Online Casino and Gambling News: March 2009

The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has not minced its words in contributing comments to the public consultation on a report initiated by the Swedish Ministry of Finance into the gambling market in Sweden (the Nyren report), which expired today.

The UK online sportsbetting group Sportingbet has inked a deal making it a sponsor of the Wolves football club in England in a sponsorship agreement reputed to be worth seven figures but not yet fully disclosed.

Inspired Gaming Group, a provider in the Open Server-Based Gaming market, has signed a deal with William Hill plc to supply its Virtual Racing Platinum product across the entire estate, reports Reuters news service.

The disastrous consequences of Germany's exclusive gambling policies under the German Interstate Gambling Treaty were showcased this week in a press release from the major German Internet lotto provider Tipp24 AG. Hounded out of its own country, the firm has transferred operations to the more enlightened environment of the UK, shedding 139 out of 154 German jobs in the process.

Revenues up by 9% to €5.5 billion and net profits up 19.6% to reach €728.5 million were highlights of the 2008 financial report released by the Greek gambling monopoly OPAP this week. Earnings before taxation increased by 22.9% to €1.056 billion.

Officers from the Nacogdoches County Sheriff's office in East Texas mounted a raid on a mobile casino with a difference this week - it was operating from a doublewide mobile home!

Raha-automaattiyhdistys (RAY - the Finland Slot Machine Association) will be branching out into online poker soon, according to the Finnish minister for Sport and Culture, Stefan Wallin.

The Racing Post, Britain's largest racing newspaper is about to enter the online casino and poker sector of the industry with an offering developed in collaboration with 888.com. The horse racing newspaper will use its own brand to offer casino and poker deals to its massive readership, with 888 providing the software and customer support.

March has proved to be a successful month for two progressive jackpot players at the Fortune Lounge group's Royal Vegas online casino, with wins of $345,664.53 and €851,348.19 recorded on the Progressive Cyberstud Poker and Major Millions virtual machines.

The recent non-binding vote in the EU Parliament on the Schaldemose own-initiative report has resulted in some critical fallout for Malta' 5 MEPs.

The non-binding vote approved the concept that the regulation of online gambling in Europe should be left to the individual member states instead of hewing to a pan-European set of regulations. The vote effectively suggests that for Internet gambling, the broad EU principle of free movement of goods and services between member nations should not apply.