This Week in Gambling

Today – Australian gambling tycoon and Melco Crown Entertainment co-chairman James Packer said it would cost a minimum of US$5 billion (S$6.2 billion) to develop a casino and resort complex in Japan should the government legalise casino gambling. One of Australia’s richest men, MR Packer is visiting Japan as the country’s parliament is preparing to debate legalising casino gambling, a move that could create a prize market with a wealthy population and proximity to China.“I think realistically that (US$5 billion) would be the lowest possible number. I think the numbers will only go up from there, not down,” Mr Packer…

Card Player – The Poker Players Alliance, a grassroots poker advocacy group in Washington, released an update on its efforts to help fight a pair of proposals that are attempting to ban online gaming, including web poker, across the United States. The video from PPA Executive Director John Pappas also highlighted some ways that the poker community itself can help amass opposition to the measures. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz are pushing a restoration of the Wire Act. Their efforts are aligned with lobbying by billionaire casino boss Sheldon Adelson, who wants online gambling to be…

iGaming Business – The English Football Association (FA) national governing body has put forward a new proposal that would ban participants in the county’s top four divisions from betting on any match or competition in the world. The proposal, which would come into effect from the start of the 2014-15 season, would also see a worldwide prohibition on betting on any other football-related matters, such as the transfer of players or appointment of managers. The proposal received a unanimous recommendation from The FA Council yesterday (Wednesday) and The Football Regulatory Authority last month. The English Premier League, English Football League,…

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling has again voiced its criticism of a report by the Association of British Bookmakers that claimed deprived areas in the UK have the lowest number of betting shops. The group accused the ABB of attempted to “mislead” the public by publishing a report carried out by the Local Data Company in which it suggested that betting shops do not target deprived areas. Last month, the Campaign carried out its own research in which it claimed that even when controlling for population density, there are more than twice the number of betting shops in the poorest…

iGaming Business – Online gaming software provider NYX Interactive, part of the NYX Gaming Group, has announced that its NYX Open Gaming Season (OGS) games platform has been certified for launch in the regulated market of Denmark. NYX OGS was handed approval by gaming testing, certification, calibration and training firm NMi, which became the first European laboratory to be approved by Danish authorities in March 2012. David Flynn, senior vice-presdient of NYX Gaming, said “Gaining confirmation from NMi that OGS is now certified for Denmark is further testament to the continuing progress of NYX OGS. “Since going live 18 months…

iGaming Business – Bookmaker Ladbrokes has completed the acquisition of Australian private bookmaking business Betstar in a deal worth £12.4 million (€15 million/$20.7 million). Ladbrokes said the deal would allow it to add an existing and complementary client base, as well as accelerate the growth of its Australian business. Betstar has approximately 40,000 registered customers and generated gross win of A$12.9 million in A$214 million amounts staked during the year to March 31, 2014. The Betstar brand will be maintained under the terms of the deal. The acquisition is the latest attempt by Ladbrokes to strengthen its Australian business, following…