The clearest shifts in the UK gaming landscape recently have been technological with mobile, rightly, taking most of the plaudits. But there are also many other areas both from a platform point of view and an operator perspective that have been neglected. Oddly, the online gaming operators most profitable platform, the casino, has been the one that has suffered most from a lack of innovation despite the arrival of mobile and tablet to the party.
Following Bodog UK’s receipt of a remote gambling software licence from the UK Gambling Commission in July of last year, technological development has been a key focus of Bodog UK’s business objectives and it’s latest step forward in this regard sees Sathish Seshadri appointed Software Development Director having held several roles previously including Director BI Development. Sathish said ‘this is a great opportunity to realign development with business priorities and objectives’. One of Sathish’s core projects will be to work closely with the newly appointed Head of Casino, Adam Joseph, to expand this key product offering.
CTO, Stefan Matthews, enthused: “Mixing the innovative nature of the existing members of the business with a strengthened tech team will see a huge change in our business model and underpins fundamental improvements in our sportsbook and casino production systems as we approach Euro 2012. Sathish has the experience both from a gaming background and an IT background to take these platforms to the next level.”
May 09, 2012
France: sports, racing and mobile betting up, but youth ditching regulated sites
Figures released by French gaming regulators ARJEL show an uptick in sports and horseracing betting at regulated online operators in Q1 2012, but poker continues to slide. Sports betting turnover rose 14% to €175m, while gross gaming revenue was up 7% to €37m. Racing produced turnover of €291m (+13%) and revenues of €69m (+20%). Turnover from poker cash games fell 5% to €1.69b, but tournament entry fees were up 26% to €367m, reflecting players’ desire to seek relief from the steep government-mandated rake imposed by the regulated sites. The net result was a 3% overall poker revenue drop to €83m.
Mobile betting has increased in popularity over the past year, with the percentage of sports bettors wagering on the go more than doubling (from 7% to 15%) and almost quadrupling for poker players (from 4% to 15%), spurred by France’s recent approval of gaming apps from a variety of operators. The mobile surge wasn’t enough good news for operator Société Jeux 365, who decided last week that it had had enough and requested that ARJEL revoke its gaming license. Of the 41 operators who once held French gaming licenses, 32 are still holding out.
A closer look at France’s numbers reveals a generational divide taking place, with younger bettors increasingly choosing to wager with online operators not sanctioned/burdened by French regulators. Horseracing, which has never quite caught on with younger bettors, saw the number of active accounts rise 9%. But the number of active sports bettors fell 3% overall, and betting with regulated online operators fell 44% among the 18-24 age demographic. Poker accounts held by this same age group dropped to 230k from 340k in 2011. Players under the age of 35 now constitute 55% of the total pool, compared with 61% in 2011.
Mobile betting has increased in popularity over the past year, with the percentage of sports bettors wagering on the go more than doubling (from 7% to 15%) and almost quadrupling for poker players (from 4% to 15%), spurred by France’s recent approval of gaming apps from a variety of operators. The mobile surge wasn’t enough good news for operator Société Jeux 365, who decided last week that it had had enough and requested that ARJEL revoke its gaming license. Of the 41 operators who once held French gaming licenses, 32 are still holding out.
A closer look at France’s numbers reveals a generational divide taking place, with younger bettors increasingly choosing to wager with online operators not sanctioned/burdened by French regulators. Horseracing, which has never quite caught on with younger bettors, saw the number of active accounts rise 9%. But the number of active sports bettors fell 3% overall, and betting with regulated online operators fell 44% among the 18-24 age demographic. Poker accounts held by this same age group dropped to 230k from 340k in 2011. Players under the age of 35 now constitute 55% of the total pool, compared with 61% in 2011.
Spain to issue first online gaming licences on June 1st
Spain’s Ministry of Finance said Tuesday that the country’s new online gaming regulatory regime will come into force on June 1st.
The Ministry said that the General Directorate of Gaming will publish relevant resolutions on its website and communicate licence approval to applicants on June 1st, with the country’s sanctions regime against unlicensed operators also coming into force on that date.
Regulation of the Spanish online gaming market was scheduled to come into force on January 1st but was postponed in late December by the government for a period of up to six months ending June 30th.
The Ministry said that the General Directorate of Gaming will publish relevant resolutions on its website and communicate licence approval to applicants on June 1st, with the country’s sanctions regime against unlicensed operators also coming into force on that date.
Regulation of the Spanish online gaming market was scheduled to come into force on January 1st but was postponed in late December by the government for a period of up to six months ending June 30th.
May 08, 2012
Bet365 extends Stoke City FC shirt sponsorship
Online gaming operator bet365 has extended its shirt sponsorship agreement with Premiership football club Stoke City FC for a further three years.
From next season, bet365 will enter into its fifth season of Premier League football as sponsors of the club.
Stoke City also confirmed an extension with its partner Britannia, which is part of The Co-operative Bank, who will become the official Banking and Community Partner and also retain the naming rights for the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke City said that the sponsorship agreements were “geared” to maximise the opportunities available locally, nationally and globally as a direct result of the progress made by the club since winning promotion to the top flight of English football in 2008.
The club said that bet365 would be able to benefit from the Premier League’s global TV exposure which now reaches more than 650m homes across the world.
City’s chief executive Tony Scholes hailed the two new “lucrative” sponsorship agreements which have put the club in a strong position to move forward in the future.
“This is a very exciting development for the Football Club which gives us every chance to continue progressing forward,” he said. “We have the opportunity now to work closely with two very successful local companies on two different fronts.
“The Club is already hugely indebted to the support from bet365 and its owners, the Coates family. Whilst Britannia and The Co-operative Group focus more on local and national markets, bet365, who are the largest private sector employers in the area, operate on a global basis.
“This agreement with bet365 means that we have been able to maximise the international element of the Club’s exposure. We received a number of offers from potential sponsors, but bet365 were the highest bidders, arguably further underlining their commitment to the Club.”
Denise Coates, joint CEO of bet365, added: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement to become Stoke City’s shirt sponsors. It is a perfect fit for us as a Stoke-on-Trent-based company with a global reach and international markets to become shirt sponsor of our local Premier League club.
“This builds upon the extensive sponsorship, LED and advertising we are already committed to at many Premier League clubs and within the sports industry in general. It also further demonstrates our long term commitment to the Club.”
From next season, bet365 will enter into its fifth season of Premier League football as sponsors of the club.
Stoke City also confirmed an extension with its partner Britannia, which is part of The Co-operative Bank, who will become the official Banking and Community Partner and also retain the naming rights for the Britannia Stadium.
Stoke City said that the sponsorship agreements were “geared” to maximise the opportunities available locally, nationally and globally as a direct result of the progress made by the club since winning promotion to the top flight of English football in 2008.
The club said that bet365 would be able to benefit from the Premier League’s global TV exposure which now reaches more than 650m homes across the world.
City’s chief executive Tony Scholes hailed the two new “lucrative” sponsorship agreements which have put the club in a strong position to move forward in the future.
“This is a very exciting development for the Football Club which gives us every chance to continue progressing forward,” he said. “We have the opportunity now to work closely with two very successful local companies on two different fronts.
“The Club is already hugely indebted to the support from bet365 and its owners, the Coates family. Whilst Britannia and The Co-operative Group focus more on local and national markets, bet365, who are the largest private sector employers in the area, operate on a global basis.
“This agreement with bet365 means that we have been able to maximise the international element of the Club’s exposure. We received a number of offers from potential sponsors, but bet365 were the highest bidders, arguably further underlining their commitment to the Club.”
Denise Coates, joint CEO of bet365, added: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement to become Stoke City’s shirt sponsors. It is a perfect fit for us as a Stoke-on-Trent-based company with a global reach and international markets to become shirt sponsor of our local Premier League club.
“This builds upon the extensive sponsorship, LED and advertising we are already committed to at many Premier League clubs and within the sports industry in general. It also further demonstrates our long term commitment to the Club.”
Unibet leaves Spain, but not for long
Unibet has announced its withdrawal from the Spanish market in relation to the forthcoming implementation of new online gambling regulations for the country.
The news reported on Spanish online poker website Red Poker publishes an e-mail reportedly sent to customers this week advising that Unibet will allow customer account access to request withdrawals but will no longer offer its services after May 14, 2012.
The e-mail announced a partnership between Unibet & Swedish operator Paf , who has applied for & anticipates receiving a Spanish license, offering its customers an alternative following its exit from the market.
The email says:
Information about upcoming changes.
Dear user,
In order to comply with the new gambling law online Spanish, Unibet suspended its activities in Spain on May 14, 2012. From this date, you can still access your account, but only to request withdrawals, & check your history, you can not access Unibet products.
The good news is that Unibet has partnered with Paf, which will have license to operate in Spain in order to continue providing the best service possible, including sports betting.
Following a few simple instructions, from May 14 you can continue playing sports betting & poker & casino.
Very soon have more information & we’ll tell you exclusive promotions that are preparing to welcome Paf. For now you can still enjoy Unibet products, as usual.
The news reported on Spanish online poker website Red Poker publishes an e-mail reportedly sent to customers this week advising that Unibet will allow customer account access to request withdrawals but will no longer offer its services after May 14, 2012.
The e-mail announced a partnership between Unibet & Swedish operator Paf , who has applied for & anticipates receiving a Spanish license, offering its customers an alternative following its exit from the market.
The email says:
Information about upcoming changes.
Dear user,
In order to comply with the new gambling law online Spanish, Unibet suspended its activities in Spain on May 14, 2012. From this date, you can still access your account, but only to request withdrawals, & check your history, you can not access Unibet products.
The good news is that Unibet has partnered with Paf, which will have license to operate in Spain in order to continue providing the best service possible, including sports betting.
Following a few simple instructions, from May 14 you can continue playing sports betting & poker & casino.
Very soon have more information & we’ll tell you exclusive promotions that are preparing to welcome Paf. For now you can still enjoy Unibet products, as usual.
888 Online is under fire over high pay to executives
888 Online is the latest company to face sharp criticism over its executive pay.
The gambling firm, founded and controlled by Israeli brothers Avi and Aaron Shaked, is under fire from Pirc, the corporate governance consultancy, for failing to give any details on the targets its bosses have to hit to guarantee huge bonus payouts.
Pirc is also unhappy at the way executives who quit can still gain access to big payments, including bonuses, after their resignations.
The watchdog, which advises some of Britain’s biggest pension schemes, has urged its members to vote down the company’s remuneration report. It says the price at which shares are granted under the company’s “long-term incentive scheme” is not detailed.
It says performance conditions were not disclosed for awards to finance director Aviad Kobrine and attacks the remuneration structure for promoting “high payouts”.
“In 2011, Aviad Kobrine received 2.6 million nil costs options, of whose value cannot be ascertained due to lack of disclosure of the underlying share price at grant date,” Pirc said. It also criticises a pay-off to former chief executive Gigi Levy.
The gambling firm, founded and controlled by Israeli brothers Avi and Aaron Shaked, is under fire from Pirc, the corporate governance consultancy, for failing to give any details on the targets its bosses have to hit to guarantee huge bonus payouts.
Pirc is also unhappy at the way executives who quit can still gain access to big payments, including bonuses, after their resignations.
The watchdog, which advises some of Britain’s biggest pension schemes, has urged its members to vote down the company’s remuneration report. It says the price at which shares are granted under the company’s “long-term incentive scheme” is not detailed.
It says performance conditions were not disclosed for awards to finance director Aviad Kobrine and attacks the remuneration structure for promoting “high payouts”.
“In 2011, Aviad Kobrine received 2.6 million nil costs options, of whose value cannot be ascertained due to lack of disclosure of the underlying share price at grant date,” Pirc said. It also criticises a pay-off to former chief executive Gigi Levy.
Caesars $610m deal
Caesars Entertainment Corp. has announced that it is selling Harrah’s St. Louis to Penn National Gaming, Inc. for $610 million in cash. “Harrah’s St. Louis is a quality property with a talented team. We are grateful to our colleagues in St. Louis for their commitment to providing excellent service to our customers. The sale of this property exemplifies our strategy to maximize returns from our mix of assets through investments in new markets as well as occasional divestitures,” said Gary Loveman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Caesars Entertainment. “We are committed to expanding our distribution network into growth markets that have the potential for high returns.”
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2012, subject to regulatory approvals. According to a press release, the property will continue to operate as Harrah’s St. Louis until the transaction is closed. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. served as financial advisor to Caesars Entertainment on this transaction.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2012, subject to regulatory approvals. According to a press release, the property will continue to operate as Harrah’s St. Louis until the transaction is closed. Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. served as financial advisor to Caesars Entertainment on this transaction.
Unibet´s acquisition of Bet24 business finalised
Following the satisfaction of conditions precedent, Unibet Group plc has today finalised the acquisition of the business and certain assets of Nordic Betting Ltd, trading as Bet24. The acquisition price was EUR 13.5 million (GBP 11.25 million), of which 80 per cent has been settled in cash. The final 20 per cent is scheduled for payment around the end of June 2012 subject to certain conditions.
Bet24 will continue to trade under the existing brand and through the current platform for an interim period and its customers need take no action as a result of today’s announcement. Further information will be provided to Bet24 customers on a continuous basis.
Unibet Group plc will integrate the operations of Bet24 with its own Maltese operations in due course.
Bet24 will continue to trade under the existing brand and through the current platform for an interim period and its customers need take no action as a result of today’s announcement. Further information will be provided to Bet24 customers on a continuous basis.
Unibet Group plc will integrate the operations of Bet24 with its own Maltese operations in due course.
Bwin.party and United Auburn Indian Community enter poker agreement
Bwin.party digital entertainment plc and the United Auburn Indian Community (‘UAIC’), which owns and operates the Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento, California, announced yesterday that they have entered into a formal agreement to offer online poker services in California if suitable intrastate legislation is enacted in the state.
As a federally recognized California Indian tribe that already operates a casino resort within the state, UAIC would be a qualified license applicant under legislation proposed in the California State Senate and would secure and maintain the necessary licenses to operate online poker services in California. bwin.party would provide the technology and operations expertise to power the services plus related support. The Agreement would be for a 10-year period from the date that online poker services are launched.
Commenting on the announcement, Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the Co-CEOs of bwin.party, said: “California is the largest state in the U.S. in terms of population and is known to have a significant number of poker players who like to play poker online. Combining our own significant assets and resources with those of UAIC will create a strong partnership that is well-placed to seize the opportunities that will arise if appropriate online poker legislation is enacted in the Golden State.”
David Keyser, Tribal Chairman of UAIC commented: “We see the legalization of Internet poker and other Internet gaming as being inevitable. Having met with representatives from a number of different online gaming companies, bwin.party was our first choice as partner. With its unrivalled expertise in online poker, proven technology and player loyalty we are confident of being able to maximize the revenue opportunity from a regulated online poker market in California and to continue to enhance the long-term prosperity of our community.”
On 24 February 2012, Senators Wright and Steinberg introduced legislation to regulate online gaming within California. The Internet Gambling Consumer Protection and Public-Private Partnership Act of 2012 (SB 1463) proposes, inter alia, to regulate license and tax internet poker within the state of California. The current proposed rate of tax is 10% of gross gaming revenue.
As a federally recognized California Indian tribe that already operates a casino resort within the state, UAIC would be a qualified license applicant under legislation proposed in the California State Senate and would secure and maintain the necessary licenses to operate online poker services in California. bwin.party would provide the technology and operations expertise to power the services plus related support. The Agreement would be for a 10-year period from the date that online poker services are launched.
Commenting on the announcement, Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the Co-CEOs of bwin.party, said: “California is the largest state in the U.S. in terms of population and is known to have a significant number of poker players who like to play poker online. Combining our own significant assets and resources with those of UAIC will create a strong partnership that is well-placed to seize the opportunities that will arise if appropriate online poker legislation is enacted in the Golden State.”
David Keyser, Tribal Chairman of UAIC commented: “We see the legalization of Internet poker and other Internet gaming as being inevitable. Having met with representatives from a number of different online gaming companies, bwin.party was our first choice as partner. With its unrivalled expertise in online poker, proven technology and player loyalty we are confident of being able to maximize the revenue opportunity from a regulated online poker market in California and to continue to enhance the long-term prosperity of our community.”
On 24 February 2012, Senators Wright and Steinberg introduced legislation to regulate online gaming within California. The Internet Gambling Consumer Protection and Public-Private Partnership Act of 2012 (SB 1463) proposes, inter alia, to regulate license and tax internet poker within the state of California. The current proposed rate of tax is 10% of gross gaming revenue.
Sports betting provider mybet heads into Bundesliga 1 with SpVgg Greuther Fürth
The sports betting provider mybet will be sponsoring the football team Greuther Fürth from the 2012/2013 season. Fürth had already sealed promotion to the top tier of the Bundesliga with four matches to go.
Mathias Dahms, Management Board spokesman of mybet parent JAXX SE, remarked: 'We congratulate Trainer Mike Büskens and his team on what must be the most notable achievement in the club's history. And we look forward to plenty of exciting top-flight matches next season for the team with the cloverleaf emblem.'
The sponsorship package for SpVgg includes TV-relevant advertising areas on the stadium's perimeter bands as well as extensive promotional opportunities. Mathias Dahms added: 'In mybet, we have an excellent brand that we aim to continue bolstering through a measured approach to sponsorship and well-paced branding measures. Our partnership with the cloverleaf gives us the opportunity of a presence in the Bundesliga through an especially likeable club. With its attractive football and a young, motivated group of players, the team is bound to make its mark on the first division, too.'
mybet has been involved in the sports betting market since 2003 and is today one of Europe's leading providers, with over half a million Internet customers and more than 500 betting shops. In the increasingly liberalised German market, which is now being opened up to private sports betting providers, mybet is aiming to be comprehensively involved in sport.
Alongside its new association with SpVgg Greuther Fürth, mybet is already premium partner of Fortuna Düsseldorf, sponsor of the Germany national handball team and supporter of 'Republik Fussball', an initiative of FC St Pauli for amateur and recreational players. Through its licensing in Germany, mybet will moreover be making a major contribution to mass sport through the tax revenues and licence fees it generates for the state.
Mathias Dahms, Management Board spokesman of mybet parent JAXX SE, remarked: 'We congratulate Trainer Mike Büskens and his team on what must be the most notable achievement in the club's history. And we look forward to plenty of exciting top-flight matches next season for the team with the cloverleaf emblem.'
The sponsorship package for SpVgg includes TV-relevant advertising areas on the stadium's perimeter bands as well as extensive promotional opportunities. Mathias Dahms added: 'In mybet, we have an excellent brand that we aim to continue bolstering through a measured approach to sponsorship and well-paced branding measures. Our partnership with the cloverleaf gives us the opportunity of a presence in the Bundesliga through an especially likeable club. With its attractive football and a young, motivated group of players, the team is bound to make its mark on the first division, too.'
mybet has been involved in the sports betting market since 2003 and is today one of Europe's leading providers, with over half a million Internet customers and more than 500 betting shops. In the increasingly liberalised German market, which is now being opened up to private sports betting providers, mybet is aiming to be comprehensively involved in sport.
Alongside its new association with SpVgg Greuther Fürth, mybet is already premium partner of Fortuna Düsseldorf, sponsor of the Germany national handball team and supporter of 'Republik Fussball', an initiative of FC St Pauli for amateur and recreational players. Through its licensing in Germany, mybet will moreover be making a major contribution to mass sport through the tax revenues and licence fees it generates for the state.
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