Месяц: Февраль 2015

Doncaster Racecourse has announced that international online betting and casino company Betway is the new sponsor of the £100k Lincoln Heritage Handicap at Town Moor which marks the official start to the 2015 Flat Racing Season.

The sponsorship will be in place for the next three years.

Kieran Gallagher, executive director at Doncaster Racecourse said, “We are thrilled that Betway have entered into headline sponsorship for the prestigious Lincoln meeting.

"We are delighted to welcome Betway as a new sponsorship partner to Doncaster Racecourse and look forward to building a fruitful and lasting relationship”.

Alan Algar, sporting events & media relations manager at Betway, said: “Betway wants to continue to invest heavily in UK racing and are thrilled to be visiting some of the country’s finest courses over the season for a number of the calendar’s most historic contests.

"It’s an exciting time for us and we look forward to fostering partnerships with racecourses and bringing great offers to our customers in the coming months.”

The Lincoln draw for starting stall positions used to be considered crucial, but is arguably less important these days due to the extensive work carried out on Doncaster’s track a few years ago.

The draw is widely publicised and takes place live on At The Races creating excitement in the build up to the contest.

Although for historic reasons, some stalls are believed to be lucky, it is now generally considered a level playing field by trainers and jockeys bidding to get a good position in the early stages of the mile straight.

The Betway Lincoln Heritage Handicap forms part of the renowned ‘Spring Double’ bet, with the Grand National just two weeks later.

Romania is seeking to rescue its struggling economy with new gambling regulations through a risky program of high tax rates.

Ambitious Economic Goals for Struggling State

The goal of the gambling measures, as agreed to with the International Monetary Fund, is for one of the EU's poorest member states to reduce its deficit by four-tenths of a point to 1.83 percent of gross domestic product.

The head of Romania's gambling regulator ONJN estimates that the new regulation will bring in upwards of 100 million Euros in direct taxes this year, explaining how the new laws aim “to increase public revenue and stimulate the market” while harmonising “Romanian legislation with European norms.”

Current Climate

Apart from online gambling, Romania's gaming market is estimated to be worth 800 million Euros to the government after bringing in 150 million euros in tax revenues last year, a figure ONJN places at 0.1 percent of total national economic output.

Gaming operators expressed their obvious satisfaction with the government's decision to “open the tap,” as trade association gaming operator head Cristian Pascu called it.

The decision certainly provides relief to the approximate several hundred thousand Romanians who to this point have continued to risk two-year jail terms by connecting to foreign online gambling sites to keep playing, with poker websites the most popular gaming sites frequented.

Romanian gaming operators are now looking forward to hosting poker tournaments which could attract thousands of foreign free-spending tourists.

Exorbitant Tax Rates?

The problem is that behind the new freedoms is a tax hike that could cripple operators if expectations are not met, with potential annual license fees reaching 180,000 euros ($205,000), and fixed directly to operator revenue levels.

Other exorbitant fees and taxes include a hike on slot machine licenses from 5,700 to 20,000 euros per year and a new "sin tax" from 1,000 to 5,000 euros to fund a new gambling addiction foundation, measures which Director of Romanian Bookmakers Association Alexandru Debrezeni claims will contract the market without bringing in significant if any added revenue.

Golden Riviera Casino has just announced that as of February 4, 2015, there will be an additional three new slot games on the site: Golden Era, Cricket Star and Loaded. If you like film, sports or music, you should definitely check out these new games.

Golden Era

Golden Era is a nostalgia-themed video slot game with 5 reels and 15 paylines. Players who are tired of all the flash and glitz of contemporary casino games can finally play a relaxed slot game, reminiscent of the golden age of Hollywood, when times were calmer and life golden. Golden Era includes Wilds, Scatter symbols, Free Spins and a Double Feature Bonus.

Cricket Star

Cricket Star is a game for sports fans, and it arrives at Golden Riviera Casino right before one of the biggest cricket events in the world, the ICC Cricket World Cup. Cricket Star is an action-packed slot with 5 reels and 243 ways to win, and includes special features such as Rolling Reels and a Multiplier of up to 10x steps up to bat.

Loaded

Players may recall the original Loaded slot, a 5-reel, 25-payline game with a hip-hop theme and rhythmic beat. Now, Golden Riviera Casino is adding the new, revamped version of the game, which includes icons of urban culture, bling and pimped-out cars – all in dazzlingly clear HD.

Golden Riviera Rewards New Players

New players at Golden Riviera are treated to a generous welcome offer of up to $/€1,400 on their first three deposits. Players can also use the 30 free spins to play these new game releases. Golden Riviera is a licensed online casino that uses sophisticated 128-bit SSL encryption system to protect their data. Games are available on desktop or mobile.

Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment(SHRE), touted as one of the most influential operators of hotels and casinos, and owned by Florida's Seminole Indian tribe has announced reviving plans of entering the New Jersey hotel casino business. Last Thursday, the entertainment firm received a Statement of Compliance issued by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission (NJCCC), which embodies the approval to bring the Hard Rock Casino brand to Atlantic City or elsewhere in New Jersey, including the Meadowlands, where SHRE has a 16 percent stake at the Meadowlands Racetrack. SHRE, in fact, acts as the gambling operator of the racetrack with the concurrence of the majority shareholders.

However, since NJ laws stipulate that gambling activities remain confined within Atlantic City, establishing a Hard Rock Casino business beyond NJ's gambling Mecca entails enactment of legislation for gambling expansion. Nonetheless, it is something that could likely take place, as legislative support for such an initiative has been on the rise in recent years.

The CEO of SHRE James Allen confirmed reports that his company is eyeing Revel Casino as a potential site for a Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City, although he did not disclose specifics about the planned project. He mentioned having conversations with Glen Straub, the controversial stalking horse bidder who eventually succeeded in gaining the right to acquire the financially distraught $2.4 billion Revel Casino, and at his original bid price of $90 million.

Mr. Allen commented that the discussions did not result to any definite agreement, of whether SHRE will enter into a partnership with the Florida-based Revel buyer as a co-purchaser, or as operator of a future gambling facility. He added that they have been mulling on Revel since the project’s inception. Yet, the casino edifice, albeit an amazing one, presents some challenges. He revealed that even before it went under bankruptcy proceedings, SHRE made a previous offer to acquire the high-end casino but was turned down. The CEO of the Seminole-owned entertainment company said they did not submit a bid for the bankrupt casino during the auction sale.

Actually, SHRE had previous plans of entering the Garden State’s casino business back in 2011, as the only state-approved participant to a 200-room boutique hotel-casino pilot project supervised by the NJCCC. The project was in line with a state legislation that amended the erstwhile minimum 500-room requirement to 200 rooms. The initial phase of the project was for the construction of a 200-room hotel casino at the southern end of the city’s Boardwalk at the foot of Route 40; to later expand with 650 more rooms. The initial cost was estimated at $465 million and the construction to have started in January 2013, with a target date of completion set for January 2015.

SHRE though did not push through with the project, citing poor economic conditions, not only in Atlantic City but also on a nationwide scale as the main reasons for backing out of the state-approved deal. Back then, NJCCC Chairman Matthew Levinson, expressed hopes that SHRE would reconsider its decision and return to Atlantic City once market conditions improve. Apparently, a rock-and-roll themed Hard Rock Casino in New Jersey is still regarded as a bankable project on which to pin hopes of reviving NJ’s flailing casino industry.

Germany is one of the most complex online gambling markets in Europe, and a consequence of that complexity appears to be the impending exit of five leading Playtech casino sites from the country.

Set to exit Germany on Sunday 1 February 2015 are Casino.com, Club777 Casino, Les A Casino, Mansion Casino, and Slots Heaven. Now, although those sites will continue to accept gamers who wish to play with fun-credit, no real-money bets will be permitted in Germany.

The driving force behind the decision is said to be the confusing legislative situation in Germany. At present, the country does not maintain online gambling legislation at a national level. Instead, that decision is ceded to the country’s 16 federal states. In that sense, Germany is similar to the US.

German Gambling Legislation

Back in 2008, Germany and its 16 states made horseracing the only exception in its decision to make all forms of online gambling illegal. Just two years, though, the European Court of Justice intervened on the grounds that Germany was contravening the EU’s free movement of trade legislation. Consequently, Germany was told to liberalise its online gambling legislation in 2010.

Moving forward another two years to 2012, 15 of the 16 states liberalised their legislation by legalising online sports betting in Germany. However, they refused to do the same for online casinos. But one exception was Schleswig-Holstein, where 50 licenses were approved and issued to online gambling operators.

Casino Player Fined

In spite of being a country where online casino gaming is overwhelmingly illegal, Germany residents were still able to sign up for and play with many prominent casino sites.

Now, though, it appears that Germany is ready to punish its residents that ignore the law. And at the start of January, a German online casino player found this out to his detriment when he had winnings of €63,490 confiscated.

The issue of sports betting in America has been ongoing for years and it presents a tough question that in itself contains some funny contradictions. It is a fact that America is a superpower in terms of sports, with millions of Americans watching the Big Four leagues: MLB, NFL, NHL and NBA.

The popularity of these leagues is not confined to the US only as it crosses borders and watched by millions all over the world. And here's another interesting fact: People around the world who watch these leagues actually place bets on the games using online sportsbooks, while Americans simply can't (legally).

The PASPA Barrier

The 1992 "Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act" (PASPA) effectively outlawed sports betting in the US with exemptions for sports lotteries in Montana, Delaware, Oregon and Nevada which had licensed sports pools. The big professional leagues were among the strongest lobbying forces for the passing of the PASPA.

The reasons in a nutshell were a fear of the leagues' reputation which will be harmed and the integrity which could be compromised, as sports betting introduces the dimension of match fixing and other non-kosher activities. New Jersey was one of the combative states looking to change the PASPA but so far the efforts did not go far.

Is Sports Betting in America Inevitable?

In November 2014, the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that legalized sports betting is just a matter of time in the US. Silver talked about the huge potential of revenues that America is missing as long as it does not legalize sports betting; more so, Silver warned that there are Americans who resort to illegal gambling.

One good example for the contrast between America and Europe is the English Premier League, one of the most popular leagues in the world. Just across the pond millions bet on Premier League matches every week. Some of the biggest football clubs have huge contracts with online bookmakers who are licensed and regulated.

The Fantasy Sports Case

The popularity of fantasy sports could be a good case for actual sports betting regulation in the US, as the number of active players ranges anywhere from 25 to 30 million. The Unlawful Internet Gambling and Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) has defined fantasy sports as a game of skill and not of chance – the explanation being that players can use knowledge about the sports in order to win.

The weird and funny part is that the explanation is correct when it comes to actual sports betting as well. Fantasy sports bets are of course placed based on imaginary sports leagues and teams, but these are based on real-life leagues and are aimed at being as realistic as can be.

The Super Bowl – A Peak for Illegal Gambling

The American Gaming Association (AGA) estimates that Americans will make $3.8 billion in illegal bets on the upcoming Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. This, according to AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman, is proof that the ban on sports betting is failing.

The irony is strong in this case as millions of people can bet on tonight's Super Bowl at prominent bookies like William Hill Sports and Winner Sports, while Americans themselves are left in the dark.

What's in the Future for US Sports Betting?

The November 2013 regulation of iGaming in Delaware, New Jersey and Nevada was a positive step towards gambling as a whole that signaled that there is some moderation in the hardline stance against different forms of gambling in the greater US. Yet, the way to legalized sports betting in America is still long as many strong forces with political and financial power oppose the idea.

Perhaps in the future, US lawmakers and powerful lobbyists will learn from the UK that a regulated sports betting market with effective measures to prevent problem gambling can bring big revenues to the coffers as well as joy to people's hearts.