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In Australia, an industry report identified economic developments spurring growth for the iGaming industry, with the GRWA conference arriving just in time. Key Stimuli Global business intelligence leader IBISWorld identifies these key developments as growth in discretionary incomes and growth in tourism. Impact More availability of dispensable income is bringing more money and players to iGaming services, while increased tourism impacts the number of international VIP gambler visits to raise general revenues, in an industry whose total global revenues IbisWorld predicts will reach $5.7 billion in 2015-16. The GRWA Fit The challenge now is for gaming operators to remain competitive in keeping up with demand, which is what the Seventh Annual Gaming, Racing and Wagering Australia conference is gearing to address at Sydney's Novotel, taking place alongside the Australasia Gaming Expo. On Tap GRWA will provide insights and new ideas from over 15 industry leaders, including luminaries such as Racenet CEO Damon Robbins, GMA Asia Regional Office Head Shaun McCamley; and Rewardbet Head of Development Martin Saunders among others. Topics Topic highlights will include the importance of social media marketing to the gaming industry; land-based gaming opportunities in emerging markets; fantasy sports; and achieving wagering growth through innovation. Speakers Speakers include Spiral Global CEO Scott Wenkart; Australasian Gaming Specialists Director Michael Toohey; Government Associates Principal Consultant Alan Pedley; and Hong Kong Jockey Club Head of Broadcasting Services Oonag Chan. Take-Away Benefits Benefits to be had at the GRWA include one on one networking with leading executives from Australia’s racing, wagering and gaming industries, along three days of in-depth analysis of Australia’s betting and gaming market designed to empower operators and iGaming professionals to update marketing strategy in and around Australia. New Australian Regulation As far as the Australian market is concerned, the conference will discuss the impact of new regulation on iGaming operations and advertising. Expert-led workshops will cover topics ranging from mobile marketing to mobile integration to mobile application designs while also introducing new betting products. GRWA Overview With over 150 leading local and global gaming and wagering executives descending to learn about strategies to increase profitability and growth, this is clearly a golden opportunity to get a competitive jump on harnessing the benefits of effective operations in the Australian market.
It’s finally here! Today is the release date of NetEnt’s much-anticipated slot, When Pigs Fly. There has been a lot of hype about this game because of NetEnt’s unique changeable reels feature and other special features such as re-spins and free spins. Players who are ready to experience a different kind of slot can find When Pigs Fly at NetEnt casinos like WinTingo Casino, 10Bet Casino, and SlotsMagic Casino. About the Game When Pigs Fly is a five-reel, three-row slot with up to 3125 ways to win. Reel symbols include pigs, helmets, spaceships, playing card values, and the When Pigs Fly symbol. NetEnt's changeable reels feature means that the number of symbols that appear in each row randomly change throughout the game. At some points, there are five symbols on a reel, at other points, one. The changeable reels feature is what allows for the huge possibility of 3125 ways to win. Special Features After each win, the reels expand, making it possible to end up with a five by five symbol grid. There is also a re-spins feature, also triggered by each win, during which players can win up to eight free spins. What makes this feature exciting is that with every re-spin, the shape of the reels change and the total number of paylines increases, both of which allow for the creation of more winning combinations. If a player gets a winning combination on their fifth re-spin, they win eight free spins. Betting Players can choose from 10 betting levels that can be played at 50 coins per level. Coins can be set up at different values, and together, the level number and value of the coins determine how many ways a player can win. When Pigs Fly can also be played anywhere from £0.50 per spin up to £100 per spin, making it a great game for both high and low-rollers.
The second annual Sports Betting Africa summit concluded with rousing fanfare, inscribing its arousing theme into the minds of all. This Year's Edition The event took place last Monday 18-20 at Acrra's Kempinski Hotel in the emerging West African nation of Ghana, with the theme: “the perfect entry into the Africa betting and gambling market.” Attended by participants from all over the world, including the most relevant regions of proximity to the event, which included representatives from Nigeria, South Africa, Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, and the UK. Safaribelt The Summit was held alongside another prominent conference as well, the 4th annual Africa Gaming and Entertainment Limited (Safaribet). Chairman Speaks A highlight speech came from African Gaming and Entertainment Limited (Safaribet) Chairman Mr. Halit Karabasoglu, who gave an interesting overview of the four-year course of his company's development in Ghana, while developing a “friendly and conducive” business atmosphere. Ghana Investment Appeal The Chairman also discussed in detail the reasons emerging Ghana has become a fertile place to invest, keyed by dual features of high expectations and good returns, while explaining how his company Safaribet has become Ghana's leading on-line retail and mobile betting company. MD Details Rise Safaribet Country Managing Director Ms. Ebru Ozturk further revealed the secret of the rapid rise of the first online betting company licensed by the Ghana Commission to a company employing over 1973 workers running 167 well-equipped shops dotting the country: hard work, prompt payment, and innovative products, all driven by “frantic” customer service. Valuable Commissioner Insights Ghana Gaming Commissioner Mr. Emmanuel Siisi Quainoo updated all by disclosing that (16) sixteen Sport Betting Companies have been registered in Ghana nationwide, emphasizing the appeal of Ghana's fertile and stable economy for industries, pointing out that the strides that the sports betting industry in the country has made in overtaking the casino industry, and emphasized the welcoming regulatory landscape of his West Africa nation: “We welcome every entrepreneur to come and invest in the country, stressing that Ghana Commission does not have restrictions.” The Commissioner pointed out that as long as applying operators have no history of money laundering, they should expect to achieve licensure fairly quickly.
James Henderson was appointed as chief executive officer of William Hill in 2014, after more than 30 years with the company. That’s why it came as a surprise when the board made the decision to oust him after such a short tenure. The reason for why he had to step down unexpectedly is that the company under-performed with him at the helm. The competition in the world of online bookmakers got more intense and William Hill lost its dominant position. An Immediate Departure for James Henderson As a result of the surprising decision to sack James Henderson, Chief Financial Officer Philip Bowcock will step up as the new CEO. However, this position is temporary as the company contemplates the possibility of choosing an external candidate. Chairman Gareth Davis stated that Philip is also considered for a permanent Chief Executive Officer role. The search is expected to take at least a year, so Mr. Bowcock will have sufficient time to prove his quality. The reason for why Henderson was let go is that the bookmaker under-performed and competitors managed to close the gap. The launch of a new web platform and an updated mobile application didn’t help too much and William Hill had to cut profit guidance earlier this year. The stock declined, but with the shares rising by nearly 9%, the results were not as bad as company officials feared. Higher Taxes Threaten the Entire Industry William Hill is one of the many online gambling operators fearing the tidal wave of changes. It was heavily hit by the Brexit, which sent its stock down and also faces tighter regulation and higher taxes. Some competitors merged to contend with the largest listed bookmaker in Britain. With Henderson at the helm, the company was unable to consolidate its position at the top and this caused his downfall. The CEO will be well compensated as he will be paid 12 month's notice, but no bonus for the year.
There are a few dozen on the European Football Friendlies card tonight, but none with the prestige that PSV and FC Porto carry. Two of the best teams in their respective countries, both PSV and Porto have the skill and the depth to win tonight's match. UK Sportsbook bet365 Sports will be offering pre-match, live in-play bets, as well as live streaming of all the action from Eindhoven tonight. As the home team, PSV definitely have an edge over the Portuguese squad, no matter what the odds say. PSV has successfully extended their winning streak, as they crushed another Portugal-based team, Sporting CP 5-0 on Monday night. Luuk De Jong scored a couple of goals against Sporting with Jurgen Locadia, Jorrit Hendrix and Adam Maher also found the back of the net. PSV are now looking to extend to four straight wins, but they face an unbeaten FC Porto side. Nuno Espírito Santo will be looking for a better performance from his team after they won a very hard game against Osnabruck on Sunday night. The 2-1 victory should have been a better result, but something was off on Porto's side and Osnabruck fought hard over 90 minutes. The First Meeting This will be the very first time that PSV and FC Porto face-off. Both teams will be looking to make a statement tonight, and continue their winning streaks for the preseason. Both teams are healthy and it is tough to predict the team that will win, but if you base things on last year's performances, punters should consider a bet with PSV, but expect both teams to score. European Friendly Odds Bet365 is all over the odds race for the European Football Friendlies schedule. Tonight, punters will be able to bet on 26 individual wagering markets, as well as a huge number of live in-play markets that the UK sportsbook will post throughout the match. This is a rare time that both teams are marked at 2.60 to win, but a draw is at 3.40.
It’s been a while since Manchester United won any important trophy and the owners are hell-bent on changing that. They did their part and brought in Jose Mourinho, while giving him a lot of money to spend on his footballers of choice. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has already joined the team and Paul Pogba could be next, but in return, the Red Devils are expected to defeat Dortmund. Back-To-Back Victories for Mourinho After taking over as manager of Manchester United, the Portuguese made several changes to the starting formation. He brought in Ibrahimovic as planned and plans to further consolidate the offensive by bringing in more strikers. It’s an interesting strategy, given his preference for defensive football and the moment of truth is the match against Dortmund. Manchester United won the first friendly game against Wigan, but this time the stakes are higher due to the ICC format. The International Champions Cup is played in three countries and 3 matches take place in China. Manchester United has more fans here than Dortmund and they are expected to cheer for the English team. This should compel Mourinho to take more chances upfront to keep the crowds happy. Hard Times Ahead for Dortmund The Bundesliga lost a couple of great managers, with both Bayern and Dortmund managers departing for the Premier League. Few quality footballers joined their ranks during the season break and this will make it even more difficult for Dortmund to make a deep run in the Champions League. So far, the campaign of friendly games included only matches played against fellow German teams, mostly from the inferior divisions. Manchester United proved to be more than a match for Dortmund and bet365 offers great odds on the Red Devils to win. Risk-averse punters can mitigate the risks by taking the draw no bet offer at 3/5.
Online Casino Reports (OCR) has expanded its app selection after launching Top Bingo Rooms on iOS devices as of July 2016 which can be downloaded here. From now on, OCR readers will have quicker and more seamless access to the highest-rated online bingo sites and most competitive offers in the marketplace. Simplifying the Bingo Search Finding a fair, trustworthy, and generous site in the online gambling industry can be tough. OCR has been helping players across all major gambling markets for years now, but what has changed is how players can access information. With the rise of apps, for instance, it can be possible to find information in a simpler manner. After making dedicated apps for casinos, sportsbooks, and Vegas games, OCR decided it was time to help the online bingo players. From this point forward, Apple iOS users can down Top Bingo Rooms free of charge via iTunes. OCR players will only need upwards of 2.2MB in memory to install the app to their iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. A Clean User Experience Fundamentally, Top Bingo Rooms has been designed with a view to ensuring maximum usability for players who download it. Once the app has been installed, a current listed of the best-rated online bingo sites on OCR will be presented. There is clear five-star system to show quality, while the current welcome offers are also listed. When browsing the app, players can tap on a site to look at a concise review. For ease of use, the review will display the compatible devices for each site along with a link that will whisk players off to directly claim offers. This stripped-back approach is designed to remove the hassle of looking at multiple sites when trying to find a good one. At OCR, there is a huge library of bingo reviews to draw from. The app is simply making it even easier for players to access informative opinions. Download the Top Bingo Rooms app now.
With Q2 now in the books, President and CEO Per Eriksson is roundly encouraged by NetEnt´s growth through the first full half year. More Growth on Tap Eriksson indicated that the company remains on track for further growth in the second half of this year, looking to add to the year-on-year increases in revenue and operating profit it showed through June 30th. H1 Revenue Growth H1 revenues for the year totaled SEK697.4 million (€73.7 million/$82.1 million), jumping 31.7% on from last year´s total of SEK529.5 million. Growth Breakdown Operating profits also jumped, showing increases of 43.6% year-on-year to SEK250.5 million. Operating margin jumped to 35.9%. Profit after tax totals climbed 46.3% to SEK235.2 million, with earnings per share post dilution increasing from SEK0.67 to SEK0.98. Q2 Boosts NetEnt´s momentum actually looks to be picking up now, with the second quarter largely responsible for the growth, most of all through the 29.8% year-on-year increase recorded by NetEnt of SEK352.1 million in Q2, with operating profit up 32.1% to SEK122.4 million, profit after tax up to SEK113.5 million, and earnings per share at SEK0.47. Strong Demand Apparent Eriksson emphasized that the increases in revenues 30% and operating profit 32% for Q2 reflected “strong demand for our products and strong growth” The Q2 growth was further reflected in the fact that “the number of gaming transactions in our systems amounted to a full 8.8 billion in the second quarter, for a year on year jump of 36% compared to last year, and an operating margin of 34.8% improvement in the second quarter. New Agreement Drivers Q2 growth was driven by 12 new customer agreements, including with a supplier agreement with UK gaming operator Rank Group to deliver online casino games to Rank casino brands Grosvenor and Mecca. Hitting US Soil Important foundational developments taking place in H1 included the company providing online and mobile casino games to Amaya Gaming’s PokerStars brand serving New Jersey, in a conditioning process which not only set the stage for Q2 growth but further expansion in the US when other states regulate. Outlook So far, Erikson´s company looks to be adapting to the diverse iGaming market effectively.
The UK has long been one of the most popular and heavily active online gambling markets in the world. For years, British residents have encountered gambling adverts and been among the first to experience groundbreaking innovations like mobile casinos and live dealers. Well, amidst the rise of eSports betting and Bitcoin casinos, the UK Gambling Commission will be analysing the function of both activities in the marketplace. July 2015 Annual Report Published When announcing its July 2016 annual report, CEO Sarah Harrison took the opportunity to reveal the regulators plans moving forward. Specifically, Harrison highlighted emerging products along with new digital currencies in her comments. At the time, Harrison revealed no current usage of Bitcoin at casino sites. However, Harrison was able to shed more light on eSports, explaining that the betting act could potentially raise issues in regards of player protection and industry regulation. For some time now, UK residents have been able to place real-money stakes on eSports tournaments, but Harrison’s comments had a more direct purpose. Skin Betting Sites Specifically, Harrison used the opportunity to bring up the act of trading in-game items between eSports players. She explained that such transactions “blur the lines” when it comes to social gaming and online gambling. The reason for even bringing it up is that there are now US lottery sites where players can essentially gamble for such digital items. As a concept, entering eSports lotteries for items is incredibly new, which means there is a lack of knowledge in the market. For reference, the term given to define the sites is skin betting. Recently, the ethics of skin betting were called into question when CounterStrike: Global Offensive players shared YouTube videos to promote sites while not revealing they owned them. CS developer Valve has since cracked down on third-party access to the game, but now the Gambling Commission is figuring out the UK impact.
New Jersey’s online gambling pattern of 2016 has continued throughout the month of June; overall, online gambling revenue is up, but online poker is on the decline - and has been for months. The figures recently released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement show a 3 percent increase from last month’s online gambling revenue, but a 23.4 percent decrease from last month’s online poker revenue. When compared to June 2015, online casino revenue in June 2016 shows a whopping 40.6 percent increase. Why is Online Poker Lagging? Summer is traditionally a time when online poker traffic slows down, as people tend to focus on outdoor activities during this season. June also has one day less than May, another fact that may explain the decrease in revenue. Additionally, the NJ Spring Championship of Online Poker took place in May, which may have inflated the figures for that month, making June look worse than it usually would. And while you may have thought that the World Series of Poker, taking place between May 31-July 18, would bolster online poker revenue, the opposite seems to have happened, perhaps because poker fans are following the series as opposed to playing online themselves. These are certainly plausible reasons as to why New Jersey online poker declined in June, but they don’t explain previous months when the industry followed similar trends. Perhaps New Jersey’s new move to share liquidity with UK player pools will give the industry a boost, but there seems to be a long time to go before that happens. New Jersey Online Gambling New Jersey officially legalized online gambling in 2013, and while it initially got off to a rough start, with the revenue coming in at much lower numbers than predicted, it seems that the Garden State has finally found its stride, at least in terms of online casino games. Online poker still has a long way to go.
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