The Motley Fool – Japanese gaming will likely be the biggest topic in the gaming world in 2014. The one obstacle in the way, however, is the fact that casinos are still forbidden in the country. The government will vote on legislation in the coming months that will decide whether or not casinos will be allowed to begin building in Japan. Analysts expect that if the country allows casinos, it could beat out Singapore to become the second-largest gambling hub in the world, behind Macau. After winning its bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan immediately started looking…

The Motley Fool – With gaming growth in Macau and hopes for Japan later this year, gamblers and investors alike are wondering which countries will also follow suit and ramp up their gaming industries. Because the country wants to support cultural development and it already has a head start with its leisure and gaming industry, South Korea might become yet another high-profit growth region for gaming in South East Asia. Since the South Korean government decided to allow large-scale casinos in the country two years ago, only one company has successfully won a bid to build there. Genting, the operator…

Daily Finance – There may be pretty lights, free-flowing cocktails and a theatrical buzz at the casino, but don’t go thinking that the treat for the senses is cheap. Slot players collectively walk out with as little as 90 percent of their money, on average. The odds are slightly better at the table games — including blackjack, poker and roulette — but there is no diversion where gamblers have the edge over the establishment. The house always wins. The odds are more favorable at a casino than state lotteries that only return as little as half of what they take…

iGaming Business – UK bookmaker Coral has completed the acquisition of multi-games provider Cool Games in an effort to further strengthen its interactive business. According to the Intergameonline.com website, the deal will include a library of exclusive gaming titles and an additional partnership that will deliver two social gaming applications. Angus Nisbet, gaming director at Coral Interactive, said that the company had recorded an increase in demand for multi-channel gaming and the purchase of Cool Games would help to boost its own service offering in this sector. “Since the launch of Coral’s digital platform just over a year ago, the…

iGaming Business – The Bulgarian State Gambling Commission (SGC) has granted online gambling licences to gambling company Betfair and sports betting operator Eurofootball. From this week, the Betfair.bg website will be authorised to offer sports betting in addition to wagers on horse and dog racing. Betfair will also be able to offer online casino betting games in the country under the terms of its licence. In addition, Eurofootball has also been approved to offer online betting on sports, as well as horse and dog racing, via its Eurofootball.bg website. iGaming Business

inCypress – Cabinet yesterday decided to establish ministerial and coordination committees and appoint a project manager amid efforts to create casinos that are “the best of their kind in Europe and amongst the best in the world”. Deputy Government Spokesman Viktor Papadopoulos made the announcement after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting. He revealed that Deloitte has been selected as the successful candidate to consult the government on the casino issue following an international tender process undertaken by the Commerce Ministry. Papadopoulos announced the Cabinet’s decision to create a Ministerial Committee and a Coordinating Committee and to designate a project manager for the…