iGaming Business – Swedish gambling regulator Lotteriinspektionen has reported that the country’s regulated market shrunk by more than 3% during the first half of 2014. Total revenue for the six-month period amounted to SEK19.3 billion (€2.1 billion/$2.8 billion), which is down more than SEK1 billion on the previous year. The revenue figure also represents the fourth consecutive year of decline in the Swedish national market. Svenska Spel, the largest operator in the country, reported sales of SEK10.7 billion in the first half, which is a drop of almost 5% on the same period last year. The operator suffered losses in…

The online gambling world welcomed a new player to the market recently after toplesscasino announced that it would be launching a VIP platform in the coming weeks. As its name suggests, the main premise of this platform is that its dealers are topless. Of course, in a market that’s currently approaching saturation point, this appears to be an interesting concept, but is it something the industry really needs? A Slew of Questions As yet the main features are being kept under wraps, unlike its dealers, but what we do know is that you’ll need to be given an invite to…

To help combat out-of-state competition, the West Virginia Lottery is considering introducing online gaming options, including smartphone applications that would allow players to purchase Powerball and Mega Millions tickets on their phone. The West Virginia Lottery director, John Musgrave, told members of the state Lottery Commission Tuesday that officials met with state casino executives and their technical staff last month to discuss potential online gaming options in the state. A second meeting to discuss the matter is set to take place in Charleston in late October. “We’re still exploring (online gaming) because we feel that’s the way the industry’s moving,…

iGaming Business – Online gaming operator 888 has confirmed to investors that it is to launch a shared poker network between Delaware and Nevada, two of the three US states that offer forms of regulated internet gambling. The launch of the new online poker network, which will be known as the All America Poker Network (AAPN), comes after the two states in February signed a first-of-its-kind agreement to allow for shared player liquidity. While 888 is the monopoly provider in Delaware, the operator’s software is also used by WSOP in Nevada, although 888 is reported to be planning to launch…

Macau Business Daily – The gaming operator has issued a warning that its brands are being used by fraudulent gaming and betting websites. After SJM and Las Vegas Sands, the Galaxy group is the third operator to face online exploitation. Galaxy Entertainment Group trade names, trademarks and property images are being used illegally by online gaming and fraudulent betting websites. The warning was issued on Wednesday by the gaming operator. ‘We would like to bring to the public’s attention that recently it has come to our notice that our hotels and/or resort properties’ trade names, trademarks, photo images and customer…

Global Gaming Business Magazine – A new study from the Harvard Medical School’s Division of Addiction found that online gaming does not promote gambling addiction, and that the vast majority of those gambling on the internet are casual gamblers who effectively set limits for themselves. Harvard researchers worked with online casino operator bwin.party to study gambling habits of millions of online players over a two-year period, and supplemented the research with a six-month study done by the University of Hamburg. The Hamburg research studied only internet poker; Harvard looked at all online casino games. According to the Harvard report, 95…