Company Reports

Yesterday, Prime Minister Theresa May rolled out the new 10-year strategy for the National Health Service (NHS). According to the NHS plan, the British Government seems to be looking to expand prevention and treatment services coverage provided to problem gamblers. Prime Minister May herself described the launch of the NHS Long Term Plan as a “historic step” to secure the strategy’s future. The NHS is your number one priority – and it’s mine too. #NHSLongTermPlan pic.twitter.com/mhlZUSJqh5 — Theresa May (@theresa_may) January 7, 2019 For the time being, there is only…

Belfast City Council revealed that it is to discuss a motion focused on controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). The motion is set to be presented to the council on Monday, January 7th. It is expected to urge the gambling firms operating in the province to voluntarily cut the maximum stake of the machines, which have been regarded to as one of the greatest evils in the British gambling sector, from £100 to £2 in line with the decision which the UK Government announced several months ago. The Government’s Department for…

Today, the Isle of Man-based gambling software provider Playtech revealed that it has agreed to pay a total of €28 million as part of a settlement with Israeli tax authorities following an official inspection of the company’s accounts for the years from 2008 to 2017. As explained by the operator, it is to pay the amount of approximately €28 million in the next 30 days, with the payment set to be included as an exceptional item in its 2018 accounts. The company, which in December 2018 issued a warning that…

The past few years have been a dynamic period for the UK gambling sector. Various changes are being brought to life by local regulators, with 2017 and 2018 being marked by successful performances of gambling operators. Currently, the gross gaming yield of the British gambling industry is estimated to approximately £14 billion, and online gambling accounts for about £4.7 billion of the overall amount. Apart from registering a stable gambling revenue increase, 2018 has also posed some challenges to the operators, because country’s legislators realised that the great success of…

As far as gambling is concerned 2018 has not been an easy year for Australia. Gambling participation and spending rates have remained high, despite problem gambling concerns and state governments’ policies aimed at restricting the popularity of so-called poker machines among local residents. Anti-gambling campaigners and charity organisations focused on providing professional help for gamblers who suffer the negative impact of gambling addiction. Former problem gamblers have also raised voices, saying that electronic gaming terminals (EGTs), known as pokies, fuel gambling addiction among local people, with more Australians being affected…

Casino Canberra is to change its ownership following a deal with a company which is currently owned and controlled by one of the most successful hotel owners in Australia, Michael Gu. The transaction is estimated to AU$32 million. Tony Fung’s Aquis acquired Casino Canberra from Casinos Austria in 2014 at the price of AU$6.5 million. Now, the Hong Kong billionaire has decided to sell his majority stake to Blue Whale Entertainment in a complex deal involving a cash component, a loan payoff, as well as a 3-year transition period for…

Two croupiers of the Crown Perth resort and casino have faced a monetary fine for taking part in an unlawful gaming house set in a rental property which gave access to casino workers who were suspended from gambling to poker nights. The two workers in question, spouses Eugene and Jacqueline Soh, were suspended from participating in any gambling activities at the casino or place bets at the TAB since they are licensed croupiers. Despite that, Mr. Soh gambled occasionally, so he decided to rent a Morley-based house for AU$220 a…

One of the leading charitable organisations engaged with helping problem gamblers in the UK – GambleAware – launched a study focused on utilising behavioural science methodology, which has emphasised on responsible gambling tools and their impact on dealing with gambling addiction. Researchers from the behavioural insights team (BIT) of GambleAware are working on finding more efficient ways to reduce problem gambling on the Internet. The team has conducted some interviews in their most recent research, and also analysed operator data and used a mystery shopping experiment in order to better…

One of the largest gambling operators in the UK, Ladbrokes, agreed to pay a total of £1 million to the victims of one gambling addict who had stolen the money he was placing as bets in return to a formal promise not to refer the case to the industry regulatory body. Ladbrokes bombarded the problem gambler with various gifts over a two-year period, including free tickets to football matches and business class flights. The player, who managed a property business in Dubai confessed that he had stolen money from his…

Tabcorp, Australia’s largest domestic gambling operator, may not be the only bettor for buying the WA TAB as Starsbet and BetEasy are now rumoured to have joined the race for the planned privatisation of the betting agency. Media reports have suggested that the two companies are now eying a potentially lucrative deal after the value of the state-owned TAB dropped in half in recent years. In October, the West Australian Government announced that it would be moving forward with the sale of the TAB in an estimated $500-million deal. The…