Reuters – GVC  is looking at further acquisitions after turning around the Sportingbet businesses it acquired last year, the online gambling company said on Wednesday. GVC, one of the smaller players in the sector and listed on the AIM stock market, said operating profit more than doubled to 38.3 million euros ($52.8 million) in 2013, boosted by moving Sportingbet into the black. “We are now ready for the next stage in our corporate development and further geographic expansion through organic growth and acquisitions,” Chief Executive Kenneth Alexander said. However, GVC cautioned that any deal would not be at the expense…

iGaming Business – Online gambling company Betfair has launched what it claims is the first betting exchange product in the Italian gambling market. The launch comes after the conclusion of an extensive testing process with national regulator Agenzie delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) and information and communications technology administrator Società Generale d’Informatica (SOGEI). Betfair said the Italian exchange would operate with “ring-fenced” national liquidity and taxed at a rate of 20% on commission. The new service will join Betfair’s current sportsbook, poker and casino products on the betfair.it website. Breon Corcoran, chief executive officer of Betfair, said: “We are…

Dispatch – An illegal casino with 200 slot machines that masqueraded as a skill-games parlor has been shut down. But state regulators warned that similar, smaller businesses might still be operating in the state. An investigation by the U.S. Justice Department, the Internal Revenue Service and the Ohio Casino Control Commission resulted in three Canton-area people being charged with operating an illegal gambling business and money laundering. The government is also seeking forfeiture of $1.3 million and four automobiles. Charged were Jerry Warren, 70, of Canton; Tracie Warren-Pastore, 45, of North Canton; and Yabacushyanei Bennett, 45, of Canton. The feds…

The Guardian – A gigantic resort proposed for far north Queensland does not need federal environmental assessment, its backers have argued, even though it includes two casinos, eight accommodation towers, a golf course and a 33-hectare lake filled via a 2.2km pipeline from the Great Barrier Reef. The $8bn Aquis project, slated for Yorkeys Knob, north of Cairns, is described as “Australia’s only genuine, world-class, integrated resort”. The resort, which would cover 340 hectares, is backed by the Hong Kong investor Tony Fung, who last year bought the Reef Casino Trust, which operates the Cairns casino. An initial advice statement…

iGaming Business – Online casino games provider Net Entertainment has launched its selection of online game titles across the mobile and desktop platform of online gaming operator Bet365. As reported by iGaming Business, the two companies first agreed the deal in December 2013 and have now completed the launch process. “We are very excited and proud to realise a successful launch of our games on Vegas at Bet365,” Net Entertainment managing director Björn Krantz said. “ I am positive that our innovative and exciting portfolio of best of breed games will be well received by bet365 and its players.” At…

This Week in Gambling – Our industry has been wondering what the future of online gambling would be in the United States since before the “Black Friday” incidents of 2011. Even before the passage of UIGEA in 2006, we all knew that eventually regulation would come to America. Now, with three states legalizing web betting, we may be closer than ever to the next phase of this business. Recently, we interview the Executive Vice President of MGM Resorts, Alan Feldman, about online gambling regulation in this country. Specifically, whether that regulation will come in the form of a Federal standard…