News from my Desk Friday January 25, 2013 @ 5AM

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Our BLOG Breaking News page is a means of keeping our readers informed on the latest news around the clock, the full release is not published below but will appear within an upcoming edition of the Daily News - we hope that our posts are enough to alert you to any breaking news within the Lottery & Gaming Industry



LOTTOMATICA GROUP Creates A Single, Unified Leadership And Business Structure To Drive Its Future Growth
Name change to GTECH S.p.A. to be submitted for Shareholder approval
ROME, ITALY and PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND (US) - (January 24, 2013) - Lottomatica Group S.p.A. today announced a plan to further integrate its businesses on a global basis and change the company name to GTECH S.p.A. These changes are aimed at supporting growth, improving efficiency and enhancing profitability across operations, stepping up the pace of internationalization of the Group to better capture its full potential.

SHERIFF GAMING Launches Three New Games Ahead Of Ice
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (January 24, 2013) - - Sheriff Gaming has today announced that it has launched a further three games ahead of this year's ICE Totally Gaming event and that are now available to demo at www.sheriffgaming.com.

CASINO-X Chooses Quickfire As Exclusive Games Provider
ISLE OF MAN - Casino-x has chosen Quickfire, powered by Microgaming (www.quickfiregames.co.uk), as its exclusive casino software provider to launch into the online gaming market.

International Game Technology : IGT's sbX® Goes Platinum
LAS VEGAS, (January 24, 2013) -- International Game Technology (NYSE: IGT) a global leader in gaming systems technology, today announced that they have reached the milestone of over 100 installs of their sbX® system.

OPAP'S Greek Gambling Monopoly Ruled Illegal by EU Court
ATHENS, Greece (January 24, 2013) - Greece's gambling monopoly, owned by Opap SA (OPAP), was ruled illegal by the European Union's highest court, sending shares of the company down as much as 21 percent.
EU law bars national rules granting exclusive gambling rights without cutting the opportunities to bet, the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled today. The case was filed by Opap competitors Stanleybet International Ltd., William Hill Plc (WMH) and Sportingbet Plc.

UK betting group Ladbrokes Acquires Ireland's Betdaq
LONDON, UK (January 24, 2013) -- UK online betting and gaming company Ladbrokes Plc (LON:LAD) said today it had sealed a deal to buy the operator of the Irish Betdaq betting exchange business from TBH Limited for an initial sum of EUR30m (USD40m) on a cash-and-debt-free basis.

Probability Names New CFO
LONDON, UK (January 24, 2013) - Probability PLC : Qurban hussain, has been appointed as the company's chief financial officer. Hussein has a background in finance and the online gambling industry and was previously head of commercial finance at Betfair. Prior to his three years with Betfair, Hussein spent three years in a range of financial roles at William Hill.

OLG Reaches Agreements In Principle For Leases At Eight Ontario Gaming Sites
TORONTO, Ontario (January 24, 2013) -- The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is pleased to announce that it has reached lease agreements in principle for its slots operations with eight of its site holders.
This includes: Woodbine Racetrack; Mohawk Racetrack; Rideau Carleton Raceway; Hanover Raceway; Woodstock Raceway; Dresden Raceway; Sudbury Downs; and Clinton Raceway.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. Confirms Possible Bethlehem Casino Sale
LAS VEGAS (January 23, 2013) -- Las Vegas Sands Corp. is looking into the sale of its Bethlehem casino. resident and COO Michael Leven confirmed reports that Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is up for sale "if we get our price," he told the financial network Tuesday.

Lottery privatization: Corbett's Administration Sales Pitch Falls Short For Some Lawmakers at House Hearing
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (January 23, 2013) - Officials from Gov. Tom Corbett's administration continued their sales pitch for privatizing the management of the Pennsylvania Lottery before a House committee

Scratch Tickets behind Tennessee Lottery Success
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (January 23, 2013) -- The high-dollar multistate lottery games Power Ball and Mega Millions get the attention, but Tennessee lottery officials say the scratch-off state lottery games bring in the money.

Poll: Yes To Lottery, No To Webshops
NASSAU, Bahamas (January 23, 2013) -- Fifty per cent of the Bahamians who answered a gambling survey yesterday in downtown Nassau, said they would support a national lottery being established

Province Remains Committed To Sault OLG Jobs
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ontario (January 24, 2013) -- The following news release from the office of Sault MPP David Orazietti is in response to a release posted earlier on SooToday.com. The release in question is from the Public Service Alliance of Canada in support of 65,000 people in the horse racing industry who stand to lose their jobs because of an Ontario government decision.

Government said to have Secured $200 Million on Tax Threat
MADRID, Spain (January 23, 2013) - Spanish Budget Minister Cristobal Montoro squeezed about 150 million euros ($200 million) from foreign-owned gambling companies by springing a tax probe on them when they applied for online licenses, according to two people involved in the process

Top Gaming Company in Madrid Deal
GIBRALTAR, EU (January 24, 2013) -- Playtech, the international designer, developer and licensor of software for the online, mobile, TV and land-based gaming industry, has partnered with Casino Gran Madrid to broadcast Live Dealer Games for the Spanish market.

MGC Considering Gambling Restrictions
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts (January 23, 2013) -- The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is reported to be debating the question of whether local lawmakers should be restricted from a legal activity in their own city?

GOP Lawmaker Wants To Block Lottery Sales to Those on Public Assistance
RALEIGH, North Carolina (January 23, 2013) -- State lawmakers are discussing legislation that would prohibit lottery retailers from knowingly selling lottery tickets to customers who receive public assistance, such as food stamps, or are in bankruptcy

You have Got to just love Paddy Power
Paddy Power Takes On Milan Bourse for New Gambling Stunt
MILAN, Italy (January 23, 2013) -- Irish bookmaker Paddy Power, known for its provocative advertising and innovative gambling products, projected a slot machine on the Milan stock exchange on Wednesday to promote its expansion in the growing online Italian gambling market

Favourit.com launches Tabcorp owned Luxbet as An Australian Betting Partner Luxbet goes social with Favourit, the sports & gaming network that lets punters tap the crowd's expertise and knowledge.
AUSTRALIA (January 24, 2013) -- Tabcorp backed Luxbet has officially signed a deal and launched with Favourit.com, the smartest social sports & gaming network developed in Australia

Restaurant's Planning to offer VLTs as Well as Food
DES PLAINES, Illinois (January 23, 2013) -- Officials in two Northwest suburban communities will hear plans this week to open restaurants offering more than food. Public hearings are scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday).

Casino Developer Offers US$2.5bn for Infrastructure
Weidner Resorts' CEO Said The Money Can Be Used To Upgrade The Island's Airport And To Build A Bridge, Ferry Harbor And Yacht Terminal TAIPEI, Taiwan (January 23, 2013) - An international developer bidding to build a casino resort on Matsu yesterday said it has budgeted US$2.5 billion to construct supporting infrastructure

OLG Reaches Tentative Deal with Sudbury Downs
If finalized, it would allow slots facility to continue until new casino is built
SUDBURY, Ontario, Canada (January 23, 2013) -- The Ontario Gaming and Lottery Corporation has reached an agreement with eight racetracks in Ontario - including Sudbury Downs - that will keep gaming facilities open until new casinos are built

Casinodino.com: The German State Of Schleswig-Holstein Grants Online Casino Licences
HAMBURG, Germany (January 23, 2013) -- Roughly a year ago, Germany was all controversy surrounding the "State Treaty on Online Gaming ", and while 15 or so states of Germany decided to adopt these new laws last year in July, Schleswig-Holstein has now openly gone against the Treaty


Lottery On Mobile - Combined With TV-Show
OSLO, Norway (January 23, 2013) -- Norwegian mobile lottery company Multilot AS has developed a brand new lottery concept for mobile phones, built as an entertaining mobile game, like Angry Birds, that gives you the chance to win instant cash prizes and the weekly lottery TV drawing.
"We have tried to make a lottery product that provides a fun challenge, not unlike those you find on today's online and mobile entertainment games, but with the chance to win real money. We believe this will attract a younger adult audience," explains Multilot's Chairman, Reidar Nordby Jr., the former President of World Lottery Association and one of the founders of Multilot.

Atlantic Lottery Moves Into Single Event Betting
Single sports betting is illegal in Canada, but ALC will allow gambling on the Oscars
NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada (January 23, 2013) -- The Atlantic Lottery Corp. is getting around a provision in the Criminal Code of Canada to allow gamblers to place bets on the Academy Awards on Feb. 24
The lottery corporation believes allowing people to place wagers on what films and actors will take home Oscars next month is not subject to the same criminal code restrictions as sports betting. That has led the lottery corporation to change the way people in the region can gamble on it.

Health Lottery CEO: Percentage That Lotteries Must Give To Charity Should Be Lowered
LONDON, UK (January 23, 2013) - The chief executive of the Health Lottery, Dominic Mansour, has said the government should lower the percentage that lotteries have to give to charity to make it easier for them to grow and raise more money by selling more tickets

State Lawmakers Hear From Gaming Industry
ORLANDO, Florida (January 23, 2013) -- The state legislature has vowed to take a year off from passing any major gambling legislation. But, even though they are not planning to pass any bills in the upcoming session, they are hearing from representatives of the gaming industry.

New Legislation Would Allow Vets To Keep Lottery Machines
DOVER, Delaware (January 23, 2013) -- Veterans may still be able to play video lottery machines at their fraternal organizations, at least for now.
State lawmakers will introduce a proposal Wednesday that would allow veterans to temporarily play the games until a more permanent solution is devised.

Gambling Bill Could Cost Indiana More Than $230 Million Over Two Years, Analysis Shows
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (January 23, 2013) -- Sweeping gambling legislation that would allow live table games at two horse tracks near Indianapolis could cost the state more than $230 million in revenue over two years because it would change how casinos are taxed, according to an analysis .

'Simulated Gambling Devices' Face Ban
MIAMI, Florida (January 23, 2013) -- Internet cafes, strip-mall casinos, sweepstakes cafes - whatever you call them - two Miami-Dade County commissioners are sponsoring a proposed ordinance to ban the establishments.

Jack Media Partner with Leading DRTV Agency
LONDON, UK, (January 23, 2013) -- Jack Media, the leading digital acquisition agency for gaming clients, has teamed up with MC&C, one of the UK's top DRTV agencies. MC&C is currently the largest buyer of DRTV airtime in the UK and together with the company's experience and bespoke software, will enable Jack Media to offer the very best TV acquisition solutions on behalf of its clients.

Gaming Standards Association Begins Development of Compliance Verification Tool (CVT)
Tool Will Increase Interoperability And Speed Time To Market
LAS VEGAS (January 23, 2013) - During G2E 2012, Gaming Standards Association, the world's leading gaming standards-setting organization, announced the development of its Compliance Verification Tool (CVT), a crucial tool enabling easy verification of compliance with GSA's landmark and award-winning G2S (Game To System) protocol standard. Now GSA is proud to announce it has fully funded the CVT development, thanks to the generous support of several members.

Net Entertainment releases Thief video slot
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (January 23, 2013) -- Net Entertainment, the world's leading provider of high-quality online casino games, announces the launch of its latest video slot, Thief™. The setting of Thief changes throughout the entire game, taking players from the rainy street of the main setting to the upper levels of a hallway and a vault found in the Free Spins modes. Players experience a roller coaster of feelings, creating anticipation of what's to come with every spin of the reels.

32Red Plc -Trading Update
LONDON, UK (January 23, 2013) -- Trading Update 32Red Plc, the award-winning remote gaming operator, is pleased to provide an update on trading for the year ended 31 December 2012. 2012 Summary For the third consecutive year, the company announces record annual revenues, up 28% to £32.1m in 2012 (2011: £25.0m).

TIPP 24 - Andreas Keil Was Appointed As New CFO
Dr. Hans Cornehl Is Chairman Of The Board HAMBURG, Germany (January 23, 2013) -- Andreas Keil (49), business graduate, becomes the Chief Financial Officer of Tipp24 SE appointed from first February 2013.