Monthly Archives: February 2016

Boosted by Powerball, Lottery sales up 6 percent

Buoyed by a 137 percent increase in Powerball ticket sales, gross sales at the Massachusetts Lottery over the first seven months of the fiscal year are up about $176 million or 6 percent over the same period last fiscal year, the Lottery said Tuesday. “Overall, all game sales had a good month, very strong performances across the board,” Lottery Executive Director Michael Sweeney told the Lottery Commission.

Boosted by Powerball, Lottery sales up 6 percent

Buoyed by a 137 percent increase in Powerball ticket sales, gross sales at the Massachusetts Lottery over the first seven months of the fiscal year are up about $176 million or 6 percent over the same period last fiscal year, the Lottery said Tuesday. “Overall, all game sales had a good month, very strong performances across the board,” Lottery Executive Director Michael Sweeney told the Lottery Commission.

Dutch regulator reinforces ban on online gambling ads

Advertisement promoting unregulated gambling services in Netherland is prohibited.

The Netherlands’ Gaming Regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has published a guidance note that warns gambling operators that advertising can only promote regulated gambling services to Dutch residents.

And since the Dutch government’s plans to regulate the online gambling market are unlikely to come into effect until 2017, it means that ads on online gambling is illegal. For now, the rules would greatly benefit land-based operators, pending the opening of the online gambling market.

“Since advertising has to lead to legal offers, it is now illegal to advertise online gambling,” KSA said in the note. “Advertising that serves to generate a favorable impression of a particular online gaming business is also not permitted.”

Dutch regulator reinforces ban on online gambling ads

Advertisement promoting unregulated gambling services in Netherland is prohibited.

The Netherlands’ Gaming Regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) has published a guidance note that warns gambling operators that advertising can only promote regulated gambling services to Dutch residents.

And since the Dutch government’s plans to regulate the online gambling market are unlikely to come into effect until 2017, it means that ads on online gambling is illegal. For now, the rules would greatly benefit land-based operators, pending the opening of the online gambling market.

“Since advertising has to lead to legal offers, it is now illegal to advertise online gambling,” KSA said in the note. “Advertising that serves to generate a favorable impression of a particular online gaming business is also not permitted.”

Betway punts on return of eSports ‘Fight Night’

Online gambling operator Betway has backed the return of the upcoming eSports “Fight Night” event.

The one-off exhibition will feature a face-off between Astralis and Fnatic—two of the biggest eSports teams today—on Thursday. The two teams will be gunning for a €4,000 ($4,400) prize.

“Betway Fight Night pits the best teams of eSports against each other and the upcoming event is sure to capture the imagination of eSports fans,” Betway marketing director Anthony Werkman said in a statement.

The online bookmaker, which launched a dedicated eSports portal in August 2015, will be offering a comprehensive collection of markets on the ‘Best of Five’ Counter Strike Global Offensive battle.

Betway punts on return of eSports ‘Fight Night’

Online gambling operator Betway has backed the return of the upcoming eSports “Fight Night” event.

The one-off exhibition will feature a face-off between Astralis and Fnatic—two of the biggest eSports teams today—on Thursday. The two teams will be gunning for a €4,000 ($4,400) prize.

“Betway Fight Night pits the best teams of eSports against each other and the upcoming event is sure to capture the imagination of eSports fans,” Betway marketing director Anthony Werkman said in a statement.

The online bookmaker, which launched a dedicated eSports portal in August 2015, will be offering a comprehensive collection of markets on the ‘Best of Five’ Counter Strike Global Offensive battle.

Japan wants to treat bitcoins like real money

Regulators in Japan have a new proposal: to treat digital currencies as methods of payment, or like the Japanese currency.

According to a Nikkei report, the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) is mulling on whether it needs to make some changes that “would recognize bitcoins and other virtual currencies as fulfilling the functions of currency.”

They are now recognized as objects but are not treated on a par with their more established counterparts,” the news outlet stated.

Under FSA’s proposal, virtual currencies like bitcoins can be used not only to buy goods and services, but also as an alternative for legal tender through purchases or trades. The revisions are expected to be submitted during the current ordinary Diet session, and FSA hopes they will be passed before the session ended.

Japan wants to treat bitcoins like real money

Regulators in Japan have a new proposal: to treat digital currencies as methods of payment, or like the Japanese currency.

According to a Nikkei report, the Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) is mulling on whether it needs to make some changes that “would recognize bitcoins and other virtual currencies as fulfilling the functions of currency.”

They are now recognized as objects but are not treated on a par with their more established counterparts,” the news outlet stated.

Under FSA’s proposal, virtual currencies like bitcoins can be used not only to buy goods and services, but also as an alternative for legal tender through purchases or trades. The revisions are expected to be submitted during the current ordinary Diet session, and FSA hopes they will be passed before the session ended.

National Lottery jackpot couple bagged A 32.5million jackpot after random trip to Fish and Chip shop

Gerry and Lisa Cannings were visiting family near Slough when they decided go for a takeaway on Saturday night rather than cooking Gerry and Lisa Cannings, from Peterborough, were visiting family near Slough when they decided go for a takeaway on Saturday night rather than cooking. On the spur of the moment, Gerry bought five lucky dips during the impromptu trip – and ended up a multi-millionaire.

National Lottery jackpot couple bagged A 32.5million jackpot after random trip to Fish and Chip shop

Gerry and Lisa Cannings were visiting family near Slough when they decided go for a takeaway on Saturday night rather than cooking Gerry and Lisa Cannings, from Peterborough, were visiting family near Slough when they decided go for a takeaway on Saturday night rather than cooking. On the spur of the moment, Gerry bought five lucky dips during the impromptu trip – and ended up a multi-millionaire.

Botswana implements tighter gambling regulations

Botswana is gearing up for new and tighter gambling rules, which will take effect on April 1st.

Casino is the only form of gambling that has been regulated in Botswana. There are no specific laws for online gambling and sports betting, which makes it not illegal. But under the new regulations, established by the country’s Gambling Act 2012, all land-based and virtual betting in Botswana ranging from casinos, bookmakers, bingos, lotteries and racing must be licensed.

Casinos will pay BWP250,000 for registration, betting houses BWP50,000 while bingos and national lotteries will pay BWP10,000 and BWP1 million respectively.

“All kinds of betting will now need to be licensed. We will be flighting adverts soon for Request for Proposals for interested companies to apply for licenses,” said Thulisizwe Johnson, chief executive officer of the newly established Gambling Authority Botswana. “We will take over regulation of the existing casinos in April while anyone wishing to be involved in any other kind of betting, including sms and online will need to be registered and licensed with the Authority first.”

SJM Holdings revenue, profit and market share all on the decline in 2015

Macau casino operator SJM Holdings saw profit fall nearly two-thirds in 2015 as the company’s VIP gambling revenue was cut in half.

SJM reported total revenue of HKD 49.2b (US $6.3b) in 2015, representing a year-on-year fall of nearly 39%. Adjusted earnings fell 50% to HKD 3.86b while profits fell 63.4% to HKD 2.5b. All but HKD 600m of SJM’s total revenue came via gaming activity.

The company says profits would have been slightly higher were it not for a HKD 250m impairment loss on some equity securities and the loss of HKD 143m via the suspension of one of SJM’s satellite casinos. But still, you know, sucktastic.

SJM’s VIP gaming revenue fell 48% to HKD 25b, while VIP chip sales fell 55%. SJM’s complement of VIP tables fell from 571 at the end of 2014 to just 476 by Dec. 31, 2015. The number of junket operators in action at SJM casinos last year underwent a similar contraction, falling from 35 to just 19.