Sunday 13 October 2013

News Update as at Monday October 14, 2013


THURSDAY OCTOBER 10, 2013
NEWS BREAK

In Midst of Shutdown, DC Lottery Player Wins $1,000,000
WASHINGTON, DC (October 9, 2013) -- It's Day 9 of the government shutdown and many of Washington's federal monuments are shuttered. On the east side town, in the shadows of the local monument known as The Big Chair, the DC Lottery is open and congratulating its newest million-dollar winner.

Reinforcing Gaming Excludes Bonuses
Official Svenska Spel Release as Reported by LI on Thursday October 9, 2013
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (October 9, 2013) – The Decision takes away your discounts and bonuses for all games. Swedish Accordion President Lennart Source explains why ...
The stop for all types of games where Swedish Game discounts off or subsidize games. It is, for example, when customers can "buy and get" a good or additional games, bonus offers for new subscription customers, with discounted games, or for example to pay for four weeks Eurojackpot but play for five.

Singapore Pools Services Affected by Fire at Exchange
SINGAPORE CITY, Singapore (October 9, 2013) -- A fire that broke out at a SingTel’s Bukit Panjang exchange on Wednesday afternoon has affected its broadband and mobile services as well as services of other companies.

Boyd's Borgata Given First New Jersey Online Gaming Permit
LOS ANGELES (October 9, 2013) -- Boyd Gaming Corp's Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa said it received the first Internet gaming permit ever in New Jersey from the state's Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Board States lawsuit on Referendum Wording Filed too Late
ALBANY, New York (October 9, 2013) -- New York state's Board of Elections argues a lawsuit challenging its glowing language of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's referendum to expand casino gambling was filed too late, although the wording wasn't posted on the board's website until two weeks after that deadline to sue, the Associated Press reports.

Lawmakers Approve Tribal Casino Compact
BOSTON, Massachusetts (October 9, 2013) --  A revised tribal casino compact between the Mashpee Wampanoag and Gov. Deval Patrick was approved Wednesday by the state House, after some lawmakers warned that the tribe faced nearly insurmountable obstacles to developing a resort casino in Taunton.
The Associated Press reports that under the compact, which passed on a 116-38 vote, the state would likely receive at least 15 percent of the tribe's gambling revenues if the casino was built. The Senate must also ratify the agreement.

Do you have an ear for music? Then we have the PRO?LINE FUTURES bet for you!
MONCTON, New Brunswick (October 9, 2013) -- Last winter, Atlantic Canadians were the first in Canada to place their bets on a movie awards show. This fall, Atlantic Canadians can be the first to place their bets on a reality show.

Entrepreneur Markets his Lucky Dice App
COUNTY DURHAM, UK (October 10, 2013) -- A Retired restaurant owner with a love of numbers has embraced modern technology to help gamblers get lucky.
After seven years in the pipeline, Frederick Stehr’s app, Lotto Dice Roller, is now available through iTunes.

Akamon Entertainment joins the International Social Games Association
BARCELONA, Spain (October 9, 2013) -- Rapidly growing game developer and operator Akamon Entertainment is to join the International Social Games Association [ISGA], the industry body that acts as a voice for the global social gaming industry.
Akamon becomes the tenth member company of the ISGA, joining existing members Zynga, Slingo, RocketPlay, Plumbee, Playtika, PlayStudios, MGM, IGT, Gamesys , Bally Technologies, Aristocrat and Abzorba Games.

Buyer Takes £37m Ladbrokes Stake
A mystery buyer, thought to be Playtech founder Teddy Sagi, has acquired a near 3pc stake in Ladbrokes, igniting fresh bid talk over the accident-prone bookmaker
LONDON, UK (October 9, 2013) – Ladbrokes shares jumped 10.8 on Wednesday to 179.8p after a buyer spent £37.1m on 21.8m shares at 170p, the UK Telegraph reports.


Market has Reached Saturation Point, More Casinos do not equate to More Gambling Revenue
Michael A. Meczka is the president of MMRC, a gambling marketing, research and consulting firm
NEW YORK, NY (October 9, 2013) -- More casinos do not equal more gambling revenue. The incidence of those who gambled in casinos at least once per year ranged a relatively constant 25 percent to 28 percent between 2008 and 2011. This rate has been consistent for decades according to the industry’s trade group, the American Gaming Association.

City of Dreams will be Iconic Landmark for Manila
SYDNEY, Australia (October 10, 2013) -- James Packer's expanded casino resort in The Philippines will be rebranded City of Dreams Manila to match his successful venture in Macau.
Print publication ‘The Australian,’ reports that revealing the new name at a ceremony in Manila yesterday, Mr Packer and his partner Lawrence Ho said the complex would see the number of gaming tables increased by nearly 50 per cent and would include a 260-room Crown Towers hotel, adding to the brand's two locations in Macau and Melbourne.

Crown Dispels Rumor that it has Purchased Brisbane Land
BRISBANE, Queensland (October 10, 2013) -- Billionaire James Packer has shot down one of Brisbane's fastest spreading rumours by rejecting suggestions he has offered to buy riverside land at South Brisbane.
Talks are underway to relocate factories in the area, on either side of the Go Between Bridge, and develop it into a high-quality commercial, retail and residential precinct.

Texas Lottery Commission’s Executive Director Named Naspl President
Gary Grief will serve one-year term with North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries
AUSTIN, Texas (October 9, 2013) -- The North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) has elected Gary Grief as president of the organization at the 2013 NASPL Annual Conference and Trade Show in Providence, Rhode Island. Grief is the executive director of the Texas Lottery Commission.

Ladbrokes Announce Non-Executive Director Appointment
LONDON, UK (October 9, 2013) -- Ladbrokes plc today announce the appointment of David Martin as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 31 October 2013.  His appointment follows the decision by John Jarvis CVO, CBE to retire from the Board at the group's AGM in 2014, which was announced earlier this year.


WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Lottery Generates Nearly $1.3 Billion for California Schools in Fiscal Year 2012-2013
SACRAMENTO, California (October 8, 2013) -- The California Lottery maintained its status as one of the fastest growing lotteries in the United States in Fiscal Year 2012-2013, as it increased sales by nearly $75 million over its last fiscal year and provided nearly $1.3 billion to California schools.

Lottery Continues to Unravel Mystery behind Unclaimed Lotto Winnings
Will the Rightful Owner of the Winnings Eventually be awarded the Prize
IOWA CITY, Iowa (October 8, 2013 --  Investigators trying to unravel the mystery behind a bogus claim for a $14.3 million Iowa Lottery jackpot in 2011 have received valuable information from a man in Canada who has been granted immunity, state officials said Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.

Charitable Bingo Group Faces Investigation
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (October 9, 2013) -- The Texas Lottery Commission issued an administrative penalty to a charity Bingo group, and according to local broadcast station6News the Columbian Ladies of South Texas face several violations.
It's now up to the Columbian Ladies of South Texas to accept and pay the penalty, or to try and fight it.

Reversing Current Smoke-Free Legislation Would be a “shortsighted” Move
MADRID, Spain (October 7, 2013) -- Tobacco-control experts from 14 countries today advised Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy against changing anti-smoking laws to land a multibillion-dollar casino project in the country’s capital, Nature.com reports.
Reversing current smoke-free legislation would be a “shortsighted” move “with long-term negative consequences for the health and the economy of Spain, and for global tobacco control”, says an open letter to Rajoy by 37 doctors and tobacco control researchers at leading US and European institutions.

Company Declares its Intention to Continue Project
FIJI (October 9, 2013) -- One Hundred Sands Limited yesterday declared its intention to continue with the $290million casino at Denarau in Nadi.
Company chairman Larry Claunch has confirmed he would be paying $185,138 in fines to the government for breach of licence, the Fiji Times reports.

Mobile Operator Runs Lottery SMS Promotional Campaign
BAKU, Azerbaijan (October 3, 0213) -- Mobile operator Bakcell starts Qazandiran SMS – a new promotional campaign with support of Novamedia LLC.
The operator informs ABC.az that starting from October 2013 every Bakcell subscriber will gain a chance to participate in different  contests and win big money prizes.


Bwin to bet on Motorcycling App
ITALY (October 9, 2013) -- Lately Bwin has decided to ride the wave in technology with a greater expansion into the choice of mobile App.
The latest app, is a free downloadable application (can be installed without having to pay a cent, on all the latest generation of mobile devices such as smartphones, iPhone and tablet) and traveling on the Apple and Android systems. With this application you can play and bet on all sporting events, even those not of the first order in sport like soccer, for example in motorcycling https://www.bwin.it/motociclismo

Bally Technologies Online Games Now Available on Daub Gaming Sites
LAS VEGAS (October 9, 2013) -- Bally Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BYI), a leader in slots, video machines, casino-management, interactive applications, and networked and server-based systems for the global gaming industry, today announced its online slot games are now available for wagering on Daub Alderney Ltd. online gaming sites, including the popular Kitty Bingo and Lucky Pants Bingo.

AGTech to Increase China's Lottery Market's Content Provision
CHINA (October 9, 2013) -- AGTech, the biggest sports lottery terminal and systems provider in China, is on track to increase its content provision for the local market, which it seeks to increase revenues for both the company and the market in general.
It's important to start with consultancy business with lottery operators as the company needs to build up good relationship with authorities, but it's not a long-term strategy as the more clients learn, the more they can do it themselves, Geaspar Byrne, AGTech's head of corporate development, strategic planning and IR, tells The Asset.

GTECH-Lottomatica Ready to Acquire Turkish Lottery
ITALY (October 8, 2013) -- Il Sole 24 has a small note in a blog that states Lottomatica is now ready to kick off the expansion in Turkey.

End of an ERA for OPAP
ATHENS, Greece (October 9, 2013) -- After 55 years of state control, this coming Friday will mark the end of an ERA for OPAP, as the investment scheme Emma Delta takes control of the Agency.
The plan will involve a change of directors, with the priorities of the new management under Camille Zeigler, executive group PPF, will have been determined.

Bookmaker says Poor Retail Performance to Blame for Profit Fall
LONDON, UK (October 8, 2013) -- British bookmaker William Hill said a poor retail performance in its third quarter meant operating profit had fallen 20 million pounds ($32.5 million) below expectations, warning that shortfall may not be recovered by the year end,Reuters reports

Spring is in the Air for Tabcorp
SYDNEY, Australia (October 9, 2013) -- Tabcorp boss David Attenborough believes punters will be buoyed by the recent change in government as they turn their attention to the spring racing carnival, but is still tipping a standard CPI-indexed lift in turnover heading into the Melbourne Cup, the Sydney Morning Herald reports today.

Three Companies Present Their Case for Single Slot Parlor
The state gambling commission heard presentations from Cordish Cos., Penn National Gaming, and Raynham Park. All of the plans had price tags of more than $200 million
BOSTON, Massachusetts (October 8, 2013) -- Gambling companies opened the competition for the state’s sole slot machine parlor license Monday with glitzy renderings and plenty of big promises, in duelling presentations before the state gambling commission.

Approval for Casino Gaming in the Moonlight
BERMUDA (October 4, 2013) -- Bermuda's Parliament has given the green light to cruise ships keeping their casinos open while overnighting in port on the island.
Members of Parliament in Bermuda approved the Cruise Ship (Casino) Act 2013, reports the Royal Gazette newspaper. Under the act, ships would be able to operate on board casinos while in port, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Experienced Team Lead the Anniversary Celebrations of the Casino de Tandil
ARGENTINA (October 8, 2013) -- A day first celebrated its tenth anniversary, the Casino de Tandil promising lives to its fullest today, as it has been transformed into a space not only play and fun for residents and tourists, but also to work together, support solidarity organizations as well as cultural.


Pascal Chaffard Appointed Executive Vice President, Head of Performance Pole, Finance and Control
FRANCE (October 8, 2013) – Pascal Chaffard, previously Director of Strategy and Transformation division, has been appointed Executive Vice President, Head of Performance Pole, Finance and Control.
Pascal Chaffard integrates FDJ in 1994. Since it occupies leading positions in several business areas that give a broad knowledge of the business.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Charitable Committees may Adopt Lottery System to Gain Donations
SAMBALPUR, India (October 7, 2013) -- Selling lottery tickets to collect money has become a new trend for Durga puja committees in the city as members feel this is the easiest way to convince people to pay donations as there is chance of getting prizes.

Skilrock Technologies to Participate in the 16th Annual Africa Com Event
GURGAON, India (October 7, 2013) -- Skilrock Technologies today announced that it's participating in the 16th Annual Africa Com Event to be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 12th -14th November 2013. Africa Com which is Africa's largest annual communications Congress and Exhibition returns to Cape Town on 12-14 November for its biggest and best year yet.

Online Raffle Ticket Sales will continue to be Illegal
ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey (October 7, 2013) -- New Jersey residents could begin gambling on the Internet this year. But they still won't be able to buy a raffle ticket online to support a local charity.

Regulator Rebukes Bookmaker over Money Laundering Case
LONDON, UK (October 8, 2013) – Reports that claims shops owned by one of Britain's biggest high street bookmakers were used to launder almost a million pounds of money linked to drug dealing, the gambling regulator announced on Monday.
In a rare admission that betting shops could be used to conceal the source of ill-gotten gains, the Gambling Commission said Coral would have to pay back the £90,000 it made from a single customer who visited shops in north-east England. The man in his 30s, who cannot be named while he is waiting to be sentenced, was charged by police in Durham as part of a campaign against organised crime.

Auditor Critical of Lottery Bonus Scheme
DENVER, Colorado (October 7, 2013) -- Auditors have issued criticism on the Colorado Lottery for its bonuses to sales staff Monday, saying officials have awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars without tying the payouts to the actual sale performances.

Norway Open For Poker and Foreign Gaming Companies
NORWAY (October 8, 2013) – The Government platform Conservatives and the Progress Party put forward on Monday night, may  mean dramatic changes for Norwegian sport for years to come. The two parties write that they "will allow championship tournaments in poker with clear limits through an exception in law."

National Group Dedicated to Reducing Problem Gambling to be established
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (October 8, 2013) -- A group of Auckland kaumatua dedicated to reducing the harmful effects of gambling on communities is looking at setting up a national group.
Radio New Zealand reports that the Manaaki Tangata group recently received a Public Health Association award for outstanding contribution to Maori public health for its work with gambling.
The group, which was convened by the Hapai Te Hauora Tapui provider, has been canvassing pockets of Maoridom, such as the Koroneihana [coronation] celebrations, about expanding.

Casinos Austria Receive Contract for Six Additional Concessions in the Provinces
VIENNA, Austria (October 4, 2013) -- The Casinos Austria, have also now received the contract for six additional concessions in the provinces. The Treasury Department has awarded the second tranche of the city package in the wake of parliamentary elections.

Developer Asked to Show Clear Cause Why it should not have Casino License Cancelled
FIJI (October 3, 2013) -- Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has written to the chairman of One Hundred Sands Limited asking him to show clear cause why the Government should not cancel its exclusive casino license, the Fiji Broadcast Corporationreports..

Racetrack to Install one of the Largest High Definition Video Screens in the World
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (October 7, 2013) -- In a $12-million project in collaboration with Panasonic, Churchill Downs the Louisville racetrack is erecting a 15,224-square foot high-definition video screen beyond the direct track on the backstretch.

Racetrack to Install one of the Largest High Definition Video Screens in the World
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (October 7, 2013) -- In a $12-million project in collaboration with Panasonic, Churchill Downs the Louisville racetrack is erecting a 15,224-square foot high-definition video screen beyond the direct track on the backstretch.

Casino Disputes Rumours of Bankruptcy
ATHENS, Greece (October 6, 2013) -- Reports tearing through Greek media that the major casino of Loutraki will go out of business was being discredited by the business’ officials on Oct. 6.
They denied it would go bankrupt, a report fuelling worry among its workers.
The Public Relations Manager, Yiannis Vrachatis, speaking to the Greek news agencyAMNA said the news of bankruptcy is untrue and false.

Rocky Gap Casino Resort Receives Approval
CUMBERLAND, Maryland (October 7, 2013) -- Rocky Gap Casino Resort announced Monday, Oct. 7 it received approval from the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency to offer poker.
There now are three poker tables with eight seats each in the hotel lobby offering Texas hold'em with both limit and no limit stakes.

Casino Pact Given House Approval
PLYMOUTH, Massachusetts (October 7, 2013) -- With debate and a favourable vote anticipated on Wednesday, the House on Monday gave initial approval to a tribal gambling compact (H 3376) that Governor Deval Patrick negotiated with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, which hopes to build a resort casino in Taunton.

OPAP Deal to be Completed by Friday
ATHENS, Greece (October 7, 2013) -- The countdown for the completion of the privatization of OPAP has started, and before the bourse opens on Friday Greek-Czech fund Emma Delta will have completed the acquisition of 105 million shares in the gaming company and paid state privatization fund TAIPED 622 million euros.

Bill Allowing the Operation of Video Lottery
SAIPAN (October 8, 2013) -- Governor Eloy S. Inos signed into law yesterday a revenue-generating bill allowing the operation of video lottery in the CNMI, even as lawmakers are also weighing two other gaming measures that legalize casino gaming on Saipan and allow electronic gaming at certain hotels.

Governor Appoints new members to Indiana State Lottery Commission
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (October 7, 2013) -- Governor Mike Pence has named new members to four-year terms on the Indiana State Lottery Commission.

SMP Partners Creates New Positions for Gaming Sector
ISLE OF MAN (October 7, 2013) -- SMP Partners, the dominant provider of corporate services to the Isle of Man's e-gaming sector, has boosted its dedicated Gaming Department with the creation of two new posts.
Luke Fisher and Vicky Campbell are joining the team, which now has more than 20 members, publication Isle of Man.com reports.

MONDAY OCTOBER 7, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Senators Plea for Governor to End Privatization Push
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (October 7, 2013) -- Two Democratic state senators want Governor Tom Corbett to pull the plug on his efforts to privatize Pennsylvania's Lottery and turn his attention to what they say are more pressing issues including transportation funding, Medicaid expansion and education funding

Islands Double the price of Lottery Ticket
GUERNSEY (October 7, 2013) -- The price of tickets for the Channel Islands Christmas Lottery has doubled to £2, BBC News reports. The new tickets have gone on sale and each have two numbers on and a scratch card section.

National Lottery Awards Certificates for Outstanding Contribution from Retailers
LONDON, UK (October 6, 2013) -- Customers of a National Lottery outlet have contributed a staggering £2.5 million to good causes since the lottery began. In the 18 years since the National Lottery began, Todmorden News Centre, Bridge Street, is one of the busiest stores of its size in the north west where lottery ticket sales are concerned.

Court Rejects Complaints over Gambling Machine Ban
BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 6, 2013) -- Hungary's constitutional court rejected complaints over a ban on gambling machines, which came into effect last year, the ruling published on Friday said.

Minister Surrenders Lottery and Gaming Portfolio
TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS (October 5, 2013) -- Cabinet Minister Washington Misick now has a diminished portfolio after surrendering lottery and gaming to Premier Rufus Ewing

Vanuatu Prepares to License New Wave of Offshore Bookmakers
Patrick Bartley, Ben Butler for The Age / Fairfax Media
MELBOURNE, Australia (October 3, 2013) -- Australia's sports authorities face fresh threats to their battle against race-fixing and match-fixing, with tax haven Vanuatu preparing to license a new wave of offshore bookmakers, print publication 'The Age' reports. The move by the Pacific nation, which is heavily reliant on Australian government aid, comes as the racing industry prepares for its busiest time of the year.

Deal with Bookmaker will continue to Pay Dividends
LONDON, UK (October 4, 2013) -- Manchester City is betting its deal with Paddy Power will continue to pay dividends in the UK, Ireland, and Italy. The Premier League club extended its deal by two years with its official betting partner. As part of the agreement, Paddy Power will tailor offers and bets around Man City matches throughout the season.

Extended Time for Lotto Betting
HELSINKI, Finland (October 5, 2013) -- The first drawing of the national lottery, Lotto, televised by MTV3 took place at 10:15 PM on Saturday. The new time means that bets can be placed an hour and a half longer on the day of drawing than in the past. Up until now Lotto betting closed at 8:30 PM. With the shift of televised drawings from YLE to MTV3, betting has been extended until 10 PM.

Table Trac, Inc. Expands its Presence in Nebraska
Signs Two Casino Management Systems with the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
MINNETONKA, Minnesota (October 3, 2013) -- Table Trac, Inc. (OTCQB: TBTC), a developer and provider of casino information and management systems that automates and monitors the operations of casinos, today announced the completion of a new systems contract to provide its CasinoTrac casino management system for the Iron Horse Bar and Casino and Native Star Casino, two casinos operated by the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Arkansas Lottery Applauds Contribution by Vendors to Student Assistance Program at Conference
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (October 4, 2013)  -- At 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2013, Arkansas Lottery Commissioners Ben Pickard and Raymond Frazier, along with Director Bishop Woosley, will be guests of the Arkansas Association of Student Assistance Programs (AASAP) Conference in Rogers, Arkansas.  They will be in attendance to applaud Arkansas Lottery vendors Intralot and Scientific Games as they present individual checks totalling $40,000 to Upward Bound recipients.

Atlantic Lottery Director Angered by Offshore Betting Site Advertising Presence during CFL Game
MONCTON, New Brunswick, Canada (October 4, 2013) -- The head of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation says an illegal, offshore gambling site was advertising at the recent CFL game in Moncton, CBC News reports.
Bet365 was among the advertisers at the games between the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tigercats that was played in Moncton on Sept. 20. Bet365 offers online gambling including sports betting and poker.

Wyoming Lottery Board Sets the Standard Early for Excellence in Transparency
CASPER, Wyoming (October 4, 2013) -- The Wyoming Lottery Board has a chance to do something few government bodies do: It can set an early standard of excellence for transparency.
Now the question posed by publication Trib.com, will those on the board do the right thing and keep it and its decisions open to the public?
So far the signs are good. The lotto board was quick to disclose the $165,000 salary of Jon Clontz, the Wyoming Lottery’s new CEO. That’s a good start.

Former Albertsons Ceo Appointed To Idaho Lottery Commission
BOISE, Idaho (October 3, 2013) -- Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter announced the appointment today of Gary Michael, retired chairman and CEO of Albertsons Inc., to the vacancy on the Idaho Lottery Commission left by the death of longtime Commission Chairman Roger Jones of Glenns Ferry in August.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 4, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Sports Betting Agencies Outspent Many of Australia's Biggest Companies on Advertising
SYDNEY, Australia (October 4, 2013) -- Sports betting agencies have outspent some of Australia's biggest advertises, including Myer, Ford and National Australia Bank, in their bid to attract punters ahead of Sunday's NRL Grand Final.
The betting agencies spent almost $50 million on TV, radio and print advertising over the past year, according to Nielsen data.

Atlantic Lottery Director Angered by Offshore Betting Site Advertising Presence during CFL Game
MONCTON, New Brunswick, Canada (October 4, 2013) -- The head of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation says an illegal, offshore gambling site was advertising at the recent CFL game in Moncton, CBC News reports.
Bet365 was among the advertisers at the games between the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tigercats that was played in Moncton on Sept. 20. Bet365 offers online gambling including sports betting and poker.

An Post and UK operator Camelot Awarded State Lottery Licence
IRELAND (October 4, 2013) -- The awarding of the State's lottery licence to An Post and UK operator Camelot marks the end of a two-year process to effectively privatise the 26-year-old franchise. The Irish Times writes that whether the new arrangements, involving a big international player, will see the business grow by the anticipated level remains to be seen. However, the €405 million price tag was more than many analysts predicted the Government would make, and marks a pretty positive start to the new era.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 3, 2013
NEWS BREAK

News Bites for anything hitting my desk on Thursday will be Posted Later on This Afternoon AEST

Changes Adopted for State to Operate a Lottery
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (October 2, 2013) -- Changes to the National Lotteries Amendment Bill allowing the state to operate the lottery for eight years have been adopted by Parliament's portfolio committee on trade and industry, publication BDLive reports. The committee adopted the bill on Wednesday despite strong opposition from the Democratic Alliance (DA).

State Lotteries held this Saturday, its 250th Anniversary with a Special Drawing from La Granja
SPAIN (October 2, 2013) -- 250 years ago King Charles III signed a charter that gave rise to the first National Lottery. These events, occurring in the Real Sitio de San Ildefonso, are commemorated on Saturday, day 5, with a Special Sweepstakes which houses the largest prize ever summoned to tenth, with twenty million.
State Lotteries Saturday will commemorate its 250th anniversary with a special drawing to be held at the Real Sitio de San Ildefonso.

“Halloween Millions Raffle” Provides “Treats” For New Jersey Winners
TRENTON. New Jersey (October 2, 2013) – No tricks – just treats – for winners selected in the first of four New Jersey bonus raffle drawings in the Halloween Millions Raffle game. The first bonus drawing was held today, October 2, and one lucky lottery player was selected as the winner of the $10,000 top prize and 150 other players have each won a $100 second prize. All of these winners remain eligible to win one of the $1,000,000 Grand Prizes to be drawn on November 1.

Kansas Lottery Supports Veterans with Veterans Scratch Games
TOPEKA, Kansas (October 2, 2013) -- The Kansas Lottery is proud to honor Kansas military veterans through the sale of special veterans scratch games. The tickets not only provide recognition for Kansans who have served their country, they also fund programs that directly benefit Kansas veterans.

National Lottery Ticket Price Increase Commences, as Polls try to gauge Player Reaction
LONDON, UK (October 2, 2013) -- The cost of a National Lottery Lotto ticket has doubled to £2.
The rise, the first since the lottery started in 1994, is part of a package of changes including bigger prizes, says operator Camelot.
Prizes for matching three numbers will rise from £10 to £25. Average jackpots are predicted to rise to around £5m on Saturdays and £2.5m on Wednesdays.

Government May Issue 2nd Round of Bidding
DUBLIN, Ireland (October 2, 2013) -- With the competition for the State’s lottery licence entering its final phase, those vying for the prize will be hoping the Government will not decide to initiate a second round of bidding, the Irish Times suggests.
The rules of the competition stipulate that if the leading bids fall within 2.5 per cent of each other, a second round of bidding will automatically be triggered.

Gambling Commission and National Lottery Commission merge on 1 October
LONDON, UK (October 1, 2013) -- Following Parliamentary approval, the Gambling Commission and the National Lottery Commission merge on 1 October 2013.  No change has been made to the legislation which governs how commercial gambling and the National Lottery are regulated.

Lottery still has Confidence in GeoSweep Game, Closely watches Revised Version of Game
NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada (October 2, 2013) -- The Atlantic Lottery Corporation says it may take another chance on its failed GeoSweep game.
The company shut down the game earlier this year after disappointing sales, but it still has millions of taxpayer dollars riding on its success.

National Lottery Gives Full Approval for Camelot’s Rejuvenation of Core Game
LONDON, UK (October 1, 2013) -- The National Lottery Commission has agreed to Camelot’s proposal to rejuvenate the core National Lottery game, Lotto.

Opponents Gather Signatures to Challenge Referendum
SAN FRANCISCO (October 2, 2013) -- Opponents of an American Indian casino planned to be built in California away from tribal lands have collected what they say is enough signatures for a 2014 referendum to challenge the governor and the legislature's approval of the gambling hall, Reuters reports.
If the measure qualifies for the ballot, it will likely set off a multimillion-dollar battle over the location of tribal gaming casinos in the nation's most populous state.

Football Legends Feature in Powerball Advertising Campaign
Terry Bradshaw, Warren Moon, Joe Namath, Jerry Rice and Barry Sanders to be Featured in Powerball Advertising Campaign
Pro Football Hall of Fame Lets Fans Get in on the Action and Meet their Heroes at Inaugural 2014 Fan Festival

Camelot Aims to Establish a Reciprocal Relationship with Lotto Players
LONDON, UK (September 30, 2013) -- Camelot hopes to bolster its ongoing ‘new dawn’ marketing strategy by establishing a more reciprocal relationship with Lotto players and encouraging its retail partners to become more proactive brand advocates.

International Expert on Organised Crime Says Soccer Authorities must be Vigilant for Signs of Match Fixing
ADELAIDE, South Australia (September 28, 2013) -- South Australian soccer authorities must be vigilant for signs of match fixing, according to an international expert on organised crime.
The Daily Telegraph reports that Declan Hill, who specialises in the study of organised crime and international issues, has warned that South Australia's time zone was perfect for a billion online gamblers in Asia.

MDI Unveils New Digital Rewards Store with Movies, eBooks and Larger Music Library
ALPHARETTA, Georgia (October 2, 2013 – MDI Entertainment, LLC, a subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq: SGMS), announced today the formation of a strategic partnership with Choose Digital, a leading provider of digital content to loyalty and incentives programs including Marriott Rewards® and United MileagePlus®. As a result of this partnership, lotteries participating in MDI’s Properties Plus® loyalty rewards program now can offer their players an even larger selection of digital rewards. Included in the new “Lottery Digital Marketplace” are thousands of movies to rent or purchase, more than 500,000 eBooks and audiobooks, and more than 6 million music tracks. Television shows and additional digital content will be added next year.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Receipt Lottery has First Drawing
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (October 1, 2013) -- The state lottery monopoly Tipos today announced the first winners of the National Lottery receipt lottery. The first prize of ten thousand euros went to east Slovakia, gained pad of purchase for 6.30 euro.

State Lottery Sales Top $1.28 Billion For Education
LOS ANGELES, California (October 1, 2013) -- California schools and colleges received $1.28 billion in lottery funds last year, the state controller's office said Tuesday, according to reports from the Los Angeles Times.
More than $1 billion was paid to K-12 schools. Community colleges received more than $168.5 million, the California State University system was paid more than $46 million, and the University of California was allotted nearly $30 million.

New Free Facebook Competition Launched by FDJ - "The workshop of Dreams"
FRANCE (October 1, 2013) – To celebrate it 80 years of service to the people of France, the National Lottery, La Française des Jeux (FDJ), has launched a free competition on the internet so that everyone can realize their dream.

Australasian Gaming Expo scheduled for August 12-14, 2014
London Olympics building to be reassembled for Australian show
LONDON, UK (October 1, 2013) -- One of the temporary structures developed for the London Olympics last year is being shipped out to Australia to provide a home for the 2014 Australasian Gaming Expo, which will be held from August 12-14. The event will be on a new site at Glebe Island, surrounded on three sides by the Sydney Harbour and with spectacular views of the Anzac Bridge and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

AG says Lottery Commission Will Determine Decision on Keno
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (October 2, 2013) -- Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says it's up to the state's Lottery Commission to determine whether it can offer keno under the constitutional amendment setting up the lottery, the Associated Pressreports.

Extension Given to Final Draft Gaming Report
MIAMI, Florida (October 1, 2013) -- Faced with omissions and confusing data in the 464-page draft report on gaming in Florida, the chairman of the Senate Gaming Committee on Tuesday said that legislators will give a month-long extension the Spectrum Gaming Group so that the company can refine the final draft that was due today.

Lawsuit Issued over Referendum Proposal Language
SYRACUSE, New York (October 1, 2013) --  Stop the ballot presses: A Brooklyn lawyer is asking a New York judge to make New York officials re-write or remove a referendum proposal that would expand casino gaming throughout the state, according to news site Syracuse.com.

Dealer Positions will Only Be Filled by Locals under My Term
Tony Lai for Macau Business Daily
MACAU (October 1, 2013) -- Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On stressed yesterday only permanent residents will be allowed to work as casino dealers as long as he is in office.
Speaking on the sidelines of National Day celebrations organised by the Macau Chamber of Commerce, Mr Chui recalled that he had “promised” that only residents could become dealers, Macau Business News reports.

IG Group Hires Agency to Educate the Public on Spread Betting
FTSE 250 Company IG Group has appointed Brands2Life to explain spread betting and forex trading to the public
LONDON, UK (October 1, 2013) -- The agency Brands2Life has won the newly created brief, which also includes positioning the company as a standard bearer in global business, following a competitive pitch.

INTRALOT S.A. Earns GSA Certifications for iGEM Site Controller
LAS VEGAS (October 2, 2013) – The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) is pleased to announce that INTRALOT S.A. has earned its first certifications under GSA’s Certification Program.

Bloomberry Resorts appoints new President, COO
MANILA, Philippines (October 2, 2013) -- Thomas Arasi, former president and CEO of Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, is now at the helm of the US$1 billion Solaire Resort and Casino complex operated by Bloomberry Resorts Corp, Solar news reports.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 1, 2013
NEWS BREAK

RAY's Revenue Has Continued To Increase
HELSINKI, Finland (September 27, 2013) -- The revenue of Finland's Slot Machine Association continued to increase in the second four-month period of the year. However, yield development slowed down slightly from the start of the year; in January-August, revenue increased by 2.1% from last year and amounted to MEUR 520.2.

Sportium Official Sponsor of football club Elche
SPAIN (October 1, 2013) -- Bookmaker Sportium, a joint venture of bookmakers Ladbrokes and CIRSA, has been named the official sponsor of the football club Elche, acting in the highest division of the Spanish La Liga.

Massachusetts State Lottery’s SUPER 50/50 Raffle is back for the Holiday Season
BOSTON, Massachusetts (September 30, 2013) -- Ticket sales begin October 1, 40 chances to win $2,000 bonus prizes before New Year’s Day drawing
The Massachusetts State Lottery today announced that its SUPER 50/50 Raffle game is returning for the holiday season. Ticket sales for the limited-time $10 game begin on Tuesday, October 1 at all 7,400 Lottery retailers statewide.

Atlantic Lottery Recertified under WLA Level IV Responsible Gaming Program
Reaffirmed as a World Leader
MONCTON, New Brunswick, Canada (September 30, 2013) -- Atlantic Lottery has been reaffirmed as a world leader in responsible gaming and social responsibility by being recertified under the World Lottery Association’s (WLA) Responsible Gaming Framework (RGF).  It is the highest level of certification available.

State Lotteries Expects to Earn 4.8% more
The expected turnover rise by the agency in 2014 to 9127.8 million euros
MADRID, Spain (September 30, 2013) -- State Lotteries expects to earn 1.719 million euros in 2014, 4.8% more than the expected benefit for the year of 1,640 million euros, according to the Draft State Budget for 2014.

Bigger is Better! – Lottery Rolls Out First $20 Scratchers® Ticket with $5 Million Top Prize
$5 Million Jackpot Game Offers Largest Instant Scratchers Payday Ever! 
SACRAMENTO, California (September 25, 2013) -- It doesn’t get any bigger than this – literally! – and in so many ways. Just in time to kick off the fall season, the California Lottery is launching the state’s first $20 Scratchers game called $5 Million Jackpot. This striking, jumbo-sized ticket’s top prize of $5 million is worth more instant cash than any of our popular Scratchers have ever paid out! It goes on sale today at all Lottery retail locations.

West Virginia Hosts Lottery EXPO
CHARLESTON, West Virginia (September 30, 2013) -- The West Virginia Amusement and Limited Video Lottery Association plans to host its annual industry-wide EXPO in Charleston Oct. 15 and 16.
The Charleston Daily Gazette reports that the three major gaming manufacturers, along with hundreds of vendors, operators and retailers are expected to attend the two-day event at the Charleston Town Center Marriott.

Cabinet Endorses Tax Exemptions for Casino Project
COLUMBO, Sri Lanka (September 29, 2013) -- Australian casino tycoon James Packer has moved one step closer towards opening his integrated resort in Colombo, with the Cabinet endorsing a series of tax exemptions for the project. It now remains for Parliament to approve the project for it to go into operation. In the unlikely event that Parliament rejects the project, it will be deemed to be rescinded under the provisions of the Strategic Development Projects Act, the Sunday Times reports..


Holding Company to Manage State Enterprises Not justified
TALLINN, Estonia (September 29, 2013) -- Prime Minister Andrus Ansip says that the proposal made by Erkki Raasuke, former CFO of Swedbank Group and current adviser to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, to set up a holding company to manage all state enterprises is not miracle cure, writesÄripäev.
This is not a very original thought,” said Ansip, adding that similar attempts made in Europe have not been successful.

Bulgaria Adds to its Gambling Black List
SOFIA, Bulgaria (September 30, 2013) -- Top French poker site Winamax is among the latest additions to the Governments Black list of gambling sites in Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian online gambling regulator Bulgarian State Commission on Gambling has brought to 142 the number of internet gambling websites on its blacklist, which means that ISP access & local financial transactions could be impeded.


Act is effective Piece of Legislation in the Battle against Lottery Fraud and Cyber Crime
KINGSTON, Jamaica (September 30, 2013) -- Some 50 persons have already been charged under the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act, which was passed in Parliament less than six months ago.
This was disclosed by National Security Minister, Hon. Peter Bunting, who described the Act, commonly referred to as the Lotto Bill, as a “very effective piece of legislation”, which has made law enforcers much more equipped at tackling the lottery scam and other forms of cybercrimes.
I’m also very hopeful that we will see some convictions under this (legislation) within the next few months,” Mr. Bunting said.


EU Parliamentary Commission to Propose a Legislative Framework and Appropriate Measures to Combat Money Laundering
Linked to Betting, in Particular Sports Betting Gambling and Vote Buying To Be Included in the Fight with Organised Crime at EU Level
Article By: Zhaneta Kuyumdzhieva.
BRUSSELS, Belgium (September 30, 2013) -- On September 17th, the temporary committee of the European Parliament has completed its work, after almost 15 months, on Salvatore Lacolino's report (EPP, Italy) via which the committee recommends legislative measures to counteract crime, money laundering and corruption. The last proposed amendments to the report (totally 392) were complemented and adopted by 29 "in favour", 0 "against" and 8 abstentions. The interest in the document was really strong which predefined the intensive work of the committee to improve the scope of measures against corruption, organised crime and money laundering and, most of all, to take them out at EU level.

Prosecutors Rest case in Trial of Million Dollar Gambling Operation
SANFORD, Florida (September 30, 2013) -- Prosecutors rested their case Monday in the trial of a Jacksonville attorney accused of masterminding a veterans group that ran a $300 million gambling operation.
The Associated Press reports that prosecutors told jurors at attorney Kelly Mathis' trial Monday that they had rested their case, less than 10 days after giving opening statements in which they accused Mathis of helping build a network of Internet cafes that actually were computer casinos.

Casino Magnate Loses Libel Lawsuit
NEW YORK, NY (September 30, 2013) -- Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate and prominent Republican donor, has lost a $60 million libel lawsuit in which he claimed a Democratic group spread a false accusation that he had condoned prostitution in his casinos in Macau, Reuters news reports.
At issue was an article published on July 3, 2012 by the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) on its website that sought to dissuade then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney and other Republicans from accepting Adelson's allegedly "dirty" and "tainted" money.

Camelot Launches Online Competition
LONDON, UK (September 30, 2013) -- Camelot, the operator of the National Lottery, is launching an online singalong competition to the song in its new TV ad, which is based on the Gilbert O'Sullivan tune 'Ooh-wakka-doo-wakka-day', later today.

Agency Wins Swiss Lottery Contract for Web Development
GENEVA, Switzerland (September 26, 2013) -- The digital agency Geneva Net Design has just launched collaboration with two major advertisers Swiss Migros Geneva and the Loterie Romande.


Lottery Defends its Expenditure on Advertising of GeoSweep Game
NEWFOUNDLAND, Canada (September 30, 2013) -- The Atlantic Lottery Corporationspent almost $2 million to advertise and promote the GeoSweep lottery before withdrawing the game, documents obtained by CBC News through an access-to-information request show.
GeoSweep was launched in Atlantic Canada last year. Its introduction to the market was accompanied by a splashy promotional campaign, including TV ads, billboards, and buses covered by the logo.

Sports Betting Provider Extend Partnership for Handball Champions League
GERMANY (September 30, 2013) -- The international online sports betting provider bet-at-home.com and EHF Marketing GmbH (EHFM) extend their partnership for another season game. Starting from the season 2006/07 was bet-at-home.com sponsors the EHF Champions League active.

Chamber Supports Sports Betting Bill
WINDSOR, Ontario (September 30, 2013) -- Canada’s business community urged Monday for the passage of a sports betting bill which has been bogged down in the Senate the past 18 months, the Windsor Star reports.


Data Centre Upgrade will Benefit Islands eGaming Sector
ISLE OF MAN (September 30, 2013) -- Manx Telecom has started work on a £10 million three phase project, which upon completion will result in a new purpose-built data centre. Phase one of the Greenhill Data Centre is scheduled to be open for business on January 1, 2014. Located at the Isle of Man Business Park near to the company’s headquarters it will become Manx Telecom’s third data centre - in addition to Douglas North and Douglas Central - and by far the biggest of any on the Island in terms of rack space. Greenhill will be constructed to the same Tier 3 world class specification and have the same industry accreditations as Douglas North which already provides hosting services for Isle of Man Government and many leading private sector brands. When it is up and running, Greenhill will create new jobs with recruitment dependent upon the level of new business which the centre generates.

State Looks to Boost Video Lottery Revenue
PIERRE, South Dakota (September 30, 2013) -- The decline in revenue generated at video lottery establishments started years before voters approved a smoking ban in 2010, according to a report commissioned by the state lottery commission.


MONDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
NEWS BREAK

INTRALOT's VLT System Certified by GSA
First to Receive GSA Transport and Security Certification
ATHENS, Greece (September 30, 2013) -- September 30th, 2013 INTRALOT is the first international vendor to receive the Gaming Standards Association (GSA) Point to Point SOAP/HTTPS Transport and Security Specification and one of the two companies that have been certified internationally according to the GSA Game to System (G2S) Message Protocol standard, both of them for its VLT Monitoring system, iGEM.

Net Entertainment signs partnership agreement with online gaming operator William Hill PLC
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (September 30, 2013) -- Net Entertainment has signed a partnership agreement with one of the largest and most reputable online gaming operators in the world, William Hill PLC. Under the terms of the agreement Net Entertainment will supply William Hill with a selection of top desktop and mobile titles.

Winamax Managing Director Steps Down
FRANCE (September 30, 2013) -- Canel Frichet, managing director of French poker site Winamax, is to step down from her role with France's market leader in online poker cash games at the end of this month.

Sportech Plc Announce Joint Venture with Picklive
LONDON, UK (September 30, 2013) -- Sportech Plc (SPO.L) Monday announced a joint venture with Picklive, to launch Picklive USA, an innovative new gaming product worth an estimated $2 billion, through a combination of daily fantasy sports, social gaming and in-play entertainment

Big Week for Lottery Players
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (September 29, 2013) -- Last night's massive Powerball jackpot was the largest individual prize in the game's history. And all $33 million has gone to one winner. The lucky ticket for the must-win draw was sold in Ponsonby, in Auckland. Lotteries Commission spokeswoman Emilia Mazur says it's the biggest week ever in terms of prizes given away. "We gave away $22 million on Wednesday, to a Big Wednesday player in Christchurch, and now $33 million to another Powerball player in Auckland. "So it's a massive week for us."

Lottery Looks to Expand Player Base
Also Revising Traditional Ball Drawings
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (September 29, 2013) -- In an attempt to draw new players and reinvigorate the Hoosier Lottery, private operator GTECH Indiana has focused on new games and branding, the Journal Gazette reports. The goal is not to get current players to play more but expand the player base to those who otherwise would not consider it.

Illegal Lotteries Flourish Via Mobile
BANGALORE, India (September 30, 2013) -- Six years after all forms of lottery were banned in Karnataka, the State Excise and Lottery Enforcement Cell has uncovered a 'mobile lottery' racket in Ramanagaram, according to the Indian Express newspaper.
This form of lottery is similar to the banned matka, where a bet is placed on a certain number and prizes are distributed through a physical network. The new system, however, uses mobile phones and the internet for both betting and distribution of prizes.

Court Hears Tatts Deal was Open to Legal Challenge
SYDNEY, Australia (September 30, 2013) -- A Former Racing Queensland Limited director said he believed there was an opportunity back in 2008 to mount a legal challenge over a deal with gaming giant Tatts alleged to have cost the industry $91 million

Lottery Unveils New Scratch off Games, Keeping Products Fresh for Players
PANAMA CITY, Florida (September 29, 2013) -- New Florida Lottery scratch-off games came out this month, and state officials likely hope they'll be more successful than the Billion Dollar Blockbuster game that sold fewer than half of its 65 million pre-printed tickets and was taken off the market recently

Gaming Regulators Impose Fines
HANOVER, Maryland (September 30, 2013) -- More than two dozen instances of underage gambling at Maryland casinos will cost casino operators tens of thousands of dollars in fines. A consent agreement signed last week by gambling regulators and earlier by Maryland Live casino marks the state's first financial penalty for underage violations

December Date for Draft Rules on Gambling is Realistic
CONCORD, New Hampshire (September 28, 2013) -- The chairman of a state panel charged with writing new regulations to expand gambling in New Hampshire said Friday that a Dec. 15 deadline for draft rules is realistic

Commission to conduct Review after Fraudulent Casino Chips Case
DES MOINES, Iowa (September 29, 2013) -- The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will review on Monday a case involving counterfeit gambling chips used at a western Iowa casino, said Brian Ohorilko, administrator of the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

Final YLE Screening Of Lottery Draw On Sunday
HELSINKI. Finland (September 29, 2013) -- More than 42 years of tradition will come to an end on Sunday with the final YLE screening of Finland's weekly lottery draw. From the start of October the draw will be shown on MTV3 because the communications regulator ruled that YLE'S deal to show the draw was illegal.

New Lotto App That Will Help You Crack the Jackpot
BERGAMO, Italy (September 23, 2013) -- App Developer, Simiula introduces Lotto Dice Roller 1.0, their new entertainment app for iOS devices. Lotto Dice Roller is a lucky random number selector for lotteries 6 from 49.

Betting Operators Welcome Sanctions
BRUSSELS, Belgium (September 25, 2013) -- Mike O'Kane, Chairman of ESSA integrity body for the licensed betting operators, stated his organization did "fully supports tough sanctions against any player, official or other party did Engages in corrupt activity designed to manipulate sporting events to defraud bookmakers and Their customers. "

Record Amount Spent on Sports Betting
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (September 30, 2013) -- A record nearly $2 billion was spent on sports betting and the racing industry's poker machines in New Zealand last year, the New Zealand Racing Board says. TVNZ reports that the New Zealand's racing industry gets the greatest windfall from the board's record financial result announced this morning, receiving about $142 million in dividends as a result.

Britain's oldest football betting business has crossed the channel for the first time in its 90-year history
LONDON, UK (September 29, 2013) -- The Football Pools, which was founded outside Old Trafford stadium in 1923, has launched in France after agreeing a partnership with a company backed by former Chelsea footballer, Frank Leboeuf,

Paddy Power Strengthens its PR Department
LONDON, UK (September 27, 2013) - Paddy Power has Bolstered its public affairs department with the recent hire of Adam Smith. According to publication 'PR Week,' Adam Smith was brought in as head of external communications last week as part of the bookmaker's drive to strengthen its regulatory and governmental affairs firepower.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
NEWS BREAK

Record Profit for NZ Lotto
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (September 26, 2013) -- A record profit's been recorded by gambling agency Lotto. It's reported an almost $202 million profit in its annual report - an increase of over $11 million when compared to the previous financial year.

Lotterywest Posts Record Sales
PERTH, Western Australia (September 26, 2013) - West Australia's love of traditional punting has grown with a record $820 million spent on Lotto last financial year, defying a barrage of advertising for online betting by "men in stylish suits," from the competition. It means WA keeps its record as having the most Lotto sales per capita on Earth despite the world's biggest online book- maker Bet 365 arriving in 2012-13

The Lottery has been Supporting Community Causes to the Tune of £1bn in funding
BELFAST, Ireland (September 25, 2013) - Happiness and Family go hand in hand according to a recent poll conducted by the National Lottery. A National Lottery Good Causes poll in conjunction with Lucid Talk and the Belfast Telegraph found more than half of those polled are the most content when with our nearest and dearest. The National Lottery's own family in Northern Ireland - the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Sport NI - are close to breaking through the £1bn funding mark since we started out in 1994

Government Looks to Sell Betting Agency
CANBERRA, ACT (September 26, 2013) -- The ACT Government is considering selling the betting agency ACTTAB, the Australian Broadcast Corporation reports. A government-commissioned feasibility study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers has found there is a strong argument for a sale.

Legislature Pursues E-Gaming despite Passage of Video Lottery Bill
SAIPAN (September 25, 2013) -- Despite the passage of a video lottery bill now with the governor, the House and Senate are still pursuing an electronic gaming legislation whose conferees could meet as early as yesterday

Massachusetts Contracts with Pro-Lite for Modulex™ Jackpot Signs
COSTA MESA, California - (September 30, 2013) Pro-Lite recently delivered the first instalment of wirelessly updatable, double jackpot LED window signs, on a three-year contract from the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission (MSLC), which includes two one-year extension options. 2,500 signs were delivered

California Lottery Awards Advertising Account
SACRAMENTO, California (September 25, 2013) -- The California State Lottery has tentatively awarded Muse Communications a contract to help it reach African-Americans in the state, according to an intent-to-award notice, publication PR Week reports. The five-year contract is estimated to be worth up to $10 million, according to RFP documents for the account. The pact is expected to be formally approved at a board meeting on Thursday morning

Premier Defends Contradictory Action on Advertising, acknowledging that Competition for the Players Dollars is Fierce
PERTH, West Australia (September 26, 2013) - Lotterywest has reported a record $820 million spent on Lotto last financial year, despite a barrage of advertising campaigns from competitors, in attempts to attract the WA Player's dollar.

Maltco Lotteries U*BET Sports gets bigger and better!
Maltco Lotteries Limited has just launched two ambitious projects related to one of their most popular games-U*BET Sports
MALTA (September 24, 2013) -- All sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to browse and get connected to the magical and exciting world of U*BET sports through the new U*BET website: www.ubet.com.mt. The website brings together the integration of dynamic odds, thus offering more visibility.

Berjaya Remains intent on Acquisition of Luxury Car Dealership
MANILA, Philippines (September 25, 2013) -- The Philippine arm of Malaysian conglomerate Berjaya is extending its offer to acquire the remaining shares of a London-based luxury car dealer, declaring the bid "unconditional" after the investment holding firm's ownership breached the 50-percent mark.

Lottomatica Signs Agreement for Processing Tax Payments
ITALY (September 26, 2013) -- From today payments of Equitalia can be paid at the point of sale from Lottomatica SisalPay. La Stampa reports that thanks to an Agreement by Lottomatica SisalPay, taxpayers can now settle the payment slips through a wide time range and all days of the week, including Saturday and Sunday.

Inspired VLTS Go Live in Lottomatica Venues in Italy
LONDON AND ROME, (September 25, 2013) -- Inspired Gaming Group (Inspired), the international SBG and VLT specialist, and one of the largest suppliers of VLTs and Virtual Sports in Italy, today announce the start of a long-term VLT partnership with Lottomatica (GTECH SpA) and the installation of Inspired's VLTs in Lottomatica venues. Lottomatica is one of the largest operators in Italy with over 800 VLT venues

GVC says Sportingbet Deal Paying Off
LONDON, UK (September 25, 2013) -- GVC expects to beat market forecasts this year thanks to rapid progress on restructuring the Sportingbet businesses it bought this year, the online gambling company said on Wednesday. Reuters reports that GVC, listed on the AIM stock market, was the junior partner to William Hill in a 485 million pound ($775.2 million) takeover of online gambling group Sportingbet earlier this year.