The Lakers, who called the Thomas & Mack Center their Las Vegas home for years, have moved down the street to the MGM Grand Garden. The arena, which is set up for just more than 13,000 seats, about 5,000 fewer for basketball than the Thomas & Mack, purchased its own floor a year ago and now has the ability to host an NBA game. It was a move the Los Angeles Lakers likely would have made years ago — had their new Las Vegas preseason home had a basketball court. But the relocation is more than just about basketball. It’s…

iGaming Business – The National Hockey League (NHL) is to target the mobile gaming market as a way of increasing the growth of the North American ice hockey competition, according to the NHL’s vice-president of mobile marketing and strategy, Chris Golier. The Insidemobileapps.com website said that Golier and the NHL had identified mobile as a key platform on which to target fans. Golier said the NHL has utilised its strategic partnership with online video technology firm NeuLion to create a number of new apps and experiences for both current and potential fans. “This season we’ve launched a few mobile games…

BBC – While having a flutter at the bookies has long been associated with horse racing, the growth of online betting could see football challenge that position in Britain. However, betting on football is now a worldwide phenomenon with much of the trading carried out on illegal markets in Asia, where the huge sums wagered bring with it the threat of match-fixing. Here we look at the rise in betting, the risks of corruption and the history of cheating in the sport. “The current estimations, which include both the illegal markets and the legal markets, suggest the sports match-betting industry…

iGaming Business – Online gaming operator Unibet Group has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with Australian National Rugby League (NRL) team Parramatta Eels through to the 2015 season. Under the deal, Unibet branding will appear on the back of players’ jerseys. It is the first time Unibet has sponsored a sports club in Australia. Property developer Dyldam has also signed up to become the team’s major sponsor. Collectively, the two deals are worth more than AUS$1 million (€700,000/$934,000), according to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. “It’s all about long-term, sustainable success and we’re going down that route, it’s a great…

iGaming Business – English Premier League football club Manchester City has renewed a partnership with Irish bookmaker Paddy Power. Under the deal, Paddy Power will continue to serve as the club’s official betting partner in the UK, Ireland and Italy, enjoying access to first-team players for promotional activities and the use of hospitality services at City’s Etihad Stadium. The bookmaker has been a partner of the club for the past two seasons – the first of which saw City win the Premier League title – and the new agreement will extend the relationship until the end of the 2014-15 campaign….

There’s some exciting International Soccer action to look forward to over the coming days as the group stage of World Cup qualifiers reaches its conclusion. England welcome Group H rivals Montenegro and Poland with qualification in their own hands, the Three Lions will be looking to make Wembley a fortress and record the two wins they need to top the group. The Republic of Ireland have a slim chance of a play-off place but will need to take maximum points from their remaining fixtures, whilst relying on slip-ups from their rivals, if they are to keep their World Cup dreams…

North Jersey – The Third Circuit Court of Appeals’ rejection two weeks ago of New Jersey’s petition to legalize sports gambling at Atlantic City casinos is described as a “net negative” in a filing released Friday by Moody’s. Senior analyst Baye Larsen said the decision – which was reached on the conclusion that the New Jersey law runs afoul of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 passed by Congress and signed into law – “eliminates a potential new source of tax revenues and economic activity for the state.” Of course, state sports betting advocates would say that…

SBR Forum – A BetAtHome Sportsbook (SBR rating C-) player has filed a complaint. The player deposited €400 through Moneybookers when creating his account and ran his balance up to more than €1,500. BetAtHome Sportsbook refunded his initial deposit but zeroed the rest of his balance. He was accused of multi-accounting — a charge he denies. The player indicated that he contacted BetAtHome customer service and was told that he was connected to other users that also claimed the welcome bonus. He alleges in his complaint filed with SBR that he only accesses his sportsbook account from his residence and…