Swedish-listed online gambling operator Unibet set another revenue record in the first quarter of 2016 following an acquisition-heavy 2015.

Figures released Wednesday showed Unibet’s gross winnings revenue hit £122.4m in the three months ending March 31, up 61% from the same period last year. The numbers were goosed by £12.8m in contributions from recent acquisitions Stan James Online and iGame Group.

Unibet’s earnings were similarly impressive, rising 80% to £27.6m while profit after tax doubled to £20m. The acquisitions dramatically improved the number of active customers, which rose from 612k in Q1 2015 to just over 1m this year.

Unibet CEO Henrik Tjärnstöm said organic growth excluding last year’s acquisitions was 41%. Gross winnings revenue to date in Q2 is up around 50% year-on-year (20% minus the acquisitions) despite lower sports betting margins.

Swedish-listed online gambling operator Unibet set another revenue record in the first quarter of 2016 following an acquisition-heavy 2015.

Figures released Wednesday showed Unibet’s gross winnings revenue hit £122.4m in the three months ending March 31, up 61% from the same period last year. The numbers were goosed by £12.8m in contributions from recent acquisitions Stan James Online and iGame Group.

Unibet’s earnings were similarly impressive, rising 80% to £27.6m while profit after tax doubled to £20m. The acquisitions dramatically improved the number of active customers, which rose from 612k in Q1 2015 to just over 1m this year.

Unibet CEO Henrik Tjärnstöm said organic growth excluding last year’s acquisitions was 41%. Gross winnings revenue to date in Q2 is up around 50% year-on-year (20% minus the acquisitions) despite lower sports betting margins.

UK-listed gambling operator Gala Coral Group has been forced to return nearly £850k after displaying “serious historical weaknesses” in its anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility controls.

On Wednesday, the UK Gambling Commission published a report on its investigation of the activities of a high-volume bettor who patronized Gala Coral businesses Coral Racing and Coral Interactive. Police say the punter in question funded his wagers with £800k stolen from the bank account of a “vulnerable adult.”

The punter/thief – currently serving three years in prison – was a Coral retail customer since 2012 and had wagered online with the company between January 2014 and January 2015. Gala Coral’s online and retail VIP teams reportedly were under the impression that the punter was an electrician who came from a wealthy family.

However, Gala Coral staffers arrived at this conclusion primarily by taking the customer at his word, as well as via interactions with the punter’s friends and family members at a couple of hospitality events to which Gala Coral invited the wagering whale.

UK-listed gambling operator Gala Coral Group has been forced to return nearly £850k after displaying “serious historical weaknesses” in its anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility controls.

On Wednesday, the UK Gambling Commission published a report on its investigation of the activities of a high-volume bettor who patronized Gala Coral businesses Coral Racing and Coral Interactive. Police say the punter in question funded his wagers with £800k stolen from the bank account of a “vulnerable adult.”

The punter/thief – currently serving three years in prison – was a Coral retail customer since 2012 and had wagered online with the company between January 2014 and January 2015. Gala Coral’s online and retail VIP teams reportedly were under the impression that the punter was an electrician who came from a wealthy family.

However, Gala Coral staffers arrived at this conclusion primarily by taking the customer at his word, as well as via interactions with the punter’s friends and family members at a couple of hospitality events to which Gala Coral invited the wagering whale.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has reiterated its call for the government to lower the maximum wager on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in the United Kingdom.

Currently, players in the UK can wager up to £100 (US$145) on FOBTs, but several groups have been urging the government to reduce the stakes to a maximum of £2, SBC News has reported.

Among these groups is the LGA, a cross-party council organization in UK, which is asking MPs to support an immediate review on the FOBT policy. According to the organization, stakes on FOBT machines in high street shops should be cut to £2, while FOBT stakes in casinos should be at £5.

In addition, the council organization also wants more “cumulative impact tests” that will allow councils to reject bookmaker applications in local areas where there is already a “high betting shop density.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) has reiterated its call for the government to lower the maximum wager on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in the United Kingdom.

Currently, players in the UK can wager up to £100 (US$145) on FOBTs, but several groups have been urging the government to reduce the stakes to a maximum of £2, SBC News has reported.

Among these groups is the LGA, a cross-party council organization in UK, which is asking MPs to support an immediate review on the FOBT policy. According to the organization, stakes on FOBT machines in high street shops should be cut to £2, while FOBT stakes in casinos should be at £5.

In addition, the council organization also wants more “cumulative impact tests” that will allow councils to reject bookmaker applications in local areas where there is already a “high betting shop density.”

Steve Wynn might have to shell out more money for his Everett casino project.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved Wynn Resorts’ environmental and traffic plans for its proposed $2 billion casino development in Everett, the Boston Herald reported. But with one caveat—the operator will have to pay extra to relieve the traffic concerns in Charlestown’s Sullivan Square.

Wynn is already on the hook for $36 million to improve traffic in Sullivan Square, but Attorney General Maura Healey pushed state officials back in February “to do more to hold casino magnate Steve Wynn accountable” for the Wynn Boston Harbor casino, which she believes lack any “long-term” plan to alleviate traffic concerns.

Last Monday, state gaming regulators approved the Section 61 findings, an environmental study conducted by several state agencies on the Wynn project.

Steve Wynn might have to shell out more money for his Everett casino project.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved Wynn Resorts’ environmental and traffic plans for its proposed $2 billion casino development in Everett, the Boston Herald reported. But with one caveat—the operator will have to pay extra to relieve the traffic concerns in Charlestown’s Sullivan Square.

Wynn is already on the hook for $36 million to improve traffic in Sullivan Square, but Attorney General Maura Healey pushed state officials back in February “to do more to hold casino magnate Steve Wynn accountable” for the Wynn Boston Harbor casino, which she believes lack any “long-term” plan to alleviate traffic concerns.

Last Monday, state gaming regulators approved the Section 61 findings, an environmental study conducted by several state agencies on the Wynn project.