Americas

Nevada reports casino gambling revenue up 9.6 pct
Nevada casino gambling revenue increased 9.63 percent in September from a year earlier to $1.01 billion despite concerns that high gasoline prices would deter tourists, state officials said. Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the heart of Nevada's gambling industry, reported gambling revenue jumped 17.8 percent in September from a year earlier to $541.22 million, the Nevada Gaming Control Board reported. Separately, the New Jersey officials said casino gambling revenue in their state rose to $427.9 million in October, marking a 10.2 percent increase from a year earlier, and provided the state government with $34.2 million in taxes. Gambling revenue reported by casinos in Nevada has increased for 14 consecutive months amid strong economic growth in the state and an upswing in tourism. "This is the third month this year and only the third time in the state's history that gaming revenues have exceeded $1 billion," Gov. Kenny Guinn said in a statement. "Our gaming industry is doing a tremendous job of keeping the Silver State at the forefront as a tourist destination through expansion and marketing." September's large gaming win provided Nevada's state government with $68.06 million in tax revenues, up 10.72 percent from a year earlier. Revenues collected from casinos in September were 5 percent above the state's forecast. Las Vegas Strip revenues posted the second-best month on record, according to Frank Streshley, an analyst with the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

Liberty Media pays US$195M for 51% of Fun Technologies
Liberty Media is buying 51 per cent of Toronto-based online game developer Fun Technologies in a deal valued at $195 million US. Fun, which lists its shares on stock exchanges in Toronto and London, provides private-label gaming systems and services to some of the world's largest interactive entertainment groups, including AOL, MSN and Virgin. Liberty is a holding company owning interests in a broad range of electronic retailing, media, communications and entertainment businesses. Its businesses include some of the world's most recognized and respected brands and companies, including QVC, Encore, Starz, IAC/InterActiveCorp, Expedia and News Corporation.

World wide casinos scam CEO arrested Hop-On.com
Chief executive Peter Michaels, the Southern California impresario who gained fame for touting a disposable cell phone, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding investors in connection with a defunct online gambling company. A federal indictment made public Thursday accused Michaels and others of raising $12 million to $18 million on behalf of World Wide Web Casinos (WWWC) with the help of telemarketers, glossy brochures and false representations. It also accused Michaels of pocketing some of the money. Specifically, the indictment said Michaels and others "cosmetically modified" an existing casino software program to make it look as if WWWC had created its own new program.
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Cyberathletes…look out pro sports players!
Johnathan Wendel is one of the top video gamers. This year he expects to make 6 figures, and he's giving back by promoting e-sports. Wendel, or Fatal1ty as he is known in the competitive gaming world, is a professional cybersportsman known for his skillful aim. At the Cyberathlete Professional League's World Tour Grand Finals, kicking off Sunday in New York, he hopes to take the $150,000 first prize, adding to the $86,000 he has already earned competing in live tournaments this year. See More >>>

Casinos target Asian Americans
Business is booming for California's tribal casinos National Indian Gaming Commission figures show that revenue for California tribal casinos ---- there are now 55 in the state ---- doubled between 2001 and 2004 to more than $5 billion a year. Hoping to add more oomph to that boom, officials with several local casinos are trying to attract even more business by targeting particular ethnic groups when marketing their casinos. First on the list for many marketers: finding a way to maintain and boost the large population of Asian Americans who gamble at their tables. Asian-American customers make up some 50 percent of the clientele at Pechanga Resort & Casino, a large casino near the Riverside and San Diego county lines, according to an official there. And officials at two other area casinos, while hesitant to specify how big a chunk of their business comes from Asian Americans, acknowledge that Asian Americans do make up a large part of their clientele. See More >>>

Europe

Ukbetting join rivals in profit warning
Ukbetting has joined rivals Ladbrokes, William Hill and Paddy Power in warning that its pre-tax earnings for the full year will 'come at the lower end of market forecasts'. All cite punter success as the chief reason.

Empire strikes back
Empire Online is planning legal action "in relation to damage caused" by the conduct of firms in the Partygaming group according to a statement issued by the online company after it pulled out of takeover talks. It was "highly confident" of a successful outcome in any legal action.

Empire clutching at straws
PartyGaming dismissed outright the chances of Empire Online’s threatened legal action over the latter’s recent decision regarding its ‘skins’ meeting with any success. John Shepherd, director of corporate communications at PartyGaming, said Empire was “clutching at straws” after it had rejected a revised offer for the business which PartyGaming said was “equivalent to around 60p per Empire share”.

Analysts see a brighter side to PartyGaming
Analysts at HSBC this week slapped a price target of 122p on the shares of PartyGaming, saying they saw potential upside of 30% on the share price at levels of 94p. In a research note initiating coverage with an ‘Overweight’ rating, HSBC – the house broker for 888 Holdings – noted that although the PartyGaming share price has retraced from its July high of 179p, the fall has been overdone. “We expect continued growth from its current core market [US], benefits from the data mining project started this year and new game offerings will drive top-line growth,” wrote Richard Wainwright, analyst for HSBC.

Ongame goes live with Polish and Russian
Ongame has launched real-money poker websites in Poland and Russia, making it the first major operator to launch websites in the native languages in these territories. The Russian version of Europoker.com will be accompanied by a multi-million dollar marketing campaign centred on Moscow, which will include TV and radio advertising, which will run until the end of this year. After that point, however, new restrictions on advertising egaming products will come into force.

Asia

Merrill weighs Singapore casino odds
Las Vegas Sands, MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment are "well placed" to win the rights to build a resort that will host Singapore's first casino, Merrill Lynch said in a report analyzing their proposals. The three Las Vegas-based companies are among 11 groups seeking to offer gambling in the city, which this year lifted its ban on casinos to expand tourism. Las Vegas Sands pledged to build a Guggenheim museum if it wins the concession, while Harrah's hired Daniel Libeskind, the master planner of the Freedom Tower at Ground Zero in New York City, to design its developments. The companies are attracted by the prospect of running casinos in one of Asia's richest cities, which is within a six-hour flight of 2.5 billion people. "We believe these companies have the experience in dealing with the Asian market, including premium play, and we expect these companies to bid aggressively," Sean Monaghan, a Merrill Lynch analyst who tracks the gambling industry, said in the report, which was released late Wednesday. See More >>>