Wednesday 28 August 2013

Lottery Insider Weekly Update August 29, 2013





Head to 
http://www.lotteryinsider.com/ for all the latest News! 




WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Paddy Power plc 2013 Interim Results Announcement
Paddy Power plc ('the Group') today announces interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2013 ('the period').
Financial Highlights:
Net revenue1 up 22% in constant currency with revenue growth in every division;
Profit before tax up 12% to €77.0m and diluted EPS up 13% to 137.1 cent;
Interim dividend increased by 15% to 45.0 cent per share;
Net cash of €214m at 30 June.

TotelFootball brings fantasy sports betting to Latin America with Ocho Gaming
Players at JuegaOcho.com to benefit from unique offering which combines fantasy football management and sports betting
LONDON, UK (August 28, 2013) -- TotelFootball has increased its global footprint by forming a supply partnership with Ocho Gaming, the leading operator and provider of online gaming to the Latin American market, though its JuegaOcho.com brand

Delaware On Track to Launch Facebook Linked Game Platform
DOVER, Delaware (August 27, 2013) -- Delaware's three casinos will launch the first phase of the state's online gambling operation Wednesday morning, opening Web portals for free slots, poker, blackjack and roulette games, Delaware Online reports. The no-money games are the precursor to the state's coming full-service, real-cash online gambling operation, now slated for launch at the end of October.

LVS Forgoes $47 Million in a non-prosecution Agreement
NEW YORK, NY (August 28, 2013) -- Casino operator Las Vegas Sands has agreed to give up over $47 million as part of an agreement to avoid charges over its failure to report suspicious transactions by an alleged drug kingpin, CNN Money reports. The sum represents funds accepted by Sands (LVS, Fortune 500) on behalf of Zhenli Ye Gon, a native of China who is currently being held in the U.S. pending extradition to Mexico on drug trafficking charges, accused of importing chemicals from his native country to Mexico for methamphetamine production.

Wisconsin wins as Lottery Breaks All-Time Sales Record-For Second Year In A Row
Provides Estimated $160 Million In Property Tax Relief
MADISON, Wisconsin (August 27, 2013) -- Just twelve months after setting a new all-time sales record the Wisconsin Lottery has done it again. With $565.6 million in sales in the fiscal year that ended June 30, the Lottery posted back-to-back record years, Lottery director Mike Edmonds announced today. The $565.6 million in sales generates an estimated $160 million in property tax relief.

ASA finds No Action Required on Betfair Cash Out Campaign
LONDON, UK (August 28, 2013) - Background Summary of Council decision: Two issues were investigated, both of which were Not upheld.

Lottery Makes Clear Direction for Advertising - It's all About the Games!
BOSTON. Massachusetts (August 27, 2013) -- State Treasurer Steven Grossman has steered clear of the type of Lottery advertisements that got his predecessor into trouble when he ran for governor.
Grossman, one of five Democrats running for governor, speaking with the news service on Tuesday, he said that the Lottery does not run so-called "permission" ads - advertisements that promote the Lottery's profile. The way to make money with advertising is to promote specific games to boost ticket sales

Complaint on William Hill Promoted Odds Commercials Upheld by ASA
LONDON, UK (August 28, 2013) -- Two press ads for William Hill promoted odds for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Aintree Hurdle.
Action The ads must not appear again in their current form

PlayScreen Launch Real-Money Slots Game in the UK
Partnership up with Betable
LONDON, UK (August 27, 2013) -- Following the likes of Zynga, Glu and Big Fish, US publisher PlayScreen has announced that casino game Slots Cash will be released for iPhone and iPad in the UK. Betable will handle all real-money aspects of the game.

Foreign Gaming Company Seeks Investment Chance
HCMC, Vietnam (August 28, 2013) -- Austria-based gaming company Casinos Austria AG on Monday had a meeting with HCMC Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Hong to discuss its casino and computerized lottery plan in HCMC

WMS to Release Fiscal 2013 Results Concurrent with Its 10-K Filing
WAUKEGAN, Illinois (August 27, 2013) -- WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE:WMS) today announced that it expects to release its fiscal 2013 fourth quarter and year end results after the market closes on Thursday, August 29, 2013, which is expected to be concurrent with the Company's filing of its fiscal 2013 annual report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission

Stockbrokers Call Bookmaker Shares Overvalued
DUBLIN. Ireland (August 27, 2013) -- Shares in gambling group Paddy Power remain overvalued given the "competitive and tax-related headwinds" facing the group over the medium-term, analysts at Davy Stockbrokers have insisted

CODERE to Present Financial Results at Conference Call
SPAIN (August 27, 2013) -- CODERE will present the results for the 2T2013, on Friday, August 30, before the market opening in Spain. Investors Conference The conference call will take place on Friday, August 30th, 2013 at 16:00 CET (15:00 London time, 10:00 New York time).

Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period Expires for Bally Technologies' Acquisition of SHFL Entertainment
LAS VEGAS (August 27, 2013) -- Bally Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BYI) ("Bally") and SHFL entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ Global Select Market: SHFL) ("SHFL") announced today that the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Act of 1976 ("HSR Act") in relation to Bally's previously announced proposed acquisition of SHFL expired as of 11:59 p.m. EDT on August 26, 2013, with no action by the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice.

Mayor Reaches Deal with Developers for $1 Billion Caesars Casino
BOSTON, Massachusetts (August 27, 2013) -- Boston Mayor Thomas Menino reached a proposed deal with developers on Tuesday to build a $1 billion Caesars casino in the city's East Boston section that he said would generate at least $32 million in annual revenue for the city and create thousands of jobs

TUESDAY AUGUST 27, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Full articles will appears in our Wednesday Daily News Edition

Macau Jockey Club to Close Four out of Seven Off Course Betting Centres
MACAU, SAR (August 27, 2013) -- In the next 35 days the Macau Jockey Club is to close four of its seven off-course betting centres in Macau. The club did not specify the reasons for the closures in the brief announcement on its official website, according to the Macau Business Daily

Mohegan Sun Close to Finalizing Agreement
PALMER, Massachusetts (August 27, 2013) -- Town officials in Palmer are close to finalizing a host community agreement with Mohegan Sun for a $1 billion resort casino in the central Massachusetts town. The deal is scheduled to be signed on Thursday at the Palmer. Mohegan Sun will likely be in competition with two other proposals for the sole western Massachusetts casino license.

Poll Conducted to Gauge Views on new Casino Precinct
BRISBANE, Queensland (August 27, 2013) -- New polling, conducted by JWS Research, has revealed significant opposition towards a second city-based casino and even greater resistance to the proliferation of more poker machines for Brisbane.
The poll, shows most Brisbane residents are yet to be convinced about the Newman Government's proposal to develop the precinct near State Parliament with more than one in three wanting more information before they'll make a decision

Investors Poised for Final Shape of the Law
HCM CITY, Vietnam (August 27, 2013) -- The Politburo's decision to allow Vietnamese to gamble in a casino could bring back foreign gaming investors who pulled out earlier, but they will wait for the final shape of the law according to publication 'hanhniennews.' In a surprise twist, Vietnam's top leadership has given the green light for locals to enter one of the country's casinos for a trial period.

Pennsylvania Lottery - Perfectionists at Scratch
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (August 26, 2013) -- The Pennsylvania Lottery is proud of the scratch games it markets, as every one of the 50 to 54 instant lottery games introduced each year receives an abundance of forethought from how it looks, how it's played and how it will be received by players. "We can't afford a so-so game," said Drew Svitko, the lottery's deputy executive director for marketing and products. "We do our homework. We have a team of professionals here that are experienced in game development and consumer research for just that reason - to limit risk."

Arkansas Lottery Prospers in the Natural State
Planning to roll out 46 New Instant Tickets
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (August 27, 2013) -- The Arkansas Scholarship Lottery will roll out a new state-wide raffle game with a top $1 million prize and more than 40 new instant tickets in the next year, as reported in Lottery Insider's Tuesday Edition. Speaking with reporters from Arkansas Online during a presentation, Woosley said the agency will also create 46 new instant ticket games in that span. Last year, 81 percent of sales were instant scratch-off tickets which differ from online tickets like Powerball and Mega Millions.

Case Against Française des Jeux Dismissed
FRANCE (August 27, 2013) -- Robert Riblet, was ordered to pay 10,000 euros in damages to the FDJ and an additional 10,000 euros for the procedure.
Scratch Tickets have their opponents the French Games have in Robert Riblet, 67, the best example of an one such opponent.

Coalition Unveils Plans for Problem Gambling Management
PERTH, West Australia (August 27, 2013) -- The Coalition will rely on the clubs and gaming industry to develop support and counselling services for problems gamblers if it wins government, according to Australian media publication .
Church groups and anti-gambling bodies have voiced their concern that putting the gambling industry in charge of the decision making on problem gambling reform is akin to putting a Fox in charge of a Hen house

MONDAY AUGUST 26, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Gambling Commission Warns Licensed Operators Must Put Underage Controls In Place
LONDON, UK (August 22, 2013) - The Gambling Commission is reminding licensed gambling operators of their responsibility to ensure children and young people cannot gain access to age-restricted gambling premises and products.
This reminder comes ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend and in the light of some initial results from the Commission's latest test purchasing exercise. Recent tests of smaller adult gaming centre and independent betting shop operators have indicated some weaknesses in identifying and challenging young persons who enter premises in order to play a gaming machine.

Government Hope VAT Tax Lottery will Change Customer Behaviour
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 26, 2013) -- In A Move that deploys social psychology as part of efforts to boost VAT revenues, the Finance Ministry is launching a new scheme to convert retail receipts into lottery tickets in the hope that it will encourage customers to actively request those receipts

Gaming Machine Maker Selected for Project Contract
HONG KONG (August 26, 2013) -- Summit Ascent Holdings (0102) and Melco International Development (0200) enlisted a Taiwan electronic gaming machine maker as their new business partner in a Russia casino resort project.
Media reports that Firich, a subsidiary of Taiwan-listed GreTai Securities Market, agreed to acquire a 19 percent stake in the gaming project located 20 kilometers from Vladivostok International Airport and 50km from the downtown area. It is engaged in the manufacture, installation and maintenance of electronic gaming machines, multiplayer gaming terminals, video lottery terminals and lottery point-of-sales terminals.

Lottery Teams up with College Football Rivals to Promote Games
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (August 25, 2013) -- Two of Florida's long-time college football rivals are now coming together in a new contest: To sell lottery tickets. The Associated Press reports that the Florida Lottery is paying for the right to use the logos of the University of Florida and Florida State University on a new $2 scratch-off lottery game aimed squarely at football fans.

Out of State Competition still Impacting on Lottery
CHARLESTON, West Virginia (August 23, 2013) -- A new budget year has started for the West Virginia Lottery but with out-of-state competition still squeezing revenue figures.The Lottery had total revenues of $105.37 million in July -- down $10.65 million, or 9 percent, from July 2012. Video lottery at the state's racetrack casinos brought in $53.69 million, down $7.15 million from July 2012, while table game revenues for the month fell about 28 percent from 2012 figures, at $4.72 million.

Multistate Conference Planned to Encourage Video Lottery Dialogue
CHARLESTON, West Virginia (August 23, 2013) - At the recent Commission Meeting, Lottery Director John Musgrave announced that the commission will host a multistate conference for states that either offer or are considering legalizing video lottery. "The purpose of this is to really start a program where the video lottery states can get together, probably once a year, and have a dialogue," he said.

SATURDAY AUGUST 24, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Revenues EBITDA both up at Swedish Online Gambling Firm
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (August 23, 2013) -- In its first interim report as a listed company on Sweden's AktieTorget, online gambling company Mr Green AB posted high growth for game win operating profit in Q2-2013.

Colorado Department of Revenue's Lottery Jackpot/Online Gaming Systems and Services Contract Awarded to GTECH Corporation
DENVER, Colorado (August 23, 2013) -- The Colorado Department of Revenue announced today that the Colorado Lottery intends to award the Lottery Jackpot/Online Gaming Systems and Services Contract to GTECH Corporation, headquartered in Providence, RI. The decision was made after a rigorous procurement process over the course of several months. "I am pleased with the thoroughness, efficiency, and integrity of the process and the evaluation committee," said Barbara Brohl.

It's Back! Sales Resume for The Texas Lottery's® All Or Nothing™ Game
AUSTIN, Texas (August 23, 2013) -- The Texas Lottery® today announced that sales for its popular All or Nothing™ game will resume on Sunday, Aug. 25 and drawings for the game will begin on Monday, Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. (CDT).

Lottery Earns Recognition for Accountability and Transparency
RALEIGH, North Carolina (August 22, 2013) -- For a fifth straight year, the N.C. Education Lottery has received two awards for its efforts to clearly communicate financial information to the public. The awards are conferred by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

China Lottery Sales Rise 13 pct in First Half
BEIJING, China (August 22, 2013) -- China's welfare lottery sales totalled 85.3 billion yuan (about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars) during the first half of 2013, up 13 percent year on year, authorities announced Friday. According to the China Welfare Lottery Issuing and Management Center, lottery sales raised more than 24.6 billion yuan in public welfare funding from Jan. to June, an increase of over 10 percent year on year.

Keno is a Multi-Million Dollar Proposition that will take Months of Preparation
HARTFORD, Connecticut (August 23, 2013) -- Connecticut lottery employees have begun discussions with bars and taverns on hosting keno terminals, but it will be months and months before the game is made available to the state's gamblers

Decision Pending on Review of Gaming Machine Stakes and Prizes
LONDON, UK (August 23, 2013) -- Gamblers playing roulette machines in betting shops will continue to be allowed to bet up to £100 a spin, the BBC understands. Culture Secretary Maria Miller is due to announce the outcome of a review of gaming machine stakes and prizes. But she is expected to resist calls to drastically reduce stakes on so-called Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBT).

FRIDAY AUGUST 23, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Mayor Declares Casinos will Not Open in City
SALTILLO, Coahuila, Mexico (August 22, 2013) - After winning an injunction in favor of the casino Sun City, Mayor Jerico Abramo Masso ruled that once the business opens the doors again, it will be forced to close at the same instant, publication Vanguardia reports. He recalled that there were 12 appeals processed against the Municipality of Saltillo by the closure of casinos, from March 2012

Amaya Announce date for 2013 Second Quarter Earnings Release Conference Call
MONTREAL, Canada (August 22, 2013) -- Amaya Gaming Group Inc. (TSX.V: AYA), an entertainment solutions provider for the regulated gaming industry, today announced that it will host a conference call on Friday, August 30, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss its 2013 second quarter financial results. David Baazov, CEO of Amaya Gaming Group Inc., will chair the call. The Company plans to release its financial results after the market closes on Thursday, August 29, 2013 ET.

Casino Signifies Growth will come from Macau
SYDNEY, Australia (August 23, 2013) -- Casinos operator Crown expects its interests in the Asian gambling hub of Macau to grow into a major contributor to profit alongside its Australian venues. Crown chief executive Rowen Craigie speaking with the Australian Associated Press, says the Macau gaming market is geared to the Chinese economy, which is growing three times faster than Australia's economy

Tipp24 SE: Winnings payout of EUR 6.8 million - Forecast remains unchanged
HAMBURG, Germany (August 22, 2013) -- In a secondary lottery held by MyLotto24 Ltd, a fully consolidated minority shareholding of Tipp24 SE, a player has won a jackpot of around EUR 6.8 million.

Swiss Lotto Embarks on a Passionate Lottery Player Campaign
ZURICH, Switzerland (August 21, 2013) -- This year sixteen Swiss have already been made Swiss Lotto millionaires and overall there is already over 600 lottery millionaires in this country.
At the center of a new advertising campaign for Swiss Lotto is about capturing the passion of being a Lotto Millionaire, a character has been depicted for the advertising campaign: Heinrich "Heini" Sutter.

Gambling Regulator Imposes Fine
LAS VEGAS (August 23, 2013) -- Nevada gambling regulators have approved a $15,000 fine against a company Flamingo Investments LLC. According to the Associated Press (AP), the Nevada Gaming Commission's decision on was made on Thursday

Resolution to Allow High Stakes Bingo Rejected
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (August 23, 2013) -- The Hawaii County Council rejected a resolution that would allow high-stakes bingo, with those opposed citing concerns it would lead to an increase in crime and other problems,

Government Requests Study into Youth Gambling
HOBART, Tasmania, Australia (August 23, 2013) -- Young Tasmanians are being recruited for a youth gambling study amid fears new technology is making it easier for them to develop problem gambling

Casino Before Courts for Breaches of Policy
SYDNEY, Australia (August 23, 2013) -- Sydney's The Star casino is being hauled before the courts for allegedly breaching laws designed to combat problem gambling. Media reports that the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) claims The Star handed out thousands of dollars in cash prizes in its high rollers room.

THURSDAY AUGUST 22, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Tatts Group Reports Lower Figures Reflecting Exit from Poker Machine Operations
VICTORIA, Victoria (August 22, 2013) -- Tatts Group Ltd is not betting on being able to repeat the record $2.01 billion lotteries revenue achieved in the year to June but is tipping solid growth in its wagering division in the current year.

Forthnet Blocks Gambling Sites
ATHENS, Greece (August 21, 2013) -- Greek operator Forthnet informed subscribers that it will not allow access to websites of unlicensed providers of gambling and betting services. The block took effect 16 August as a result a law from 2011 that bans Greek ISPs from providing access to such sites that are not licensed by the EEEP (Greek Commission for the Supervision and Control of Games).

Casino Industry Identity Shows Interest in Securing News Jersey Licence
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (August 21, 2013) -- One of the casino industry's biggest names appears eager to participate in New Jersey's emerging Internet gambling market, even though he labelled Atlantic City as "the enemy" only seven months ago.
The Press reports that the Las Vegas gambling mogul Steve Wynn's company, Wynn Interactive LLC, becomes the latest outfit hoping to secure a piece of the action when Internet gambling is scheduled to begin Nov. 26 on Atlantic City slot machines and table games.

Idaho Says Goodbye to a Unique Personal Treasure
GLENNS FERRY, Idaho (August 21, 2013) -- The man who created Pringles Potato Chips, advanced technology for dried Potato Flake Processing and was the owner of Carmela Winery in Glenns Ferry has passed away. Roger Jones, 75 was also the Idaho Lottery Commission Chairman. Roger died at his home at his Carmela Winery. He served on the Idaho Lottery Commission since March of 1995 and had been Chairman since November of 2003.

Lottery Offers Tender for 'PR Contract'
Tender Notice Comes As Deadline For Licence Applications Approaches
DUBLIN, Ireland (August 22, 2013) -- An Post's National Lottery raised a few eyebrows this week by inviting tenders for its PR business smack bang in the middle of the Government's high-profile licence competition

Lottery Commission Ensures Promo Winners Receive Prizes
ABUJA, Nigeria (August 22, 2013) -- Telecommunications giant, Globacom Nigeria, on Wednesday, in Abuja, rewarded three persons who emerged winners in its promo.
The winners emerged in a promo by the telecoms company in 2011 but could not make it to Manchester to watch the live league match promised them as a result of an initial default by the firm.