Monthly Archives: July 2015

Gaming and Leisure acquires Pinnacle’s Real Estate Assets for $4.75b

Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. (GLPI) has announced an agreement to acquire all of the real estate assets of Pinnacle Entertainment in a $4.75b all-stock deal.

Under the deal, which was approved by both companies’ boards of directors, Pinnacle’s operating business and the real property of Belterra Park Gaming & Entertainment will be spun off into a separately traded public company (OpCo) and the real estate assets held by the remaining company (PropCo) will be acquired by GLPI.

Pinnacle shareholders will receive 0.85 shares of Gaming and Leisure stock per Pinnacle share for PropCo and one share of OpCo common stock for each share of Pinnacle they own.

The deal gives GLPI a total of 35 casino properties and hotel facilities in 14 states.

French online gambling market slips in Q2 despite sports betting boost

France’s online gambling market took a slight dip in the second quarter of 2015, despite a surge in sports betting activity.

Figures released on Tuesday by French gaming regulator ARJEL showed total online wagering falling 0.4% to €1.945b, while gross gaming revenue fell 0.1% to €180.3m. The tepid performance helped drag down the H1 numbers, during which stakes and revenue fell 1% and 1.5% respectively.

The declines came despite a boost in sports betting activity, which saw the vertical overtake horseracing as the top earner. Last year’s Q2 enjoyed a surge courtesy of the FIFA World Cup, but Q2 2015 saw sports betting stakes rise 18% to €338m and betting revenue was up 7% to €63m.

To compensate for this quarter’s lack of a marquee sporting event, operators offered players increased bonuses, which took a bite out of profits but helped boost average weekly active accounts by 5% to 187k.

IG Group annual revenue up 4.9%; CEO to retire

Financial spread betting company IG Group has announced preliminary financial results for the full year to May 31, 2015 and the retirement of CEO Tim Howkins.

IG Group reported a 4.9% rise in revenues to £388.4m for the full year despite the £27m losses on January 15, when the Swiss National Bank announced without notice that it was ceasing intervention in the franc exchange rate. The company also posted a 13% drop in full-year pre-tax profit to £169.5m from £194.9m last year.

However, underlying revenue – before the impact of the Swiss franc event – was up 8% at £400.2m, while underlying pre-tax profit was down by 0.9% to £193.2m.

“2015 was another year of good progress on our strategic initiatives, coupled with a solid underlying set of financial results. As part of our product and geographic diversification strategy, we launched our execution-only stockbroking product in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands and extended it into Germany and Austria after year end.

Group of 20 people from Montreal area shares $55-million lottery jackpot

A group of 20 Rona hardware employees pose with their 55 million dollar Lotto Max jackpot cheque, the second largest in Canadian history, at a news conference, Monday, July 20, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz A group of 20 Rona hardware employees pose with their 55 million dollar Lotto Max jackpot cheque, the second largest in Canadian history, at a news conference, Monday, July 20, 2015 in Montreal.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz Most of them attended a news conference in Montreal this afternoon to collect their cheques and some said they will be quitting work.

Prankster showers Sepp Blatter with fake cash at FIFA conference

The FIFA president Sepp Blatter walked out of a press conference after being showered with dollar bills by a British comedian.

Comedian Simon Brodkin, better known as his alter ego Lee Nelson, ran onto the stage to throw money at Blatter as he announced himself as a North Korean World Cup delegate, shouting that it was for a fake North Korea bid for the 2026 World Cup.

“This is nothing to do with football … we need to clean here first,” Blatter said before leaving the stage while Nelson being ejected from the building.

Blatter is just the latest victim of prankster Nelson, among his other infamous appearances such as interrupting Kanye West’s headline slot at the Glastonbury festival in June, attempting to board the England World Cup plane and joining Manchester City football team as they warmed-up ahead of a match in 2013.

Chicago man's brother gives him 'best gift ever': $300K winning lottery ticket

“My brother bought me a Lucky Day Lotto ticket as a birthday gift and I won! It’s the best birthday gift ever!” Jeff Hendrix said after hitting the jackpot, according to a statement from the Illinois Lottery. Jeff Hendrix was eating at his 51st birthday celebration when his brother, Scott Hendrix, told him he was the lucky winner, according to the Lottery.

Delaware having a golden run

Wiggle It Jiggleit scored his 14th win in 15 races this year dominating the prestigious Meadowlands Pace with a resounding 1-3/4 lengths in 1:47.4 on Saturday night ,July 18 at Dude’s The Man, driven by Dover downs perennial driving champion Corey Callahan for M&L Of Delaware and Victoria Dickenson of Greenville, Del. came on to finish second.