary Inteltek has signed a new one-year temporary licence with Turkey's regulatory authority Spor Toto, allowing it to reactivate all 4,000 points of sale for the Iddaa game throughout the country. A tender process is expected to be launched in the upcoming year for a long-term contract to operate the fixed-odds betting game.

Partouche handed suspended sentence
Casino boss Patrick Partouche has been given a 12-month suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay a 40,000 Eur fine for his involvement in a Belgium-based online gaming company which targeted French players. Partouche International received a fine of 150,000 Eur for lending its name to the online poker site, Poker770.com.

Committee warns Jowell about raiding Lottery funds
A culture, media and sport committee has told Tessa Jowell not to rely on National Lottery money to offset 'faulty' cost estimates after the culture secretary confirmed that the cost of staging the London Olympics 2012 had tripled to £9.3 billion. They said they were 'disturbed' by the new costs and said that they should be met by the Treasury and not lottery contributions.

NETeller hearing postponed
The scheduled hearing of NETeller's two former board members, Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre, has been rescheduled for 16 April according to an announcement by the United States Attorney Office in New York. Both the prosecutor and the defendants agreed on the delay, but no further information as to why was released.

EFTA rules in favour of Norwegian state-monopoly
The EFTA Court in Luxembourg has dismissed an application by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) for a declaration that Norway had violated the rules of the EEA Agreement by giving state-owned company Norsk Tipping the exclusive right to operate gaming machines. It ruled that Norway's state monopoly on the operation of gaming machines was justified on the grounds of fighting gambling addiction.

Julian Goicoa to join Namco Bandai sales team
Namco Europe Ltd has appointed Julian Goicoa as International Business Development Manager, with specific responsibilities for sales of amusement machines across the Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and African markets. The 52-year-old has extensive experience in the coin-op/videogames industry since 1985, most notably for Gaelco where he was responsible for worldwide sales.

M&G buys 2.5 million Sportingbet shares
The fund management unit of insurer Prudential, M&G Investments, has bought 2.5 million shares in Sportingbet, raising its stake in the gaming firm from 3.61 per cent to 4.19 per cent. M&G now holds 18.15 million shares in the company, which confirmed earlier this month that it had received a 'very preliminary' approach from Austrian online gaming company Bwin.

Scientific sells racing communications division
Scientific Games Corp. has sold its racing communications business to Roberts Communications Network in return for a 29.4 percent stake in Roberts. The lottery operator said the sale includes the simulcast transmission unit of Scientific Games Racing LLC and a 70 percent interest in the North American Simulcast Racing Information Network.

Gambling ads could contribute £250 million to advertising sector
New research has suggested that the gambling sector could boost advertising revenues by up to £250 million after new rules allowing betting shops, casinos and gambling websites to advertise on television. Global Betting and Gaming Consultants said that companies would spend 5 per cent of their estimated £5bn turnover on advertising.

Greyhound killer walks free
A 57-year old man accused of killing more than 10,000 racing greyhounds over a 15-year period has been fined £2,000 but escaped a jail sentence. Judge Peter Armstrong said he would have jailed David Smith, nicknamed the 'Seaham Slaughterer', had it been an animal cruelty case but accepted Smith's activities had been investigated by the police and RSPCA.

Women's $1 million slot win upheld
The Mississippi Gaming Commission has ruled that a woman who was wrongly awarded a $1 million jackpot on a slot machine win should receive the winnings. The IP casino had argued that she was only owed the top winning amount of $8,000, and that a technician had mistakenly programmed the slot machine to be a stand-alone progressive.

Gala adds Nectar points
Customers at Gala Bingo will gain points on their Nectar cards from June, as part of its strategy to offset the smoking ban. The scheme is not contingent on the amount they spend according to a spokesperson, and would not extend to Gala casinos or the Coral betting shops.

British tourist economy in good health
VisitBritain said that Britian's tourist industry was in 'good health' after new figures revealed that its visitor economy was worth around £85 billion. CEO Tom Wright said that it had benefited from the enlargement of Europe, leading to strong growth from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, and improved access to the UK from countries such as India.

And Finally... Welsh man beats odds and banks £700,000
Ladbrokes bookmakers said that a Welsh man had overcome odds of 350,000 to one, to win £700,000 from a stake of £2. A spokesperson for the UK firm called the win extraordinary adding that it was the most "phenomenal betting performance we've seen in many years."

[Casinonews]

New casino rates may deter international investors
Gambling experts are predicting that the new levels of gambling duty tax revealed in yesterday's budget would deter any major operators from the US or South Africa from bidding to run the UK's 17 new casinos. Gordon Brown increased the lowest rate of tax on winnings in casinos to 15 per cent, with the top rate rising from 40 to 50 per cent.

Budget gives green light for implementation of £35 jackpot
The UK AWP market has been given a welcome shot in the arm thanks to Gordon Brown's 2007 Budget. A realignment of Amusement Machine Licence Duty (AMLD) banding has seen the new £35 AWP jackpot brought into line with the existing Category C classification, while existing duty rates have been frozen. The Budget was less kind, however, to remote gaming, which had its tax rate set at 15 per cent - the same rate as gross profits tax payable by UK-based bookmakers - and the bingo sector which had argued a strong case for the removal of VAT on participation fees. Industry feedback has been understandably varied in tone.

Lords highlights regional flaws
The House of Lords' Merits of Statutory Instruments Commission has warned that the government's proposals to allow a new regional casino in Manchester may fail to provide an accurate assessment of the social impact of that casino. The Committee points to a paragraph in the Casino Advisory Panel's own report which says that it would be extremely difficult to trace the social impact of a new casino in such a large city region. For the full article, read this week's Coinslot out today (Thursday).

MPs say government 'failing' businesses at the coast
The government has been severely criticised by a select committee of MPs for failing to meet the needs of coastal communities. The Communities and Local Government Committee's report into Coastal Towns has told government that it needs a greater understanding and appreciation of the issues faced by communities by the sea. The full report is available in this week's Coinslot, published today (Thursday).

Commission steps up proceedings against discriminatory states
The European Commission has launched the second stage of legal proceedings against Denmark, Finland and Hungary over what it sees as measures to restrict the free movement of sports betting services. It has demanded, in the form of 'reasoned opinion', that the EU member states amend their laws, after calling them unnecessary and discriminatory.

Treasury concerned about Tote sale
The UK Treasury is reported to have serious reservations about the level of debt concerned with the sale of the state-owned Tote, despite DCMS approval for the Racing Consortium's £400 million bid. Treasury officials refused to sign off on the sale ahead of Gordon Brown's budget, after a number of officials expressed concerns that any post-sale financial difficulties would embarrass the next Prime Minister.

Sportingbet and NETeller sign US solutions
Gaming firm Sportingbet said that it had reached an 'amicable solution' with Louisiana's district attorney, adding that all related warrants issued by state police had been cancelled with immediate effect. In further news, payment processing firm NETeller has signed an agreement with the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York outlining terms and a timeline for the transfer of funds back to its US customers.

Noble appeals casino decision
The Noble Organisation has appealed against a decision by Blackpool town council who in 2006 refused planning permission for a three-storey gaming venue on the promenade. The scheme was initially rejected due to fears that it could jeopardise Blackpool's bid for the super-casino licence and 'open the floodgates' to more small casino applications.

Jowell confirms lottery figures for Olympics
Tessa Jowell said that the National Lottery would account for an extra £675 million of the London 2012 Olympic's spiralling costs, bringing its total contribution to £2.2 billion. The Culture Secretary added that the decision was taken after very careful consideration and assured the temporary diversion would be done with the 'least possible disruption'.

Microgaming hires Elliot
NETeller's ex-vice president of sales and marketing Bruce Elliot has joined Microgaming as its new head of business development and marketing, effective immediately. Prior to a four year stint with payment provider NETeller, over which period the company grew its staff from 75 to over 800, Elliot worked for GE Capital in sales and marketing.

Goicoa joins Namco Bandai sales team
Namco Europe has appointed Julian Goicoa as international business development manager. Goicoa will have specific responsibilities for sales of amusement machines across the Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese and African markets.

Google buys in-game ad firm
Search engine Google has completed the buyout of San Francisco-based in-game marketer Adscape for an estimated $23 million. Google did not comment what future plans were for the company, but sources believe that it would be integrating its own advertising into video games.

SAM parent ceases trading
Gary Drage, managing director of cue sport and air hockey supplier SAM Leisure, has announced that the company has undergone a major internal restructuring resulting in the dissolution of parent firm SLP Properties. He said that the move had been necessary in order to take the company forward and properly develop its potential. The full story appears in this week's Coinslot.

Great support for the inaugural BetMarkets conference
The first BetMarkets conference, taking place in Vienna next week, now has almost 200 confirmed attendees from some of the largest global sports betting operators. Keynote speach will be given by Jean Bergevin from the European Commission.

Littlehampton to host seaside conference
Littlehampton is to host a national conference about outstanding design in seaside regeneration on 26 March. Shifting Sands 2 will focus on current seaside projects and the impact they have on the economy, quality of life and regeneration of coastal towns.

[Casinonews]

DCMS resists calls to split casino vote
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that there was 'absolutely no question' this week's casino licensing vote would be split into two categories. The opposition Conservative party and Lib Dems have been calling on culture secretary Tessa Jowell to allow MPs to vote for Manchester's super-casino and the 16 smaller regional venues separately.

Cameron orders Conservatives to oppose Manchester casino
Tory leader David Cameron has ordered Conservative MPs to oppose the government's plans for the Manchester super-casino licence when it comes to vote before the Commons and Lords this week. The UK's Sunday Times newspaper reported that Cameron overruled shadow chancellor George Osborne, who was believed to have persuaded the shadow cabinet that the party must support the Casino Advisory Panel's decision.

Lib Dem peer calls Manchester victory flawed
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Oakeshott said the Casino Advisory Panel's decision to award Manchester the UK's super-casino licence had been flawed after minutes from a Lords scrutiny committee revealed that CAP chairman Professor Crow had said that the terms of reference it had been working with had made it virtually impossible for Blackpool to win. Oakeshott also questioned the decision to give Bath a smaller casino, based on the 'need to examine the social impact of a small casino aimed at well-to-do gamblers in a heritage setting'.

William Hill begins Turf war
Bookmaker William Hill has warned that its sponsorship of horse racing's major races could be withdrawn if the country's bigger racecourses pull out of their deals with Satellite Information Services (SIS). Public relations director David Hood called bookmakers the biggest benefactors to racecourses, and questioned the common sense in placing money with tracks that were 'effectively going to war with us'.

Kerzner re-evaluating UK position
Kerzner International's UK chief Tobin Prior said that the firm was re-evaluating its plans to bid for the country's super-casino in the wake of Gordon Brown's budget. Prior said that he was still assessing the impact of the new tax on winnings, with the highest bracket set at 50 per cent, and remarked that there had been "no indication that it was going to be this high".

BCA label government schizophrenic
The British Casino Association has labelled the government 'schizophrenic' in their casino policies and taxes, saying that the new tax would undermine 'regeneration pots'. Penny Cobham, chairman of the BCA, argued that companies would factor the new duty levels in their bids, taking away money earmarked for local regeneration projects.

Consortium Tote bid still alive
The Racing Consortium's £400 million bid for the state-owned Tote bookmaker is still alive despite Treasury concerns over the level of debt involved according to a report in the UK's Guardian newspaper. The paper, citing unnamed sources, stated that the bid remained the preferred choice of the Department for Media, Culture and Sport.

Illegal betting linked to Woolmer's murder
Jamaican police have confirmed that they are 'seriously' looking into allegations that match fixing and illegal gambling was the motive for Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer's murder. The International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption unit have already arrived in Jamaica and are reported to be looking into the Ireland game, which Pakistan surprisingly lost.

Brussels issues warning to Germany
The European Union has written to Germany asking it to reconsider a proposed ban on online gaming, and warned that the country faces possible legal action if it proceeds with the legislation. EU industry commissioner Guenter Verheugen gave Germany's regional state governments a month to change the draft treaty on the issue or face action.

Greek OPAP reports 11 per cent profit increase
Greek gaming operator OPAP posted a net profit for 2006 of 509.8 million euros, an increase of 11.2 per cent on the previous year. Total revenue amounted to 4.63 billion euros for the period, an increase of 25.4 per cent, while lottery revenues were up five per cent to 2.28 billion euros.

NETeller ends Canadian and Turkish gaming services
Online payment firm NETeller said that it would no longer process transfers related to online gambling sites for Canadian or Turkish residents due to tightened regulations in the jurisdictions. The firm said in a statement that the risk to its ongoing business in Canada and Turkey has increased in the light of the new laws, necessitating the move.

Alton Towers wins noise level case
The UK High Court has ruled that local residents should expect noise from Alton Towers after they had argued that customer 'shrieks' on white-knuckle rides were too loud. The residents had also claimed that the theme park did not adequately control sound levels from concerts and fireworks displays.

Ladbrokes launches new Spanish operations
UK-based bookmaker Ladbrokes has promised to invest 30 million euros in joint Spanish betting operation Sportium over the first year of business in Madrid. The bookmaker also revealed that Sportium planned to extend its activities to other Spanish regions as soon as the country approved new gaming regulations.

Russian firms merge to form Unicum Gaming
Russian gaming suppliers Unicum Group and SmartGames have signed an agreement to merge, citing a desire to consolidate their strengths in the domestic and international markets. The move has been approved by both boards of directors, with the new company taking the title of Unicum Gaming.

Antigua undertakes regulations overhaul
The Antiguan Financial Services Regulatory Commission announced that it had commenced an overhaul of its Interactive Gaming and Interactive Wagering Regulations. The FSRC said that it was working closely with the Antigua Online Gaming Association with the aim of reinforcing Antigua's compliance and commitment to international practices and industry standards.

Tipp24 posts strong 2006 figures
Lottery operator Tipp24 reported an increase in net profit of 124 per cent, to 7.4 million euro, for 2006 on increased revenue of 264.2 million euro. Customer registration for the year more than doubled to 1.7 million, while revenue generated outside its native Germany grew to 12.7 per cent of its total revenue.

Nuns on a run
Three nuns in the Philippines have caused controversy after being photographed playing slot machines and blackjack at a gaming fair in Manila. A spokesperson for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation described the incident as purely innocent and claimed the nuns had played without money. However Filipino Archbishop Oscar Cruz said it was 'improper' and 'imprudent' for the nuns to attend the exhibition featuring new gaming technology.

[Casinonews]

Lords reject casino proposal
Culture secretary Tessa Jowell's casino licensing plans have been halted by the House of Lords, despite the fact that MPs voted 274 to 250 to back the proposal. Peers rejected the plans for the 17 new casinos, including Manchester's super-casino, by 123 votes to 120.

Jowell plans to reflect on future of super-casino
Tessa Jowell reiterated after the peers’ decision on the casino vote that there was no 'Plan B', telling MPs the Government now wanted to reflect on the outcome. A senior unnamed government source, cited in the Evening Standard, said that Jowell would not be rushing back with fresh proposals noting: "Proper policy making means we will be spending the next month or so considering the project."

Manchester calls decision 'complete madness'
The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, Angie Robinson, responded to the Lords decision by calling it 'complete madness' adding that they were "bitterly disappointed at this absolutely outrageous decision". Manchester Labour MP Graham Stringer insisted ministers should impose the Commons' view, warning that this was “now a constitutional matter over the relative powers of the two houses of parliament”.

Harding to promote 'open door' at BACTA
BACTA's new president Nick Harding told Coinslot in his first interview since taking charge that he wants to promote an 'open door' policy at the trade association. Harding went on to add that his immediate goals included maintaining positive dialogue with the DCMS and the Gambling Commission, and implementing the Gambling Act as "seamlessly as possible." The full interview appears in this week's Coinslot.

Leisure Link wins Terminal 5 tender
Leisure Link has announced its successful tender for the five year operation of family entertainment centres in the new BAA Heathrow Terminal 5. The deal will commence with the opening of Terminal 5 in March 2008, and will extend the operator's existing airport FEC operation to over 300 units. .

Scottish publicans rue smoke ban effects
Scotland's smoking ban has caused a third of the country's bars to lay off staff according to new research by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA). Only three per cent of those questioned said they had taken on extra staff, while 11 per cent confirmed that drink sales had been down since the ban was implemented. A complete analysis appears in this week's Coinslot, published Thursday.

Alton Towers tops UK search destination
Alton Towers is the most searched for destination for Britons ahead of the Easter break according to data compiled by search intelligence firm Hitwise. Rival theme parks Thorpe Park ranked third and Legoland fifth, while Blackpool Pleasure Beach was tenth in the list.

Osbourne future with Gala in doubt
Sharon Osbourne could be the latest casualty of the summer’s smoking ban after Gala Bingo said that it was considering dropping the X-Factor star amid an overhaul of its marketing strategy. Gala marketing director Kate Howe confirmed that Osbourne's role as a brand ambassador was under review, adding that no decision had been made over her contract beyond the year.

Smaller amusement firms outperforming bigger competitors
A report by Plimsoll Publishing has suggested that a group of 'lean, fit and relatively small' amusement sector companies are out performing the bigger players by a considerable margin. Figures form the paper show that emerging companies have increased sales at three times the rate of their larger competitors, delivered four times the profitability and produced five times the return on investment. A full report appears in this week's Coinslot, available today (Thursday).

Sportingbet announces offshore move
UK-based Sportingbet has announced that it is moving the group's operations to the Channel Islands, largely because of uncertainty over the operational requirements due in September's Gambling Act 2005. A statement from the company said that the board had chosen the Channel Islands because of the more defined regulatory environment, and that it will have left the UK by 1 September.

Amusement industry gives Brown thumbs down despite favourable budget
A survey conducted for Coinslot has revealed that despite the largely favourable response to Chancellor Gordon Brown's stance on AMLD in the budget, the amusement industry would rather not see Labour back in power. Fifty-three per cent of operators questioned said they would vote Conservative, sufficient to give David Cameron a landslide victory. The survey appears in Coinslot this week.

IBA announce general meeting date
The Independent Bookmakers' Association (IBA) will be holding its next General Meeting on 3 April at Wolverhampton Racecourse. IBA chairman Hugh King and Joe Phillips of North West based bookmakers Cheshire Racing will be heading the meeting which will be discussing topics including the Levy Board, SIS and AMRAC.

Danter buys jewel in crown from Shipleys
The oldest established amusement park in the Midlands has been sold by the Shipleys as a going concern to showman Henry Danter for an undisclosed sum. Danter called the Stourport site "the jewel in the crown" among amusement facilities in the area.

Intralot posts 54 per cent profit increase
Greek lottery systems provider Intralot reported a rise in net profit of 54 per cent, to 160.13 million euros, for 2006. Consolidated revenue for the year reached 791.4 million euros, an increase of 51.3 per cent against the previous year, while EBITDA increased to 254.8 million euros, a jump of over 59 per cent.

Helsinki amusement park labelled unsatisfactory
The Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) has accused Helsinki's Linnanmäki amusement park of having 'far from satisfactory working conditions' according to a report in Finland's Kansan Uutiset newspaper. The SAK were investigating claims of mildew in the amusement park's water tower, and asbestos dust in the ghost train according to the article.

FUN announces strong revenue growth
Canadian gaming firm FUN Technologies announced combined revenue of $47.1 million for 2006, an increase of 84 per cent over the previous year. Revenue from FUN Games totalled $21.4 million for the year, generated mainly from the cash skill games platforms, while revenue from FUN Sports totalled $20.2 million for the year.

Swinden opts out of Gamestec
Gamestec's senior gaming product manager Peter Swinden has resigned from the position to pursue a new challenge outside the group. David Corns will take over the role on an interim basis and will report directly to head of product development Alex Hook.