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Scientific Games will buy Bally Technologies for $3.3 billion and assume Bally's $1.8 billion in debt as well, in a deal worth $5.1 billion. The resulting merger reshapes both companies into one unified large-scale lottery and gaming supplier company to compete with the new GTech-IGT merger. The Race Continues Last year, Bally's bought SHFL Entertainment (formerly ShuffleMaster) in keeping up with Scientific Games' purchase of land-based and online slot manufacturer WMS. Scientific Gaming CEO Gavin Isaacs shepherded the SHFL acquisition in his former capacity as CEO of SHFL. The New Scientific Games With the new acquisition, Scientific Games portfolio now includes SHFL, Bally's and WMS. Bally's is a particularly important acquisition, due to is appealing and unique jackpot system. Bally's Growth Bally has come a long way since its Chicago beginnings as a Depression-era pinball manufacturer. Expanding to slots in 1936, Bally took shape as a gaming equipment provider, a niche which now expands Scientific Games' holdings from casino management and lotteries to a full range of video lottery systems and gaming equipment as well as table games. Strategic Benefits Scientific Games CEO Gavin Isaacs proudly proclaimed that “The acquisition of Bally provides us with a unique opportunity to combine two exceptional companies with long track records of creating leading-edge games and gaming technology products for players and delivering innovative solutions to our customers.” According to Isaacs, Scientific's new arsenal of content “uniquely” positions Scientific “as a strategic partner for gaming and lottery operators, offering a highly diversified suite of value-enhancing products and services across multiple worldwide distribution channels and platforms.” Increased Cost Efficiency As a result of the merger, Scientific and Bally expect to save $220 million in annual costs and another $25 million in annual capital-expenditure through consolidating general operations and increasing efficiency in manufacturing, engineering, field and customer service and administrative operations.
After high expectations, online casino regulation in New Jersey has failed to resuscitate Atlantic City casinos as hoped. Overly Optimistic Projections New Jersey Governor Chris Christie publicly predicted revenue increase projections of as much as a billion dollars per year. A more informed financial source, Alex Bumazhny of Fitch Ratings, tempered those expectations to a still highly optimistic $200 to $300 million. In light of how the reality has played out, however Bumazhny slashed those expectations by 50% to between $120 million and $130 million. Surprising Falloff? Of the current surprises, he says: "What you're seeing with the weakness is really a surprise to most people, including the operators themselves.” The state started promisingly enough, at a revenue rate of about $11 million a month from January of this year, but growth subsided rapidly and declines were posted in April, May and June. The Explanations The problems according to Bumazhny is not clear, but he has some theories: "It could be seasonal, that people are retracting from online gaming because they have more options during the warmer weather including going to the actual casinos themselves." Federal regulation may also be discouraging provider investment in credit card use or marketing efforts. Individual Giants OK Nonetheless, some larger individual operators are still meeting their target revenues, primarily because of larger market shares than expected, according to Golden Nugget's Alicia Brown, who claims her casino expected "the market size to be 30 percent to 40 percent bigger by now.” Less Competition This makes sense, as the New Jersey market did not grow commensurate with expectations, but smaller market means less competition to the largest operators such as the Golden Nugget, whose revenues still grew over the last two months, despite the overall revenue drop in New Jersey. Customer Resistance Overall, in customer surveys questions have arisen as to the adaptation of gambling to an online model, "You're looking at a picture and watching a wheel go around. That's all you're doing. There're no sounds like when you're in a casino," Frank Farrell of Pennsylvania explains of playing online poker when he visits his friends in New Jersey, "There're no people screaming, 'Hey.' That's part of the allure of the casino." A further poll shows that expansion of gambling in general outside of Atlantic City is not a popular idea in New Jersey. Summertime Blues However, there remains steadfast faith by economic experts that the three month decline will reverse itself when the traditionally soft summer season ends and people are forced back indoors to entertain themselves.
On Tuesday 5th August, the next draw takes place for the Italian National Lottery. Known as the SuperEnalotto, this can rise quickly, through three weekly draws, and has previously gone as high as €177,000,000. With people from around the world able to use online ticket services, the Italian Lottery is open to anyone, not just local residents. About SuperEnalotto Launched in 1997, SuperEnalotto has paid out nearly €20 billion in prizes since then, and is well known for rolling over multiple times, creating massive jackpot payouts. Sharing the jackpot prize with the SuperEnalotto Superstar draw means that jackpots are boosted by an extra €2 million, while additional levels of prize payout are created when players pick a Superstar number. To win a prize, tickets must match at least 3 numbers from a selection of 90. A 'Jolly' number gives players a second chance to scoop a prize, and can increase some of the smaller wins by up to 100x. This massively popular draw attracts more and more players as the jackpots roll over, and it has even been reported that Madonna plays occasionally. How to Enter Superenalotto Online Tickets for the Italian Lottery can be bought online from a number of different sources. The best known ones are The Lotter and Online Lottery Tickets, both of which give users access to the biggest draws in the world including the EuroMillions, U.K. National Lottery, Spanish El Gordo, and the U.S. Mega Millions. These services work by having local representatives who legally purchase tickets on behalf of the sites users. All people have to do is select the draws they want to enter, pick their numbers, and buy the tickets online. They will then be able to see a scan of their tickets, and once the draws have taken place, they will be emailed, or sent a text message to inform them if they have won any prizes. Should they win, the ticket service will pay any local taxes due on the prize, and transfer the funds to the players account. This simple idea has opened up the biggest jackpot prizes to people across the world.
Rich Casino has just announced the launch of a mobile casino, which features many of the same games and bonuses available on its online site. The casino has been in operation since 2008, and carries around 60 games from the Topgame developer. There is a new player welcome bonus which can be worth up to $3,333, and on-going promotions for returning players. Rich Casino Mobile Especially designed to work on most Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, the Rich Casino mobile site has the same style as the main desktop site, and features around 25 of the most popular slots. Unlike many mobile casinos, new players can sign up via their phones or tablets with no need to register an account at the main site beforehand. Registering a new account is a simple process that works well on a mobile, and once registered, new users are granted €/$15 in free credits to get started. Deposits can be made using Visa or MasterCard, in a number of currencies, and all transactions are carried out over secure servers, while once a deposit has been made, new members qualify for the first of several welcome bonuses. These begin with a 350% bonus on the first payment into a casino account, then 250% on the second and 200% on the third, for a maximum of $3,333. Rich Mobile Games The slots on offer include games like Black Diamond, Lost Inca's Gold, and the Football-themed Religion of Champions Brasil. Each game has various bonus features, such as free spins or special rounds, and they are all presented in a mobile-friendly way, with oversized control buttons for ease of use. Although no table or card games are available, mobile sites are constantly evolving, and more games may soon be added to the collection. The Rich Casino mobile site works well, with a logical interface that takes new users to where they need to be to get started, and returning players straight to the games in a couple of clicks.
Amaya Gaming confirmed on Friday, August 1st the completion of its previously announced acquisition of holdings that will include the PokerStars and Full Tilt poker brands. Amaya Takes Control of Oldford The deal formally provides Amaya with 100% ownership of issued and outstanding shares of Oldford Group, the parent-company of Rational, the Isle of Man headquartered owner and operator of PokerStars and Full Tilt. Total Deal The cash transaction purchase totaled $4.9 billion, a figure which includes deferred payments and standard purchase price adjustments. Amaya's CEO David Baazov couldn't have been happier, which he elaborated on in the following statement: "Through PokerStars, Full Tilt and its multiple live poker tours and events, Rational's brands comprise the world's largest poker business, generating diversified and recurring revenues across the globe from its extremely loyal customer base.” Core Strategy Rationale has core values around which it is building its expansion strategy. These values are identified by Baazov as “integrity, customer focus, and challenge.” The global culture drives the operational management of the experience of the company's executives and the high performance leadership teams which the company has assembled to shepherd further expansion, as the senior leadership turns over. Rational's New Chapter Rational Group founder and CEO Mark Scheinberg describes this new chapter: "Since launching PokerStars in 2001 we have grown the business each year thanks to constant innovation, unparalleled customer service, and the talent of our dedicated workforce. While myself and other founders are departing, we are happy to see the business and the brands we have developed, along with the teams behind them, transferred to strong new ownership. I'm confident that Amaya, together with Rational Group's leadership, will continue to successfully grow the business into the future." Purchase Logistics The purchase was ultimately financed through a combination of cash on hand, new debt, private placement of subscription receipts, private placement of common shares and private placement of non-voting convertible preferred shares. The cash on hand portion comprises approximately $213 million, and includes a $50 million deposit submitted on June 12, 2014.
The first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round did not go the way Maccabi Tel Aviv wanted it to. On the road in Slovenia, Maccabi played an excellent game. It even looked as though they would finish in a goalless deadlock... but four minutes into stoppage time, Damjan Bohar scored and crushed the visitor’s dreams. Days before the game, Maccabi signed Eden Ben-Basat and Nosa Igiebor and both players made their debut helping Tel Aviv control the first half. They were playing confident soccer but could not find the back of the net. If not for the game-saving goal by Bohar, Maccabi would have a bit more breathing room tonight and would not need a two goal win. Keys to Victory Due to the security situation in Israel, tonight’s match has moved to Cyprus. Tel Aviv should have a decent fan base because it is so close to home, but the Slovenians can smell the next round and will be tough to beat. Oscar Garcia, manager of Maccabi will keep the same lineup as the previous game. If Eran Zahavi can continue to put pressure on Slovenian goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic as he did in game one, the yellow-and-blue could easily come away with a win. Live In-Play Markets Winner Sports is covering all the third round qualifiers and tonight’s game is no different. Interested punters can find both pre-game markets and in-play bets for the most interactive online sports betting experience available. Despite their first leg loss, Maccabi are Winner’s favorites and are listed at 1.85. Maribor could be the smart bet for punters at 4.20 but a draw after 90 minutes is also a good option at 3.45. There are a ton of markets like correct score, over/under, double chance and more also available. Those that bet prior to the game and with the live in-play markets available throughout all 90 minutes could win some lucrative cash while staying at home.
As result of the changes taking place in the United Kingdom, Tropezia Palace has made the decision to no longer accept players from the country, at least until the regulation issues get resolved. More leading online casinos are expected to follow in the same footsteps as the new regulations in the UK will go live in October this year. New regulations around the corner The incoming Gambling Act comes with higher taxes and aims to make them available on a point of consumption basis. Meaning that operators which are not located in the United Kingdom, like Tropezia Palace which is licensed in Curacao, will have to pay a tax to the UK for accepting players from this market. Offshore operators are also required to hold a special license and the change which is just a few months away is set to significantly affect online gambling companies of all sizes. The UK remains the largest market in Europe. Already existing UK players at Tropezia Palace Casino can still use their funds to play the games or cash out. However, this remains a somewhat uncertain area until the licensing process is complete. Great video slot game added to the Tropezia Palace list Seeing that Tropezia Palace has an impressive list of games with titles from Net Entertainment, Betsoft Gaming, Rival Gaming and other major software providers, new titles are constantly being added to the offer. The latest one to become available to the large player pool is Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. The new slot is provided by Betsoft Gaming and is themed after the popular novella written by Robert Louis Stevenson, with a cartoon style. It has five reels and 30 pay-lines with various features which include Free Spins and two second screen bonus rounds with amazing animations – a Frenzy Bonus triggered by Mr. Hyde and a Potions Bonus triggered by Dr. Jekyll.
In New Jersey, the partnership between High 5 and Gamesys has launched four new slots. Four New Titles The games feature four popular High 5 Titles, including Golden Knight, The Amulet and the Charm, The Mighty Atlas, and The Lovely Outlaws. These games are currently available live on the TropicanaCasino and VirginCasino domains currently operated by Gamesys. High 5 Optimism High 5 VP of integrated marketing Patrick Benson expressed excitement at the launch of fresh games in New Jersey: “We’re intent on bringing even more of our first-rate content to this market through our partnership with Gamesys, a company that shares our commitment to providing real-money players with the very best online gaming experience.” Expanding High 5 Offerings High 5 has already launched ten games, with six more titles slated to be offered on the Virgin Casino and Tropicana Casinos websites by year's end. New Jersey Online Gambling Moves Forward This is an important step forward for online gambling in New Jersey, where revenues have not met expectations, but expansion of online offerings continues nonetheless. High 5 is an important provider for New Jersey, with over 70 of games already approved for launch by New Jersey state regulatory authority Division of Gaming Enforcement, and further content already available to the public via Caesars Interactive. Gamesys Developing in NJ Gamesys is fresh off another innovative game launch, based on The Godfather classic, film. The launch in New Jersey was introduced in partnership with Tropicana Atlantic City. High 5 Strategy The next significant foray for High 5 will be its long-awaited poker products. The succession of timed roll-outs still to come should not mislead: High 5 is already a market leader, maintaining a status as the third-largest operator in the online casino market, posting a $1.7 revenue million figure for the month of June. Mutual Benefits It is hoped that partnerships and enhanced ventures such as these can stimulate revenues in New Jersey, and pave the way for a uniform model of expansion that industry leaders such as High 5 can introduce to other states as more and more states across the US accept online gambling.
This week marks the 17th annual Responsible Gaming Education Week, and the American Gaming Association (AGA) is using it to encourage both the gaming industry and the public sector to “Get to Know Responsible Gaming.” The “Get to Know Responsible Gaming” campaign will continue throughout the year with the goal of educating patrons and employees about responsible gaming. The AGA will deliver specialized resources to member companies to use throughout the year in order to promote responsible gaming as well as social responsibility. Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the AGA commented, “Our industry takes problem gambling seriously and commits millions of dollars each year to raise awareness among our employees, who watch for signs of problem gambling, and our patrons, to help them game responsibly.” Responsible Gaming Education Week was founded in 1998 with the express goal of creating an awareness of the issue of problem gambling, and providing resources to combat it. The Typical Gambler A recent survey conducted by political pollsters Mark Mellman and Glen Bolger found that the typical American gambler is middle class and spends less than $200 during a casino/site visit. While this demographic might not seem especially prone to gambling addiction, the AGA still recognizes that this is an issue that can affect anyone, regardless of race or income-level. As such, it creates opportunities such as Responsible Gaming Education Week to educate both the gambling and non-gambling audiences of America. About the AGA The AGA was founded in 1995 with the goal of promoting a better understanding of the American gaming industry through education and advocacy. The AGA works hand-in-hand with the general public, elected officials and member companies in order to bring their goal to fruition. Today, the AGA addresses issues such as federal taxation, internet gambling, and travel and tourism.
Slotty Vegas is an online casino that has just released a version for players from Georgia. With a Supercharged™ winnings feature and exceptionally quick withdrawal times, Slotty Vegas is an essential destination for Georgian casino fans. Special Supercharged™ Feature A fantastic feature of Slotty Vegas are the Supercharged™ winnings games, where players get each win boosted by the casino. Any game that has the Supercharged™ winnings logo next to it will pay out more than the basic prize, with the extra funds being released to the players accounts twice a week. Apart from all the classic table and card games that players expect to see at any online casino, the new Slotty Vegas site features such hit slots games as Terminator 2, Gonzo's Quest, Avalon II, South Park and Starburst, with many of the biggest titles carrying the Supercharged™ winnings logo. Some online casinos can be slow to pay winnings back to players, but Slotty Vegas are proud of their fast payouts which can be instant, and should take no more than 4 hours, depending on the payment method being used. Carrying a full range of games from some of the top developers, Slotty Vegas is a trusted site, fully licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta, which ensures that the rules of fair play are adhered to at all times. New players can claim a welcome bonus of up to €100, or currency equivalent, plus 25 free spins on the Aliens slot game. New Georgian Site Slotty Vegas has become one of the few online casinos that offers a full Georgian site, with customer support specifically for Georgian speakers. This makes them the obvious choice for residents of Georgia, who have until now been limited in the selection of casinos using our unique script. With great games, fast payouts, a trusted license and those Supercharged™ winnings, Slotty Vegas look after their Georgian players. The site is also available in Danish, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian, and Ukrainian.
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