Monthly Archives: March 2017

Betfred hops on social casino bandwagon with Betfred Social

UK bookmakers Betfred have hopped on the social gaming bandwagon via the launch of the new Betfred Social app.

This week saw the arrival of Betfred’s new social casino, which offers free-to-play slots and bingo games, along with the exclusive Betfred Bonus King Blackjack and Magical Clover slot, with more gaming options in the pipeline.

The app, which is available online via Facebook as well as for both iOS and Android mobile and tablet play, is powered by London-based Caleta Gaming, the folks behind the social casino offerings of Brasingo and Novomatic’s Greentube.

This isn’t Betfred’s first foray into the social gaming realm, having launched its We R Interactive-powered I AM PLAYR football video game – which allowed punters to assume the on- and off-pitch role of a professional football player – on Facebook way back in 2012.

Michigan charity poker scandal Includes Woman Accused of Embezzling From Children’s Charity Poker Events

A Flushing, Michigan woman is facing up to 50 years in prison for allegedly embezzling $20,000 through benefit poker events that were intended to benefit a children’s charity. In addition […]

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Imperial Pacific concerned after construction worker’s death

A construction worker has been killed at the site of Imperial Pacific International Holdings’ in-development permanent casino on Saipan.

On Wednesday, IPI announced that a 43-year-old Chinese national had died while working on IPI’s Imperial Pacific Resort Hotel Saipan (pictured). The unidentified worker reportedly fell from a scaffolding on Wednesday morning and later succumbed to his injuries.

IPI chairman Mark Brown extended condolences to the worker’s family, while expressing “serious concern” that its subcontractors “exercise Safety First at the construction site.” Brown also expressed concern regarding reports of workers who “infringe the law.”

This is the second serious disruption at the construction site in as many weeks, coming just eight days after work was halted due to a “trash fire” that was ignited by welding sparks falling on “construction material debris.”

One month to opening, Baha Mar waiting on casino license

The Baha Mar resort casino project in the Bahamas has been officially handed over to its new owner but the property has yet to receive a gaming license just one month before its scheduled soft opening.

On Tuesday, the Bahamian subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE) officially accepted a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy from the project’s chief contractor, China Construction America (CCA), which signifies that the property’s safety, mechanical and electrical systems have all passed inspection.

The transfer came four months after CTFE confirmed that it was the new owner of the unfinished $4.2b Baha Mar project, after working out a deal with the Chinese bankers who foreclosed on original owner Sarkis Izmirlian following the property’s 2015 bankruptcy filing.

The certificate transfer allows Baha Mar to accept reservations for guests at the Grand Hyatt hotel – the first of three hotels set to open on the property – and CTFE Bahamas president Graeme Davis told local media that the property would begin booking guests “very, very soon” following the launch of a major marketing campaign.

Amaya’s online casino getting fat off poker cannibalization

Online poker remains the top earner of Canada’s Amaya Gaming but its influence is being undercut by significant growth in Amaya’s casino and sports betting verticals.

Figures released Wednesday show Amaya’s revenue rising nearly 6% to US$310.4m in the three months ending December 31, 2016, while adjusted earnings rose 17.8% to $147.6m. For the year as a whole, Amaya reported revenue rising 7.8% to a record $1.15b.

Real-money online poker revenue from the company’s flagship PokerStars brand fell 5% to $217.2m in Q4, despite quarterly active unique player ranks rising 5%. Poker accounted for 70% of Q4’s overall revenue, down from 78% in the same period in 2015.

Amaya blamed increased cannibalization from its casino vertical, unfavorable currency fluctuations and a $6.8m adjustment in its player loyalty scheme in Q4 2015 for much of its Q4 poker decline.