Reuters – Gambling firm Rank Group warned its first half profit will be lower than last year, dragging down its full-year expectations after revenues fell during the summer and a disappointing performance at its bingo chain Mecca. Rank, majority-owned by Malaysia’s Guoco Group, said it will be taking action to cut costs after like-for-like revenues fell 7 percent in the 15 weeks to October 13. “The board anticipates operating profit for the full year to be marginally below market expectations,” Rank said in a trading statement, forecasting a stronger second half to its financial year. SOURCE

Taiwan government minister has hinted the authorities there might back gaming near the capital, permitting Taipei casinos. But it’s not clear whether such a venue or venues would be for foreigners only. Previously the official government policy has been to develop casinos open to all, but only in outlying island chains to discourage Taiwanese from gambling to excess. According to a Taiwan news report, Ye Kuang-shih, Taiwan’s Transportation Minister, said in the island’s Legislative Yuan on Monday that a special economic zone already set up at Taoyuan International Airport on the southwest outskirts of Taipei might be more “practical” and…

Macau Business Daily – In a phone interview with Business Daily, Las Vegas-based gaming consultant Dean Macomber said that some new Asian casino destinations could actually bring new visitors to Macau, rather than drawing existing Macau customers elsewhere. The president of Macomber International Inc explained that more venues might increase consumer interest in casino gambling. New players might start at a new resort close to home and then become curious about sampling Macau’s venues. Mr Macomber said that could be the case with the proposed new gaming resort near Vladivostok in the Russian Far East. Macau’s revenues keep increasing, even…

Mumbrella – A new anti-gambling campaign uses children to get across the message that they are being bombarded with pro-betting TV ads The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation campaign – by McCann Melbourne – launches the fictional brand of KidBet. The ad comes months after a backlash against the pervasive Tom Waterhouse ads which also saw the brand, fronted by Waterhouse, integrated into sports programs on the commercial networks. The campaign is part of the Foundation’s new ‘Gambling’s not a game’ strategy which includes an education program for schools, parents and teachers; a responsible gambling program for sporting clubs; a guide…

New York Times – During the final two months of this year’s legislative session in Albany, more than three dozen companies, Indian tribes and trade groups with an interest in gambling or horse racing lobbied New York’s state government. There were more lobbyists representing the gambling industry than there are members of the Legislature. The industry’s backers got what they wanted, and in three weeks, the state’s voters will go to the polls, deciding whether to amend the State Constitution to allow up to seven new casinos. The proposed constitutional amendment, backed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and approved twice…

iGaming Business – Canadian lottery games operator Atlantic Lottery Cooperation has become the latest gambling regulator in the country to express an interest in launching a licensed online casino. According to Onlinecasinos.org, support is high for regulated online gambling in the country, although some governments in the Maritimes provinces do not fully back the plan. Maritimes gambling is collaborated under the Atlantic Lottery Corporations. The operator argued that the provinces are losing out on money due to the lack of a regulated online casino. Michelle Carinci, chief executive officer of Atlantic Lottery Corporation, said that an online casino for the…

iGaming Business – Greek gambling monopoly OPAP has announced a number of new appointments following the resignation of several members from its board of directors. Panagiotis Koliopanos, Epameinonda Lekea, Theofanis Moustakatou, Grigorios Felonis, Georgios Simeonidis, Despoina Laskaridou and Efthimia Halatsi all opted to step down from the board. In response, OPAP has elected a number of replacements for the remainder of the term. Kamil Ziegler has been appointed chairmen and chief executive officer, while Spyros Fokas and Pavel Horak will become non-executive directors and take the A and B vice-chairman roles respectively. Meanwhile Michal Houst has been named an executive…

When it comes to casino gaming, Italy has the highest number of gamblers in Europe. The figure is growing, as Italians are increasingly unable to do without slot machines, video poker, scratch cards, lotto and betting. The Ministry of Health estimates that between 1.3% and 3.8% of the population have some problems with gambling, while between 0.5% and 2.2% are serious gambling addicts. Last year, the ‘Balduzzi’ decree was brought in to tackle the phenomenon by making casino gaming addiction one of the disorders recognized and treated in Italy’s basic local healthcare centers. But the measure has had mixed success,…