Europe

Mixed views on Bwin.party prospects

SBC News Mixed views on Bwin.party prospects

Bwin.Party has received a consensus rating of “Hold” from the fourteen ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, although there is some variation in how the analysts are viewing the company’s prospects. According to American Banking and Market News, three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and nine have …

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Microgaming feel the Jungle Heat

SBC News Microgaming feel the Jungle Heat

Microgaming have given their multi-player offering a big boost with an enormous €100K network tournament and a brand new tournament slot, Girls with Guns – Jungle Heat Following the successful Festive Frenzy tournament in December, Microgaming have scheduled another gigantic network tournament for March, March to Riches. Utilising The Finer Reels of Life game, the tournament runs for the entire …

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Will new ARJEL boss stick or twist?

SBC News Will new ARJEL boss stick or twist?

Graham Wood, director of the iGaming Consultancy, looks at the task facing ARJEL’s new President. French punters may be hopeful that a change at the top of the country’s gaming authority ARJEL could mean a change of direction, but it is likely that they will be disappointed. Jean-François Vilotte, the outgoing President is likely to have left because he failed …

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POC needs to be ‘properly enforced’

SBC News POC needs to be 'properly enforced'

Ladbrokes have called for ‘proper enforcement’ of the point of consumption (POC) licensing of online gaming when it is introduced in the UK later this year. The firm estimate that the new tax, despite being planned for December this year, will hit their 2014 revenues by £2m and they want to see some benefit for this expense. They said: “How …

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New mobile sportsbook boosts Ladbrokes

SBC News New mobile sportsbook boosts Ladbrokes

Some good news for Ladbrokes in the bookmaker’s poor annual results has come in the shape of its mobile strategy. The firm launched its new mobile sportsbook in December and has seen amounts staked and sign ups up by more than 50% and active players growing by more than 30% year on year since the launch. Over the 2013 mobile …

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Increase in costs wipes out retail gains

SBC News Increase in costs wipes out retail gains

A 6.6 per cent increase in operating costs and a 20 per cent increase in gaming machine taxation saw Ladbrokes’ UK retail division post a 25.9 per cent drop in operating profit for 2013 to £133.9m. While gaming machines saw a net revenue increase of 20.2 per cent to £408.4m (mostly driven by growth in £2 stake B3 content), over …

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‘Disappointing’ results from Ladbrokes

SBC News 'Disappointing' results from Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes chief executive Richard Glynn has labelled his firm’s annual results for 2013 as ‘disappointing’ but maintains that the bookmaker has made ‘real operational progress’ during the year. The figures were never going to be good after a series of profit warnings during the period, but the company has posted a 32.9% drop in group operating profit to £138.3m with …

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Ladbrokes pay to be linked to social responsibility

SBC News Ladbrokes pay to be linked to social responsibility

Ladbrokes have reacted to the prevailing concerns over problem gambling in betting shops by altering the pay structure of its executives to take social responsibility targets into account. With the campaign against bookmakers, and B2 gaming machines in particular, in full force since the turn of the year, Ladbrokes have taken the smart move to underline how important the firm …

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Bodugi get licence suspended

SBC News Bodugi get licence suspended

Social betting operators Bodugi have had their licence suspended by the UK Gambling Commission after complaints that users could not access their money. Bodugi’s lack of dialogue with the regulator has forced the Commission to suspend the operating licence. In a statement, the regulator said: “The Gambling Commission has commenced a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 …

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