Monthly Archives: October 2017

Partypoker Named Top Poker Operator of 2017 at Industry Awards Show, Stripping Honor from PokerStars

In a bit of a shocker, Partypoker was named Poker Operator of the Year at Thursday’s EGR Operator Awards ceremony in London. PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site, had […]

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Hard Rock promotes Tracy to CEO Asia; Seminole guitar hotel rising

US tribal casino operator Hard Rock International (HRI) has appointed Edward Tracy as its new CEO of Asian operations.

In February, HRI hired Tracy (pictured), the former CEO of both Sands China and the Trump Organization, to head up HRI’s new Hard Rock Japan LLC, reflecting the company’s desire to secure one of the coveted Japanese integrated resort licenses when the country gets its legislative and regulatory ducks in line.

On Thursday, HRI promoted Tracy to the newly created role of CEO Asia. Tracy will oversee all of HRI’s Asian operations, which include non-gaming Hard Rock Café venues in Japan and China. HRI chairman Jim Allen expressed confidence in Tracy’s ability “to lead our company’s efforts in Asia and we look forward to seeing our business continue to grow under his leadership.”

HRI is among the many would-be Japanese licensees hoping to get in on what analysts expect will be a casino market that could rival Macau. In February, Allen said HRI was already discussing potential tie-ups with local firms to boost the chances that HRI’s bid will be taken seriously.

Kindred Group shares spike 12% after record revenue, earnings

Stockholm-listed online gambling operator Kindred Group saw its share price rise double-digits on Friday after reporting “a record quarter for revenue and profit.”

On Friday, the parent company of Unibet reported revenue hitting a record £193.6m in the three months ending September 30, 36% higher than the same period last year, while earnings rose 38% to £46.8m (also a record) and pre-tax profit spiked 41% to £35m.

The revenue surge was spurred by this spring’s addition of the UK-facing 32Red online casino brand, which contributed revenue of £18.6m and earnings of £3.7m to the Q3 totals. Kindred controls around a dozen different gambling brands, although the Stan James Online brand was recently put on death row.

Kindred CEO Henrik Tjärnström noted that the revenue gains came despite the absence of a major football tournament, and praised “solid cost control” for boosting the company’s bottom line. Tjärnström also celebrated the fact that Kindred’s mobile strategy had boosted mobile revenue by 51% year-on-year, bringing mobile’s share of Q3 revenue to 71%.