Overseas-based gambling operators face having to pay millions of pounds in levies to support horseracing and research into gambling addiction, under new regulations being considered by ministers.
MPs have complained about the unfairness of British-based operators paying such levies while operators licensed offshore are allowed to advertise their products in the UK, yet pay nothing.
The view is shared by UK-based bookmakers who this week agreed to a further year of contributions to the Horserace Betting Levy, amounting to 10 per cent of their gross profits and adding up to about £100m ($148m).
Gerry Sutcliffe, sports minister, will announce on Thursday a review by the Gambling Commission and civil servants aimed at creating a fairer system of payments and “a more level playing field between British businesses and their overseas counterparts”.
As well as contributing to the horseracing levy, companies that have offshore servers such as PartyGaming, 888, Sportingbet and Betfair could be expected to help pay for regulating the industry and the treatment of problem gambling.
But the review faces complex issues, such as whether it would be possible to distinguish between the profits offshore companies make from UK and non-UK punters in order to determine the levy.
Mr Sutcliffe said the remit would also look into issues such as allegations of match fixing and what gambling operators are doing to preserve the integrity of sport.
He has already beefed up the commission’s investigations into betting irregularities by bringing in outside experts from sport, the betting industry and the police.
The commission and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will also review the controls introduced in the 2005 Gambling Act that created a regulated market for online operators.
Since September 2007, companies licensed in UK-recognised licensing jurisdictions such as Alderney, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man have been allowed to advertise under regulations policed by the commission.
MPs have been pressing ministers to explain why vast amounts of the £1.4bn generated by online gambling in the UK goes abroad.
Mr Sutcliffe said the Gambling Act, though freeing up the industry, was aimed at protecting consumers.
“We have taken steps in the right direction, but technology is changing and attitudes are changing,” he said.
Mr Sutcliffe said he recognised that Britain’s gaming taxation regime discouraged operators from basing their servers in the UK, but the issue was one for the Treasury to examine. (Credit: Financial Times)
Media Man Australia Profiles
British Gaming
British Casino
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Crown confident in Macau growth outlook - 29th April 2009
Casinos operator Crown Ltd has bought more shares in its joint-venture casino operator and developer in Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd (MPEL), and expressed confidence in the growth outlook for the Chinese enclave.
MPEL operates the Altira Macau, formerly known as Crown Macau, which opened in May 2007.
MPEL is also developing the City of Dreams casino resort at Cotai in Macau.
MPEL's major shareholders are Crown and the Hong Kong-listed Melco International Development Ltd (Melco).
Crown said on Wednesday that it had agreed to take $US45 million ($A63.71 million) in additional equity in MPEL's $US165 million ($A233.61 million) equity placement.
The placement may rise to $US180 million ($A254.85 million) if an over allotment option is exercised.
Melco has participated in the MPEL placement on the same terms as Crown.
Crown said the cost of its cash equity investment in MPEL, including the new shares, was now $US500 million ($A707.91 million).
Following the MPEL placement and assuming full exercise of the over allotment option, Crown's ownership interest in MPEL will be diluted slightly to 36.4 per cent.
"The substantial participation in this transaction by the founding shareholders of the company - Melco International and Crown Ltd - confirms our confidence in the growth outlook for Macau and Melco Crown Entertainment's competitive position within the market," Crown executive chairman James Packer, who is also co-chairman of MPEL, said.
"I am convinced that City of Dreams will set a new standard for casino development in Asia."
MPEL said that City of Dreams remained on track to open in early June and on budget.
Crown shares were steady at $6.42 at 1230 AEST on Wednesday.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Crown Macau
City Of Dreams
Crown Casino
James Packer
Australian Casino News
Casino Travel Media
Casino Travel Tourism
World Casino Directory
MPEL operates the Altira Macau, formerly known as Crown Macau, which opened in May 2007.
MPEL is also developing the City of Dreams casino resort at Cotai in Macau.
MPEL's major shareholders are Crown and the Hong Kong-listed Melco International Development Ltd (Melco).
Crown said on Wednesday that it had agreed to take $US45 million ($A63.71 million) in additional equity in MPEL's $US165 million ($A233.61 million) equity placement.
The placement may rise to $US180 million ($A254.85 million) if an over allotment option is exercised.
Melco has participated in the MPEL placement on the same terms as Crown.
Crown said the cost of its cash equity investment in MPEL, including the new shares, was now $US500 million ($A707.91 million).
Following the MPEL placement and assuming full exercise of the over allotment option, Crown's ownership interest in MPEL will be diluted slightly to 36.4 per cent.
"The substantial participation in this transaction by the founding shareholders of the company - Melco International and Crown Ltd - confirms our confidence in the growth outlook for Macau and Melco Crown Entertainment's competitive position within the market," Crown executive chairman James Packer, who is also co-chairman of MPEL, said.
"I am convinced that City of Dreams will set a new standard for casino development in Asia."
MPEL said that City of Dreams remained on track to open in early June and on budget.
Crown shares were steady at $6.42 at 1230 AEST on Wednesday.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Crown Macau
City Of Dreams
Crown Casino
James Packer
Australian Casino News
Casino Travel Media
Casino Travel Tourism
World Casino Directory
A New Chance for Online Gambling in the U.S., By Eric Pfanner - The New York Times - 26th April 2009
PARIS — Is online gambling coming in from the cold?
When the U.S. Congress cracked down on Internet betting in 2006, the big, publicly traded European companies that had dominated the business closed up shop in the United States. Growth in the booming industry shifted away from these companies, once the darlings of the stock market, to private operators in offshore locations like Antigua and the Isle of Man.
But now, executives of some of the European companies whisper excitedly that they may soon get a second chance in the United States. Meanwhile, a number of European countries that have long maintained barriers are moving, under pressure from regulators, to legalize, and tax, online gambling.
“There’s still a lot of gambling going on, where there’s no revenue coming in to the governments,” said Gavin Kelleher, an analyst at the research firm H2 Gambling Capital in Ireland. “They realize they could use the revenue.”
The biggest potential change would be in the United States, where, perhaps within days, Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, is expected to introduce legislation aimed at overturning the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
“He supports the repeal and wants to move forward on it,” said Steve Adamske, communications director for the House Financial Services Committee, of which Mr. Frank is chairman.
Mr. Frank tried and failed to do so once before, in 2007. But advocates of liberalization think they might get a friendlier hearing in Washington this time around. President Barack Obama, they note, boasted of his poker prowess during the election campaign. And the Democrats, who are seen as less hostile to Internet gambling than the Republicans, have tightened their grip on Congress.
A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers says the U.S. government could raise more than $50 billion over 10 years from taxes on legalized online gambling.
“I’d be amazed if it didn’t happen over the next two or three years,” said Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, a trade group based in London. “It’s just a question of what exactly the regulations will say.”
Some analysts say that may be getting a little bit ahead of the game. Opponents of a repeal, including the Christian Coalition of America and the National Football League, have vowed to fight any new effort to end the ban.
Michele Combs, a spokeswoman for the Christian Coalition, said the group was gearing up for a “massive campaign” of letter-writing and lobbying to try to prevent any loosening of the law.
“We’re not saying people shouldn’t go to Las Vegas,” she said. “But when it’s in your home, it’s too easy. It breaks up families.”
U.S. sports leagues, meanwhile, worry that the ease of online betting increases the chances of game-fixing. Even the most bullish advocates of online gambling acknowledge that Internet sports betting — as opposed to poker or casino games — is highly unlikely to be legalized.
“There’s a better chance now for some sort of gaming legislation to be approved,” said Nick Batram, an analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, a brokerage firm in London. “But it took longer than expected to put anti-gaming legislation in place, and it will probably will take longer than expected to remove it.”
Since the 2006 law was passed, North America, once the biggest market, has been passed by Europe and Asia, according to figures from H2 Gambling Capital. The law makes it illegal for financial institutions to handle payments to online gambling sites. But enough people have found ways around it, some by using overseas payment processors, to ensure that online gambling remains a thriving business. H2 says online gambling generated revenue of $6 billion last year in North America, more than a quarter the global total of $22.6 billion, up from $17.6 billion in 2006.
Pulling out of the United States cost PartyGaming about three-quarters of its business. Its position as the biggest online poker provider has been taken over by PokerStars, a privately held operator based on the Isle of Man.
This month, PartyGaming agreed to a $105 million settlement with the U.S. attorney’s office in New York, involving the period before 2006, when it acknowledged that its activities had been “contrary to certain U.S. laws.” In turn, the U.S. authorities agreed not to prosecute the company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, or its executives.
The agreement fueled speculation that PartyGaming might be trying to position itself for a return to the U.S. market, if online gambling were legalized.
Analysts say one possibility for European companies like PartyGaming, should the ban be lifted, would be to form partnerships with American casino operators. That would allow the European companies to share their online expertise. Operating alone, they might struggle to obtain licenses, given their history of run-ins with U.S. law enforcement, analysts said.
“It’s my feeling that even if the market were opened up, the U.S. government, in a palatable way, would probably find a way to give local companies a favorable position,” Mr. Batram said.
So far, Las Vegas executives have maintained a cautious stance about legalization of online gambling. Steve Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts, said in an e-mail message that he thought it would be “impossible to regulate.”
“Even though it would be a benefit to our company, we are strongly opposed,” he said.
But speculation that Las Vegas casino operators were looking into the possibilities was fueled by recent reports that Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns Caesars Palace and other casinos, recently hired Mitch Garber, former chief executive of PartyGaming, for an unspecified role. Harrah’s did not return calls.
Mr. Ryan said that PartyGaming planned to focus on acquisition opportunities to increase its market share in Europe and elsewhere, something that was difficult as long as investors were worried about the U.S. litigation. “We think Mr. Frank’s efforts are quite meaningful to the sector,” he said.
Several other online gambling companies whose shares are traded in London, including 888 Holdings and Sportingbet, are still in talks with the U.S. Justice Department. Analysts expect them, along with companies like Bwin International, whose stock is traded in Vienna, to be involved in a round of consolidation in the industry — along with a possible eventual move back into the United States.
As they await developments in Washington, online gambling companies are looking for growth in Europe and Asia. Under pressure from regulators in Brussels, several European Union members, including France, Italy, Spain and Denmark, have been moving to legalize some kinds of online gambling, turning it into a regulated and taxed business. Britain was the first big European country to do so, in 2005.
Other countries, like Germany, Greece and the Netherlands, continue to hold out, though, in what the European Commission sees as an effort to protect government-sponsored gambling monopolies from private competition.
The commission in March published a report arguing that the United States was violating World Trade Organization rules by keeping out European online gambling companies, given that online betting on horse racing is permitted in the United States. But the commission said that it favored negotiations, rather than legal action, to end the dispute.
Also in March, however, the European Parliament adopted a separate measure supporting the right of individual E.U. member states to make their own rules on online gambling.
“It’s interesting that the European Commission is telling the U.S. it’s persecuting European companies when it can’t even get its own house sorted out,” Mr. Batram said.
(Credit: The New York Times)
Media Man Australia
United States
American Gaming
American Casino
European Gaming
European Casino
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Online Casino News
Casino News
Poker News
When the U.S. Congress cracked down on Internet betting in 2006, the big, publicly traded European companies that had dominated the business closed up shop in the United States. Growth in the booming industry shifted away from these companies, once the darlings of the stock market, to private operators in offshore locations like Antigua and the Isle of Man.
But now, executives of some of the European companies whisper excitedly that they may soon get a second chance in the United States. Meanwhile, a number of European countries that have long maintained barriers are moving, under pressure from regulators, to legalize, and tax, online gambling.
“There’s still a lot of gambling going on, where there’s no revenue coming in to the governments,” said Gavin Kelleher, an analyst at the research firm H2 Gambling Capital in Ireland. “They realize they could use the revenue.”
The biggest potential change would be in the United States, where, perhaps within days, Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, is expected to introduce legislation aimed at overturning the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
“He supports the repeal and wants to move forward on it,” said Steve Adamske, communications director for the House Financial Services Committee, of which Mr. Frank is chairman.
Mr. Frank tried and failed to do so once before, in 2007. But advocates of liberalization think they might get a friendlier hearing in Washington this time around. President Barack Obama, they note, boasted of his poker prowess during the election campaign. And the Democrats, who are seen as less hostile to Internet gambling than the Republicans, have tightened their grip on Congress.
A study by PricewaterhouseCoopers says the U.S. government could raise more than $50 billion over 10 years from taxes on legalized online gambling.
“I’d be amazed if it didn’t happen over the next two or three years,” said Clive Hawkswood, chief executive of the Remote Gambling Association, a trade group based in London. “It’s just a question of what exactly the regulations will say.”
Some analysts say that may be getting a little bit ahead of the game. Opponents of a repeal, including the Christian Coalition of America and the National Football League, have vowed to fight any new effort to end the ban.
Michele Combs, a spokeswoman for the Christian Coalition, said the group was gearing up for a “massive campaign” of letter-writing and lobbying to try to prevent any loosening of the law.
“We’re not saying people shouldn’t go to Las Vegas,” she said. “But when it’s in your home, it’s too easy. It breaks up families.”
U.S. sports leagues, meanwhile, worry that the ease of online betting increases the chances of game-fixing. Even the most bullish advocates of online gambling acknowledge that Internet sports betting — as opposed to poker or casino games — is highly unlikely to be legalized.
“There’s a better chance now for some sort of gaming legislation to be approved,” said Nick Batram, an analyst at KBC Peel Hunt, a brokerage firm in London. “But it took longer than expected to put anti-gaming legislation in place, and it will probably will take longer than expected to remove it.”
Since the 2006 law was passed, North America, once the biggest market, has been passed by Europe and Asia, according to figures from H2 Gambling Capital. The law makes it illegal for financial institutions to handle payments to online gambling sites. But enough people have found ways around it, some by using overseas payment processors, to ensure that online gambling remains a thriving business. H2 says online gambling generated revenue of $6 billion last year in North America, more than a quarter the global total of $22.6 billion, up from $17.6 billion in 2006.
Pulling out of the United States cost PartyGaming about three-quarters of its business. Its position as the biggest online poker provider has been taken over by PokerStars, a privately held operator based on the Isle of Man.
This month, PartyGaming agreed to a $105 million settlement with the U.S. attorney’s office in New York, involving the period before 2006, when it acknowledged that its activities had been “contrary to certain U.S. laws.” In turn, the U.S. authorities agreed not to prosecute the company, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, or its executives.
The agreement fueled speculation that PartyGaming might be trying to position itself for a return to the U.S. market, if online gambling were legalized.
Analysts say one possibility for European companies like PartyGaming, should the ban be lifted, would be to form partnerships with American casino operators. That would allow the European companies to share their online expertise. Operating alone, they might struggle to obtain licenses, given their history of run-ins with U.S. law enforcement, analysts said.
“It’s my feeling that even if the market were opened up, the U.S. government, in a palatable way, would probably find a way to give local companies a favorable position,” Mr. Batram said.
So far, Las Vegas executives have maintained a cautious stance about legalization of online gambling. Steve Wynn, chief executive of Wynn Resorts, said in an e-mail message that he thought it would be “impossible to regulate.”
“Even though it would be a benefit to our company, we are strongly opposed,” he said.
But speculation that Las Vegas casino operators were looking into the possibilities was fueled by recent reports that Harrah’s Entertainment, which owns Caesars Palace and other casinos, recently hired Mitch Garber, former chief executive of PartyGaming, for an unspecified role. Harrah’s did not return calls.
Mr. Ryan said that PartyGaming planned to focus on acquisition opportunities to increase its market share in Europe and elsewhere, something that was difficult as long as investors were worried about the U.S. litigation. “We think Mr. Frank’s efforts are quite meaningful to the sector,” he said.
Several other online gambling companies whose shares are traded in London, including 888 Holdings and Sportingbet, are still in talks with the U.S. Justice Department. Analysts expect them, along with companies like Bwin International, whose stock is traded in Vienna, to be involved in a round of consolidation in the industry — along with a possible eventual move back into the United States.
As they await developments in Washington, online gambling companies are looking for growth in Europe and Asia. Under pressure from regulators in Brussels, several European Union members, including France, Italy, Spain and Denmark, have been moving to legalize some kinds of online gambling, turning it into a regulated and taxed business. Britain was the first big European country to do so, in 2005.
Other countries, like Germany, Greece and the Netherlands, continue to hold out, though, in what the European Commission sees as an effort to protect government-sponsored gambling monopolies from private competition.
The commission in March published a report arguing that the United States was violating World Trade Organization rules by keeping out European online gambling companies, given that online betting on horse racing is permitted in the United States. But the commission said that it favored negotiations, rather than legal action, to end the dispute.
Also in March, however, the European Parliament adopted a separate measure supporting the right of individual E.U. member states to make their own rules on online gambling.
“It’s interesting that the European Commission is telling the U.S. it’s persecuting European companies when it can’t even get its own house sorted out,” Mr. Batram said.
(Credit: The New York Times)
Media Man Australia
United States
American Gaming
American Casino
European Gaming
European Casino
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Online Casino News
Casino News
Poker News
Switzerland to legalise Online Gambling - 24th April 2009
Online Gambling is still unregulated in many countries around the world, allowing players to play at illegal sites. However Switzerland are the latest nation to introduce a legal regulated framework, which will ensure sites operate securely and fairly.
The UK has one of the most impressive online gambling industries, with strict regulation and laws, resulting in impressive growth during the last 5 years. Hundreds of online bingo, poker, casino and betting sites operate in the UK under strict laws on advertising, finances and marketing.
Currently, only Lotto games and Sports betting products can be played online in Switzerland, however casino, bingo and poker games will now be made legal.
Some believe that the new legislation already needs to be changed, as operators outside the country will not be allowed to process payments at Swiss banks.
A quote from a Egaming review article, read how George Haeberling, a betting and gaming lawyer in Switzerland, said, “Practically, you can prohibit them from doing lots of advertising, but preventing the Swiss banks from processing payments from operators outside of the country is not going to be accepted. They may have to allow Swiss operators to go abroad.”
Media Man Australia Profiles
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
The UK has one of the most impressive online gambling industries, with strict regulation and laws, resulting in impressive growth during the last 5 years. Hundreds of online bingo, poker, casino and betting sites operate in the UK under strict laws on advertising, finances and marketing.
Currently, only Lotto games and Sports betting products can be played online in Switzerland, however casino, bingo and poker games will now be made legal.
Some believe that the new legislation already needs to be changed, as operators outside the country will not be allowed to process payments at Swiss banks.
A quote from a Egaming review article, read how George Haeberling, a betting and gaming lawyer in Switzerland, said, “Practically, you can prohibit them from doing lots of advertising, but preventing the Swiss banks from processing payments from operators outside of the country is not going to be accepted. They may have to allow Swiss operators to go abroad.”
Media Man Australia Profiles
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Casino Reviews
Media Man Australia Profiles
Casino Reviews
Online Casino Reviews
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Casino Reviews
Online Casino Reviews
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Missing Lady Luck, by Paritosh Bansal - Reuters - 7th April 2009
There was a time not so long ago when “smart” investors and analysts believed that casinos were a sure bet, that gambling was recession proof, and that it was a vice people could not shake off even if money got tight. And so casino giant after casino giant started on mega projects that set to outdo each other and make glitzy Las Vegas, well, glitzier.
This recession is changing several of those plans. And despite the retirees putting their life savings into slot machines for fun in Atlantic City, casinos are taking a hit.
MGM Mirage, one of the biggest of them all, is trying to come up with funds amid a sharp downturn. The company, which is controlled by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, is hoping to raise money to meet debt payments and also to fund CityCenter, a troubled project it jointly owns with Dubai World, in Las Vegas.
The No. 2 U.S. casino operator has hired Morgan Stanley to sell two resort-style properties - one each in Detroit and Biloxi, Mississippi. Los Angeles-based private equity firm Colony Capital is also considering an investment in the debt of the casino company.
Will Lady Luck smile again on Las Vegas? Chances are Sin City will look different again in a few years, with or without her.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Las Vegas
Atlantic City
MGM Mirage
Sin City
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
This recession is changing several of those plans. And despite the retirees putting their life savings into slot machines for fun in Atlantic City, casinos are taking a hit.
MGM Mirage, one of the biggest of them all, is trying to come up with funds amid a sharp downturn. The company, which is controlled by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, is hoping to raise money to meet debt payments and also to fund CityCenter, a troubled project it jointly owns with Dubai World, in Las Vegas.
The No. 2 U.S. casino operator has hired Morgan Stanley to sell two resort-style properties - one each in Detroit and Biloxi, Mississippi. Los Angeles-based private equity firm Colony Capital is also considering an investment in the debt of the casino company.
Will Lady Luck smile again on Las Vegas? Chances are Sin City will look different again in a few years, with or without her.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Las Vegas
Atlantic City
MGM Mirage
Sin City
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Monday, April 27, 2009
Macau Sands casino up for sale: report - 27th April 2009
Las Vegas Sands is considering selling one of its Macau casinos, a report said on Monday, as revenues plummet in the world's biggest gaming market.
It plans to put the Sands Macao up for about $US1.3 billion ($A1.8 billion) after failing to sell its luxury shopping centres in the southern Chinese territory, the South China Morning Post said without naming sources.
The report said Las Vegas Sands was considering selling the building and continuing to run the 21,274 sq m casino while paying the new landlord rent based on performance.
Talks kicked off last week, the daily said, as the company could not find a buyer for the shopping centres attached to the Venetian and Four Seasons resorts because the $US1 billion ($A1.39 billion) asking price was considered too high.
"It was kind of, 'OK then, if you don't want the malls, do you want the Sands?'," an unnamed source was quoted as saying. It said the source confirmed the company's gaming licence was not up for sale.
A spokesman for the US-based company declined to comment on a potential sale of the Sands Macao, the territory's first foreign-owned casino, the paper said.
The Sands Macao opened in 2004 and the company made back its initial investment in 12 months, the newspaper said, as gamers poured into the city.
However, Las Vegas Sands was in November forced to fire up to 11,000 mainly construction staff as it halted work at a new $US3.3 billion ($A4.58 billion), 6,400-room resort close to the Venetian.
The firm blamed a freezing of the global credit markets for the delay.
Macau has become a gambling paradise, with massive casinos springing up over the past few years, helping the city overtake the Las Vegas Strip in terms of revenue.
But income has been battered as gamblers tighten their belts amid the global slowdown, while visa restrictions placed by Beijing on Chinese visitors have also hit revenues.
Macau's casinos suffered a dismal second half of 2008, although the first three months of this year saw income rise for the first time in three quarters.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Macau
World Casino Directory
It plans to put the Sands Macao up for about $US1.3 billion ($A1.8 billion) after failing to sell its luxury shopping centres in the southern Chinese territory, the South China Morning Post said without naming sources.
The report said Las Vegas Sands was considering selling the building and continuing to run the 21,274 sq m casino while paying the new landlord rent based on performance.
Talks kicked off last week, the daily said, as the company could not find a buyer for the shopping centres attached to the Venetian and Four Seasons resorts because the $US1 billion ($A1.39 billion) asking price was considered too high.
"It was kind of, 'OK then, if you don't want the malls, do you want the Sands?'," an unnamed source was quoted as saying. It said the source confirmed the company's gaming licence was not up for sale.
A spokesman for the US-based company declined to comment on a potential sale of the Sands Macao, the territory's first foreign-owned casino, the paper said.
The Sands Macao opened in 2004 and the company made back its initial investment in 12 months, the newspaper said, as gamers poured into the city.
However, Las Vegas Sands was in November forced to fire up to 11,000 mainly construction staff as it halted work at a new $US3.3 billion ($A4.58 billion), 6,400-room resort close to the Venetian.
The firm blamed a freezing of the global credit markets for the delay.
Macau has become a gambling paradise, with massive casinos springing up over the past few years, helping the city overtake the Las Vegas Strip in terms of revenue.
But income has been battered as gamblers tighten their belts amid the global slowdown, while visa restrictions placed by Beijing on Chinese visitors have also hit revenues.
Macau's casinos suffered a dismal second half of 2008, although the first three months of this year saw income rise for the first time in three quarters.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Macau
World Casino Directory
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Australian Pokies
50 Lions
Highly distinctive due to its appearance – it’s the first 50 line slot in the world – this means that you’ll always have 20 symbols showing on the screen rather than the more standard 15.
Indian Dreaming
Released in 1999, this was the first pokie in which the player could win without having lined up matching symbols – this is due to Aristocrats unique 243 config – in which symbols that are on neighbouring reels can win.
Where’s the Gold?
Where’s the Gold is ‘free game’ heaven – the player can win up to 20 free games simply by picking a character – this character becomes wild when your free games are initiated.
Show me the Money
Another bend on the free games feature, this game was released in 2000 and enables the player to choose between 5 different multipliers or spins – you can also pick up a mystery prize for getting wilds on the first five reels.
Queen of the Nile
This hugely popular slot has (rather unsurprisingly) an ancient Egyptian theme. It can be played up to 20 lines and the player can get up to fifteen game bonuses absolutely free. It’s remained at the top of the charts for nearly 12 years!
Popular Online Pokies In Australia
Cleopatra
Cleopatra II
MegaJackpots Cleopatra
Da Vinci Diamonds
The 50,000 Pyramid
Wheel Of Fortune
Goanna Gold
No Worries
Bush Telegraph
Tomb Raider
Highly distinctive due to its appearance – it’s the first 50 line slot in the world – this means that you’ll always have 20 symbols showing on the screen rather than the more standard 15.
Indian Dreaming
Released in 1999, this was the first pokie in which the player could win without having lined up matching symbols – this is due to Aristocrats unique 243 config – in which symbols that are on neighbouring reels can win.
Where’s the Gold?
Where’s the Gold is ‘free game’ heaven – the player can win up to 20 free games simply by picking a character – this character becomes wild when your free games are initiated.
Show me the Money
Another bend on the free games feature, this game was released in 2000 and enables the player to choose between 5 different multipliers or spins – you can also pick up a mystery prize for getting wilds on the first five reels.
Queen of the Nile
This hugely popular slot has (rather unsurprisingly) an ancient Egyptian theme. It can be played up to 20 lines and the player can get up to fifteen game bonuses absolutely free. It’s remained at the top of the charts for nearly 12 years!
Popular Online Pokies In Australia
Cleopatra
Cleopatra II
MegaJackpots Cleopatra
Da Vinci Diamonds
The 50,000 Pyramid
Wheel Of Fortune
Goanna Gold
No Worries
Bush Telegraph
Tomb Raider
Monday, April 20, 2009
NZ's Sky City raising NZ$214 mln through issue - 21st April 2009
WELLINGTON, April 21 - New Zealand casino company Sky City Entertainment Ltd (SKC.NZ) is planning to raise around NZ$214 million ($118 million) through a share issue to beef up its balance sheet, the company said on on Tuesday.
It said it was looking to place 71 million ordinary shares to institutional investors at NZ$2.52 each, a discount of 11.6 percent on the stock's last price, before it was placed on a trading halt.
Sky said it would also offer up to NZ$35 million worth of new shares to existing shareholders, as well as offer small shareholders the chance to top up their holdings to avoid being diluted by the new issue.
The company said earnings for the third quarter was 4.3 percent ahead of last year and it was also on track to post a full year profit "comfortably" in the NZ$99 million-NZ$106 million range of analysts' forecasts.
A ban on new casinos in New Zealand has given the company a virtual monopoly, while in Australia it faces rivals such as Tabcorp Ltd. (TAH.AX) and Crown Ltd (CWN.AX).
The company, which owns or has an interest in five casinos in New Zealand and two in Australia, said revenue for the group in the January and February was just ahead of a year ago, on the back of growth in its Australian operations. ($1=NZ$1.81)
Media Man Australia Profiles
New Zealand Casinos
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Australian Casino News
Casino News
It said it was looking to place 71 million ordinary shares to institutional investors at NZ$2.52 each, a discount of 11.6 percent on the stock's last price, before it was placed on a trading halt.
Sky said it would also offer up to NZ$35 million worth of new shares to existing shareholders, as well as offer small shareholders the chance to top up their holdings to avoid being diluted by the new issue.
The company said earnings for the third quarter was 4.3 percent ahead of last year and it was also on track to post a full year profit "comfortably" in the NZ$99 million-NZ$106 million range of analysts' forecasts.
A ban on new casinos in New Zealand has given the company a virtual monopoly, while in Australia it faces rivals such as Tabcorp Ltd. (TAH.AX) and Crown Ltd (CWN.AX).
The company, which owns or has an interest in five casinos in New Zealand and two in Australia, said revenue for the group in the January and February was just ahead of a year ago, on the back of growth in its Australian operations. ($1=NZ$1.81)
Media Man Australia Profiles
New Zealand Casinos
Australian Casinos
World Casino Directory
Australian Casino News
Casino News
Station Casinos sues Internet company over Web sites, by Steve Green - Las Vegas Sun - 20th April 2009
Station Casinos Inc. is suing an Internet company based in Panama that it says is infringing on trademarks Station owns for three of its Las Vegas hotel-casinos.
Station filed suit Friday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas against Smart Answer, S.A.; and a woman living in Panama and associated with the company, Susana Gonzales.
The defendants could not immediately be reached for comment today.
The same defendants were sued by several MGM Mirage properties in the same court last year. After the defendants failed to respond to the complaint, MGM Mirage obtained an injunction and a $2.2 million judgment against them for infringing on the trademarks covering Bellagio, Circus Circus, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York and Treasure Island.
Jason Firth, an attorney with the intellectual property group at the Las Vegas law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and other attorneys with that firm filed both lawsuits.
Firth said the MGM Mirage lawsuit succeeded in having the offending domain names shut down or transferred to MGM Mirage. But because of the expense involved and uncertainties about the potential for recovery, the plaintiff is not currently pursuing collection of the judgment, he said.
He said that besides the lawsuits, his firm is pursuing additional cases for Station Casinos and the Tropicana in Las Vegas through an international dispute resolution process.
Station's suit says the defendants are operating sites on the Internet with domain names that include the phrases "boulderstation'," "sunsetstation" and "palacestation" -- all allegedly infringing on Station's trademarks for its Boulder, Sunset and Palace Station properties.
These domain names, Station says, have also been linked to Web sites that further link to an online gambling Web site called "Golden Casino."
Firth said the business model of companies that register domain names by the thousands, capitalizing on trademarked names, is to generate revenue by directing Internet traffic to Web sites supported by advertisers.
The defendants in the Station suit, the complaint says, have violated a federal law outlawing cybersquatting by using domain names confusingly similar to Station's trademarks; and have violated a state law outlawing deceptive trade practices.
"Defendants' actions have disrupted or are intended to disrupt plaintiff's business by, among other things, diverting web users away from plaintiffs' Web sites and to the online gambling Web site defendants linked to the infringing domain names," Station alleged.
"Defendants knowingly made false representations as to an affiliation, connection and/or association with plaintiff by using marks identical and/or confusingly similar to plaintiff's marks and otherwise engaged in deceptive trade practices," Station's suit said.
Station's suit seeks an injunction barring the defendants from using its trademarks and unspecified damages. (Credit: Las Vegas Sun)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Casino
Casino Reviews
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas
Las Vegas News
Station filed suit Friday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas against Smart Answer, S.A.; and a woman living in Panama and associated with the company, Susana Gonzales.
The defendants could not immediately be reached for comment today.
The same defendants were sued by several MGM Mirage properties in the same court last year. After the defendants failed to respond to the complaint, MGM Mirage obtained an injunction and a $2.2 million judgment against them for infringing on the trademarks covering Bellagio, Circus Circus, Mandalay Bay, New York-New York and Treasure Island.
Jason Firth, an attorney with the intellectual property group at the Las Vegas law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and other attorneys with that firm filed both lawsuits.
Firth said the MGM Mirage lawsuit succeeded in having the offending domain names shut down or transferred to MGM Mirage. But because of the expense involved and uncertainties about the potential for recovery, the plaintiff is not currently pursuing collection of the judgment, he said.
He said that besides the lawsuits, his firm is pursuing additional cases for Station Casinos and the Tropicana in Las Vegas through an international dispute resolution process.
Station's suit says the defendants are operating sites on the Internet with domain names that include the phrases "boulderstation'," "sunsetstation" and "palacestation" -- all allegedly infringing on Station's trademarks for its Boulder, Sunset and Palace Station properties.
These domain names, Station says, have also been linked to Web sites that further link to an online gambling Web site called "Golden Casino."
Firth said the business model of companies that register domain names by the thousands, capitalizing on trademarked names, is to generate revenue by directing Internet traffic to Web sites supported by advertisers.
The defendants in the Station suit, the complaint says, have violated a federal law outlawing cybersquatting by using domain names confusingly similar to Station's trademarks; and have violated a state law outlawing deceptive trade practices.
"Defendants' actions have disrupted or are intended to disrupt plaintiff's business by, among other things, diverting web users away from plaintiffs' Web sites and to the online gambling Web site defendants linked to the infringing domain names," Station alleged.
"Defendants knowingly made false representations as to an affiliation, connection and/or association with plaintiff by using marks identical and/or confusingly similar to plaintiff's marks and otherwise engaged in deceptive trade practices," Station's suit said.
Station's suit seeks an injunction barring the defendants from using its trademarks and unspecified damages. (Credit: Las Vegas Sun)
Media Man Australia Profiles
Casino
Casino Reviews
World Gaming Directory
World Casino Directory
Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas
Las Vegas News
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Melco Crown CEO Says ‘Pressure Is On’ With New Casino (Update2), by Paul Gordon and Chia-Peck Wong - 14th April 2009
April 14 (Bloomberg) -- Melco Crown Entertainment Ltd. Chairman Lawrence Ho, son of Macau gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, said it’s “crucial” that its $2.1 billion City of Dreams casino defies the global recession and has a successful opening.
“We know the pressure is on us,” Ho said today in a Bloomberg Television interview in Macau. “The success of it will have major implications.”
Melco Crown, a joint venture between 32-year-old Ho and Australian billionaire James Packer, will open the casino in June, braving the worst global slump since World War Two and Chinese curbs on travel to Macau, the world’s biggest gambling hub. City of Dreams is located on Macau’s Cotai Strip, where Las Vegas Sands Corp. suspended construction of its partially-built gaming properties in November as credit markets seized up.
“In terms of China’s political matters, these are definitely out of our hands,” Ho said. “The bleakest days of the industry are past us, which was the fourth quarter.”
Melco Crown dropped 19 cents, or 4 percent, to $4.59 at 4:29 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. The company plans to raise as much as $400 million selling American Depositary Shares, it said separately in a regulatory filing yesterday.
Gambling revenue in Macau, a former Portuguese colony that is the only region in China where casinos are legal, has fallen for the past year after the mainland tightened visa rules for visitors to the city. The decline in arrivals from China has compounded the effects of the global slowdown, which has dampened demand from Taiwan and South Korea.
China Cools
Growth in China, the world’s third-biggest economy, probably cooled to the slowest in almost 10 years in the first quarter, as a global recession led to a collapse in exports. Gross domestic product grew 6.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of 12 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.
Macau’s economy shrank 7.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 as a result, the first contraction since June 2003, according to figures compiled by Bloomberg.
Still, the decline in monthly casino revenue has moderated, dropping 6 percent in March from a year earlier to 9.5 billion patacas ($1.2 billion), from a 15.5 percent fall in February and 17 percent decrease in January, figures from the Portuguese news agency Lusa show.
Hotel occupancy rates in February also fell 2 percent from a year earlier, the smallest drop in seven months, figures from the Macau Statistics and Census Service show.
Government officials from the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong met in February, agreeing to enact measures allowing more mainland residents to visit the two cities. Guangdong may allow its residents to travel to Macau and Hong Kong more frequently in a policy that might be put in place before China’s week-long Labor Day holiday in May, Ming Pao reported on Feb. 20. (Credit: Bloomberg)
Casino News Media Profiles
City Of Dreams
Crown Macau
Crown Casino
World Casino Directory
“We know the pressure is on us,” Ho said today in a Bloomberg Television interview in Macau. “The success of it will have major implications.”
Melco Crown, a joint venture between 32-year-old Ho and Australian billionaire James Packer, will open the casino in June, braving the worst global slump since World War Two and Chinese curbs on travel to Macau, the world’s biggest gambling hub. City of Dreams is located on Macau’s Cotai Strip, where Las Vegas Sands Corp. suspended construction of its partially-built gaming properties in November as credit markets seized up.
“In terms of China’s political matters, these are definitely out of our hands,” Ho said. “The bleakest days of the industry are past us, which was the fourth quarter.”
Melco Crown dropped 19 cents, or 4 percent, to $4.59 at 4:29 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading. The company plans to raise as much as $400 million selling American Depositary Shares, it said separately in a regulatory filing yesterday.
Gambling revenue in Macau, a former Portuguese colony that is the only region in China where casinos are legal, has fallen for the past year after the mainland tightened visa rules for visitors to the city. The decline in arrivals from China has compounded the effects of the global slowdown, which has dampened demand from Taiwan and South Korea.
China Cools
Growth in China, the world’s third-biggest economy, probably cooled to the slowest in almost 10 years in the first quarter, as a global recession led to a collapse in exports. Gross domestic product grew 6.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the median estimate of 12 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.
Macau’s economy shrank 7.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 as a result, the first contraction since June 2003, according to figures compiled by Bloomberg.
Still, the decline in monthly casino revenue has moderated, dropping 6 percent in March from a year earlier to 9.5 billion patacas ($1.2 billion), from a 15.5 percent fall in February and 17 percent decrease in January, figures from the Portuguese news agency Lusa show.
Hotel occupancy rates in February also fell 2 percent from a year earlier, the smallest drop in seven months, figures from the Macau Statistics and Census Service show.
Government officials from the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong met in February, agreeing to enact measures allowing more mainland residents to visit the two cities. Guangdong may allow its residents to travel to Macau and Hong Kong more frequently in a policy that might be put in place before China’s week-long Labor Day holiday in May, Ming Pao reported on Feb. 20. (Credit: Bloomberg)
Casino News Media Profiles
City Of Dreams
Crown Macau
Crown Casino
World Casino Directory
Packer bets $3b Macau casino will come up trumps, by Vanda Carson - The Sydney Morning Herald - 20th April 2009
Some of the croupiers shuffling cards at James Packer's huge new casino in Macau will don nose rings and wear blue wigs, as part of a punk-rock theme to attract wealthy Asian gamblers and holidaymakers.
The croupiers will work on tables at the Hard Rock Cafe-themed casino, itself part of the $US2.1 billion ($3.03 billion) City Of Dreams casino development in Macau.
While the popularity of Hard Rock-themed restaurants has waned in Australia, they are popular in Asia and there are three Hard Rock casinos in the US.
The final fit-out of the City Of Dreams project, owned by Mr Packer's joint-venture company, Melco Crown Entertainment, has begun after construction ended earlier this month.
The 520 gaming tables and 1350 poker machines are expected to be open for business in the first week of June, provided several local authorities give an occupancy permit for the site.
The venture will also include a 380-room Hard Rock-themed hotel and a Crown Towers hotel.
After a tour of the project with reporters last week, Mr Packer's co-chairman, Lawrence Ho, conceded there was a lot riding on the success of the project.
He told Bloomberg it was "crucial" that the casino defied the global recession and had a successful opening.
"We know the pressure is on us," Mr Ho said.
"The success of it will have major implications.
"The bleakest days of the industry are past us, which was the fourth quarter."
Mr Packer is also relying on the success of City Of Dreams to vindicate his decision to invest billions of dollars of his own and Crown shareholders' funds in the venture. Crown has a 37 per cent stake in Melco Crown.
The casino is opening in the midst of both the worst global slump since World War II and as the Chinese Government tightens restrictions on the number of visits its citizens can make.
Last week Melco Crown said it had just $US50.3 million in cash remaining from a $US1.75 billion debt facility for the project as at the end of March.
It announced plans to tap the market for a further $US400 million to bolster its balance sheet. It is not known whether Crown will take up its share.
Chinese who visit Macau mostly gamble on credit, using so-called junket operators because they can take only 20,000-yuan ($US3000) plus $US5000 with them.
The company warned it may not be able to recover all of the generous loans it makes to its mostly Chinese VIP gamblers.
Last week high-level representatives of Melco Crown and its five rival casino licence-holders met to discuss a proposed cap on how much commission casinos can pay to the junket operators.
with Bloomberg (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Media Man Australia Profiles
James Packer
Crown Casino
Macau
World Casino Directory
World Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casino Travel Media
Casino Travel Tourism
The croupiers will work on tables at the Hard Rock Cafe-themed casino, itself part of the $US2.1 billion ($3.03 billion) City Of Dreams casino development in Macau.
While the popularity of Hard Rock-themed restaurants has waned in Australia, they are popular in Asia and there are three Hard Rock casinos in the US.
The final fit-out of the City Of Dreams project, owned by Mr Packer's joint-venture company, Melco Crown Entertainment, has begun after construction ended earlier this month.
The 520 gaming tables and 1350 poker machines are expected to be open for business in the first week of June, provided several local authorities give an occupancy permit for the site.
The venture will also include a 380-room Hard Rock-themed hotel and a Crown Towers hotel.
After a tour of the project with reporters last week, Mr Packer's co-chairman, Lawrence Ho, conceded there was a lot riding on the success of the project.
He told Bloomberg it was "crucial" that the casino defied the global recession and had a successful opening.
"We know the pressure is on us," Mr Ho said.
"The success of it will have major implications.
"The bleakest days of the industry are past us, which was the fourth quarter."
Mr Packer is also relying on the success of City Of Dreams to vindicate his decision to invest billions of dollars of his own and Crown shareholders' funds in the venture. Crown has a 37 per cent stake in Melco Crown.
The casino is opening in the midst of both the worst global slump since World War II and as the Chinese Government tightens restrictions on the number of visits its citizens can make.
Last week Melco Crown said it had just $US50.3 million in cash remaining from a $US1.75 billion debt facility for the project as at the end of March.
It announced plans to tap the market for a further $US400 million to bolster its balance sheet. It is not known whether Crown will take up its share.
Chinese who visit Macau mostly gamble on credit, using so-called junket operators because they can take only 20,000-yuan ($US3000) plus $US5000 with them.
The company warned it may not be able to recover all of the generous loans it makes to its mostly Chinese VIP gamblers.
Last week high-level representatives of Melco Crown and its five rival casino licence-holders met to discuss a proposed cap on how much commission casinos can pay to the junket operators.
with Bloomberg (Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald)
Media Man Australia Profiles
James Packer
Crown Casino
Macau
World Casino Directory
World Gaming Directory
Casino Travel
Casino Travel Media
Casino Travel Tourism
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
PartyGaming agrees deal with US - 7th April 2009
PartyGaming has entered into a Non-Prosecution Agreement with the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
Under the terms of the Non-Prosecution Agreement, the USAO will not prosecute PartyGaming or any of its subsidiaries for providing internet gambling services to customers in the US prior to the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.
As part of the agreement, the company has accepted a Statement of Facts regarding its business activities prior to the enactment of the UIGEA and has agreed to pay $105m, in semi-annual instalments over a period ending on September 30, 2012. Such payments will be made from the group’s existing financial resources.
“The agreement with the US authorities will be welcomed by the majority of those in the online industry as a break from the past with the opportunity now to move forward," said Warwick Bartlett, chief executive of Global Betting and Gaming Consultants.
“Some operators, however, will have misgivings. The admission of guilt is unlikely to rest easy with the 'Brit' companies who have traded from a country where gambling is entirely legal. As far as they are concerned, they have never done anything wrong.
“There is also a measure of hypocrisy at play - on the one hand the US has heaped a heavy fine on PartyGaming and yet sometime this year Congressman Frank will lay a Bill down that could lead to legalisation of online poker. So the sinners have been found guilty and redeemed, all in one year.
“The moot question is that after all of this will the UK-listed companies be granted US licences in the future? The US the land of the free? It is if you are American."
Media Man Australia Profiles
PartyGaming
PartyCasino.com
World Casino Directory
Under the terms of the Non-Prosecution Agreement, the USAO will not prosecute PartyGaming or any of its subsidiaries for providing internet gambling services to customers in the US prior to the enactment of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006.
As part of the agreement, the company has accepted a Statement of Facts regarding its business activities prior to the enactment of the UIGEA and has agreed to pay $105m, in semi-annual instalments over a period ending on September 30, 2012. Such payments will be made from the group’s existing financial resources.
“The agreement with the US authorities will be welcomed by the majority of those in the online industry as a break from the past with the opportunity now to move forward," said Warwick Bartlett, chief executive of Global Betting and Gaming Consultants.
“Some operators, however, will have misgivings. The admission of guilt is unlikely to rest easy with the 'Brit' companies who have traded from a country where gambling is entirely legal. As far as they are concerned, they have never done anything wrong.
“There is also a measure of hypocrisy at play - on the one hand the US has heaped a heavy fine on PartyGaming and yet sometime this year Congressman Frank will lay a Bill down that could lead to legalisation of online poker. So the sinners have been found guilty and redeemed, all in one year.
“The moot question is that after all of this will the UK-listed companies be granted US licences in the future? The US the land of the free? It is if you are American."
Media Man Australia Profiles
PartyGaming
PartyCasino.com
World Casino Directory
Virgin king and Crown Casino king talk shop and Media Man makes a play
Media Man Australia and Casino News Media report Virgin's iGaming arm, Virgin Games aka Virgin Casino, is enjoying a huge comeback which can be attributed to a number of reasons.
New Virgin Games players now receive a 100% sign up bonus, which is of course double the original 50%!
New Virgin Games online slot releases include Battleship - Search & Destroy and MegaJackpots Cleopatra®. Cleopatra and Cleopatra II have long been the most popular games available on Virgin Casino and the merging with the mega popular MegaJackpots® has been an international big hit. Rumours are circulating that Dungeons and Dragons: Fortress of Fortunes will also soon be added to the already awesome Virgin Games portfolio.
Virgin boss, Richard Branson was recently spotted talking shop (or was it small talk? .. unlikely) at the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix with none other than Australian casino king, James Packer, head of Crown Casino and a number of other casino and lifestyle businesses.
Media and iGaming analyst, Greg Tingle, has long gone on record starting that these two gentlemen might do well to get their heads together and offer a 5 star plus package for the casino whales of the world. They could pick up where Donald Trump dropped the ball. Branson's V Australia and his Virgin empire coupled with Packer's group of casinos in Melbourne, Perth, Macau, Las Vegas and elsewhere, would appear to be an excellent match. Branson is of course a fan of news media coverage whilst Packer has proved to be more media shy. Perhaps that may change if the two were to team up on a win - win venture combining the best of air travel, casinos and accommodation. It could be packaged as an ultimate travel and lifestyle experience for the whale who demands the best! The next best thing to space travel, another dynamic offering from Virgin Enterprises Limited. Tingle has wasted no time in showcasing the photo of Branson and Packer talking shop on the Media Man Australia website and has advised "We're keen to be pro actively involved in a Virgin - Crown campaign, given our proven track record with Virgin Games, Virgin Unite, air travel bookings and casino lifestyle campaigns".
Tingle is the former manager and agent for Crown Casino poker trainer and commentary, Keith "Bendigo" Sloan, so stranger things have happened. In what appears to be a strategic move Tingle has also registered Casino Travel Tourism and looks to be building his own World Casino Directory, a move tipped to compete with the original world famous online casino portal.
More details as they come to hand.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Enterprises Limited
Richard Branson
Crown Casino
James Packer
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Casino News Media
Casino Travel
Casino Travel Tourism
World Casino Directory
Media Man Australia
New Virgin Games players now receive a 100% sign up bonus, which is of course double the original 50%!
New Virgin Games online slot releases include Battleship - Search & Destroy and MegaJackpots Cleopatra®. Cleopatra and Cleopatra II have long been the most popular games available on Virgin Casino and the merging with the mega popular MegaJackpots® has been an international big hit. Rumours are circulating that Dungeons and Dragons: Fortress of Fortunes will also soon be added to the already awesome Virgin Games portfolio.
Virgin boss, Richard Branson was recently spotted talking shop (or was it small talk? .. unlikely) at the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix with none other than Australian casino king, James Packer, head of Crown Casino and a number of other casino and lifestyle businesses.
Media and iGaming analyst, Greg Tingle, has long gone on record starting that these two gentlemen might do well to get their heads together and offer a 5 star plus package for the casino whales of the world. They could pick up where Donald Trump dropped the ball. Branson's V Australia and his Virgin empire coupled with Packer's group of casinos in Melbourne, Perth, Macau, Las Vegas and elsewhere, would appear to be an excellent match. Branson is of course a fan of news media coverage whilst Packer has proved to be more media shy. Perhaps that may change if the two were to team up on a win - win venture combining the best of air travel, casinos and accommodation. It could be packaged as an ultimate travel and lifestyle experience for the whale who demands the best! The next best thing to space travel, another dynamic offering from Virgin Enterprises Limited. Tingle has wasted no time in showcasing the photo of Branson and Packer talking shop on the Media Man Australia website and has advised "We're keen to be pro actively involved in a Virgin - Crown campaign, given our proven track record with Virgin Games, Virgin Unite, air travel bookings and casino lifestyle campaigns".
Tingle is the former manager and agent for Crown Casino poker trainer and commentary, Keith "Bendigo" Sloan, so stranger things have happened. In what appears to be a strategic move Tingle has also registered Casino Travel Tourism and looks to be building his own World Casino Directory, a move tipped to compete with the original world famous online casino portal.
More details as they come to hand.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Enterprises Limited
Richard Branson
Crown Casino
James Packer
Virgin Games
Virgin Casino
Casino News Media
Casino Travel
Casino Travel Tourism
World Casino Directory
Media Man Australia
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)