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Friday, February 11, 2011

Casino News Media: Nevada Gambling Revenue Rises, Atlantic City Falls

It may not be leading economic indicator, but Nevada gambling revenues rose slightly in 2010 after a two-year decline attributed in part to the recession, the state gaming commission reported on Thursday.

The total "gaming win," $10.4 billion, represents a slight 0.1 percent increase compared to 2009, which saw a 10.4 percent decrease from the year before, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The figures are rare good news for Nevada, which was particularly hard hit by the recession and continues to have the nation's highest unemployment and foreclosure rates.

But the rise only brings revenues back to about 2004 levels, according to Michael Lawton, financial analyst for the commission.

A closer look also reveals that the only area seeing an uptick in 2010 was the Las Vegas Strip, which increased by 4.1 percent, accounting for $5.8 billion of the state's total gaming revenue.

Downtown Las Vegas, Reno and other areas all saw decreases in gaming revenues last year.

The Las Vegas Strip's take mostly came from table games such as poker, craps and baccarat, a "high-roller" game played by international visitors and not the mass market, Lawton said.

Baccarat's take was $1.1 billion, most of it on the Strip, in 2010. Baccarat surpassed 21 as the dominant table game, Lawton said.

Revenue from slot machines was down everywhere, including the Strip, dropping 2.7 percent statewide last year and reaching the lowest total since 1997.

Lawton said this is probably due to "the everyday Joe, who's still coming, but not spending as much." (Credit: Reuters)

Atlantic City’s casino gambling revenue fell 13 percent in January, extending four years of decline at the New Jersey seaside resort beset by competition from nearby states.

Betting proceeds shrank to $255.4 million, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission said today on its website. Slot machine revenue at the 11 casinos slid 16 percent from a year earlier to $164.9 million, and table game winnings were down 8.3 percent to $90.5 million.

Gambling in the second-biggest U.S. casino market after Las Vegas has tumbled to $3.57 billion in 2010 from a peak of $5.2 billion in 2006 -- before Pennsylvania and Yonkers, New York, allowed slot machines. Competition also has come online in Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia.

Six of Atlantic City’s casinos went through bankruptcy or restructured debt during the financial crisis, and development has stalled. New York City is adding its first slots at a racetrack in Queens this year, intensifying competition in the region.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is overhauling regulators and creating a tourism district around the casinos to help halt the marketwide decline, which is hurting tax revenue.(Credit: Bloomberg)

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Aussie James Packer Riding Wave Of Success, by Greg Tingle - 11th February 2011

G'day everyone. As if you didn't hear, Australian gambling and news media tycoon, James Packer, and a number of his friends and associates are riding a tidal wave of success, despite concerns about the Australian economy. Packer still looks to have the Midas touch, and his casino and gaming ventures continue to perform well, despite challenges in Australia by competitor Star City (Tabcorp) and in the Asia Pacific (Venetian Macao - Las Vegas Sands Corp.) Packer mate Shane Warne is in love with the 'Hurley Burley', Sting jumps aboard a Packer yacht, Neil Perry's teams up with Starlight Foundation at Rockpool via Burswood Casino aka Burwood Entertainment Complex, and much more. Media Man and Gambling911 with your Aussie round up JP - Crown Limited Style. All aboard the Packer Express...

Sting And Mates Do James Packer's Boat In Sydney...

Sting (Gordon Sumner), not the pro wrestling superstar, is lapping it up down under enjoying party time on on James Packer's luxury boat. Older readers will remember that String used to be the frontman of 'The Police'. JP's boat has in recent days been spotted off Sydney's northern beaches in Pittwater. JP and wife were not seen. Sting's wife Trudi Styler was also MIA, understood to be in the UK. Sting and a bush tucker bag of his mates were having a hell of a party on the vessel, and its understood some of his old band members were on board. Sting also enjoyed taking in the summer at Bondi Beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Packer's Burswood Raisers Big Bucks with Perry's Rockpool; Western Australia Shows The World...

Neil Perry's Starlight Foundation Fundraiser at Rockpool in Perth on Wednesday evening was a rip snorter with Packer present and giving of heart and spirit. JP said that would like to have super chef Perry cook more juicy steaks for him, and what do you know - $100,000 appears, and Bob's your uncle - home cooking at the Packer pad. It's a miracle! In a glitzy and power persons event which raised up to $400,000 all told for sick kids, WA billionaires Gina Rinehart (richest person in Australia) and Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest (mining king and face of GenerationOne) also generously donated $100,000 to have the Sydney-based Perry cook for them and their 9 lucky guests in their very own homes. The happening was the official opening of the Rockpool WA restaurant, following the Melbourne launch we understand. Guests were happy to pay $1,000 for the world class, 3 course plus dinner. Perry was happy to make a speech and mentioned how Perth people had embraced his new restaurant and said that there had been no cynicism from the public. "What an amazing result for the Starlight Children’s Foundation - Perth should be proud of its generosity tonight. "With three healthy kids of my own, I have been a passionate and active supporter of the Starlight Children’s Foundation for 22 years. Anything I can do to alleviate the pain and stress that these kids go through by using my name is a fair trade," he said. It's understood Perry is very appreciative of Packer, Forrest, Rinehart and the news media who have covered his ventures in a fair and balanced capacity. Give yourselves all a pat on the back, and we will keep Rockpoool and Starlight Foundation front of mind. Good show.

Shane Warne Poker Her Celeb Does Melbourne With Hurley Burley; Coffee Table, Not Bed!...

Yesterday the Warnie-Hurley has been doing Melbourne, with various sightings around the city. Warne may not have hit the sweet spot at Crown Casino Aussie Millions in terms of results, but his spin and sleight of hand sure seems to be working a charm with liz. A "sexy" lunch spot was a key goal. Ok fellas, you can guess what the other goal may have been. No explanation needed hey. Tweeting to his 320,000 Twitter followers earlier that he was looking for venue suggestions, Shane Warne chauffeured Liz 'Hurley' (affectionate) Hurley to an exclusive Melbourne golf club owned by ex Crown Casino boss Lloyd Williams, in tow by a swag of paparazzi and media choppers. The couple had enjoying Warne's Brighton mansion for about 40 hours since Hurley landed down under Tuesday evening. The ex spinner on reports of a new mattress being delivered to his house before her arrival via Twitter "Ps for the record - my so called big delivery to my house was not a mattress it was a coffee table, sorry to disappoint !" Thursday morning the Twitter followed with "Where is the sexiest place to take Elizabeth for lunch? Suggestions please? Chapel St? Crown? And no - not for spaghetti on toast". Warnie ended up driving to Capital Golf Club in Heatherton, a stones throw from Brighton, in a black Merc with tinted out windows, as you might expect. The Peter Thomson-designed course in Melbourne's southeast is a world class destination that has hosted celebs including Tiger Woods, who played practice rounds there ahead of the Australian Masters the past couple of years. Warne later tweeted about the photogs around his car. "Apologies to anyone driving on the rd & witnessing the ridiculous behavior by irresponsible photographers trying to get a pic !!!!!,. Ps I'm not complaining by the way, but I fear that someone could seriously get hurt on the rd as the photographers are so irresponsible." Media Man and friends are well aware of the bad and downright atrocious behavior of some photographers and paps, and that may be covered in a book just started to be talked about by Sydney based photography and artist, Eva Rinaldi, who has also shown off her works at a number of Australian casinos over the years, with more forecast soon at both Packer's Crown and Sin City Sydney's Star City. Ah, the ongoing saga of celebs, art and Aussie casinos continue.

Packer Property Has Tasmanian Devils; No, Not David "Wicked" Walsh...

The Hunter Valley breeding program for the insurance population of Tasmanian Devils could have its first newborns by the end of this month. The initial colony of 50 carnivorous marsupials has settled in to their new environment only a month after arriving in the Barrington Tops. The response to a facial tumour decimating the native Tasmanian population is being conducted on a property owned by billionaire businessman, James Packer. Devil Ark operations manager, Tim Faulkner advised 3 female devils are in season and have started mating. "We've got devils that are potentially one-third of their way already through a 21 day gestation," he said. "So we could experience birthing in as little as 15 days. We won't know the results of that for a couple of months because whilst the joeys are so small and the females are in a vulnerable state. So we won't do a pouch check maybe until June and at that point hopefully we've got a lot of babies." The Tasmanian Devils survived the Hunter Valley's recent heatwave. Faulkner says the hot weather had little impact on the animals. "In that extraordinary heat that the whole east coast experienced we never broke 32 degrees up here," he said. "So for the devils, they didn't experience the heatwave. They can escape into a burrow, they're very clever animals they will swim and cool down. The paddocks the devils are in are heavily timbered, they're nocturnal, they're out of a night time and through the peak of the heat, they're underground.". You got to love the Packer - Tassie Devil connection, and David down in Tassie, we will get back to you down the track mate. Plenty of devils to go around down under.

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

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Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.

Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Australian Gambling and Politics: Cat And Mouse Games, by Greg Tingle - 10th February 2011

G'day everyone. It's another huge week for gambling, gaming and sports betting news in Australia, with the usual strong dose of political fun and gaming. We're got the The Western Australia Opposition asking gambling and media billionaire James Packer to help pay for a Perth Sports Stadium if it is to be built close by to his Burswood Casino, pokie lovers vs haters, and even the Aristocrat (yep, gaming firm) awards. Media Man and Gambling911 with your Aussie round up you have grown to love. Grab a few beers and tell your mates...

James Packer Asked To Pay For Perth Sports Stadium...

Western Australia is poised to get a new sport stadium, and guess who has been asked to help finance it, James Packer. We guess the world got out that's his a billionaire, and now "only" Australia' 3rd richest person. A government-funded stadium taskforce determined that the least expensive option would be to develop at Kitchener Park, right next door to iconic Subiaco Oval. It found that building a sports stadium on state-owned land at Burswood would cost an additional $300 million. Ripper (not Rip Off)...just having fun readers, says the casino owner James Packer should be requested to assist in proving the funds needed. "I would be horrified if we spent a single dollar more than we need to spend on the stadium, I'd be particularly horrified if it was $300 million more of our dollars that was spent in a wasteful fashion," he said. Ripper reckons Packer would make a lot of money if the stadium was built next to the casino. "That would be a huge advantage to the casino, of course, because the 60,000 people attending a football match if it was a great football match would then flow on over to the casino. So, if the Government wants to build it there or if the casino wants it there, then the Government should be asking the casino to cough up that $300 million extra." An official survey is yet to be held on the mater, but punters, please throw us your 2 cents worth in the forum

Bushfires Hit Perth On Black Sunday; Spoil Fun For Gambling Grandmother...

Residents have been forced to flee with little more than just the clothes on their backs as a flaming "war zone" attacked on their homes in the south-eastern Perth suburb of Roleystone this past Sunday. In a smart move an evacuation centre has been constructed at the Armadale Arena, where about 1000 concerned residents gathered for a community get together at 10.30am to catch up with the latest news on the bushfire. As the stream of people started arriving at the centre, Department of Child Protection support worker Lauren Lawrence advised tension was starting to build. Some residents were treated for anxiety, stress and grief. During the meet up, residents were divided up into 3 groups and told which addresses in the 59 homes had been destroyed. Several broke down upon hearing the news. In a casino twist, a great-grandmother who was at Burswood Casino got a telephone call from one of her neighbours telling her to get home. It was time to stop the gaming and entertainment vibe at Packer's casino. She did her best to fight off the fire with a hose before police aka 'The Boys In Blue' arrived and told her to get out of town, well, get out of harms way, you know what we're saying. "The flames that were coming through, it was just like being in a sauna," an emotional Mrs Parker said. She said she thought she had lost everything except her 50-year-old pet galah, Charlie. Included among her loss were photos of her husband, who passed away last year. "I've got nothing... but at least I'm alive." We commend the brave men and women who have helped fight off the fire and those who are assisting in the cleanup. The tragic event follows a string of nature disasters and unusual weather conditions to to hit down under in recent months including floods in Queensland and Victoria, a Northern Queensland cyclone and 3 days of heatwave conditions in 'Sin City' Sydney averaging 40 degrees. The question begs, where will Mother Nature strike next in Australia. Mother Nature, not a bad name for a casino game we think, and would be right at home with former Media Man 'Online Slot Game Of The Month' Goanna Gold. Captain Cooks offers Aussie style 'Bush Telegraph', but officially its the South African nature and wildlife featured. Readers may like to also check out the Fire Hawk game, found at a few online casinos including those by PartyGaming. It remains to been seen if any Australian based gaming or casino companies will donate to the relief effort. Crown Limited has previously teamed up with well respected charity - The Salvation Army, to help ease the pain when Mother Nature got the better of Aussies. We wish our Western Australian friends well as they put their lives back together again. As we remind the readership from time to time, keep your head above water, and always bet with your head, not over it.


Aristocrat Entertainer of the Year Via Tamworth Country Music Festival Won By Melody Feder...

Talented singer-songwriter Melody Feder has beaten Australia’s top country music talent to win Aristocrat Entertainer of the Year at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Aristocrat, the gambling machine maker, has the major naming rights for the award as you can gather. Feder, 22, won the coveted title by beating 60 other emerging stars at last month’s festival. She impressing judges, including country music star Beccy Cole, with her impressive performance in the lead up, the Vista resident wowed the crowd in the grand final to take home the prize. Even Keith Urban has taken part in the competition in previous years. "It was amazing. I never really expected to win, so it was a huge shock, but it’s definitely the highlight of my career so far.". The win completed a hectic year for Feder, who made the second stage of the TV talent series The X-Factor before being eliminated. Feder grew up in Dernancourt and studied music while at Mary MacKillop College, Kensington. She entered her first country music talent quest aged 12. "Dad always liked to play country music around the house, so it was a given that I was going to be a country singer," she said. Feder’s career took off two years ago when she taught herself to play guitar by studying online YouTube videos. Last month, she released her debut six-track EP, Dirt Roads and Diamonds. Well done to the latest Aristocrat Entertainer of the Year - just another way the gaming - entertainment business gives back to the larger entertainment and arts industry as a whole.


Australian Clubs Tell Off 'Greedy Government'...

Governments are greedy. Yeah, so what - tell us something we don't know! It's a crying shame but community based organisations have only enjoyed 1 very small rise in pokies funding but the Government snatched a whopping 282% gain over 15 years. Community groups are up in arms and have demanded more of the purse taking go into the fund bucked to be indexed, telling all and sundry they down between $200 million and $300 million since they were introduced. Not happy John! The funds are paid a set amount from poker machine revenue and from the hotels and licensed clubs. The funds in question are the Sport and Recreation Fund, the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund, the Community Benefit Fund and the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund, which get $31.3 million a year. Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund is correct. We we're told a bad joke about "If its not broken, don't fix it", but we will digress. The total is set down in legislation but is not indexed and has not been amended since circa 1996, apart from a generous $1 million increase in the sport fund in 2002. What about the gamblers we ask? Community groups are furious that they are still scratching the tins for money while most of the big bucks from pokies goes into the Treasury coffers where the bean counters delight in the numbers with lots of 0's after them... millions upon millions. We also learnt that tax take from 'one armed bandits' has grown from $108 million in circa 1995-96 to an estimated $305 mil in the current fin year... an increase of 282%. No wonder the government is being tight. Under the legislation, the Sport and Recreation Fund is paid roughly $3.5 million a year, the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund $4 million, the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund $3.8 million and the Community Development Fund $20 million. The South Australia Council of Social Services raised the issue in its 2011-12 Budget submission saying without indexation, the real value of the contribution of the funds had declined by 22% over the past 5 years. "The lack of indexation has resulted in $20 million of gambling taxes not being paid into those funds," it says. SIDS and Kids SA state manager Colin Cameron said it was alarming the funds had not kept pace with gaming revenue increase. "While state revenue has almost tripled ... the increases to these funds for social benefit have not kept pace...increasing by only 30%" Cameron said. Greedy Government mmn? A Media Man street survey at Bondi Beach (sample 50 random people) concluded that 85% of the population believed that the Australian government was greedy, with 95% advising that Australia's state and federal government are "not to be trusted". Insiders, media and political analysts were not surprised in the results, but all were disappointed in the government not assisting community groups and charities as much as they could. Liberal is tipped to win the next Federal election and things are not looking much better for Labor on the state level either, with strong odd backing a Liberal win in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.


Betfair Secure Naming Rights On Wentworth Park Gold Cup...

On the heels of the lucrative sponsorship agreement between leading Australian bookmaker Centrebet and the NSW GBOTA, the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association have today announced that betting exchange Betfair will receive prominent signage and sponsorship of the Group 2 Wentworth Park Gold Cup. Betfair and NSW GBOTA officials will mark the start of the partnership on Saturday night, with the unveiling of feature signage and presentation to the winner of the Betfair Stakes. Association Chairman, Geoff Rose said the announcement of the Betfair agreement marked an exciting week in the GBOTA’s year, following other sponsorship deals concluded earlier in the week. "Betfair are a progressive wagering entity and we have great delight in welcoming them on board as the Group 2 Gold Cup sponsor," Rose said. NSW GBOTA Executive Officer, Brenton Scott, stated that the agreement cemented Betfair’s position as Wentworth Park’s betting exchange partner. "We are confident that the relationship with Betfair will complement those in place with other wagering operators," said Scott. "The wagering market place now irreversibly includes traditional TABs, corporate bookmakers and betting exchanges.
Betfair’s Media and Communication Manager Hugh Taggart, believes the sponsorship agreement will only serve to increase the exposure of the outstanding greyhound product already on display in NSW. The deal follows the Centrebet - Penrith Panthers and Crown Casino deal and South Sydney Rabbitoh's - Star City front of jersey deal. Oh, some media commentators are questioning whether horse racing should even be called a sport, saying its little more than just another way for people to bet on the outcome of something. In the meantime TAB's 'Trackside' electronic horse racing games continues to enjoy good patronage, helping keep punters at a TAB branch, rather than at the racetrack.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett Not Seeing Eye To Eye With Fed Government...

Barnett let it be known to the government on Thursday he's pissed off, stating the national reforms could lead the way for poker machines to enter WA via the "back door." WA, with support from both major parties, has long banned "one armed bandits" from pubs and clubs, and Burswood Casino has them exclusively (unless other places have them on an illegal basis, so draw your own conclusions). The WA Premier said by exercising its constitutional powers to enforce the uniform legislation, the federal government was opening the way for major hoteliers to legally challenge the state's ban on pokies. But federal Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said Barnett was actually incorrect as state governments had the power to decide the number and location of pokies in their state and that would remain the case. "I have today written to Mr Barnett to explain that the Australian government's reforms are targeted at making poker machines safer for problem gamblers and will not impact on the number of poker machines in WA, or any other state or territory," Macklin said in a prepared statement. She said the premier would have known this if the WA government had participated in the Council of Australian Government (COAG) Select Council on gambling reform. "WA is the only state or territory that declined to participate in the COAG Select Council on Gambling Reform," Macklin said. "The invitation remains open and I strongly encourage Barnett and his government to attend the next meeting on February 25 to get the facts on the Australian government's gambling reforms." A Media Man insider whispered "Facts or truth"?, suggesting the Fed government is trying to back WA into a corner, as the cat and mouse game continues. Cat and mouse... should be the name of a slot game hey? Better than 'Perfect Mousetrap', once used to describe how shopping centres have been designed to trap the shoppers in there, so they spend as much money as possibly, with filling the centre with music to lure in shoppers. Some comparisons have been made between shopping centre "perfect mousetraps" to poker machine dens. Some pubs and hotels have also draw fire for having some kids "skill games" on site, as a way to lure in a younger audience and "groom" them to become gamblers, a 'Mr X' has publicly commented on in he past. Back to matters at hand the Federal Community Services Minister said the legal advice that stated the commonwealth had the constitutional powers to enforce national poker machine regulations through taxation and corporation law related only to certain areas. These included a pre-commitment system for gamblers and a $250 daily withdrawal limit for ATMs in all gambling venues except casinos. WA Labor senator Louise Pratt said Barnett was playing politics over the issue instead of helping problem gamblers. "The premier should be working with Canberra in a bipartisan way to help people affected and should stop playing politics on this issue. Had he been working with the commonwealth, he would have known that the reforms are focused on making poker machines safer for problem gamblers." The name calling and cat and mouse continues.

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

Profiles

Australian Casinos

World Casino Directory

Global Gaming Directory

Casino Travel

Casinos

Australia

Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.

Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

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Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Malta as an i-Gaming hub is world class, by Greg Tingle - February 2011

Malta is one of the world's foremost international hubs that regulate remote gaming effectively and responsibly, perhaps only second to Gibraltar. The beautiful island has become a classic example of how i-Gaming should and can be regulated. Its professional approach to remote gaming regulation is well known, hence the country has become a jurisdiction of choice for the industry. The island is a microcosm of Europe and as such is place to test concepts and the like, before pushing them to the masses. This approach works well for the ICT sector.

Malta currently has in excess of 300 active licensees.

The i-Gaming industry is encouraged by government initiative and state-of-the-art telecoms infrastructure, which the island is maintains its status as one of the most progressive environments in the world for IT, remote gaming and e-Business activities. Investment in ICT is especially strong.

For a real word example of an ICT development working well look up SmartCity. Born from Dubai Internet City, Tecom Investments is investing US$300 million in an ICT hub. This reaffirms the island’s initiative to become the European outpost for global ICT or i-Gaming companies that want to establish a presence in Europe. This project compliments with Malta’s aspirations in the ITC sector given that Microsoft, Cisco and Oracle have all established a significant presence on the island.

They aim to soon establish research and development testing ground for ICT related companies. Another major advantage of choosing Malta is secure and reliable links to the Internet for passing huge packets of data and traffic. Vodafone Malta took a strategic decision in 2003 to have its own submarine data cable between Malta and Sicily. Commissioned in 2004, this doubled the number of international data links connecting Malta to the rest of the world. Data traffic at the start of i-Gaming community in 2001 was rather small - a few tens of megabits - but has surged since then. 3 operators are competing to provide quality and reliable bandwidth via a submarine cable to the Italian mainland. In terms of technology, the fibre-optic submarine data cable remains an important link between Malta and the rest of the world, an extremely sensitive link without which the i-gaming industry would not exist in Malta. But another important ingredient for the island’s success is regulation. The industry is strictly regulated by an efficient team at the Malta Lotteries and Gaming headed by Rueben Portanier, a veteran in the ICT and i-Gaming sector. The regulation is fair but strictly enforced to ensure total protection to players while offering a competitive gaming and corporate tax structure.

2009 Allocation of licensees...

But the industry is facing challenges in cross-border issues particularly as other EU countries wish to restrict the provision of gaming services to their citizens. Thus Malta welcomes any rationalization of the online gaming sector that is generating a generous contribution to its GDP. But as always, our continued success to be the leading hub in Europe is not guaranteed and we have seen many EU members gearing up to compete and of course enacting restrictions to protect their own gambling state monopolies. Typically, we note how various Members of Parliament stressed that online gambling operators must comply with the gambling legislation of the member state in which they provide their services and in which the consumer resides. In their opinion, most online gambling licence holders operate from favourable tax jurisdictions and respect ‘country of origin’ rules regarding the provision of services.

Under the thinly veiled guise of protecting consumers, we note that gambling activities have traditionally been strictly regulated at national level. Again, it is customary to cite the rationale of such restrictions as the duty of each state to protect consumers against addiction, fraud, money laundering and fixed games. Of course these barrages of restrictions go against the spirit and law of free movement of services in the unified market. This led to a number of European Court of Justice rulings on the issue and several Commission infringement procedures posted against member states to verify whether national measures limiting the cross-border supply of online gambling services are compatible with Article 49 of the EC Treaty, which guarantees the free movement of services.

The European Commission “does not exclude” alternative solutions to individual infringement procedures against member states on gambling, Last year, internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier, addressing a European Parliament plenary debate in Strasbourg, revealed his future approach to the topic during his term. Thus it seems that some clarification is very much overdue in this sensitive sector where member states naturally protect their interests by blocking players from gambling on foreign unlicensed websites. There are currently nine Commission infringement procedures targeting cross-border betting on sports events online with countries, including Germany, Hungary, France, Belgium, Sweden, Italy and The Netherlands. In this context, Barnier said, “I want to launch a constructive dialogue [on gambling] with the Parliament and member states and concerned stakeholders.” He launched a EU Green Paper that would act as a first step forward. The most interesting question in the Green Paper is whether online gaming market is more tightly regulated or liberalized in the different EU member states. The paper will cover recent cases in the European Court of Justice due to the fact that in the past a series of infringement procedures were opened against member states’ gaming legislation for not complying with the freedom to provide services of the EU Treaty.

The legal landscape for online gambling aka igaming is dynamic to say the least, and prospective changes are altering the shape of the pan-European market. Britain, for instance, could move from a highly liberalised and commercial licensing system to a more restrictive territory based system. According to a British government policy paper, which, if enacted, proposes that it would be a criminal offence to provide online gambling services to British residents and to advertise online gambling in the UK without a licence issued by the Gambling Commission. If the final version of the proposal is implemented and is tested to be compliant with EU law, then all operators licensed in EEA member states and Gibraltar, as well as licensees based in the white list territories, will have to apply for an additional operating licence in the UK. Likewise, Ireland’s Prime Minister Brian Cowen announced that the Irish government wants to introduce legislation that would require offshore gaming companies to obtain licences in order to operate in the Irish online market. In Belgium, one expects significant changes to existing regulation on betting and gaming which in some parts are considered incompatible with EU law as licences are only issued to existing operators. However, under the requirements it seems next to impossible, for a foreign EU operator to obtain an online licence in Belgium.

In The Netherlands online gambling is legal, but the government has not yet issued any licences for online poker, online bingo and online casinos. When that may change is anyone's guess, but governments around the world are keen to get their slice of revenue, as the secret is out that igaming is one of the world's most lucrative and profitable sectors.

Malta as an EU member has a number of key strengths that have enabled it to grow as a hub for the iGaming industry it is today. The future is looking fantastic, and its tipped to only get better, as the world watches Malta to see how it's done.

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Monday, February 07, 2011

Ric Flair South Carolina Education Lottery Winner: Finally!, by Greg Tingle - 7th February 2011

G'day punters, journos, sports nuts, high rollers - casino whales, gambling millionaires and billionaires, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, wrestling fans ...yes, wrestling fans... one and all. You know who you are. The South Carolina Education Lottery finally has a big winner via the Ric Flair 'Woooooo'! connection... Media Man and Gambling911 check out the Education Lottery and investigate 'Space Mountain' with the special lottery - pro wrestling themed report...

A Winnsboro woman is a new fan of pro wrestling legend and Williams-Brice mainstay Ric Flair after she won $100,000 from a 'Woooooo!' scratch-off ticket.

The woman, who did not wish to be identified (wonder why Not), purchased the ticket at the 97 Express in Richburg, whose owner will collect a 1% retailer bonus of $1,000 for selling the winning ticket.

She advised that only her husband was a fan of the Nature Boy before she uncovered the big prize. Known for his signature, "Wooo!" catchphrase, the South Carolina Education Lottery began Flair's "Lucky Woooooo!" game on January 25th.

The winner's husband told lottery officials that he was walking around their house chanting Flair's "Woooooo!" when his wife told him quieten down.

"Now, I have a new reason to scream "Woooo!" he said in a news release. "She's started saying it."

The couple said they plan to use the money for expenses.


Pro Wrestling - Gambling Trivia...

Kevin 'Diesel' Nash, recently returned to WWE, used to be known in WCW as 'Vinnie Vegas'. Nash still has some gaming links on his official website.

Hulk Hogan, the most famous pro wrestler of all time, will have an online slot game out later this year in a deal done with Endemol. The story goes...

Endemol, along with the licensing division of Bischoff Hervey Entertainment, have partnered with Hulk Hogan to launch online game Hulk Hogan's Hulkamania.
The game, created by recently launched Endemol Games U.K., is expected to hit early next year worldwide and will be distributed internationally by Endemol Worldwide Brands. MX Gaming is co-producing Hulkamania with Endemol and Bischoff Hervey Entertainment. "Endemol Games U.K. is expanding into new areas and this deal marks one of our first third-party licensing partnerships," says Jurian van der Meer, managing director of Endemol Games U.K. "Hulk Hogan is an icon with massive global appeal and we aim to attract his fans with creative online slot games. This is a great addition to our portfolio."

Hogan also has 'The Hulk-A-Mania Experience' land based slot games which is available in some American casinos. Some of the proceeds of the Hulksters have do to The Dreamseekers Foundation, associated with native American casino tribes.

Ric Flair 'The Nature Boy' is apparently keen to explore an online casino game deal featuring his likeness.

WWE released WWE Poker in September 2010. Check it out here
http://www.mediamanint.com/profiles/wwe_poker.html

Read the Gambling911 story here
http://www.gambling911.com/poker/wwe-grooming-kids-poker-090510.html

World Wrestling Entertainment once owned a land based casino, that was never fitted out with company branding. They were miraculously were able to sell it for a profit circa 2000.

YouTube Footage

WWF Casino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UJ8Ye6lNT0

Wrestling News Media (Vinnie Vegas)
http://www.youtube.com/wrestlingnewsmedia#p/u/4/Z2a0YsMtflo

Wrestling News Media
http://www.youtube.com/wrestlingnewsmedia

Star City Casino, Sydney, Australia (Ric Flair attacks Hulk Hogan)
http://www.youtube.com/mediamanoz#p/u/50/8xsh9NT7bnw


The South Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) - Background Thanks To Our Friends At Wikipedia...

The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) began in 2002.
South Carolina is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), best known for Powerball. Like most US lotteries, on January 31, 2010, it participated in the cross-sell lottery expansion, adding Mega Millions. SCEL-only games consist of Pick 3, Pick 4, Palmetto Cash 5, and numerous scratch tickets. Although its drawings are held daily, the SCEL is unique among US lotteries in that players cannot purchase tickets on days when elections (primary or general) are held, such as on November 4, 2008. The minimum age to purchase SCEL tickets is 18.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_Education_Lottery


The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) - Background Thanks To Our Friends At Wikipedia...

The North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) is run by the government of North Carolina. It was established after Gov. Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act[1] and the 2005 Appropriations Act. The controversial lottery proposal was approved on August 31, 2005, after then-Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue cast a tie-breaking vote in the North Carolina Senate. North Carolina, traditionally associated with the Bible Belt, was the only state on the East Coast without a lottery. The issue divided lawmakers and the public alike. At the time, the opposition of nearly every Republican and a minority of Democratic lawmakers (consisting of progressives) made the passage of a lottery unlikely. These groups denounced the lottery as a regressive tax on the poor. However, on August 30, 2005, two lottery opponents (Harry Brown, R-Jacksonville and John Garwood, R-North Wilkesboro) had excused absences. With this known, a special vote was called, which was 24-24. Lt. Gov. Perdue cast the tiebreaking vote, signaling the way for Gov. Easley to sign it into law. The vote would have been defeated had the absent senators paired their votes.
Education" Controversy: In February 2009, to reduce a budget shortfall, Gov. Perdue withheld approximately $88 million to fill shortfalls in the North Carolina budget. Perdue emptied the $50 million lottery reserve, also withholding $38 million allocated for a school construction budget in direct conflict with the mandate of the NCEL.This controversial move by the Governor prompted North Carolina lawmakers on March 10, 2009 to propose a name change to the NCEL, to remove "Education" from its name.
Proceeds and payouts:
Seven percent is paid to retailers as commission.
Fifty percent is paid as winnings to players.
Eight percent is cost-of-sales.
The remaining 35% goes to education proceeds, broken down as follows:
Before any proceeds are paid, 5% of the proceeds (1.75% of the total) goes to the Education Lottery Reserve Fund to be used when lottery proceeds fall short. This fund may not exceed $100 million. Fifty percent of the remainder (16.625% of the total) goes towards the reduction of class sizes. Forty percent of the remainder (13.3% of the total) is used for school construction. Sixty-five percent of the above (8.645% of the total) is distributed based on school enrollment. The remaining 35% (4.655% of the total) is distributed to counties with effective property tax rates above North Carolina's average based on school enrollment. Ten percent of the remainder (3.325% of the total) are distributed for college scholarships, to be used with the federal Pell Grant. Originally, North Carolina's scratch tickets had an overall payout of 52%, the lowest among scratch tickets then available through US lotteries. While its $1 instant tickets continue to pay out at roughly this level, its newer $2-and-up games now have higher-percentage payouts. The Lottery has continued to generate controversy among North Carolina constituents upset with teacher layoffs who believed the Lottery would have made up the difference. Television: Live Lottery drawings are broadcast on these TV stations:
WRAL-TV in Raleigh, WITN-TV in eastern North Carolina, WCNC-TV in Charlotte, WILM-LP in Wilmington, WYCW in Asheville, WXLV-TV in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point
There are no designated stations for the Florence/Myrtle Beach or Hampton Roads markets, both covering portions of North Carolina.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina_Education_Lottery

Profiles

Ric Flair

Hulk Hogan

Kevin Nash (aka Diesel and Vinnie Vegas)


Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

Profiles

Australian Casinos

World Casino Directory

Global Gaming Directory

Casino Travel

Casinos

Australia

Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.

Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun. As Ric Flair would say, Woooooo!

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

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Media Man - Casino News Media - Global Gaming Directory - News Update

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Running out of Internet Addresses: We Were Right

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Australian Gambling: Deals, Art, Politics And Vice

Australian Gambling On Pre-Commitment Pokies: Lovers vs. Haters

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Tingle: Australian Gambling Regulation Won't Wipe Out Problem Gambling

Australia To Get Sports Stadiums Branded By Gambling and Gaming Companies

Australia Pokie and News Media Wars for January 14, 2011

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Australian Pokies Saviour Or Villain; Lovers VS Haters

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Australian Kids Copy Parents Gambling Habits

Aussie Media Man Talks Domain Names: Gambling.com, Poker.com.au

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Australian Land Based Casinos Rank Among The Best In The World?

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Sunday, February 06, 2011

Australian Media And Gambling Wars; Aussie Rich List, by Greg Tingle - 6th February 2011

G'day punters, journos, sports nuts, high rollers - casino whales, gambling millionaires and billionaires, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, ... one and all. You know who you are. This is yet another instalment into the Australian media wars, with a dash of the Aussie rich list (a few gaming gambling types there) for good measure... Media Man and Gambling911 prob the Australian media business, and do the math on whose loaded up to the hilt down under...

James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch Rumoured To Be Worried With Network Ten News Progress...

After only two weeks on air, the Ten Network’s news evolution has reportedly come under scrutiny from new stakeholders James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch, thanks to a poor ratings performance. On Thursday night 6pm with George Negus attracted its lowest audience to date with only 398,000 viewers. The state based Ten Evening News at 6:30pm performed even worse, attracting only 362,000 viewers. The direction and performance of the George Negus fronted news vehicle is said to be of particular concern to new stakeholders Packer and Murdoch, the press reports. The pair reportedly told Ten Network executives they're worried that the international content of the bulletin is a turn-off for viewers. "Basically (an) email sent to Ten bosses said the predominance of overseas stories was unwise and indulgent and not calculated to build ratings," a well-placed source told Confidential. However, another Ten executive dismissed the report as "utter bollocks", going on to reaffirm the network’s long term commitment to the two-and-a-half hour news and current affairs block. "This is not a two-week plan or three-month one - you can't do what we've done and expect instant results - this is a long haul," a spokeswoman said. Rivals from other network’s have also expressed their thoughts on the $20 million a year investment in news, with one source pointing towards the timeslot winning lead-in 6pm with George Negus receives. "Aren't they conveniently overlooking the substantial lead-in it's provided every night by Ten's 5:00pm news which has always rated respectably for yonks?", said the source. On Thursday, David Gyngell, chief executive of the Nine Entertainment Company, described the performance as worse than he had expected.

Nine Network Presents Weekend 5pm New Slot...

The Nine Network will launched a new national 5:00pm weekend news bulletin Saturday, taking advantage of the Ten Network's recent departure from the timeslot. Nine's director of news and current affairs, Mark Calvert, told The Spy Report that the bulletin will be a permanent addition to the network's Saturday and Sunday schedule once the cricket season concludes tomorrow. Calvert unexpectedly announced the move via his Twitter account. "Missing having news at 5:00pm? Feeling abandoned by Channel Ten News at weekends? See Nine News first at five with Wendy Kingston," he posted. "Incredible flood rescue pix Nine News at 5:00pm. Yep, 5:00pm. You know...when Channel Ten News used to be on at weekends. Nine News at 5:00pm and 6:00pm. "Working harder than ever - Peter Stefanovic, Tracy Vo, Lizzie Pearl to get ready for Nine News first at 5:00pm then more at 6:00pm." Ten abandoned its national 5:00pm bulletin on weekends as part of its $20 million early evening revamp it unveiled two weeks ago. Since then, it has instead opted for a 6:00pm state-based service rivalling those on Nine and Seven. At this stage, it's unknown whether the half-hour bulletin will broadcast into Sydney and Brisbane when Nine's Sunday Afternoon Football returns on March 13. Nine's Afternoon News Hour will also continue to air weekdays from 4:30pm.

Australia's Richest Person Gina Rinehart Adds Value To Channel Ten Sports...

'Our Gina' loves sport, at least as far as it being a strong part of the line up on Network Nine. Fellow shareholders James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch also like sport, especially the cricket (sports betting connection), but Rinehart is more of an all rounder when it comes to the sports media side of the business. Our friends and Fairfax Media have secured a strong leak aka deep throat delivering the following: "She's tough, opinionated, sometimes difficult but never frightened". Rinehart is understood to be very happy with her 10% per cent stake in the network, and intends on getting her money's worth (and continuing to exercise her clout). Packer and Murdoch recently told Ten executives that while they like sport, they believe the network more than they should be, particularly for AFL broadcasting rights. The late great media and gambling tycoon, Kerry Packer, put aside an AFL $780 million deal over five years, not long before his passing away, but Packer Jr may want to talk it about a bit more. The AFL is set to receive the $1 billion at its next contract commencing at 2012. Ten wants to renegotiate its deal with Channel Seven over AFL coverage. David White, the sports director of Ten, has advised analysts that returns from AFL over the past season were not good. It is anticipated Ten will go after an improved ratio with Seven of their share of future fees, or demand an allocation of higher-rating match ups. Under the existing 7 - 10 agreement both networks must bid together, however if Ten is unable to improve its payment or game quality ratios, the deal might collapse. "Ten now has two directors (Packer and Murdoch) who would support the move to walk," a leak said. Rinehart may lobby to retain the agreement in support of Kerry Stokes, the owner of Seven. The word is her main reason for investing a dab of her $4.75 billion wealth for 10% of Ten is political influence. He took note of the success of the advertising campaign against the mining tax and sees the powerful control of the media on the political landscape, and those who work in it. Packer snatched his 17.9% take in Ten ($128 million) to boost his political clout, and then went on to selling half to Murdoch. JP likes the gambling and sport connection, as do many NRL and AFL clubs ala Rabbitohs - Star City and his own Crown Casino - Melbourne Storm baby. Packer gets on well at this stage of the game with Australian Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, and they are understood to enjoy a spot of golf from time to time. Packer and Murdoch famously had a bite with him at Crown Casino months ago. This past Thursday Conroy announced amendments to sport's anti-siphoning list, allowing free-to-air networks to show live sport on their digital channels! This falls into line with the ministers strategy to move Australia quickly away from analog TV. Ten has the only sports-dedicated digital channel (One) at this time. Should Packer and Murdoch be successful in convincing the Network Ten board that One is too costly and must be closed up, or switch programming, it would automatically undermine Conroy's plan to use sport to boost along the uptake of digital TV. It would also quite possibly piss off the big wigs at the NRL and AFL. AFL games shown live on a free-to-air network's principal channel in Melbourne could be shown live on its digital channel in New South Wales and Queensland, rather than suffer piss weak ratings, as Ten suffered in Sydney and Brisbane, especially on Saturday evenings. At the moment Queensland AFL fans who want Seven's coverage of Friday nights must subscribe to pay TV operator Foxtel, part-owned by companies associated with Packer and Murdoch. Shutting up shot on One would be a strategic step with a major goal being to protect this money machine, but a leaker revealed Packer would be hesitant to make too much noise or agro that might stir up regulators, with Crown Limited going so well. Best not have the government tests applied to the ownership of a casino licence if you follow. Packer is also keen to ramp up online gambling, expanding on his 50% owned Betfair. He's also aware of overseas gaming giants like PartyGaming eyeing off the Asia Pacific region, and its well known PartyGaming have the smarts to ink big government deals, as well as land based casino and b2b deals. Party also have the Hollywood branded deals performing well, so Party could be an opportunity or a threat to Packer, depending upon which way the wind is blowing, and what Australian politicians decide will be law in the online space, with the Liberal Party calling for full regulation, something PartyGaming, Media Man and we understand, Betfair, are all keen to see happen. In will also get rid of any bad eggs in the iGaming space down under. Back to the traditional news media, if Ten walks from its AFL deal with Channel Seven, it would therefore leave a 7 - Foxtel consortium as the only bidder worth their salt. Sen. Conroy "decoupled" the existing anti-siphoning arrangement where free-to-air on-sold the bottom 4 games a week to pay TV, permitting Foxtel to bid directly. Gyngell's Network Nine reserving its art of war strategy for NRL rights which expire in 2012, it is unlikely the Australian Football League will be able to hold a auction for the rights. So, no challenger to Seven for the top 4 games and Nil to Foxtel for the other 4, the AFL may not get their $1 billion bucks with JP and Murdoch Jr paying less for rights, helping make sure of continuing solid profit margins in Foxtel and Fox Sports. 'Our Gina' out in the Wild Wild West - West Australia, looks to be a key player in all of this, and not just because she's loaded and is now down under's richest woman. Yep, politics, power and money all take a seat in the box beside professional sports being broadcast on Australian TV. Don't even start us on Aussie TV being broadcast on the internet. That's all sports, but stay turned in the coming days and weeks for more on the art of war that is Australian news media.

Australian Rich List

1 Georgina Rinehart, 56, $9b (mining)

2 Andrew Forrest, 49, $6.9b (mining)

3 James Packer, 43, $4.4b (gambling, media and new media)

4 Frank Lowy, 80, $4.3b (property)

5 Harry Triguboff, 77, $3.4b (property)

6 John Gandel, 76, $3.3b

7 Anthony Pratt, 50, $2.7b

8 Kerr Neilson, 61, $2.4b

9 David Hains, 80, $2b

10 Kerry Stokes, 70, $1.9b

11 Lindsay Fox, 73, $US1.7b

12 Angela Bennett & Michael Wright, 66, $1.55b

13 Leslie Alan Wilson, 69, $1.5b

14 Paul Ramsay, 75, $1.45b

15 Michael Hintze, 57, $1.4b

16 Chris Wallin, 58, $1.3b

17 Gerald Harvey, 71, $1.2b

18 Solomon Lew, 65, $1.15b

19 Leonard Buckeridge, 75, $1.1b

20 Stanley Perron, 88, $1.05b

Source: Forbes

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

Profiles

Australian Casinos

World Casino Directory

Global Gaming Directory

Casino Travel

Casinos

Australia

Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.

Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.

If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

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PartyGaming and Bwin Merger Approved at Shareholder Meetings

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The shareholders of Bwin and PartyGaming have approved the proposed merger of these giants at separately convened general body meetings. Bwin shareholders unanimously approved the merger at the Bwin general body meeting, which was held earlier in the day. The PartyGaming shareholders met later on the same day and votes were cast for or against the merger. As it turned out, 99.4 percent of the shareholders voted for the merger, owing to which shareholder approval of the merger can be considered to be unanimous even in case of PartyGaming.

Bwin and PartyGaming had decided to merge nearly six months ago and had announced their intention on July 29, 2010. The new gaming company, which will result from the merger, will be christened Bwin.party Digital Entertainment Plc. The company will be on the London Stock Exchange list and its headquarters will be in Gibraltar. Norbert Teufelberger and Jim Ryan will be the co CEO’s of Bwin.party Digital Entertainment Plc.

The co CEOs of the new company released a joint press statement immediately after the shareholders meetings. According to this statement, theses meetings were a milestone in the merger process, putting it well on the way to a successful conclusion. The CEOs expressed their delight that the shareholders of both companies understood the operational, strategic, and financial benefits of merging and creating the largest online gaming company in the world.

Bwin shareholders hold 51.6 percent of the shares of the new company and PartyGaming shareholders hold 48.4 percent. According to the prospectus of PartyGaming, which was released on Dec 23, 2010, Bwin and PartyGaming will continue to operate independently, owing to which the community of players at Bwin and PartyGaming will not notice any difference at the operational level.

However, players will reap benefits indirectly. The merger is expected to generate revenues of around €700 million, EBITDA of around €200 million approximately, post tax profit of around €100 million, and net assets worth more than €1.27 billion, states the prospectus. The merger will result in annual savings worth more than €55 million approximately, of which €40 million will be brought into effect in 2012 and the rest in 2013.

The new company plans to create an innovation laboratory to develop new social games, establish long-term relationships with prominent gaming bodies, push for the regulation and liberalization of the online gaming market in the USA, and explore possibilities for making more acquisitions in future.

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