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Saturday 31 July 2010

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Yahoo! and Zynga in partnership

Yahoo! today announced a partnership with Zynga that will integrate Zynga’s popular social games through Yahoo!’s global network. The partnership enables Zynga games to reach more than 600 million people worldwide across Yahoo!.

Zynga’s game integration with Yahoo is part of Yahoo!’s commitment to offer personally relevant experiences to people from across the Web. Zynga games are expected to roll out on the Yahoo! network in the coming months and will include:

- Ability for people to play Zynga games and access their personal Zynga game updates across Yahoo!’s properties including the Homepage, Yahoo! Games, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Messenger and others. - Sharing of updates across multiple social experiences simultaneously while playing their favourite Zynga games on Yahoo! - Product integration of Zynga games with the Yahoo! Application Platform (YAP), Yahoo!’s OpenSocial container through which third-party developers can develop applications on Yahoo!

“Yahoo is focused on providing compelling, personally relevant experiences and social games are core to this experience,” said Hilary Schneider, executive vice president, Yahoo! Americas. “Zynga will bring top notch social game experiences to Yahoo!, including through our open platforms such as Yahoo! Application Platform and Yahoo! Updates. Yahoo! will also continue to work with other partners, developers and publishers to bring compelling innovations and experiences from across the web to our users.”

“With over 35 million unique users playing our games every single day, social games are fast becoming a leading source of entertainment worldwide surpassing most television shows,” said Mark Pincus, founder and CEO of Zynga. “Our partnership with Yahoo! gives millions of new users the ability to connect with friends and families through games.”

May 28, 2010

888 reports decline in average ring games' players

888 today announced a trading update where average poker ring games' players declined approximately 18 percent during the period from January to May.

Since the Interim Management Statement issued on 28 April 2010, 888 has continued to experience a difficult trading environment across its products (with the exception of bingo and its recent acquisition Wink Bingo). Trading is being impacted particularly by the continued weakness of online poker, which management believes is affecting the online poker industry generally. 888's poker daily average ring games' players declined approximately 18% during the period from January to May.

Revenue has also been impacted by the weakness of the Euro and Sterling against the US Dollar (the company's reporting currency). For the year to date, management estimate that 888 has experienced a total revenue loss of approximately US$5 million as a result of foreign exchange movements. The Board has revised its outlook for the remainder of the year and now expects profit to be significantly lower than previous market expectations.

Although it is trading in difficult conditions, the Group continues to trade profitably, is cash flow positive and its financial position remains strong.

May 28, 2010

Microgaming and 888 with first French online gaming application submission

Microgaming today announced the successful submission of three significant operator applications to the National Regulatory Authority of the French online gambling market the ARJEL, two of which are in collaboration with 888 Holdings.

Roger Raatgever, CEO, Microgaming comments: “At Microgaming we stay ahead of the market and are delighted to announce that following the recent signing of a joint venture with 888, we have combined our efforts and successfully submitted operator licenses to the ARJEL. This is a milestone for us and marks the beginning of our first wave of applications, which we believe will see us rapidly establishing ourselves as market leaders in France.”

Gigi Levy, CEO, 888 comments: “The submission of these applications marks a step towards our launch in one of the strategically important European markets. We look forward to developing the synergies of Microgaming’s brand presence and 888’s premium offering.”

Microgaming and 888 are continuing to work with a number of other operators, and are confident that this is the beginning of a successful partnership in France.

May 27, 2010

Wagering Industry software development company BEToptions up for sale

Australia's BEToptions Ltd, the developer of race and sports wagering technology solutions to the international gaming and betting markets, is up for sale.

The company, based in Victoria, Australia and with a staff of 24 is profitable with positive cash flow and currently has five customers utilising their software under licensing agreements. Established in 2001, BEToptions is a privately owned company specialising in building and selling integrated wagering systems to fixed odds betting providers, bookmakers, sportsbooks and venue operators worldwide.

The major shareholder has decided to divest his Australian investments, and as a result, all shareholders wish to sell 100% of the company as an operating concern. It is a well established business with good brand recognition and an excellent operating infrastructure, and is strategically placed for strong growth both in Australia and international markets.

The company is an approved supplier in the United Kingdom, South Africa (Western Cape Gambling Board), and Australia (Northern Territory and Tasmania). The company’s flagship internet wagering solution, WAGERplayer® software, has been approved for operation in the UK, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, South Africa (Werstern Cape), Australia (Tasmania, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria), Philippines – and a licence has been lodged in Nevada.

May 27, 2010

Sportingbet third quarter results

Sportingbet plc announce its results for the third quarter ending 30 April 2010.

Reported key highlights reads that amounts wagered are up 22 percent on Q3 2008/9, net gaming revenue is up by 30 percent and group adjusted operating profit is up 18 percent to £12.0 million. Admission to the Official List of LSE on 14 May 2010, and net cash of £30.3 million.

Andrew McIver, Group Chief Executive, commented: “Given the widely reported economic difficulties in Spain and Greece which are two of our biggest markets, it is pleasing to report an 18% increase in profits for the quarter of £12.0m versus £10.2m last year. In particular a strong performance from Australia demonstrates once again the benefits of a geographically diversified business in this sector together with the relative robustness of a sports led product.

Profit for the first three quarters of the financial year was £30.3m versus £27.1m last year. Whilst May has seen a solid performance to date, the balance of the seasonally quieter sporting calendar in the fourth quarter will be dominated this year by the World Cup. Much of how the remainder of this quarter performs will depend on the outcome of this major event.”

May 26, 2010

Microgaming's latest bingo side games launched

Microgaming today launched three new Bingo Side Games to its network of operators. May’s games feature exciting new Video Slot action along with a traditional pub fruity slot.

Carnaval is the latest five reel, nine payline Video Slot from Microgaming, with a wild festival theme. What A Hoot is a five reel, nine payline Video Slot with a Wild and a Scatter symbol. A bunch of crazy owls provide the symbols for this slot, along with acorns, chestnuts and a Jar scatter symbol. Winning Wheels is a three reel traditional pub fruity slot with a three in a row feature entry. The game has a colourful motor sport theme with reel symbols featuring chequered flags, racing drivers, helmets and bottles of champagne.

Neill Whyte, Head of Bingo at Microgaming said: “We recognise that Side Games are an increasingly important element of the Bingo gaming experience and are constantly striving to provide players with the highest quality content, the most exhilarating game play and ever more chances to win. With Side Games being more popular than ever, we really can offer players the very best in all round bingo action."

May 25, 2010

GTECH G2 Casino software update features powerful new slots engine

GTECH G2 is about to roll out its latest casino software update which includes a new feature-rich slot machine built on a powerful new slots engine.

The new slot engine with support for advanced odds tables and built-in bonus games was developed by G2’s Game Studio group which is well-known for innovation and creative design. Mystic Island, the first game to be built on the new slot engine, is inspired by the “Lost” television series. Like all new games to be built on this engine, it has in-game bonus rounds and features like “Cascading Slot Symbols”, crazy wilds with multipliers and “interactive spin stops”, enabling the player to enhance the game experience.

“The new slot engine means that we can experiment more and add new features to our games,” said Dominic Mansour, Head of Gaming Products. “We can go outside the box and are not so bound to the reel patterns and traditional way we built slot games before.”

The new software has been reviewed by eCOGRA, the non-profit London-based player protection and standards organization, and now bears their Certified Software Seal of approval.

May 25, 2010

Dragonfish release World Cup side games for Bingo

Dragonfish announces the launch of a suite of Quickplay instant format games built specifically for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, available to clients on the Dragonfish bingo network and standalone networks.

The games, consisting of Hi Lo, Slots and Keno, feature some of the most recognisable players who will soon be representing their countries in South Africa. The games can be integrated seamlessly into the bingo environment via Dragonfish’s bingo integration platform.

The release follows the launch last year of a number of Quickplay instant games for bingo clients, including new video slots, scratch cards and major branded games such as X-Factor, Spiderman and Fantastic Four.

The games are highly sought after by bingo partners as Dragonfish aims to deliver best in class offerings for partners. Providing a more diverse offering, Quickplay games are a proven formula for increasing player retention and lifetime customer value.

May 24, 2010

Probability and Paddy Power in mobile games deal

Probability signs b2b deal supplying its gaming content to Paddy Power.

Probability has created a Paddy Power branded version of their most popular games, and with their mobile services to be integrated with Paddy Power's Orbis powered online platform at end of summer. The deal will enable Paddy Power UK and Ireland players access to games on more than 7000 different devices.

Charles Cohen, Chief Executive of Probability said, “This is the first big win for our new business-to-business division. Paddy Power is in the premier league of European bookmakers with a deserved reputation for innovation and eye-catching marketing.”

May 24, 2010

Playtech announces license agreement with Finnish state operator, RAY

Playtech announces that it has signed a major new licence agreement for an online offering of internet gaming with Finland's Slot Machine Association, Rahaautomaattiyhdistys ('RAY'). The licence agreement was awarded after a formal tender process conducted by RAY.

RAY holds the exclusive right to manage gaming operations in Finland, comprising slot machines and casino games. Founded in 1938, RAY currently has over 19,000 slot machines in more than 8,400 locations across Finland, together with 300 club-based casino games, and operates Finland's only casino, the Grand Casino Helsinki. RAY's revenues in 2009 totalled €651 million.

In February, the Finnish Government confirmed an amendment to RAY's gaming licence enabling it to launch an online offering, which is planned to be launched during the third quarter of 2010. Under the terms of the exclusive four year contract, RAY will launch casino and poker online products using Playtech's market-leading software and technology platform.

Mor Weizer, Chief Executive Officer of Playtech, commented: "This important agreement is further evidence as to the superiority of our product and the success of our stated strategy in soon-to-be-regulated markets. We have longstanding experience of helping land-based operators develop highly successful and complimentary online offerings. I am delighted that RAY has recognised our unparalleled credentials and chosen to partner with us.

Janne Peräkylä, Executive Director of gaming operations at RAY said: "This agreement ensures we will have a world-class internet offering for RAY's customers. Using Playtech's technology platform and content, RAY can provide a constantly developing gaming selection, the most reliable and safe online service, and offer the best customer support. We strongly believe these are the key elements to attract both new and existing online customers.

May 21, 2010

Scientific Games announces Norsk Tipping lottery systems contract

Scientific Games Corporation today announced it has been awarded a contract, through a competitive procurement process, for the implementation of a next generation Lottery Central System for pari-mutuel and odds-based numbers games by Norway's state-owned lottery operator, Norsk Tipping.

Under the terms of the contract, Scientific Games will deploy its state-of-the-art Lottery Central System technology and provide ongoing service and maintenance support for the life of the contract. The contract is anticipated to begin in 2011 and have an expected term of 12 years.

"Norsk Tipping is a premier lottery that is at the forefront of delivering creative gaming through new technologies," said Michael R. Chambrello, President and CEO of Scientific Games. "This award, which was largely based on technological expertise and quality of service, solidifies our Company's position as a leader in lottery systems development and as a provider of unparalleled customer support. Furthermore, it demonstrates our continued dedication to the Lottery Systems business."

"Our objective was to select a long-term partner that could build and support a dynamic central system for the most important segment of our business," stated Torbjorn Almlid, CEO of Norsk Tipping. "We are very excited about the implementation of Scientific Games' next-generation technology that will allow us to enhance our lottery customers' experience and grow our revenues."

May 21, 2010

NetPlay TV trading update

NetPlay TV plc announced today that gross bets for the first quarter 2010 amounted to £166 million, an increase of 5.7 percent.

NetPlay TV plc is pleased to announce that the Company has moved to a positive EBITDA of £200k for the first quarter of 2010, and confirms it is trading in line with expectations for the year. Gross bets for the period were £166 million, an increase of 5.7% over Q4 2009, and an increase of 32% compared to Q3 2009 (the quarter with no terrestrial transmission).

The swing to a positive EBITDA is a major step forward for the Company; it follows a period of heavy investment during the second half of 2009, and into the first quarter of 2010 as the Company entered into a number of significant partnerships with UK terrestrial broadcasters. The first quarter of 2010 also saw the Company restructure various parts of its business including moving the Supercasino.com brand from the UK to Alderney at the end of February 2010. The full financial benefit of this move will take effect from Q2 2010.

As a direct result of entering into partnership deals with STV, and Five, the Company incurred additional TV airtime expenditure of £1.2m in Q4 2009. Due to the materiality of the expense, the Directors have written all of this expenditure off in the month it was incurred bringing the accounting treatment in line with IFRS reporting. It should be noted that due to the strong retention of customers acquired, revenue associated with this expenditure will flow over a period of up to 12 months. The net effect on 2009 reported EBITDA of this treatment, along with certain other non-cash items including foreign exchange losses, is estimated to be approximately £(750k).

May 20, 2010

Chartwell achieves eCogra accreditation

Chartwell Technology Inc. announces that it has successfully passed the rigorous requirements to obtain the eCogra Certified Software seal.

Chartwell’s Flash-based software powers many respected online casinos operated by industry leaders such as Betfair, bwin Interactive, Victor Chandler, Gala Coral, Stan James, Casinos Austria International, and Gaming VC’s Betaland, and the Company holds licenses from several top iGaming jurisdictions.

Clinton Begin, Vice President of Software Development at Chartwell comments, ”The decision to seek eCogra certification was motivated by the Company’s commitment to ensure that its product meets respected and practical standards that have achieved international recognition. This was a good test of all our development, business and control systems, and I believe we benefited from the full professional assessment and recommendations made by the eCogra compliance auditor on his inspection visit to our Calgary facility.”

eCogra Compliance Manager Shaun McCallaghan carried out the on-site inspection and assessment, observing that the Chartwell facilities had been well organised.

“The Chartwell technical team was completely cooperative and well prepared, with all documentation and systems ready for compliance testing,” he reported to eCogra’s independent directors responsible for awarding the seals. “The Company met all requirements over several days of testing.”

May 20, 2010

Microgaming licenses its casino games to Betware to provide market leading products to new markets

Microgaming today announces that Betware, gaming solution and services vendor, is now licensed to sell and market Microgaming’s market leading suite of casino games, on top of its existing platform, to state lotteries.

Betware has 14 years experience in providing Internet solutions for lotteries, gaming platform and a large portfolio of games. The agreement, granting Betware the ability to supplement its impressive suite of lotto, instants, sports betting, bingo, racing, skill and casual and multi-player games with access to over 85 high quality casino games from Microgaming, represents a truly unique offering for state lotteries to deliver to their player base.

Stefan Hrafnkelsson, Betware CEO, says, “We are very proud and excited to be licensed to sell and market Microgaming’s casino games to growing markets. This agreement significantly expands our product offering, and provides our customers with a great opportunity to leverage on the fantastic success of the Microgaming brand. Ultimately we believe that this venture will not only be beneficial for the state lotteries we service, but for both ourselves and Microgaming too.”

Roger Raatgever, Microgaming CEO, says, “We are delighted to be able to license our casino games to Betware, which is truly a market leader in its field. Betware’s long history in gaming combined with its extensive lottery network will be beneficial in pushing the Microgaming brand into exciting new territories and markets. We look forward to a long and successful working relationship.”

May 19, 2010

Intralot selects Net Entertainment as online casino partner in Italy

Intralot Interactive, a member of Intralot Group, and Net Entertainment have signed a cooperation agreement for the provision of online Casino Games in Italy, under the brand name of Intralot.

The agreement provides initially for the integration of the CasinoModule product suite by Net Entertainment, with the Intralot Interactive Gaming Platform, fully complementing with existing games and ensuring a unified customer experience. The parties agree to seek further opportunities in other territories where internet gaming is regulated by the local government.

Intralot will launch online Casino Games in Italy, subject to the forthcoming opening of the market and an approval by the local competent authorities, which are expected to take place during the second half of 2010. The agreement also provides for the CasinoCafe product suite by Net Entertainment, to also be offered through Intralot's wide retail network in Italy, subject to the provisions of the law.

“We welcome Net Entertainment as our on line casino partner in Italy. The CasinoModule will ensure that Intralot will offer a globally leading casino product to our player base. Through this partnership Intralot will be among the first to offer online Casino Games in Italy, after the upcoming liberalisation of the market. This partnership will further allow the expansion of our product portfolio, in a fully integrated manner, offering our players a unique gaming

experience. We believe that online casino in Italy will be a very lucrative market with high potential”, said Mr. George Zenzefilis, General Director of Intralot.

”We are very proud that Intralot Interactive has chosen us as their on line casino provider for Italy. A world leading company has recognized Net Entertainments Casino Module as the most successful tool on the market today. Our strong focus on innovation, reliable technology and high knowledge of consumer behaviour give us an edge when it comes to creating revenue for our customers. Intralot has an impressive track record and an ambitious casino

strategy why it is an honour to enter into a partnership with them”, commented Johan Öhman, CEO of Net Entertainment.

May 19, 2010

Stanleybet launches 1.5 billion claim

Following a 12 year battle for access to the Italian market the bookmaker have filed a compensation claim against the Italian Government.

Stanleybet has today launched a compensation claim for €1.5bn against the Italian Government. The claim, delivered by Stanleybet’s lawyers to the Italian Prime Minister’s office, is for direct damages, lost earnings, loss of business opportunity and reputational damage over the period 1998 – 2006 during which Stanleybet’s access to the Italian market was continuously challenged by measures of Parliament, the Administration and the Judiciary contrary to EU law.

The claim totals €1.533 billion - made up of €887.2m lost profit, €29.3m emerging damages (costs), €362.2 loss of business opportunity (exclusion from new tenders) and €254.3m damages to Stanleybet’s reputation and image.

The claim has been prepared using extensive independent legal and economic advice. It is believed to be the largest claim launched by a private enterprise against a Member State in the history of EU. 

May 18, 2010

DTD Switches to GTECH G2 poker, casino and payments system

Dusk Till Dawn poker club switching from Cryptologic to GTECH G2.

Nottingham’s Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club is switching the Casino and Poker software at its Online Casino and Poker Room from Cryptologic to GTECH G2. In a new three-year partnership, GTECH G2 will also supply the Casino and Poker site with its Webdollar Cashier payment system.

This means DTD players won’t have to transfer funds from their Poker account to their Casino account when they want to switch from Poker to Casino games – players can simply use the same wallet for both Casino and Poker.

Nick Whiten of DTD said, “The new deal with GTECH G2 marks the end of a successful 3½ year affiliation with Cryptologic, which started before the DTD Poker Club venue opened in Nottingham. Cryptologic have changed their business model to focus on Casino, and with DTD Online continuing to be primarily a poker business, a natural and mutual end to the partnership has transpired.”

May 18, 2010

Betfair refusing French players

Betfair announced it will no longer be accepting bets from France.

Betfair will no longer be accepting bets from France, ahead of that country’s partial re-regulation of its egaming market next month. Betfair said it is considering whether to apply for a French licence.

Tim Phillips, Betfair European public affairs director said, “Though it's not impossible for a newcomer to create a commercially viable business, most projections show it will be very difficult to do so, given the proposed restrictions imposed on licence holders,” adding that that “the ultimate loser” would be the French consumer.

May 18, 2010

Paddy Power interim statement

Strong online with sportsbook margins returning to expected levels.

Paddy Power reports that 2009 was a year of significant developments for the Group. Turnover and market share grew across all our channels. Highlights of 2010, January 1 to May 16, have been a very strong revenue performance in online (total gross win (ex Australia) +32%) and good bet volume growth across all channels. Online (excl. Australia) sportsbook amounts staked grew by 19% and bet volumes by 39%. Gaming gross win grew strongly by 32% driven by Games, Casino and Bingo.

Retail and telephone (excl. Australia) amounts staked decreased by 2%. On a like-for-like basis excluding new shops, bet volumes increased by 5%, amounts staked decreased by 5% and gross win decreased by 6%. UK Retail expansion continues on track with nine shops added in the period and recent openings performing well. On a like-for-like basis, bet volumes increased by 4% and total gross win (or net revenue) by 0.5%.

Telephone bet volumes grew by 18% but a decline in average stake resulted in a 2% decline in turnover. Nonetheless, gross win grew strongly from the return to a normal gross win percentage. Telephone and like-for-like retail operating costs were flat in the year to date.

Australian amounts staked increased by 23% with online growth of 31% (both versus proforma comparatives). Online growth has, as expected, moderated slightly over recent months as the first anniversary of advertising deregulation has been passed.

Financial position as of 30 April, before payment of the final dividend of €19m, the Group had net cash of €96m. This included customer balances of €37m and was net of €16m of debt in our Australian subsidiaries.

May 18, 2010

Ireland confirms tax on egaming

Ireland confirms tax and licenses for overseas betting providers.

Ireland has confirmed its intent to tax online betting providers and introduce a licence requirements for overseas betting providers, citing the need to secure funding for the racing industry.

Irish Head of Government Brian Cowen said to newspaper The Irish Field that legislation would be introduced requiring overseas operators to attain a license in order to provide and offer products into the Irish market. This will have the additional benefit of facilitating the extension of the tax regime for the betting industry to all those providing online and telephone betting and so underpin funding for the racing industry.

May 17, 2010

Slots.com sells in private deal

The Slots.com domain has been sold in private deal for €5.5 million.

The domain failed to reach its auction reserve price in last week's auction, with bids peaking at US$4.5 million, and was later sold in a private deal at reported US$5.5 million.

Highest recorded sales to date, Casino.com $5.5 million in 2003 and Gambling.com $19.8 million in 2005, and now Slots.com $5.5 million in 2010.

May 17, 2010

Codere first quarter

Spanish gaming group report earnings of €54.4 million, exceeding previous expectations. 

Codere first quarter 2010 states that EBITDA was €54.4 million, exceeding our guidance range of €48-50 million for EBITDA. The company further said that Q2 2010 EBITDA expects to be in the range of €51-€53 million and reaffirms its expectation that 2010 EBITDA will be in the range of €230-240 million.

First quarter reflects growth in local currency in Argentina, Spain and Italy and a reduction of overhead expenses; partially offset by weakness in Mexico, resulting primarily from anti-tobacco legislation, and the depreciation of the Argentine peso against the euro, 13.4 percent compared to the same period previous year. 

Growth in the machine portfolio was concentrated in Argentina and Mexico where the number of machines increased by 5.5 percent and 3.6 percent, to 4,726 and 21,341, respectively compared to the same period previous year.

Net income, which includes a €12.1 million gain associated with the 100 percent consolidation of the Sports Betting business, was €16.4 million in Q1 2010, compared to €1.7 million in Q1 2009. Excluding this non-recurring gain, net income would have been €4.3 million.

May 17, 2010

Cake Poker and EveryMatrix to promote one package deal on poker and sports

Cake Poker and white label sportsbook EveryMatrix have signed a deal to promote a one package deal with combined poker and sportsbook to igaming brands.

The deal will see Cake and EveryMatrix jointly market the Cake Poker Network and OddsMatrix sportsbook products, and where Cake’s Network is integrated into EveryMatrix’s GamMatrix back office, this for shared customers such as BeteXpress, which launched an OddsMatrix sportsbook in January and joined Cake's Network in April.

Andrew Turner, Marketing Director of Cake said, “Not only are Cake and EveryMatrix complementary from a technological aspect, but we also have different geographic strengths. Cake has been strongest in the Americas but is looking to grow in Europe, whereas EveryMatrix has been strong in Europe but is looking to expand with recent deals in Latin America.”

Stian Hornsletten, Chief Executive of OddsMatrix said, “Since Cake and EveryMatrix operate complimentary businesses within the online gaming marketplace and have a similar approach, joining forces seemed a natural step.”

May 14, 2010

Sportingbet plc moves to main market

Admission to the Official List on 14th May 2010.

Sportingbet is pleased to announce that it has successfully transferred the listing of its entire issued ordinary share capital from AIM to a premium listing on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority ("Official List"). Admission of Sportingbet’s ordinary shares to trading on London Stock Exchange plc's main market for listed securities ("Main Market") and commencement of dealings became effective from 8.00 a.m. today.

Trading in all the Company's ordinary shares on AIM has been cancelled simultaneously. The ticker for the Company's ordinary shares will continue to be LSE: SBT. At admission there were 502,018,144 ordinary shares in issue. Sportingbet expects to be eligible for inclusion in the FTSE Indices at the September 2010 review.

Andrew McIver, Group Chief Executive said, “We are delighted to join the Official List of the London Stock Exchange today. We believe that the Official List is the most appropriate platform for the continued growth of the Company by increasing Sportingbet's profile, assisting in the liquidity of the Company's shares and providing a greater range of potential investors for the Company.”

May 14, 2010

Ladbrokes eGaming net revenue down by 2 percent but operating profit up 41 percent

Ladbrokes plc announces Interim management statement for the 4 months ended 30 April 2010.

Highlights states group profitability in line with expectations and net debt of £515 million, down £179 million since year end. Net revenue and operating profit (excl. High Rollers) were down 6 percent and up 3 percent respectively. UK retail Over The Counter (OTC) net revenue declined 11 percent, and UK retail machine gross win up by 1 percent. eGaming net revenue down 2 percent but operating profit up 41 percent.

Richard Glynn, Chief Executive, commented, "Although only a few weeks into my role as Chief Executive of Ladbrokes I am hugely enthused by the longer term opportunities available to the company and I am excited at the prospect of revitalising the Ladbrokes brand and re-energising the business. The economic environment remains challenging and the strength of UK consumer confidence post the election is difficult to gauge. However Group profitability year to date has been broadly in line with expectations. Debt levels have already fallen significantly this year reflecting the continued cash generation of the business and the benefit of the tax settlement."

May 14, 2010

Mangas Gaming completes deal with GigaMedia

As announced by GigaMedia, Mangas Gaming has completed its acquisition of 60 percent of Everest Poker from GigaMedia.

Strategic alliance with Mangas Gaming completed by way of a sale of 60 percent interest in GigaMedia's online gaming software business to Mangas Gaming for an upfront cash payment of US$100 million. The strategic alliance positions Everest Poker to benefit from increased liquidity, cross-selling, and operational synergies.

The high value strategic shareholders, former media boss Stephane Courbit's Lov Group and the Monte Carlo casino operator SBM, offer tremendous upside.

May 13, 2010

888 signs Italian joint venture with Endemol Italy

888 announces joint venture with Endemol Italy, the largest independent TV production company in Italy, to co-invest in the Italian market.

The agreement will see the launch of a comprehensive gaming offering, operating on 888.it, which will benefit from exclusive utilisation of Endemol's brands in the Italian market, including Big Brother and Deal Or No Deal. The joint venture, which represents 888's first major consumer launch in the Italian market, will operate under 888's licence in Italy. It is planned to launch once the Italian gaming authority provides final regulations for the provision of casino games, expected in the second half of 2010. The agreement will combine 888's leading gaming offering, which will be fully localised, and Endemol's brand strength and media reach.

Gigi Levy, Chief Executive Officer, 888 Holdings, said, "Now that online gaming has become an established and hugely popular form of entertainment, strategic partnerships with media companies are critical for growth, especially in newly regulated markets such as Italy. The combination of our gaming expertise and Endemol's brands, production capabilities and media assets will create a compelling new gaming offering for Italian consumers. The potential of the Italian market is enormous and this partnership strongly positions us to capitalise on this."

Paolo Bassetti, President and CEO of Endemol Italy, said, "Endemol has always prided itself at being at the forefront of market evolution. The Italian market represents a huge opportunity for online gaming and Endemol's brands are ideally suited for this platform. This is an area we have been interested in for some time and as a world leader in online gaming, 888 is the perfect partner."

May 13, 2010

Sportech 2010 outlook

Football Pools operator Sportech plc announced optimistic forecast for 2010 this Thursday, and said they would shortly disclose plans regarding strategic and enlarged business following the acquisition of Scientific Games Racing.

At today's Annual General Meeting of Sportech PLC, the UK's leading football gaming business, Piers Pottinger, Non Executive Chairman, will make the following statement:

"Trading for the current financial year has started well and we are pleased to report that the Group continues to trade in line with the Board's expectations. Since the start of the financial year we have strengthened our balance sheet by successfully revising our banking facilities until 2013, completed a £29.2 million Capital Raising by way of a Firm Placing, a Placing and Open Offer, and announced the acquisition of Scientific Games Racing, the international pari-mutuel technology provider and venue management business division of Scientific Games Corporation, for up to $83 million.

In January, Sportech announced its entry into a joint venture with Playwin, a leading Indian lottery and gaming brand to launch a multi-platform sports gaming business in the Indian market. Our joint venture sports prediction and fantasy games offering, SportsHero.com, has launched this month and initial visitor and subscriber numbers, both online and mobile, are encouraging. In advance of next month's football World Cup 2010 in South Africa, a range of new games have been launched reflecting our growing combined online and offline business approach to products, pools and marketing.

May 13, 2010

bwin first quarter performance

Sports up 13 percent while poker faces tough competition and shows a drop of 17 percent.

Gross gaming revenue for the first quarter 2010 shows €133.2 million, an increase of €16 million compared to the €117.6 million for the same period 2009, mainly due to the Gioco Digitale acquisition. The company reported earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of €33.1 million.

Tough competition from US poker companies operating in Europe is having an impact on the Austrian operator’s first quarter results. Report reveals that poker revenue have fallen 17 percent year on year, excluding numbers of Gioco Digitale. While the acquisition of Gioco Digitale during fourth quarter 2009 saw poker revenue grow 22 percent year on year in the quarter, there is an underlying fall of 17 percent due to tough competition from Full Tilt and PokerStars, which have increased their marketing in Europe and continues to take US bets.

Strong performance comes from other verticals where the sports betting arm shows a revenue growth of 13 percent, and casino and games are up 10 percent and 82 percent respectively.

Konrad Sveceny, bwin Head of Investor Relations said, “Competition is still being distorted by poker providers offering real money games for US customers, who due to the high number of US poker players, enjoy economies of scale in terms of player liquidity and financial advantage.”

May 12, 2010

888 signs joint venture for French poker network

888 and Microgaming have today announced a strategic agreement to launch a joint poker network for the French market.

888 and Microgaming will establish a Joint Venture which will develop, offer and support the shared poker product for Microgaming and Dragonfish licensees in France, as well as to 888's own B2C poker customers. Players will benefit from a shared pool of player liquidity whilst still enjoying the unique 888 experience.

Both parties are already engaged in the regulation and certification processes published by the Autorité de Régulation des Jeux En Ligne, in order to meet all regulation requirements.

Gigi Levy, CEO, 888, commented, "This deal marks a turning point in the industry with big networks collaborating in newly regulated markets to create a shared pool of liquidity, benefiting customers and assisting in rapidly generating large poker networks in each market.

Once we have obtained the required licence and the French market is operational this represents a strategic opportunity for us. It provides us with the ideal platform to secure a meaningful market share in France which is set to become one of the key poker markets in Europe."

Roger Raatgever, CEO, Microgaming, added, "We are delighted to be working with 888 to deliver a poker solution to the French market. We look forward to combining our wealth of experience and knowledge to bring the highest global standards to the local market.

May 11, 2010

Cryptologic show drop in revenues

Cryptologic see's ongoing fall of its revenues, with the first quarter showing revenues down by 25 percent year on year to €7.6 million.

Cryptologic posted a net loss of $3.2 million for the period, compared to a net loss of $1.3 million for the same quarter in 2009. Revenue of $7.6 million reflecting subdued wagering activity and reduced contribution from a key customer transition last year (William Hill Online entered into a joint venture with rival software provider Playtech in October 2008). Branded games revenue rose to $1.3 million, the fifth sequential quarter of growth. Operating expenses decreased by 36 percent to $8.1 million. General and administrative expense decreased by 12 percent to $2.2 million. Net cash at March 31, 2010, $19.7 million The decrease was due to the timing of a tax payment of $1.4 million, which is ultimately recoverable, and the cash impact of the operating losses of $2.4 million

Reported highlights states that live branded games is set to increase to 92 by March 31, from 66 by end of 2009. Multiyear licensing deal for branded games with William Hill, Bet24 and Betsson, along with delivering a virtual casino lobby and streamlined registration process.

Brian Hadfield, Cryptologic's President and CEO, said, "While subdued wagering activity impacted our revenues in the first quarter, the outlook for 2010 as a whole remains encouraging. Operating costs have declined further while our revenue base is showing signs of improvement in the second quarter. The start of the World Cup soccer tournament in June provides short term uncertainty, however with a strong backlog of new business we expect our results to improve gradually as the year unfolds. As would be expected, the company continues to assess its revenue streams, costs, and strategic direction as it moves towards profitability."

May 10, 2010

Jaxx starts year with positive result

Jaxx AG reports a 27 per cent increase in revenues to €32 million for the first quarter 2010, driven by strong growth from sports betting operations.

Jaxx consolidated revenue from continuing operations rose by 27 percent in the first quarter of 2010 to €32 million. The growth driver was again sports betting, which actually grew by more than 40 percent to €25.2 million. As a result of the narrowing of the bookmaking margin to a

nevertheless comfortable 21 percent, the gross profit from sports betting business grew by only 14 percent to €5.4 million. The previous year's first quarter had brought an exceptionally high margin of 27 percent.

Lottery business, which is now generated predominantly in the Spanish, Austrian and UK markets following the ban on internet trading in Germany, contributed €3.6 million towards consolidated revenue. Proceeds from casino and poker games on the international web platforms mybet.com and jaxx.com amounted to €2.7 million in the first quarter of 2010.

The defining occasion over the next few months will be the football World Cup in South Africa. The event's high popularity and the wider range of betting products available mean that a noticeable rise in the number of bets placed is expected. myBet is planning to launch a live betting service in time for the start of the World Cup, adding to the range of products on offer. The web presence of the JAXX.de and JAXX.com platforms has been revamped and made even more customer friendly.

May 10, 2010

Kahnawake, possible security issue with Cereus poker network   

Advisory notice re Cereus poker network security issue.

The Commission has been advised of a security issue concerning the Cereus poker network used by the Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet poker sites. The issue concerns the mechanism used by Cereus for network transmissions having a potential for player data to be improperly accessed under certain specific circumstances.

The Commission is actively reviewing this matter with senior management of Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet and with its Approved Agents. The Commission will issue a further notice of its findings as soon as this review is completed. The Commission is monitoring immediate measures that are being taken to address the security issue and is advised that a more permanent solution is to be implemented on an urgent basis. Based on information available at this time, it appears unlikely that player data was actually compromised. However, this possibility will be reviewed further and, if necessary, the Commission will direct that the appropriate remedial actions be taken.

Until a solution to the security issue is fully implemented, the Commission recommends that players use caution when accessing the Absolute Poker or Ultimate Bet sites, in particular when using a public network (wired or wireless) or a private wireless network.

May 10, 2010

Orbis strengthens its position through the acquisition of Alphameric Solutions

Orbis announces today that it has entered into a conditional agreement with Alphameric plc to acquire the entire issued share capital of Alphameric Solutions for a total cash consideration of about £15.5 million.

Alphameric Solutions provides seamless software and hardware technology to bookmakers in the UK and Ireland, which include Ladbrokes, William Hill and the Tote. The deal will significantly enhance Orbis’ position as the technology platform of choice for the gaming industry. It will also enable the company to expand its client base whilst delivering consistently high quality technology solutions to existing customers already using Orbis’ market leading OpenBet platform, openbet.com.

David Loveday, Chief Executive of Orbis Technology said, “The acquisition of Alphameric Solutions is a fantastic opportunity for Orbis to strengthen its position at the forefront of the gaming technology industry. Alphameric Solutions will be a good fit for Orbis, especially as we already share a number of customers.”

Peter Bertram, Chairman of Alphameric said, “We have over the years developed Alphameric Solutions to become one of the leading technology suppliers to the UK betting industry, with an outstanding team of highly talented staff. I am sure that Orbis will build on the great success that Alphameric Solutions has enjoyed to date and we wish Orbis every success in the future.”

May 10, 2010

Virgin teams up with Full Tilt Poker.net

The Virgin Racing team has begun a sponsorship association with Full Tilt Poker.Net, with the partnership having been announced at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya on Thursday.

The company name will now feature predominantly on the cars of Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi and the new partnership with Full Tilt Poker.Net will see the company's logos appear on the cars, driver overalls and team gear of the outfit originally entered as Manor GP.

"We are absolutely delighted to welcome Full Tilt Poker.Net to Virgin Racing," said Graeme Lowdon, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Racing. "We are proud to add an industry-leading brand to our healthy partnership portfolio and I am particularly pleased that we have worked hard together with a partner who has seen the team develop from its birth through to our first competitive steps."

Full Tilt Chris Ferguson said, "Full Tilt Poker.Net partnering with Virgin Racing is a brilliant culmination of a great deal of thought and effort on behalf of both brands."

May 7, 2010

Tell Gaming gives players a new way to bet against each other on World Cup results

Personal ligas to challenge friends and €10,000 guaranteed World Liga first prize add to World Cup excitement.

Football fans have a new online system for betting against each other on the World Cup this year. TellGaming.com, casino, poker and sports betting site that gives loyal players a stake in the company, in cooperation with LigaFootball.com, have just launched a system where participants can bet against each other on the outcome of every game in the World Cup as well as the total winner, leading goal-scorer and much more.

There are several types of ligas, or betting pools, on offer. In the World Liga participants around the world will compete against each other for a guaranteed first prize of €10,000, and there are also National Ligas where bettors can compete against their fellow countrymen and Special Ligas where sponsors can add extra value to the prize pool.

“The €10,000 guaranteed first prize is making the World Liga popular, but a lot of people are also creating Personal Ligas so they can challenge their friends,” said Thomas Jonsén, Marketing Manager at Tell Gaming.

Created by a small group of Swedish gaming enthusiasts, Tell Gaming gives players a stake in the company and a share of its profits. In January 2010, players split €30,000 in profit. Players currently own 25 percent of Tell Gaming and additional share units are distributed to poker and casino players quarterly based on the amount they play and the players they refer.

May 7, 2010

Slots.com bids in progress

Update: Slots.com expected to trade at $5 million or more.

As previously reported Slots.com is under auction through Moniker and SnapNames, and with the auction starting the day before yesterday the first bids are now in.

Currently two bidders have shown interest placing Slots.com at value $4 million, given the current highest bid, the auction ends May 12th.

Comparing to the highest recorded sales to date, Casino.com $5.5 million in 2003 and Gambling.com $19.8 million in 2005, it would appear Slots.com is at a good start, and where distinct domains have seen an increase in value during the last years.

May 7, 2010

Betfair first up with iPhone app

Betting exchange Betfair announced yesterday the launch of its betting exchange application for the iPhone, at first targeting UK and Ireland customers.

The company said the application is available only to customers in UK and Ireland, and uses GPS to ensure bets can only be placed from these territories.

Charles Palmer, Head of Mobile at Betfair said, “Betfair’s iPhone App takes advantage of the handsets’ multi-touch interface and high-resolution screen, offering our iPhone customers the same core exchange functionality as the main Betfair site. Thanks to Apple’s incredible innovation the iPhone raises the bar in terms of mobile gaming, which allows Betfair to deliver an industry first and demonstrates our ability to adapt to new technologies.”

According to Palmer, Betfair experienced a 40 percent increase in the number of registered mobile users in 2009, with a 50 percent annual increase in mobile revenues.

May 7, 2010

Slots.com to be auctioned by Moniker and SnapNames

Showcase auction starts online on May 5th and ends May 12th.

The owner of Slots.com announced today that they have chosen Moniker and SnapNames, both Oversee.net companies, to manage the highly anticipated auction for Slots.com. This showcase auction will feature Slots.com exclusively. The auction starts online May 5, 2010 at Noon US Eastern time and ends May 12, 2010 at 3:15 p.m. US Eastern time.

“We are excited that the industry’s leading domain name auction companies - Moniker and SnapNames, have agreed to manage this online auction. Their innovative technology platform and reputation for excellence provide a safe, secure and reliable bidding process,” said Christina Renee, communications manager at Slots.com.

The auction for Slots.com has garnered considerable interest in the casino industry with potential bidders lining up in anticipation of the auction. With slot games accounting for as much as 70 percent of casino revenue, this domain name auction will be one of the most followed gaming domain auctions this year.

“This auction provides a rare opportunity to acquire a domain name that is a perfect match for one of the most popular games in the gaming space,” noted Monte Cahn the founder of Moniker. “We are very pleased to offer businesses and investors a unique opportunity to participate in a vertical that has consistently grown year-over-year.”

Cahn’s comments are supported by a recent H2 Gambling Capital study which found that the total value of the global egaming market rose from US$23.5 billion in 2008 to US$26.6 billion in 2009. H2 now believes that its value will increase to US$36.5 billion by 2012.

The highest recorded sales to date have been Casino.com for $5.5 million in 2003 and the Gambling.com domain name and portal sale for $19.8 million in 2005.

May 6, 2010

Entraction's first quarter report, more sales needed to maintain revenues

Net sales declined by 18.4 percent to SEK 98.9 million, with a positive poker trend as royalty rose by 23 percent in an modestly growing poker market. 

Net sales amounted to SEK 98.8 (121.1) million, a decline of 18.4 percent. There were two main reasons for the decline - the unfavourable Euro exchange rate had a negative effect of SEK 10 million on net sales compared with the same period the previous year, and that the Q1 net sales in 2009 included SEK 10 million related to the discontinued Cardroom2. BITDA amounted to SEK 13.5 (19.4) million, a decline of 30.4 percent. Operating profit amounted to SEK 10.3 (16.3) million, a decline of 36.8 percent. The unfavourable Euro exchange rate and the closure of Cardroom2 affected the operating profit negatively with 4.5 million.

Profit after tax attributable to equity holders of the parent amounted to SEK 10.7 (16.5) million. Earnings per share was SEK 1.03 (1.59). Cash flow from operations before changes in working capital was SEK 12.1 (19.7) million. The number of active players increased, but there was a decline in player yield.

Peter Åström, Entraction CEO said, "The year got off to a good start, with the signing of a number of agreements, including Betsson and Vegas365 Poker. In the first quarter, our royalty income from poker customers rose by 23% and the positive trend is continuing. Net sales has declined compared to the first quarter of 2009, which was Entraction’s best quarter yet. A weaker Euro as well as the closing of Cardroom2 in the fourth quarter of 2009 constitutes almost the whole decline."

May 6, 2010

Aviation Club de France to join PartyGaming’s French Poker Network

In a separate release made today PartyGaming announced a new B2B deal in France with the addition of Aviation Club de France.

PartyGaming today announces its third B2B deal in France with an exclusive multi-year agreement to provide a white label online poker service for Aviation Club de France (“ACF”), one of the country’s most prestigious card rooms and private members clubs.

The new service, branded ‘ACFPoker’, will join PartyGaming’s expanding French poker network which will also include www.partypoker.fr. Once PartyGaming obtains the required licence and is operational, players on the network will benefit from a shared pool of player liquidity and operate on a single platform.

Founded in 1907 by four pioneering French aviators, today ACF has 100,000 members and is the leading card room in France. The club is a regular host of World Poker Tour’s events including the forthcoming Grand Prix de Paris to be held on 8-16 May 2010. The new online poker service will be promoted through a variety of channels to ACF’s extensive customer base.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of PartyGaming, said, “ACF is a great addition to our French poker network and allows us to directly connect with France’s offline poker players. This deal is a great strategic fit and together with our other B2B alliances in France, we are determined to establish a strong position in what we believe will become one of Europe’s largest poker markets.”

May 6, 2010

PartyGaming first quarter performance

Revenue up 27 percent with strong increase in all product verticals except poker.

Group revenue, including $2.7 million of WPT revenue and $0.6 million from network services and InterTrader.com, was up 27% to $127.1 million while average daily revenue was down 2% versus the previous quarter. Poker revenue shows $47.8 million ($53.6 million) where average daily poker revenue are in line with the previous quarter.

Casino revenue was up 25 percent to $51.2 million while average daily casino revenue was down 9 percent versus the previous quarter. Bingo revenue shows $17.7 million and where average daily bingo revenues are up 4 percent versus the previous quarter. Sports Betting revenue shows $7.1 million where the average daily sports betting revenue is up 1 percent versus the previous quarter.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Total revenue was up by 27% year-on-year with strong increases in all product verticals except poker which fell due to competition from US-facing sites. On a quarter-on-quarter basis and as expected, we have seen a slight softening in average daily revenue overall following the exceptional casino performance in the previous quarter. While Clean EBITDA margins for the year to-date were ahead of our expectations in the first quarter of 2010, we are maintaining our previous full year guidance for 2010 Clean EBITDA margins of approximately 28%. In line with our expectations, since the end of March gross average daily revenues have softened and were down between 6% and 7% versus the average for the previous quarter, reflecting the normal seasonal pattern seen in previous years.

May 6, 2010

Inspired Gaming private equity deal

Inspired Gaming Group agrees to £74.4 million takeover deal by British private equity firm Vitruvian Partners.

British gaming software company Inspired Gaming Group (INGG.L) agreed to a £74.4 million takeover from UK private equity firm Vitruvian Partners, bringing eight months negotiations to a close. The offer of 60 pence in cash per Inspired share on Tuesday represents a 21 percent premium to the closing price on April 30, the last business day prior to the announcement of the takeover deal.

"We believe that the acquisition fairly reflects both Inspired's future growth prospects and the challenges of executing its business plan as a publicly listed company," said Inspired's senior non-executive director Julian Paul in a statement.

Inspired Gaming, whose customers include Betfred, Paddy Power and Gala Bingo said it had received a preliminary approach in July last year, after terminating previous talks relating to a sale.

Vitruvian Partners made the offer for Inspired Gaming through Gaming Acquisitions Ltd and the offer which Inspired's board intends to recommend to shareholders, will see the management of Inspired Gaming invest in the new company as part of a management buyout deal.

Inspired Gaming said shareholders would be offered shares in the new company as an alternative to a cash consideration for their shares in Inspired under a Holdco Group Securities Alternative. Shares in Inspired closed at 49.5 pence on Friday, valuing the company at £61.4 million.

May 5, 2010

Playtech revenue up 25 percent during first quarter

Playtech revenue is up 25 percent compared to the same period last year, with first quarter revenues of €36.1 million.

Playtech reported first quarter total revenue of €36.1m (excl. Virtue Fusion) today, representing a 25 percent growth. Driven mainly by its casino product which grew 27 percent year on year to €24.2 million, while poker dropped 4 percent to €8.5 million year on year.

Adjusted Group EBITDA for the three months ended 31 March 2010 expected to be not less than €26.5 million. Net cash at 31 March 2010 of €55 million, after partial acquisition consideration paid in the quarter, but before payment of full year dividend of approximately €22.7 million

The business’ profit from its share of William Hill Online was up to €7.4 million, an increase of 49 percent on Q1/2009. Bingo revenues totalled €1.7 million, reflecting the first contribution from February’s acquisition of Virtue Fusion, which also contributed revenue to Casino and Other revenues.

Operational highlights show Playtech's new Italian bingo network launched with its first licensee, immediately recording encouraging levels of activity; additional licensees are expected to launch in the coming quarters. Well positioned for launch of both poker cash tables and casino later in the year. Good progress made by both recent acquisitions, GTS and Virtue Fusion: adding new licensees of Virgin Games and Boyle Sports respectively.

Mor Weizer, Playtech Chief Executive said, “We have had a very good start the year. Our final numbers for Q1 2010 reflect substantial revenue growth and build on the strong progress made in the last three months of 2009. Encouragingly we have also seen continued momentum going into the traditionally slower second quarter. Our two recent acquisitions have integrated well and are making excellent progress. I believe Playtech remains well positioned to add licensees in a number of newly regulating markets and can look to the rest of 2010 with confidence.”

May 5, 2010

Ongame Network adds three new partners to its Italian network

Ongame Network adds three new partners to its Italian regional online poker network, growing the roll call to 10 partners holding Italian operating licenses.

May 2010 sees the migration of MatchGames and TOBS to Ongame Network’s P5 Poker Engine with Casino Italia following in June.

Ongame Network Italy currently offers Italian players Sit & Go, scheduled and multi-table poker tournaments on the P5 Poker Engine and other games currently allowed by Italian legislation such as bingo. In the future when permitted to do so, Ongame Network Italy plans to also provide poker cash games and casino offerings, giving players more choice and further stimulating network growth.

“Ongame Network’s Italian operation is in an exciting expansion phase and demonstrates the business benefits of being a responsible supplier who works within legal jurisdictions,” said Martin Lerby, Head of Ongame Network.

The shared liquidity offered by Ongame Network Italy is provided by the following 10 partners: BetPro.it, bwin, Casino di Venezia, Casino Italia, Fast Poker, Gioco Digitale, Gmatica, MatchGames, SportingBet.it and TOBS.

The Italian network is monitored by the Italian authorities and is in full compliance with online gaming regulations. The license holder for Ongame Network Italy is bwin SRL, bwin Interactive Entertainment AG’s Italian subsidiary.

May 5, 2010

Unibet reports first quarter performance

Unibet Group plc releases interim report for the period January - March 2010.

Gross winnings revenue amounted to GBP 41.8 (36.1) million for the first quarter of 2010 and profit from operations for the first quarter of 2010 amounted to GBP 10.6 (10.9) million. Profit before tax for the first quarter of 2010 amounted to GBP 10.3 (10.7) million and profit after tax for the first quarter of 2010 amounted to GBP 9.5 (10.0) million. Earnings per share were GBP 0.339 (0.357) for the first quarter of 2010. Operating cash flow before movements in working capital amounted to GBP 13.1 (13.5) million for the first quarter 2010.

Number of active customers at the end of the quarter was 379,473 (314,977).

Unibet CEO, Petter Nylander commented, "During the first quarter of 2010 we have seen a continued solid growth both in terms of gross winnings revenue and active customers. Important drivers have been our live betting together with live streaming and the possibility to place bets on the Unibet Mobile platform."

"Also April has shown very good figures with the average daily gross winnings revenue for April higher than the average daily gross winnings revenue for the first quarter 2010."

"Unibet has decided to pursue the opportunity to apply for a licence under the French controlled opening of the online market. The exact terms and conditions of licences under the controlled opening are still outstanding but indicate only a marginal EBIT contribution from France for 2010. Since the financial goals for 2010 were based on the assumption of unchanged regulatory situation they are now obsolete. Given the uncertainty especially regarding France our view is that it will be challenging to outperform 2009 EBIT level."

"In addition, as a preparation for a possible opening of the US market, Unibet has acquired 25.9 per cent of the NASDAQ listed company Bingo.com through a directed rights issue/private placement of USD 2.25 million"

May 5, 2010

World Poker Tour partners with The Palm Beach Casino to launch televised London stop

WPT London Poker Classic, Sponsored by PartyPoker is scheduled to be held at The May Fair Hotel August 29 to September 5, 2010.

World Poker Tour and The Palm Beach Casino have partnered to launch the first ever WPT stop for the United Kingdom, the WPT London Poker Classic. A super satellite will kick off the series August 29, followed by the £5,000 + £300 main event August 30 to September 5, 2010 at The May Fair Hotel, located in the heart of London’s West End, and where the main event will be filmed for television broadcast.

“The Palm Beach Casino is delighted to welcome the World Poker Tour 2010 in London,” said Genting Casinos London Poker Manager Simon Tomsett. “We anticipate players from all over the world, playing for the prestigious title.”

The main event will feature two starting days and a total player cap of 400. The winner of the WPT London Poker Classic will receive the first place cash prize, a WPT title, WPT Champions bracelet and a seat to play in the 2011 WPT Championship in Las Vegas.

“London is a great poker destination and has always been a major target in our ongoing expansion,” said WPT President Adam Pliska. “We’re thrilled to have found amazing partners in The Palm Beach Casino, Genting UK and The May Fair Hotel London. With the added power of PartyPoker.com, this is sure to be a highly anticipated WPT event on the international schedule.”

May 4, 2010

Betway.com goes fourth and one million players

Betway.com, today and through the weekend celebrates its fourth year on the fourth and celebrates with extra winnings.

Celebrating the event Betway sportsbook, casino and poker room is lined up with extra winnings on sports bets, a new game in the casino and doubled bonuses and tournament prize pools for poker players.

In the casino, players get free spins on the brand new Thunderstruck 2 slot machine that launches today. Due to the popularity of the original Thunderstruck Viking-themed 5 reel 9 payline video slot, Thunderstruck II has been hotly anticipated since its sneak preview in London in January. Thursday and Friday there will also be a Reload Birthday Bonus.

Betway Sportsbook has specially redesigned for the 4th birthday and offers very popular combination bets where a small stake can be turned into a huge fortune. Betway Sportsbook also celebrates with one fourth extra winnings on accumulator 4 bets and for four days beginning today, the normal welcome bonus is doubled to 200%, up to €750 for players using code 4atbetway. Prize pools in special free roll tournaments will also be doubled.

“It’s been an amazing four years,” said Dan G of Betway.com. “It’s hard to believe that we’ve grown to serve more than a million players around the world!”

May 4, 2010

Betsson acquires poker operator Betfriends

Betsson acquires poker operator Betfriends and adds 4000 active customers.

Betfriends history derives mainly from poker, but today they offer sports betting, casino and poker to the end users. The acquisition is structured with a base payment and an additional payment based on achievements. Betfriends poker product currently operates on Playtech’s iPoker Network.

"This transaction is a step in order to change Betsson's trend in poker, as the poker business has shown a negative trend for some time" says Betsson Group CEO Pontus Lindwall.

"Through the acquisition Betsson gains poker competence which will strengthen our existing poker team and additional active players" says Magnus Silfverberg, CEO of Betsson Malta.

May 4, 2010

Intertops poker moves to cake poker network

Intertops Poker, part of the world’s first online sports book and casino since 2003, switched this week from Microgaming to the Cake Poker Network. The move follows Intertops Casino’s change from Microgaming to RTG games last fall.

To commemorate the move, Daily $100 Free Rolls will continue through May and every Sunday there’ll be $1000 Guaranteed Freeze Out where players can buy in for $20+2 or win their seat in twice-daily free roll satellite poker tournaments. For the biggest celebration this week, Intertops Poker will give away $2500 in Saturday’s $2500 Free Roll Celebration. Details about these tournaments as well as the Daily Door Crasher added value tournaments, the $150K Points Race and WSOP Satellite tournaments are available on the Promotions tab at http://poker.intertops.com.

Intertops will honour all existing Gold Chips, Gold Cards and Gold Stacks loyalty rewards held by players of rooms that have recently left the Cake Network, such as Sportsbook.com, PlayersOnly.com and PokerHost.com.

Several major poker sites have joined the Cake Network recently and now, as Intertops players join them, it is one of the most popular poker networks in the world. Created by a small group of poker players with a mission to design a better poker site, its gold loyalty rewards programs and its well-sculpted 3D human avatars and other aesthetic features have helped it become one of the fastest-growing poker communities online.

May 3, 2010

Unibet new chairman

Daniel Johannesson leaving and Anders Ström proposed as new chairman.

Unibet chairman Daniel Johannesson has notified the Nomination Committee that he with reference to health reasons will not intend to stand for re-election to the Board of Directors of Unibet Group plc.

The Nomination Committee for the AGM on 6 May 2010 therefore proposes that the re-election of Daniel Johannesson as director of the company will be deleted and that Anders Ström will be elected as chairman of the Board and that the Board may elect deputy chairman. Anders Ström was previous chairman during 2005-2007.

The proposal also means that other items such as the Board members fees will be adjusted with respect to the fewer number of Directors.

May 3, 2010