Monthly Archives: May 2019

Lottery winner can seek bigger prize at trial, judge rules

A judge has ordered a trial in a lawsuit filed by Iowa lottery winner Larry Dawson, who contends a $9 million jackpot that he won in 2011 should have been nearly three times as big.Insider Buzz, Legal, Winner Stories, Jackpots, Iowa, Hot Lotto, Scandal, Technology, Law Enforcement, Security, Computerized Drawings, Fraud, Crime, Trial, Multi-State Game, Court, Lawsuit

Holland Casino privatization scrapped because stuff is hard

The Netherlands has scrapped plans to privatize the state-run Holland Casino monopoly, apparently so the government can focus on launching its new liberalized online gambling market.

Two years ago, the Dutch legislature’s lower house approved plans to privatize Holland Casino, the country’s only land-based operator allowed to offer live table games. Assuming the Senate agreed, the plan was to sell off 10 casinos in a package that would retain the Holland Casino brand, while the other four venues would be sold separately and two new licenses would be auctioned off.

But on Friday, Justice Minister Sander Dekker sent a letter to the Dutch senate announcing his intentions to withdraw the casino privatization bill. Dekker said there were factions within the senate that doubted the ability of the government to chew gum and walk at the same time, i.e. handle both the privatization of Holland Casino while simultaneously prepping for the launch of the new liberalized online gambling market.

The online legislation that was approved in February requires the Kansspelautoriteit gaming regulatory body and the government to craft regulations, screen license applicants for ‘cowboy’ histories, and certify all would-be licensees’ online products before the new market officially launches, which may not occur until January 2021.

OLBG celebrates one millionth app download

London, UK. 17th May, 2019:  Leading UK sports betting affiliate, Online Betting Guide (OLBG), commemorated the Premier League final by reaching its millionth download of its betting tips app.

While Manchester City took home the bacon for their fans defending their Premier League title, OLBG.com attracted its one millionth app download to end the season on a high.

OLBG.com was first established in 2002 as guide to the best betting sites and latest offers. It then developed into a highly popular tipster competition and forum for punters to discuss and help each other with their bets. This grew into a community of experienced and knowledgeable tipsters providing free daily tips covering more than twenty sports.  It is these tips that are presented on the OLBG app, available on iOS (App Store) and Android (direct from OLBG.com/app).

Richard Moffat, CEO for OLBG.com, said: “We’re really proud of how far this app has come over the years, there’s nothing else like it available.” He went on to explain “No other app gives free access to 5,000 daily tips, from 1,000s of tipsters across 22 sports with researched comments to support their bets, tipster performance including 7-day and annual profit stats to help users decide who to follow, most popular bets from the whole community, daily accas, quick betting with best odds highlighted and the best bookie offers.  If you’re not using it, you’re missing a wealth of resources”.

UK racing panics as Levy funding comes up £17m short

The UK racing industry is in full freakout mode on news that their annual kickback from the betting industry will be £17m lower than expected.

On Friday, the Horseracing Betting Levy Board (HBLB) announced that the expected Levy income for the fiscal year ending March 31 will total around £78m. This sum is “materially below expectations,” based on the £95m racing collected the previous year, the first year that the new 10% Levy was applied to UK betting operators’ online operations.

HBLB chair Paul Lee said that, based on UK bookie reports at the end of 2018, the racing sector’s latest annual handout was expected to come in around £89m. However, more recent submissions from bookmakers revealed that race bettors took the bookies to the cleaners in February and March, resulting in “very substantially less profitable” returns to close out the fiscal year.

Should that £78m forecast prove accurate, the HBLB says it will incur a £5m budget deficit. The HBLB had already agreed on an expenditure budget of £99m for the 2019-20 fiscal year, but this will now be cut by £5m, with additional cuts possible before the fiscal year is through.