CNBC – In an age of austerity, the appeal of making a quick buck often sees people turn to gambling. But in the U.K., there are increasing calls for a certain type of gaming machine – which some critics have dubbed the “crack cocaine of gambling” – to be banned. Fixed-Odd Betting Terminals (FOBTs), also known as B2 machines, allow gamblers to play games such as roulette at high-speed and with relatively high-stakes in their local betting shops. There are currently almost 33,400 of these machines in the 9,112 betting shops across the U.K. A punter can feed a maximum…

A bill legalizing casinos in Japan will probably be submitted to the current session of parliament, an official at Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party said today, fueling gains in gaming company shares. “I think we will submit it,” Seiko Noda, the chairman of the LDP’s General Council, said in Tokyo, referring to the session ending on Dec. 6. “This is a first for Japan. It will be a step toward building up Japan’s status as a tourist destination,” she told reporters after the council approved the bill. Pachinko company Dynam Japan Holdings Co. (6889), which is interested in operating a…

Chicago Tribune – Illinois gamblers cut back on their slot machine action in 2009. In a study released Monday about slot-machine spending in four casino markets, the American Gaming Association said one-armed bandits in Illinois, Las Vegas and Atlantic City took in less revenue in 2009 than they did in 2008. In Illinois, total slot machine “win,” or how much the devices keep from the gamblers, fell by 8.4 percent to $1.2 billion. Still, that’s not as bad as the 21.7 percent revenue drop that Illinois saw in 2008. Fewer visits to Illinois casinos were a factor. In 2009, the…

iGaming Business – Turkey’s Privatisation Authority has confirmed the opening of a new tender for the privatisation of the country’s National Lottery. According to the HurriyetDailyNews.com website, potential bidders have been set a deadline of February 13, 2014 to submit their offer. Bidders can make pre-qualification applications up until January 30, 2014. The terms of the tender state that only real persons and joint venture groups can take part in the tender. Bidders will be also required a bid bond of $10 million (€7.4 million) in order to participate. In 2009, Turkey dropped plans to privatise the lottery after two…

Las Vegas Review Journal – Cantor Gaming has expanded to Tianjin, China, with the opening Monday of an 80,000-saquare-foot lottery club. The Las Vegas-based company said it supplied technology, systems and infrastructure for the Cantor Club. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Cantor’s latest gaming venture is a partnership with Global Entertainment Investment & Management Co. Ltd. and the Tianjin Welfare Lottery club. The Cantor Club offers its members lottery games as well as several private dining room, and mah jong parlors and lounges. Cantor also offers an account-based system similar to the account wagering it offers customers at…

The Motley Fool – The move to online business opens up definite growth possibilities and equally challenging situations for companies in the gaming and gambling business. Leisure and entertainment is something everyone enjoys, and will pay good money for. Now with online and mobile capabilities, people can take part in gaming and free-to-play gambling wherever they are, and traditional tote, lottery and casino business is quickly developing and expanding to not only seize new customers but to protect its current number of loyal players. Tatts Group (ASX: TTS) and Tabcorp (ASX: TAH) are the most well-known for wagering, totes for…