Monthly Archives: February 2016

Is it Time to Say Goodbye to Weekend FA Cup Matches?

ESPN FC has broken the news that the Football Association and the Premier League are in talks to make wholesale changes in an attempt to improve English teams chances in the Champions League.

If you want to back an English team to win the Champions League, then your best bet is Man City at 12/1; Chelsea are 22/1, and Arsenal are 33/1. Man Utd couldn’t even get through the group stage. Only Chelsea (2011-12) and Man Utd (2007-08) have won the competition in the past decade.

Casting an eye over the English national team picture is even more depressing. The World Cup victory on home soil in 1966 ranks as the country’s only success and they are 12/1 to win the 2016 European Championships despite coming through their group stage with a 100% win rate.

So what’s going on?

Full Tilt Merge with PokerStars Confirmed on Its Website

Full Tilt has confirmed the rumor that’s been floating about for the past week. According to a “Software Upgrade FAQ” posted today on the Full Tilt website, as of April 1, the brand will merge with PokerStars and players will have “one Stars Account for Full Tilt, PokerStars, BetStars, Starsdraft, and Duel, as applicable in […]

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Grand Korea Leisure stumbles as Chinese VIP gamblers steer clear

South Korean casino operator Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) saw profit plunge over 40% in Q4 2015 as the Chinese economy and Beijing officials combined to stem the flow of high-rollers visiting GKL’s casinos.

GKL, which operates three Seven Luck-branded foreigners-only casinos, reported revenue falling 17.4% to KRW 23.3b (US $19.1m) in the three months ending Dec. 31, while net income fell 40.6% to KRW 18.4b. The revenue decline is slightly better than the company had forecast last month.

Things were slightly less dire on the full year front, with revenue down 6.5% to KRW 505.7b, while operating profit slipped 20% to KRW 118.4b.

Recent enforcement actions in China against international casinos organizing travel for Chinese gamblers were deemed the chief culprit behind GKL’s fall, as the number of Chinese VIPs crossing GKL’s threshold in Q4 was down 37% year-on-year. Morgan Stanley analysts estimated that total VIP turnover at GKL properties was down 48%.

Evolution Gaming profit soars on increased demand for live dealer casino

Live dealer online casino technology providers Evolution Gaming capped off a banner year by nearly doubling its profit in the final quarter.

On Tuesday, Evolution released its Q4 and FY15 results, which showed Q4 revenue rising 62% to €22.4m while profit surged 81% to €7.5m. The company said most of the gains came from expanded business with existing customers, who are increasingly looking to launch customized live dealer casino environments.

For 2015 as a whole, Evolution’s revenue was up 55% to €75.2m while adjusted operating profit soared nearly 82% to €25.1m as margins gained five points to 33%.

Mobile was a key driver of growth, with Q4 mobile revenue rising one-third from Q3, now accounting for 32% of operators’ overall live dealer revenue.

Evolution Gaming profit soars on increased demand for live dealer casino

Live dealer online casino technology providers Evolution Gaming capped off a banner year by nearly doubling its profit in the final quarter.

On Tuesday, Evolution released its Q4 and FY15 results, which showed Q4 revenue rising 62% to €22.4m while profit surged 81% to €7.5m. The company said most of the gains came from expanded business with existing customers, who are increasingly looking to launch customized live dealer casino environments.

For 2015 as a whole, Evolution’s revenue was up 55% to €75.2m while adjusted operating profit soared nearly 82% to €25.1m as margins gained five points to 33%.

Mobile was a key driver of growth, with Q4 mobile revenue rising one-third from Q3, now accounting for 32% of operators’ overall live dealer revenue.