The Gaming Daily

Profits Soar for PhilWeb in 2009

2010-01-11T17:37:00.001+08:00

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Leading Philippine gaming company, PhilWeb Corporation, recently announced that its unaudited net income for last year jumped 89% over 2008 results.

That translates to about PHP552 million (about $12.11 million) and the local Filipino technology enabling partner of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) said that bulk of the profits last year came from its core gaming operations.

Total revenue for 2009 was PHP 820 million (about $18 million), 82% higher than 2008 marks.

PhilWeb's gaming operations consist of PAGCOR eCafes (internet gaming kiosks), online games Basketball Jackpot (betting on end scores of local hoops games), Premyo sa Resibo (Prize for Receipts, an SMS-based raffle program run in partnership with Philippine tax authorities), and its Bid Wars mobile game experienced a 126% percent increase over 2008 and contributed PHP523 million to the company's coffers.

Another PHP29 million in profits came from PhilWeb's investment in ISM Communications Corporation.

According to PhilWeb President Dennis Valdes:

"Another PHP29 million was contributed from PhilWeb's equity investment in ISM Corp. Our unrealized gain of PHP2.4 billion from our investment in ISM is a real, albeit hidden, jewel in our balance sheet."

PhilWeb's PHP633 million investment in ISM is now worth over PHP3 billion after year-end closing price of ISM reached PHP0.065 per share.

Valdes further added:

"We had an excellent 2009 but are evenmore excited about our prospects in 2010. PhilWeb and ISM's recent acquisition of Acentic GmbH, which provides in-room guest entertainment services to the hospitality industry, will provide us a platform for international expansion. PhilWeb's role in this expansion will be to look at introducing gaming into the Acentic network of over 200,000 rooms, and partner with ISM in growing Acentic's reach into Asia."

Valdes also declared that the expansion plans plus the recent PAGCOR licensing of another venture, PhilWeb Homeplay, Inc. which will allow Filipino players to play casino games online, will help PhilWeb realize its target profit of PHP1 billion this year.

"With the combination of Acentic and PhilWeb Homeplay, we fully expect our 2010 bottom line to exceed a billion pesos," said Valdes.

Co-Founder of 888.com Passes Away

2010-01-11T17:00:00.001+08:00

EUROPORT, GIBRALTAR - 888.com is mourning the passing of its co-founder, Aharon Shaked, who died at the age of 58 after battling an undisclosed illness.

A dentist by trade, Aharon started 888.com with his brother, Avi, and two others -- brothers Shay and Ron Ben-Yitzhak -- in 1997 as Virtual Holdings Limited with Casino-on-Net as its main online product. The company was then based in Antigua.

According to Israeli news site, The Marker, the idea for building what would be one of cyberdom's biggest online gaming companies came to Aharon after attending a conference in Monte Carlo in the 1990s and observing that his fellow delegates flocking to the local casinos after the day's sessions.

He teamed up with brother Avi and mortgaged their homes for $100,000 to establish an online casino even if they knew very little about the gaming business.

888.com floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2005 and the Shaked brothers who had at that time about 70% stake in the company sold shares for approximately $91.3 million each. They however retained a combined stake of 50% through family trusts. The Ben-Yitzhak brothers currently holds 11% stake.

Despite the influx of fortune, it was reported that Aharon remained low-key and gave much of his fortune to charities especially to those organizations handling underprivileged children in his native Israel.

In an interview conducted by The Financial Times sometime in 2005, Aharon Shaked was asked why he remained low-profiled despite his riches:

"I have a lot of money. (But) I don't go to eat at the better restaurants or go to buy a new car because I've already done all those things."

Posted on 11 Jan 2010. Sourced from iGamingBusiness and CasinoGamblingWeb.

Estonia OK with Online Gambling

2010-01-11T15:36:00.001+08:00

TALLINN, ESTONIA - Where one door of opportunity closes, another one is sure to open.

And that is the treat the online gaming operators are getting with recent reports that the Baltic nation of Estonia is key to open its online gaming to offshore operators by 2011.

The Estonian government has adopted a liberalized stand by allowing its 1.34 million citizens to gamble online. This, sources believe, is a prelude to a regulated online gambling environment by next year.

This 2010, only those gaming operators inside Estonia are allowed to take in online wagers from Estonians.

The relaxation on online gamblings follows on the heels of a successful poker festival and the need of the government to generate funds to jumpstart a sagging economy. Estonia was one of the hardest hits economies in the recent global economic crisis among European Union members.

Estonia follows other EU members such as Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Poland and the Netherlands who have adopted a pro-regulation stance on online gambling.

Posted 11 Jan 2010

Former BetOnSports CEO Receives Jail Time

2010-01-11T15:06:00.002+08:00

MISSOURI, USA - Former BetOnSports CEO and British national David Carruthers has been sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading guilty to racketeering and conspiracy charges in relation to his former firm receiving bets from American players over the phone and internet.

Carruthers, who was arrested by FBI agents in 2006 at Dallas Airport while en route to his company's headquarters in Costa Rica, has spent the last three years under house arrest in Missouri.

According to charges levied at the British gaming executive, BetOnSports took in about $3.5 billion in wagers from primarily US players through internet and phone wagers which amounted to Carruthers being slapped with the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charge, as well as other charges collectively the evasion of Federal wagering excise taxes.

Before his arrest, Carruthers led BetOnSports to an AIM listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2004. He is also an online gambling regulation advocate.

He reached a plea deal in April last year but withdrew it in September before his sentencing. He then entered a guilty plea after a new agreement with the court was reached in October.

According to US Attorney Steven Holtshouser:

"The prosecution and conviction of Carruthers is significant to the Government's efforts at enforcement of U.S. laws against offshore internet and telephone sports wagering businesses, because Carruthers was both a foreign national and a top executive of BetOnSports. Previously, executives, owners and investors believed that they were immune from the reach of US law enforcement. Both the conviction of, and sentence handed down against Mr Carruthers should send a message to any foreign business conducting illegal activities in the United States, that geography does not render it untouchable."

Last November, BetOnSport founder Gary Kaplan was sentenced to 51 months in prison for similar charges.

Posted 11 Jan 2010. Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Gaming Firm to Invest in DFNN Gaming Unit

2010-01-11T14:16:00.005+08:00

MANILA, Philippines - Publicly-listed solutions provider and systems integrator, DFNN, Inc. recently announced that its Singapore-based gaming unit, Pacific Gaming Investments Pte Ltd., is entering into an agreement with Straitwey Pte Ltd., to generate funds needed to increase Straitwey's stake in another gaming company.

The agreement will see Straitwey, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Japan Gaming Development Organization, infuse some $7 million in Pacific Gaming which in turn will be used to fund Straitwey's increased stake in Inter-Active Entertainment Solutions Technologies, Inc., a firm operating under an online gaming license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

Straitwey is expected to conduct due diligence on Pacific Gaming and once the agreement is consummated, the former is expected to invest $7 million on primary and secondary shares of the latter.

DFNN further added that Pacific Gaming will be using part of the investment as working capital as well as other investments in the gaming industry.

Posted 11 Jan 2010

Palms Shows "Poker Face" Ad

2009-12-10T11:28:00.000+08:00

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - Don't be surprised when you get to hear the hit song "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga more often these coming days.

The hit single by the Grammy-winning singer will be featured in Palms' upcoming advertising campaign.

Palms earned the exclusive rights to use the song for its television and online commercials.

The thirty-second ad, entitled "Show Us Your Poker-Face", featured sexy imagery alongside features at Palms Casino Resort including entertainment, gaming, dining, and concerts.

Aside from the obvious connection with gaming and lifestyle, the move to use the famous electropop singer's music was done to connect with Lady Gaga's fan base.

Here is the commercial as sourced from YouTube.

Chinese Authorities Crack Down on Football Betting Group

2009-12-09T13:53:00.002+08:00

HUNAN, CHINA - Chinese police have traced three criminal groups connected with football betting via the internet in the province of Hunan.

Twenty-two suspects have been arrested by authorities after about six months of investigation into the growing incidences of match-fixing involving football clubs, players and even referees.

According to reports, more than US$88 million have been wagered online on football in China since 2007.

The three arrested -- Feng Bifei, Wang Chao, and Guo Yanting -- all work as agents for offshore gambling companies who in turn recruit lower-level agents all for the purpose of creating a pool of players who bet on football games online.

According to the police, Feng's network had recorded the highest bet made at about US$ 24,900. IN a week, almost US$ 3 million in bets are collected by the gambling operations.

Chinese officials have been stepping up their drive against illegal gambling in the mainland after local football was hit by several game-fixing incidents.

Authorities point to offshore gaming companies as culprits in these incidents. According to Xiangtan police officer Yang Zhihai:

"The real dealers are foreign companies, and they can bribe players or a team to get the result they want."

Reports also point out that the disparity in salaries between football players play a role in the problem.

According to football commentator He Xinping a poorly paid football player easily succumbs to bribery when the money offered is simply irresistible.

He added that in China, one just needs about US$ 15,000 to bribe a referee and about US$ 73,000 to ask a team to rig the match.

Groups, Sectors Welcome UIGEA Enforcement Delay

2009-12-08T17:48:00.001+08:00

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Obama Administration's decision to delay the implementation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) to June 2010 has been welcomed by proponents of regulated online gambling in the U.S.

According to Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative Spokesperson Michael Waxman:

"We see this move by the Obama Administration as a decision to halt implementation of UIGEA in order to give Congress time to enact an alternative approach of regulating Internet gambling instead of prohibiting it. This decision is the latest evidence that momentum is building for a shift in policy and a rewrite of U.S. Internet gambling laws to provide for regulation and taxation instead of prohibition. Over the next six months, Congress should act to create a framework that regulates Internet gambling to protect consumers and collect billions in much-needed revenue for critical federal and state government programs."

The announcement to delay the implementation of the UIGEA by six months was done jointly by Department of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke last November 27.

Financial services, tasked with the gargantuan task of the actual implementation of the UIGEA also welcomed the delay as this will give enough time for authorities to study the UIGEA, reform or drop it, or introduce a better legislation regarding online gambling.The sector which includes the Chamber of Commerce and Financial Services Roundtable have publicly stated that the implementing rules of UIGEA are "mbiguous, burdensome and unlikely to stop Americans from gambling online."

Poker Players Alliance (PPA) also welcomed the move. In a statement released in time with the announcement, the PPA lauded the delay of the UIGEA and acknowledged the Federal Reserve and Department of Treasury for heeding the petition that the group had filed along with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, and the American Greyhound Track Operators Association.

According to PPA Chairman and former senator Alfonse D'Amato:

"THe PPA is extremely pleased with the decision by the Federal Reserve and Treasury to grant the six month extension. This is a great victory for poker, but an even greater victory for advocates of good and fair public policy."

D'Amato also stated that the extension will give legislators more time to work on UIGEA.

"These additional months are critical to provide legislators time to clarify UIGEA and pass legislation to lcense and regulate poker early next year."

Last December 3, leading pro-regulation legislator Representative Barney Frank, also the chair of the House Financial Services Committee, presented his case for the repeal of the UIGEA and instead allowing for a regulated online gambling industry with his Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009 (HR 2267).

According to Frank:

"The notion that this Congress should tell millions of adult Americans that we know better than they what they should with their own money on their own time on their own computer seems to me to be a very grave error."

Frank admitted that the while the internet is not perfect and that minors can access items that should not be accessible by them, he stated:

"The notion that because some people will abuse something, you prevent everybody from doing it, is as great a threat to the liberty of the individual as any philosophy I have seen."

Up to $42 billion in taxes can be generated over 10 years in a regulated online gambling industry in the U.S.

The hearing also heard the testimonies of experts who believed that regulated online gambling would protect consumers and ensure fairness including WiredSafety Executive Director Parry Aftab, Youbet.com Executive Chairman Michael Brodsky, and National Council on Problem Gambling Executive Director Keith Whyte.

On the other hand, Harvard University Professor Malcolm Sparrow presented the committee a comprehensive study conducted by Harvard's School of Government on the benefits of a regulated online gambling industry.

As expected, advocates of the UIGEA implementation were quick with their arguments.

Representative Spencer Bachus from Alabama attacked the integrity of online gambling, citing a letter from Assistant Director Shawn Henry of the FBI's cyber division.

According to Henry's letter:

"Technology exists to manipulate online poker games. Technically, the online poker vendors could detect this activity and put in place safeguards to discourage cheating, although it is unclear what the incentive would be for the vendor."

With this, Bachus asked that instead of delaying the UIGEA, it should be immediately enforced:

"These regulations should have been finalized and implemented two years ago. It's time to stop delaying the will of the great majority of this Congress and the American people. Quit the foot dragging and enforce this law."

Philippine Sports Betting Brand Goes with iBroker

2009-12-07T21:01:00.003+08:00

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Megasportsworld (MSW), a sports betting operation in the Philippines wholly-owned by Asia-Pacific focused AsianLogic Limited, has relaunched with a new look and a new betting engine.

Aside from sporting a new brand identity and brand colors, the sports betting brand has also introduced a new betting engine now powered by Global Betting Exchange's iBroker software.

Orient Capital Ventures, Inc. (OCVI), the operator of the MSW brand, recently secured a full sportsbook license from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) that will allow them to open sports betting outlets in the country. OCVI's first MSW outlet was opened inside PAGCOR's Paranaque Casino late October in time for the Pacquiao-Cotto fight last November.

With the iBroker software from GBE, MSW is now able to deliver full sportsbetting solution to the betting public including over-the-counter, telephone, and SMS betting.

According to GBE CEO Brian O'Sullivan:

"This partnership with Orient Capital Ventures Incorporated and AsianLogic, one of the leading operators in Asia-Pacific region, is a huge endorsement not only for this product but also for Global Betting Exchange’s global operational abilities."

In turn, AsianLogic Group Managing Director Kan Tang expressed enthusiasm for the deal with GBE:

"We have chosen Global Betting Exchange’s iBroker because it is a low-cost sportsbook platform with the most sophisticated risk management technology on the market today. We feel it is an excellent solution for the Philippines market. In fact, the first big test of the system was the recent Pacquiao-Cotto fight, which drew unprecedented interest and a very high volume of one-sided bets from the local betting public. I am happy to report that everything was handled smoothly and problem-free."

eGR Awards 2009 Winners Announced

2009-12-04T16:44:00.021+08:00

LONDON, ENGLAND - Despite a somewhat tumultous year for online gaming, no thanks to the lingering global economic crunch, obscure legal laws on online wagering, a continued closure of the US market, uncertainties in Asia and other gaming markets, it was still a good year for many online gaming firms especially those which managed the abovementioned challenges adequately.

In the recent eGaming Review conference held in London, the EGR Awards 2009 was held and the winners are:

Operator of the Year: Bwin
Specially Commended: Bet365

Affiliate Programme of the Year: Virgin Games

Asian Live Gaming Operator of the Year: VC Bet Asia

Asian Operator of the Year: SBO Bet

Bingo Operator of the Year: Cashcade (Foxy Bingo)

Casino Operator of the Year: 888

European Live Gaming: Unibet

European Sports Betting Operator of the Year: Unibet

Financial Betting Operator of the Year: BetOnMarkets
Specially Commended: Capital Spread

Innovation of the Year: Gamesys

Latin-American Operator of the Year: Betboo

Mobile Gaming Operator of the Year: Probability
Specially commended: Betfair

Offline Marketing Campaign of the Year: Betclick
Specially Commended: Cashcade (Foxy Bingo)

Online Marketing Campaign of the Year: PKR

Poker Operator of the Year: PartyPoker
Specially Commended: PKR

Rising Star of the Year: Gaming Media Group (Poker Heaven)
Specially Commended: Chillipoker

Socially Responsible Operator of the Year: Betsson

UK Sports Betting Operator of the Year: Betfair

APPT Sydney Culminates 2009 Season

2009-12-02T16:46:00.013+08:00

Tourney Now on Day 1B with 109 Runners

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - The Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) is ending season 3 with a grand finale currently being held at the Star City Casino in Sydney, Australia.

After stops in Macau, Auckland, and Cebu in the Philippines, the APPT wraps up its 2009 season with a six-day tournament featuring three Day 1 flights and the Final Table on December 6. Buy-in to the Main Event is pegged at AUD$ 6,300 and as of yesterday, Day 1A, 51 hopefuls have moved on through to Day 2. Day 1B is currently ongoing with a field of 109.

On December 7, the annual, by-invitation only APPT Tournament of Champions will take place whereby top poker stars will compete for a chance to take home some money for their favorite charities.

Other events during the APPT Sydney Grand Finale include a deep-stack tournament, a Pot Limit Omaha event as well as mega-satellites alongside side-events that are sure to draw the attention of poker players hoping to rein in some cash including an AUD$ 15,300 High Roller, an AUD$ 550 Ladies Tournament, an AUD$ 1,100 Team Event, and an AUD$ 3,200 Heads-Up Event. The Australian Children and Families Cancer Charity also stand to benefit from APPT's AUD$ 340 Camp Quality Charity Event.

Poker pros who have played or are playing or expected to play in the final leg of the APPT this year include Peter Eastgate, Joe Hachem, Lee Nelson, Emad, Tahtouh, Tony Hachem, Eric Assadourian, and Grant Levy.

At the end of Day 1A, Tony Dunst of the USA led the pack of Day 2 qualifiers with 104,300 chips followed closely by Aussie Carmelo Graziano who had 300 less chips than Dunst. Online qualifier Alan Brown from the UK was at 3rd place with 99,300 while Aussie Kent Hunter and another online qualifier, Roel Pijpers of the Netherlands, were on 4th and 5th spot respectively.

Sourced from Poker News and Asia Poker News

Macau's Gaming Sector Hits Jackpot with November Gross Receipts

2009-12-02T16:16:00.005+08:00

MACAU, CHINA (S.A.R.) - Things are looking up for Macau's gaming industry.

A report from The Macau Post Daily revealed that the Chinese special region has generated about 12 billion patacas (roughly US$ 1.5 billion) in gross receipts in November, an increase of about 60% over the same month in 2008 which saw the gambling enclave earn about 7.5 billion patacas.

However, the said amount was lesser than the 12.6 billion patacas generated in October -- the highest recorded gross receipts in Macau's history.

According to the anonymous government source, gaming gross receipts from January to November this year amounted to 108 billion patacas, up 6% over the same period last year. With one month still to go, many believe the year-round amount will beat last year record gaming gross receipt of 108.7 billion and could be between 119 to 121 billion patacas.

Stanley Ho's Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM) continues to be the industry leader in Macau, holding about 35% market share followed by Las Vegas Sands whose Macau unit, Sands China, recently started trading on the Hang Seng Index.

Macau had 33 licensed casinos comprising 4,610 gaming tables and 14,175 slot machines as of end of September. The numbers did not specify how many poker rooms or poker tables were currently in operation.

Sourced from Macau News

Church Opposes Gambling Operation in Philippine Town

2009-12-02T14:38:00.005+08:00

PAMPANGA, PHILIPPINES - Local religious authorities in the town of Bacolor in Pampanga, a province in Central Luzon in the Philippines, are enraged with the operation of a gambling facility in their area.

Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto has called on the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to immediately halt the operation of a casino facility located within the King's Royal Hotel and Leisure Park in Bacolor. The casino is being operated by Blue Chip Gaming and Leisure Corporation (Blue Chip).

According to the archbishop, the state-run gaming agency has reneged on an unwritten agreement with the archdiocese of Pampanga made in 1997 whereby both parties agreed to make Pampanga casino-free except in two areas: Clark, Pampanga (a former US military base) and at the old PAGCOR building in Angeles City.

The archbishop further stated that the agreement emerged after the previous governor of Pampanga, actor Lito Lapid, and PAGCOR approached the archdiocese in 1997 to discuss the possibility of a casino facility in the Paskuhan Village.

The new casino facility in Bacolor opened last October 17, some 16 months after the town's councilors approved the project.

Church Opposition

The Archdiocese of San Fernando and the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity (ACL) are leading protests against the operation of the casino at the hotel by hanging tarpaulin streamers condemning the project.

Local church leaders have alleged that proponents of the project have rushed the project to avoid any opposition from the church.

It was also reported that San Guillermo Parish priest Fr. Jess Manabat had snubbed the invitation of the facility to officiate its blessing last October 17.

Provincial Government Unaware

Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio, also a Roman Catholic priest, also questioned the operation of the casino facility.

In a letter to PAGCOR Chairman Efraim Genuino dated October 16, the governor stated that the casino was put up "without the knowledge and authorization of the provincial government."

He has asked PAGCOR to halt the opening of the casino but the facility opened anyway as scheduled.

Not a Full Casino, Local Execs Ok with Project

In a letter to Governor Panlilio dated October 30, PAGCOR VP for Corporate and Legal Services Department Carlos Bautista, Jr. however said that the operation at King's Royal Hotel was "not a full casino setup" but only slot machines were present.

The facility was acted upon the request of the hotel's owner, one Melchor Caluag, who wrote to Bacolor Mayor Romeo Dungca, Jr. early in 2008 and signified his intent "of putting up a Poker Club, which includes slot machines and poker tables within the vicinity of the King’s Royal Hotel and Leisure Park, that is converting the spacious function rooms into a gaming hall.”

In June 24, 2008, Resolution No. 71-2008, approving the establishment of the gaming facility, was unanimously passed by the town's council.

Bacolor is a 4th-class municipality in the province of Pampanga.

Sourced from the Philippine Daily Inquirer

Sands China Hits Slump on Trading Debut

2009-12-01T15:40:00.003+08:00

HONG KONG, S.A.R. - Sands China's trading debut ended on a sour note.

The newly-listed Macau-based operations of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) saw its debut on Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index ending with a 10.2% slump, closing at HK$ 9.32. It opened the day with its IPO price of HK$ 10.38.

Sands China had earlier stated that it planned to use money gained from its recent IPO to complete construction work of the company's Cotai strip project -- an integrated resort and casino. It plans to invest about HK$ 3.88 billion of its HK$ 19 billion IPO money for the project which was stalled when the global economic crises erupted.

LVS currently operates three casinos in Macau namely The Venetian Macao, The Sands Macao, and The Plaza Macao which houses both The Four Seasons Hotel Macao and The Plaza Casino. With the completion of its Cotai Strip project, LVS aims to boost its gaming market share in Macau to over 30%. LVS currently accounts for 24% of Macau's total gaming market.

Sourced from China Daily

Philippine Gaming Firm to Expand Overseas

2009-12-01T15:11:00.005+08:00

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Local gaming firm PhilWeb Corp. has big plans for 2010 -- go global.

PhilWeb has recently announced that it has incorporated Philweb International Gaming Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary, to handle its expansion plans overseas.

With a capitalization pegged at PHP 1 billion (about US$21 million) for the expansion program, PhilWeb plans to work with government authorities in target countries to commence franchised gaming operations.

In the Philippines, Philweb is the technology partner of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), the Philippine authority on games of chance, and operates on behalf of the latter, online gaming kiosks operated as internet cafes.

According to a statement by Philweb President Dennis Valdes:

“We will demonstrate that our very successful business model of partnering with government, in this case, PAGCOR, to develop and operate technology-based gaming can be transplanted to other countries throughout the region and other parts of the world."

The statement added that Philweb's successful partnership with PAGCOR has already attracted the eye of other governments, adding that the "(business) model is attractive because Philweb takes care of the development, rollout and operational costs ... government does not need to contribute capital to create the business, and thus has no cost of money or financial risk."

In addition to contributing to the national coffers, online gaming also helps abet the rise of illegal gambling, Valdes noted.

Q3 results for Philweb were significantly up, with Q3 profit up 133% to PHP 144.8 million. The firm's total net income for the first three quarters of 2009 reached PHP 372.4 million, up 76% over the same period last year. Philweb expects profits to net PHP 550 million this year.

Police Nab Gaming Firm's Employees in Northern Philippines

2009-09-22T17:32:00.005+08:00

Firm Had No License to Operate in the Provinces Says Police; Firm's Lawyers Say Otherwise

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Local police have cracked down on the alleged illegal gambling operation of a Spanish-owned gaming firm in two provinces in northern Philippines which resulted in the arrest of 137 people.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) raided the outlets of Meridien Vista Gaming Corporation (MVGC) in the provinces of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino for operating an illegal numbers similar to the popular "jueteng" numbers game.

According to law officials, the raids were conducted after it was found out that MVGC was operating outlets outside of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA).

CIDG Senior Superintendent Christopher Laxa told reporters that MVGC was only supposed to operate inside CEZA but it has expanded its operations to nearby provinces such as Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya and reached even further south to the Bicol region. Laxa further added that the firm was operating without the proper permits from local government units.

However, counsels for the Spanish gaming firm Raymond Fortun and Angelo Santos said that MVGC's operations were "lawful, legal and aboveboard" stressing that charges that their company's operations were similar to jueteng and that they lacked Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) approval were "misplaced assumptions".

In a letter sent to the provincial board of Nueva Vizcaya, MVGC's lawyers stated:

"(Meridien) is a domestic corporation… under Philippine laws, duly licensed and authorized to conduct gaming operations (through a franchise) from CEZA (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority)… (which was) created through Republic Act 7922."

Earlier this year, the operations of MVGC were ordered to halt by CEZA Administrator Jose Mari Ponce after anti-gambling advocates in the province aired their opposition of the gaming firm operating outside of its jurisdiction. The implementation of the cease-and-desist order was however stopped by a court in Cagayan province.

News Posted September 22

Gaming Companies Busy with Football Sponsorship Deals

2009-09-18T16:37:00.002+08:00

EUROPE - With football season in, the number of football clubs in Europe with gaming companies as sponsors has slowly been surely growing.

Betfair has signed up two clubs so far -- Spanish club FC Barcelona and English Premiere club Manchester United. This is the first time since 2003 that the company has sponsored a football club. In recent years, people will remember Betfair to have taken an interest on cricket and horseracing.

The Sportingbet logo is emblazoned on Portsmouth jerseys while Chelsea FC will be heralding Asian sportsbook 188Bet as its official betting partner. Three other English clubs have 188Bet as sponsors as well -- Wigan Athletic, Aston Villa, and Bolton Wanderers. Earlier this year, Sportingbet also forged an agreement with second-tier football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Bodog Europe will meanwhile be visible as Fulham FC's official betting and gaming partner. British gaming firm William Hill on the other hand went south to sponsor Malaga CF.

Aside from sports teams, Betfair is also in an agreement with UK sports radiostation TalkSport as its official betting partner while Austrian gaming company Bwin has secured broadcast rights for Spanish football's Primera and Segunda leagues. Bwin is also a sponsor of AC Milan and Real Madrid and also sponsors FIBA games and MotoGP.

New South Wales Lottery Privatization Gets Green Light

2009-09-18T16:16:00.002+08:00

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - New South Wales' national lottery is headed towards privatization.

The government of New South Wales finally agreed on the move to privatize the state lottery after kinks were ironed out last week between the ruling Australian Labour Party and their opponents in parliament.

The proposal to privatize the state's lottery was first introduced late last year. However, opposing politicians casted their doubts on the move claiming the proposal did not have adequate coverage and protection for those small businesses that were selling NSW lottery products. Last week finally, Premier Nathan Rees made possible a compromise that allowed the proposal to finally move forward.

New South Wales will bid out the project and the winning operator will be endowed a 40-year license.

The privatization project has perked the interest of several companies including Victoria-based Tattersalls, and a TabCorp-initiated consortium. Other companies expected to bid for the license include Intralot, GTECH, and Singapore's Tote Board.

The privatization, once pushed through, will earn the NSW government $519 million.

Cryptologic Signs Up BetSafe as 26th Licensee

2009-09-18T15:55:00.002+08:00

DUBLIN, IRELAND - Online gaming supplier, Cryptologic, has snagged up another licensee, its second such agreement for the year.

The Irish gaming company has reached a three-year deal with BetSafe.com whereby the latter will be provided with Cryptologic's online casino gaming suite. The deal makes BetSafe the 26th licensee for Cryptologic.

Under the terms of the agreement, Cryptologic will provide Malta-licensed BetSafe with two variant casino products -- an exclusive downloadable online casino, and a non-exclusive instant-play casino -- both of which will be marketed to BetSafe's growing 250,000 customer base. The downloadable casino has over 200 games and promotional tools and will be initially offered in English, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish languages.

According to Cryptologic CEO Brian Hadfield:

"This is the first time BetSafe.com, one of the fastest-growing operators, has offered a download casino to its players. The agreement underlines CryptoLogic's credentials as a trusted partner with branded and innovative proprietary games and a technology platform that is second to none."

The Cryptologic executive also added that the agreement further allowed the company to penetrate the Scandinavian market.

"In line with our strategy, this deal also provides us with greater penetration into the Scandinavian market and is a further significant step towards our goal of profitability and long-term growth," he said.

Meanwhile, BetSafe CEO Henrik Persson expressed enthusiasm with the deal:

"We are delighted to sign this agreement with CryptoLogic, who have a proven track record of consistently delivering innovative, industry-leading betting games. BetSafe.com’s casino is committed to providing its customers with the best gaming experience available and this collaboration with CryptoLogic will help us achieve that goal."

Resorts World at Sentosa to Open in December; Gains Advantage Over Marina Bay Sands

2009-09-16T21:34:00.005+08:00

LV Sands Shakes Up Marina Bay Sands Management; Top Two Execs Leave

(UPDATED) SINGAPORE - Global Gaming Business reports that the land-based gaming and resort hotel competition in Singapore between Las Vegas Sands' Marina Bay Sands and Genting of Malaysia-funded Resorts World is heating up.

According to GGB, Resorts World will be the first to open its doors to the public when it opens later this year, gaining advantage over Marina Bay Sands opening early next year. Resorts World, which recently opened its Resorts World at Manila, has announced that following the acceleration of construction work at the resort, Resorts World at Sentosa might be opened this year instead of early next year as was previously estimated. What is confirmed however is that the resort will be holding its first event this December in coordination with Singapore Press Holdings -- a charity concert entitled ChildAid, for the benefit of The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund. The concert will be staged from December 19 to 21 at the resort's 1,600-seater Festive Grand Theatre.

On the other hand, Marina Bay Sands' top management was recently shook up when Las Vegas Sands announced that President Nigel Roberts and VP Tony Cousens were leaving the Singapore project.

Both Roberts and Cousens were on the project less than a year, having been hired only early this year, leading to speculation that the duo's departure may be connected to the March shake-up at the head office which saw then LVS President Bill Weidner and EVP Brad Stone leave their posts after clashing with Chairman Sheldon Adelson.

In place of Roberts and Cousens, LV Sands appointed two hotel executives, Thomas Arasi and Ronen Nissenbaum as President-CEO and EVP for Operations, respectively. Both men have little gaming experience -- Arasi a former top executive of hotel operator, Lodigian Inc.; and Nissenbaum was regional VP of Operations in North America for the Intercontinental Hotels Group.

Ads Launched in Support of Online Gambling Bill in U.S.

2009-09-15T22:26:00.001+08:00

Online Gambling Advocacy Group to Pepper Websites with Ads

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Online gambling advocacy group in the U.S., the Safe and Securie Internet Gambling Initiative, who are supporting Congressman Barney Frank's HR 2267 bill or the Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act fo 2009, has launched a series of online ads in support of the said legislation.

The online ads, in the form of advertising banners, hope to spread awareness about the Frank internet gambling bill and the benefits of regulating online gambling especially potential revenues from licensed operators.

Safe and Secure said that the online ads will appear in leading online news sites including the Washington Post, The Hill, Politico, Huffington Post, Political Wire, and Talking Points Memo.

Commenting on the launch of the new ads, Safe and Secure Spokesperson Jeffrey Sandman said:

"As Congress searches for ways to pay for health care reform and other worthy programs, it should end the unsuccessful prohibition of Internet gambling and start collecting taxes on the billions in revenue currently lost to unlicensed, offshore gambling operators."

Since Congressman Frank, chair of the House Committee of Financial Services, introduced HR 2267 last May, a total 54 bipartisan co-sponsors have signed the bill. Frank has announced that a hearing and mark-up on the bill is planned this autumn.

PKR.com Chooses GBE Sportsbook

2009-09-15T22:05:00.002+08:00

ALDERNEY - Revolutionary online 3D poker room, PKR.com, is stepping into new territory as it firmed up on intent to diversify its offerings after selecting Irish sportsbook and betting exchange developer, Global Betting Exchange (GBE).

GBE will be providing a customized iBroker sportsbook to PKR.com which will allow for automation of sportsbook management from creation, pricing and settlements, as well as provide auto-risk management and dynamic hedging.

PKR.com CEO Malcolm Graham expressed enthusiasm on the deal with GBE:

"In launching a PKR sportsbook we are determined to deliver a product that meets the high standards for technology and innovation that define PKR. The GBE iBroker platform is an excellent solution for us and we look forward to delivering a fantastic sportsbook product in the coming months."

GBE CEO Brian O'Sullivan also expressed confidence with the done arrangement:

"Global Betting Exchange has leveraged its experience as the developer and operator of one of the Industry's leading betting exchanges to develop a unique sportsbook platform. The ground-breaking GBE iBroker is a low cost sportsbook platform with sophisticated risk management technology. The selection of iBroker by a company with PKR.com's reputation for innovation and excellence is a huge endorsement for the iBroker product."

Dublin-based GBE's customers have included 888, Racecourse Data Technologies, and BetChronicle.

Harrah's Partners with 888 in Online Gaming Move

2009-09-15T21:19:00.004+08:00

888's Dragonfish to Provide Online Casino and Poker to Harrah's Interactive Unit

GIBRALTAR - Gaming group Harrah's Entertainment, holders of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and Caesars Casino brands, has solidified its move to offer online gaming products when it sealed an agreement with leading online gaming company 888.

The deal will see 888's B2B unit, Dragonfish, provide Harrah's Interactive Entertainment Inc. (HIE) with its total gaming services approach and roll-out online poker and casino using the WSOP and Caesars brands, respectively. Aside from the gaming software, Dragonfish will also provide HIE with electronic payments, CRM, customer support and VIP services.

HIE, helmed by Mitch Garber, former CEO of PartyGaming, plans to roll-out its online products to European customers, particularly in the UK. It is surmised that Harrah's is readying itself once the US online gaming market opens up.

HIE CEO Garber expressed confidence in the new partnership with 888:

"As we develop and roll out our interactive strategy, we have chosen to work with 888, primarily for their world-class technology, scalability, and a strong commitment to compliance, and responsible gaming."

Commenting on the long-term agreement, 888 CEO Gigi Levy said:

"This is a ground breaking deal for 888 and demonstrates our ability to provide real value to globally renowned, land-based casinos and their leading brands. We have the structure in place to realise our B2B division’s full potential over the next 18 months and beyond and today’s announcement of our partnership with an industry giant is further vindication of this strategy."

Philippine Lottery Operator's Profits Up 70%

2009-09-15T16:44:00.007+08:00

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Philippine online lottery operator, Pacific Online Systems Corporation, reported an almost 70% profit for the first seven months of the year thanks to retail expansion activities resulting to a wider distribution of its products including a scratch lottery card game.

The listed-Philippine gaming company who is the exclusive online lottery provider for the Central and Southern Philippines (Visayas and Mindanao areas), disclosed to the local stock exchange that its profits surged to PHP 167.7M ($3.46M) from PHP 99.8M ($2.06M) posted over the same period last. This accounted for a 30% increase or PHP57.7M ($1.19M).

In a statement, Pacific Online said the increase in profit "was driven by the strategic roll-out of new terminals, record lotto sales, more aggressive distribution and sale of PCSO (Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office) instant scratch tickets nationwide". The Philippine gaming firm also said continued operations of its 100 Lucky Circle retail lottery outlets contributed as well.

Prospects of the company for the year remain positive as it expects further revenue growth as PCSO lotto games remain popular among Filipinos. It aims to end the year with a total of 130 retail outlets and has set aside PHP 160M ($3.3M) for expansion plans.

Late last week, the company also signed an agreement to sell instant scratch lottery tickets with a local shoe and bag repair chain, Mr. Quickie, and hopes to implement the same with convenience store 7-Eleven and in SM Department Stores, a leading chain of malls and retail outlets in the Philippines owned by taipan Henry Sy.

PCSO is the Philippines's government body mandated with implementing nationwide lottery and sweepstake games of chance.

Scratch It image sourced from Pacific Online Systems Corp.

GTECH Wins Mauritius Lottery Tech Contract

2009-09-11T13:33:00.007+08:00

RHODE ISLAND, USA - Leading lottery gaming firm and Lottomatica subsidiary, GTECH Corporation, has recently been selected to be the technology provider of LottoTech Limited, the firm tasked by the African island-nation of Mauritius to handle its national online and ticket lottery.

According to LottoTech Chairman Carl Ah-Teck:

"LottoTech selected GTECH as its technology provider because we appreciate the value of GTECH’s leadership and success in the international lottery sector."

LottoTech, who holds a ten-year license from the Mauritius government, will be provided with a turnkey solution by GTECH and the latter will also deploy about 600 lottery terminals set to go live this October. Up to 1,000 lottery terminals are expected to be setup over time.

GTECH President and CEO Jaymin Patel commented on the deal:

"GTECH is pleased to join with LottoTech as its exclusive technology provider for the implementation of the Mauritius national lottery. We will deliver a world-class lottery platform and solutions specifically tailored for the Mauritian market and look forward to assisting our clients with applying industry best practices to build a very successful lottery for the people of Mauritius and Rodrigues that will generate significant funds for the various good causes including education, health, sports and culture."

Aside from a lotto game scheduled to be launched real soon, GTECH will also be providing LottoTech with instant games as part of the agreement.