news from my desk Tuesday February 5, 2013 @ 5AM

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



Union Adds New Arguments In Its Lottery Privatization Lawsuit
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (February 4, 2013) - The union representing Pennsylvania Lottery workers is hanging its latest hope of invalidating Gov. Tom Corbett's lottery management contract on an attorney general's opinion from more than three decades ago. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13 on Thursday amended its lawsuit in Commonwealth Court to provide two additional reasons why it thinks the court should stop the administration's outsourcing of the lottery's management.

State Lottery Posts Record Results
WARSAW, Poland (February 4, 2013) - According to preliminary data, state-owned lottery company Totalizator Sportowy had sales revenues of z?.3.4 billion in 2012, up by 14.7 percent year-on-year, with net profit surging 65 percent to z?.318 million. The company observed a growth in the sales of nearly all of its lotteries last year.

Yggdrasil Gaming Introduces Suite Of Instant Games
MALTA (February 4, 2013) -- Yggdrasil Gaming, a new Malta-based start-up which is the brainchild of Net Entertainment's former head of global market operations, will this week unveil its new suite of numbers-based instant lottery games.

Lottery Of Bosnia And Herzegovina Receives World Lottery Security Control Standard Certificate
SARAJEVO, (January 31, 2013) -- The Lottery of Bosnia and Herzegovina proudly announces that it has been certified in accordance with the World Lottery Association (WLA) and the World Security Control Standard (SCS) 2012 for lottery business operations.

Gibraltar Operators Want UK Gambling Bill Abandoned - And Warn Of Judicial Review
GIBRALTAR (February 4, 2013) -- The Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association want the UK to abandon its gambling bill and has called proposed changes to the UK's 2005 Gambling Act 'misconceived'.

Media Hits Out at Offshore Betting
ISLE OF MAN (February 4, 2013) -- A UK newspaper's has issued an article accusing online bookies of avoiding tax by using offshore jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man.

Nevada Gaming Officials End Wynn Investigation
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (February 4, 2013) - Wynn Resorts Ltd. said Monday that Nevada gaming officials have ended their investigation into allegations by a Japanese billionaire that the casino operator made an improper donation to the University of Macau and found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Lawmakers Want Gambling Age Raised
QUEENS, New York (February 4, 2013) - You could soon have to be 21 to place a bet in New York State if two Queens lawmakers get their way.

Government Legislation Flows through to Political Donations
SYDNEY, Australia (February 2, 2013) -- Mining and gambling interests contributed heavily to political parties last financial year, at a time when the government was considering dropping its poker machine reforms and fighting off an attack over the carbon tax.

(CFSEU) Dismantles Multi-Million-Dollar Illegal Gaming Enterprise
TORONTO, Canada (February 3, 2013) -- The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) has made several arrests and dismantled a multi-million-dollar illegal gaming enterprise following the execution of a search warrant in the City of Markham on Sunday, February 3, 2013.

Enteraction and Alderney Gambling become Members of the Social Gaming Association
LONDON, UK (February 4, 2013) -- The Social Gaming Association (the "Association") is pleased to announce its two latest memberships with Enteraction, the world's leading B2B provider of social gaming technology, including its market leading GameShaper+ platform, joining as an Accredited Member and Alderney Gambling, the business development arm of the Government of Alderney and advisor to the Alderney Gambling Control Commission, joining as a Governmental Member

GameAccount Network to Offer SHFL Entertainment's iGaming Products
LAS VEGAS (February 4, 2013) -- SHFL entertainment, Inc. (nasdaq global select market:SHFL) ("SHFL" or the "Company") has signed an agreement with GameAccount Network ("GAN") to have SHFL's online gaming products integrated onto GAN's market leading online gaming platform.

Inspired Launches Virtual Sports Bet Management System Called Betbox™
LONDON, UK (February 4, 2013) -- Inspired Gaming Group, the leading supplier worldwide of virtual sports and numbers games, today announces the launch of BetBox™ - its new bet management system (BMS) and EPOS solution.

Playboy Branded Live Dealer Studio Launches - Another Industry First For Microgaming
ISLE OF MAN (February 4, 2013) -- Live Dealer just got sexy! In an industry-first deal, Microgaming has launched Playboy Live Dealer; bringing bunnies and the high life to the world of online casinos.

BetTech Gaming to Launch In Europe at ICE 2013
South African Company's Cost Effective Gaming Solutions To Level The Playing Field For Operators
LONDON, UK (February 5, 2013) -- BetTech Gaming, the provider of premium technology solutions to gaming companies, will formally launch in Europe at ICE Totally Gaming 2013, held at ExCeL, London (5-7 February 2013).

Sheriff Gaming Announces A New Land-Based Partnership
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (February 4, 2013) -- 3D online casino games developer Sheriff Gaming has announced a partnership with Dutch slot machine supplier Janshen-Hahnraths Group.

ComTrade Gaming Delivers Communication and Control Infrastructure for Centrally Monitoring Gaming Machines in Austria
LJUBLJANA (February 4, 2013) -- ComTrade Gaming has today announced the commissioning of its G2S Protocol Engine for the Austrian Federal Computing Centre (BRZ) following a very competitive procurement process.

Eurocoin Signs Deal with Sheriff Gaming
DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (February 4, 2013) - Land based gaming manufacturer and distributor Eurocoin Interactive has signed a deal with 3D games developer Sheriff Gaming for a selection of its most popular land based games.

Global Gaming Women To Host Panel Discussion, Preview New Online Mentoring Program At Ice Totally Gaming
LONDON, UK (February 5, 2013) --

Growth in Spain and Italy Boost 888 Revenues
LONDON, UK (February 4, 2013) -- Online gaming company 888 Holdings said expansion in Spain and Italy and growth in business on mobile devices had helped to drive a 13 percent rise in annual revenues last year.

WMS to Report Fiscal 2013 Second Quarter Results on February 6; Cancels Conference Call and Webcast
LAS VEGAS (February 4, 2013) -- WMS Industries Inc. WMS to Report Fiscal 2013 Second Quarter Results on February 6; Cancels Conference Call and Webcast .

Pagcor Income Tops P1b
MANILA, Philippines (February 4, 2013) - The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. has breached the billion-peso mark for income tax, a historical feat among state corporations.

Greece Changes Taxation On OPAP Gambling Winnings
ATHENS, Greece (February 4, 2013) - Cash-strapped Greece on Sunday introduced a tax-free threshold on small gambling winnings, as it tries to increase tax receipts from gambling monopoly OPAP without hurting its sales

Arkansas Lottery Sees Spike in Lottery Ticket Sales
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (February 3, 2013) - In its third year of existence, the Arkansas lottery sales increased again in Greene County and state wide in 2012. The sales totals in Greene County were $7,258,389 in 2012. That total is an increase of approximately $200,000 from Greene County's 2011 sales total of $7,058,382.50.

GTECH Abides by Pledge to Not Concentrate Sales of Lottery Tickets in Low Income Areas INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (February 3, 2013) -- The Hoosier Lottery's new private operator, GTECH Corp., has given assurance that it has no intention to target low-income neighbourhoods as it tries to dramatically boost state lottery revenues.

Internet Gaming Issue of States' Rights
Lottery Director Believes the Iowa Lottery Has the Authority to Operate Online Poker
DES MOINES, Iowa (February 3, 2013 - Terry Rich believes the Iowa Lottery has the authority to operate online poker and other Internet gaming but warned lawmakers Iowa may face competition - from the federal government

Paddy Power Slashes Tax Bill with Isle Of Man Operation
DUBLIN, Ireland (February 3, 2013) - A legal loophole allows Paddy Power to avoid paying tax on online betting by millions of its punters, publication the Independent reports. The €3bn-valued listed bookmaker runs betting websites and phone lines from the Isle of Man, thereby getting around having to pay a 15 per cent betting duty on its British operations.

Lottery Investigation Deferred to Attorney General
WASHINGTON, DC (February 2, 2013) -- D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans says he has no plans to hold a follow- up hearing about unresolved questions related to the District of Columbia's contentious lottery contract

Lottery Directors to Be Front & Centre at IGAMING North America Conference
IGAMING North America Conference Feb 19-21 at Planet Hollywood In Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (February 2, 2013) -- Lottery Directors Will Be Front And Center At Igaming North America Conference Which Will Be Held Feb 19-21 At Planet Hollywood In Las Vegas. The conference will cover a variety of topics on developing a successful i-gaming operation for those in the US and Canada. The lead-up session, a Visionaries panel, includes Stephen Martino, Director of the Maryland Lottery.
In the conference's "boot camp", a "Crash Course: iGaming Policy from Theory to Practice" will include Vernon Kirk, head of the Delaware Lottery, who will compare their regulatory framework with the Chairmen of Nevada's Gaming Commission and Gaming Control Board.
A session on Interstate Compacts will be enhanced by the presence of Terry Rich, Director of the Iowa Lottery, who will offer up his experience with the Multi-State Lottery Association as a template for cooperation that might be explored for online poker in the US.
And an internet lottery panel, moderated by Missouri Lottery Director, May Scheve, includes Kurt Freedlund from Georgia as well as representatives from both Scientific Games and GTECH The educational topics range from payments to marketing to technical issues. And networking is enhanced this year at iGNA by the addition of Presdo Match, an online networking tool that offers information and access to all other attendees at the conference.
The conference features a wide variety of topics which may be found at www.igamingnorthamerica.com. SOURCE: IGAMING North America Conference.

Council Blocks Casino Licence for Three years
LONDON, UK (February 2, 2013) -- Casinos are not welcome in Enfield after politicians ruled to block any from opening in the borough for the next three years. Although a gambling licence has never been granted in Enfield, the subject is debated every three years under the Gambling Act 2005