Cashback a popular incentive in the retail and commercial sectors has so far failed to take off in igaming and sports betting marketing. New affiliate portal GamblingDeals.com, aims to popularise the function solely for igaming operators with players receiving money back on their losses. This open rewards system will no doubt raise debate in igaming marketing circles. Team SBC caught …

PokerStars (Amaya Gaming) Italian operations have been accused by the Guardia di Finanza (financial police), of “wilfully eroding” Italian generated income revenues to offshore jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man and Malta. Italy’s financial police have begun an investigation against PokerStars’ Italian business branch Halfords Media Italy, accusing the company of not declaring on more than €300 million on …

Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred is prepared to discuss legalised sports betting with other US pro leagues and sporting bodies. Manfred joins NBA Chief Commissioner Adam Silver in his open approach to sports betting being allowed in the USA. Speaking to ESPN Manfred praised Adam Silver for opening discussions and debate on the subject matter. Manfred further commented …

Following the re-brand of the acquired Sportingbet.com.au to ‘William Hill Australia’, William Hill management announced the launch of its inaugural Australian TV campaign ‘it’s your call’. The TV advert debuted on Monday, and will be supported by further multi-channel campaigns promoting William Hill Australia. William Hill has pledged to spend a £5 million on Australian marketing activities in 2015. The …

Organisers of the inaugural iGaming North America Awards, which are aimed at rewarding excellence and innovation in the North American iGaming industry, have announced the shortlisted nominees today. You can view the shortlist here: http://ow.ly/K9dHN The iGaming North America Awards are organised in partnership with iGaming Business, The Innovation Group, eGaming Brokerage, Lewis Roca Rothberger and BolaVerde. They are the biggest awards in the …

Betfair plans to turn Britian’s most successful female Olympian Victoria Pendleton into a Cheltenham Festival jockey, as the multiple Olympic Gold medallist targets qualifying for the 2016 Foxhunter Chase. The operator has teamed Pendleton with legendary UK trainer Paul Nicholls with a view of qualifying for a Category A amateur riding licence which would allow the athlete to ride flat …

Poker media hub PokerTube (www.pokertube.com) has launched native mobile and tablet apps for iOS and Android devices, giving poker fans the chance to watch all their favourite videos on the go. With the launch of the new apps, PokerTube is poised to become the best and highest quality source of poker news and media in the world. The apps are …

The Chinese Security Ministry has continued its hardened stance against corruption in Macau, by warning mainland officials and Chinese business leaders that they would be monitored if they visited Macau gambling enterprises. The hardened approach to Macau casino enterprises is part of President Xi Jinping’s wider ongoing effort to curve Chinese corruption through the ‘Tigers & Flies’ special taskforce. Xi …

GTECH SpA governance has announced that its shares are to be de-listed on from the Milan bourse on 2 April, following its expected completion of US International Game Technology on 7 April. GTECH will form a new company under the name IGT, as the new merged gambling technology operator expects to float on the New York Stock Exchange. The announcement …

bwin.party reported declines in all full year 2014 top line metrics as the operator posted an operating loss of – €94 million (2013: €41 million). The operator disclosed that it had been impacted by a non-cash impairment charge on its poker business and other non-core assets of €104 million, which resulted in the 2014 operating loss. The operator recorded a …