Chinese Resorts Are Quietly Setting Up ‘Cashless Casinos’ Daniela Wei, Bloomberg · June 18, 2018 at 3:26 pm They’re not quite casinos, but they’re pretty close -- and they could be coming to China sooner than some expected. On the tropical island of Hainan, at least five Chinese-owned resorts are laying the groundwork for so-called entertainment bars, where players put down real money on games but receive their winnings in the form of points that can be redeemed in local shops, restaurants and … [Read more...]
Betsoft obtains Romanian gaming license Luke Haward, CDC Gaming Reports · June 18, 2018 at 10:31 am Major online gaming developer Betsoft has announced that it has been awarded a National Gambling Class II License in Romania as part of a general push by the firm to expand across regulated markets worldwide. Headquartered in Malta but active across much of Europe, including Italy and Denmark, Betsoft have been persistent in pressing forward their expansion efforts in recent years. They also … [Read more...]
In Uganda, football fever causes betting flutter SportsStar Live · June 17, 2018 at 9:15 pm On a pot-holed street by Uganda's sprawling central jail, young men stream into a luminous betting shop that stands out from the surrounding dingy grocery stores lit by paraffin lamps. Inside, dozens of men clasp handfuls of betting slips as they huddle around a flat-screen television blasting out live commentary from the opening game of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Ronald Nyenje, a driver, … [Read more...]
Thai police struggle in online betting battle Wassayos Ngamkham, Bangkok Post · June 17, 2018 at 9:12 pm After rolling out a campaign to crack down on football gambling a month before the World Cup kicked off last Thursday, police are still losing the battle against both offline and online football gambling. Phanurat Lakboon, Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) deputy commissioner who was assigned to head a football gambling prevention and suppression centre, admitted that online betting made it … [Read more...]
Japan poised to launch one of world’s largest casino markets Ben Bland and Leo Lewis, Financial Times · June 17, 2018 at 9:07 pm An abruptly shortened debate, a railroaded committee session and a physical scuffle in parliament last Friday have brought Japan to the brink of passing a law this week that could create the world’s second biggest casino market after Macau. Despite continuing attempts by opposition parties to stand in its way, the “integrated resorts” law is scheduled for a full vote in the lower house of the … [Read more...]
Vietnam passes bill to allow betting on approved sports events Asia Gaming Brief · June 17, 2018 at 9:06 pm The Vietnamese government has passed a new law that allows locals to bet on government-approved sports events, local media reports. Named the Law on Sports and Physical Training, the new law is said to be based on the 2017 government decree that allows locals to bet on select international football games and horse and greyhound races, which came into effect March 31, 2017. Under the new law, … [Read more...]
Labour blasts government for delays to fixed-odds betting terminal curbs Rob Davies, The Guardian · June 17, 2018 at 9:03 pm Labour has accused the government of being “fundamentally weak” after ministers bowed to pressure from bookmakers and agreed to a two-year delay before slashing the maximum stake on controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). The maximum stake on the machines will still be cut from £100 to £2 but the change will not take effect until 2020, under the terms of a deal with the … [Read more...]
BHA announces new Racing Authority structure Luke Haward, CDC Gaming Reports · June 16, 2018 at 9:39 pm Last week, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) issued a statement confirming the structure of the new Racing Authority, which will take control of the functions currently performed by the Levy Board. Now confirmed by the majority stakeholders, the takeover will occur during April of next year. The biggest news in the new structure is the confirmation that yield from the adjusted levy scheme … [Read more...]
Netherlands announces crackdown on online World Cup bets Luke Haward, CDC Gaming Reports · June 16, 2018 at 8:42 pm The Dutch didn’t qualify for the World Cup this time around, but it would be churlish to suggest that this has anything to do with the recently announced crackdown on online betting they’re launching in the run up to the tournament. This is clearly something which has the best interests of the nation at heart; it is widely expected that across the world there will be an increase in illegal betting … [Read more...]
Scientific Games division signs deal to supply Ladbrokes’ UK locations with wagering equipment CDC Gaming Reports · June 15, 2018 at 5:59 pm Gaming equipment giant Scientific Games signed a seven-year deal to supply wagering products to Ladbrokes Coral Group for the company’s 3,500 betting locations in the United Kingdom. Las Vegas-based Scientific Games said the agreement involves the company’s United Kingdom-based SG Gaming and includes betting terminals, content and service. In a statement, Scientific Games said the agreement … [Read more...]
