Sun, May 13, 2012
Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson was in Spain recently, kicking tires for his proposed EuroVegas complex. Adelson, accompanied by his wife, visited a site near Madrid and met with local business people and government authorities.
Sun, May 13, 2012
Is the Spanish government dragging its heels on allowing private companies to compete in online gaming? Operators say it is delaying issuing licenses on purpose. But the go-slow approach may be the result of other factors, among them an ongoing investigation into alleged tax-dodging by operators.
Sun, May 13, 2012
European Lotteries, a group of government sponsored lotteries and betting operators, has added its voice to the call for a closer eye on gambling-related corruption in sports on the continent. The group has proposed closer monitoring and special criminal penalties for match-fixing.
Sun, May 13, 2012
Professional football club Leeds United of Britain’s Championship League wants municipal approval to open a casino at its stadium. The casino would be permitted 150 slot machines, which is a lot in the U.K. Casino giant Grosvenor has filed a competing bid for the license.
Sun, May 13, 2012
The German state of Schleswig-Holstein is going its own way on online gaming, taking a more liberal path than the rest of the country and issuing an initial three operating licenses, one of them to UK-based betting exchange Betfair, with more to come. The state also has instituted a more pro-business tax regime. Not surprisingly, 37 entities have applied for licensing.
Sun, May 06, 2012
The new legislation, which takes effect in July, imposes stricter licensing and investment requirements. It also prohibits direct advertising. Ultimately, though, it is expected to grow the market by bringing in a younger player demographic.
Sun, May 06, 2012
The legendary football club, Leeds United, has become the fifth organization to bid on a “super” casino in Leeds. City Council will weigh the applications at some future date. The club’s historic stadium, Elland Road (l.), would be the site of the casino in the west stand.
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Regulators in Malta have agreed to work more closely with European officials to fight corruption in sports. They’ve committed themselves and their licensees to monitor and report irregular betting patterns and other suspicious activities.
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
The more liberal rules incorporated in Germany’s new Interstate Treaty will boost the country’s retail betting industry to €1.5 billion by 2015. This is according to a new study, which also points out that the treaty leaves many key issues unresolved, like taxes and advertising restrictions.
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Belgium’s TV stations have been broadcasting lottery-style games for years. Now the government says they must pay the national gambling tax on the revenues and has assessed the station’s hefty fines for the back taxes it says they owe.
Sat, Apr 28, 2012
Genting UK is investing £4 million to renovate and expand its casino in Liverpool (Queen Square Genting Club at left) and relocate its casino in Southport to a newly revamped commercial district. Both projects are expected to provide a shot in the arm to the local economies.
Sun, Apr 22, 2012
Madrid or Barcelona? No, it’s not a football question. The issue is which of Spain’s two major cities will be home to Las Vegas Sands’ proposed $35 billion EuroVegas complex. The company says it is close to a decision. Barcelona Mayor Xavier Trias (l.) says Madrid is the favorite.
Fri, Apr 13, 2012
A major British newspaper last week reported that Caesars Entertainment has hired an investment bank to help in the sale of London Clubs International, a British casino group that Caesars bought in 2006. London’s Empire Casino (l.) is the LCI flagship.
Fri, Apr 13, 2012
Milton Keynes has approved Aspers’ bid to develop a new £10 million casino in the Xscape center (l.). The rewards for the South Midlands city should be substantial. In addition to jobs and investment, Aspers has pledged £500,000 a year to fund programs for local residents.
Sun, Apr 08, 2012
Spanish Treasury Minister Cristobal Montoro (l.) told Parliament the tax code could be “modified” to attract the billions Las Vegas Sands promises to invest in a massive resort complex either in Madrid or Barcelona. Current plans for “Euro Vegas,” as the project is called, include 12 hotels, six casinos and three golf courses.
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
Bulgaria is home to some of Europe’s more successful gaming machine manufacturers, but in recent years the domestic market has been hurt by the poor economy and drastic taxes. Now a new gaming law has been prepared that is expected to create a healthier environment for those who qualify.
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
The long process of choosing a plan for its “large” casino license is almost over for the U.K. town of Great Yarmouth. Only two applicants have submitted proposals, one of which will be named the winner on April 27.
Sat, Mar 31, 2012
The vision of Sheldon Adelson to put a EuroVegas (l.) near Madrid ort Barcelona has come at a time when those for and against are both seen growing in numbers. In the end it may come to a decision between jobs at any cost or no jobs at all.
Sun, Mar 25, 2012
Donating to good causes has always been a strong element of the European gaming tradition. Now, Czech authorities are charging two gaming firms with sending their charitable donations to themselves.
Sun, Mar 25, 2012
The U.K. Gambling Commission is adjusting the fees it charges operators across a variety of gaming sectors. The new fees will be higher in some cases and lower in others, The Commission says the new structure better reflects the real cost of regulating the sectors involved.
Sun, Mar 25, 2012
The Birmingham NEC (l.) may soon be getting a Genting Resorts World casino-hotel complex. The local council is said to be ready to approve plans for the development of the “large” casino and hotel plus non-gaming amenities. Compared to other Resorts World-branded efforts, however, this will be somewhat modest.
Sun, Mar 25, 2012
Not everyone in Spain is happy about Sheldon Adelson’s (l.) plan to create a EuroVegas there. A consortium of experienced protest groups has organized to tell the government they want Spanish workers to have more job choices than just “waiter or prostitute.”
Sun, Mar 18, 2012
Las Vegas Sands is looking to finalize the location of its EuroVegas project in Spain by the middle of summer 2012. The choice is down to Barcelona (l.) or Madrid, with the winner expected to be the region that gives LVS the most of what it wants.
Sat, Mar 17, 2012
Greece is moving ahead with its plan to privatize state lottery operations. The 12-year concession could fetch up to €600 million from whichever of the three contenders wins the tender.
Sat, Mar 17, 2012
The Leeds city council is now looking at applications for the “large” casino license to be awarded there. The deadline for the first part of the two-step process is April 26. Final awarding of the concession will take place in spring 2013.
Sat, Mar 10, 2012
Cyprus is considering the introduction of a regulated land-based casino market and online gaming. A new report from KPMG says that a proposed 3 percent tax on turnover for online gaming would not serve the government well.
Sat, Mar 10, 2012
The U.K. town of Slough has had an official anti-casino measure since 2006. However, the regulation that keeps the town casino-free must be renewed every three years.
Sat, Mar 03, 2012
Ukraine has passed a law that subjects compulsive gamblers to court oversight of their personal finances. With one legislator putting the number of potential candidates for the program at 20 percent of the population, it looks like the total ban on casinos passed two years ago is not working.
Sat, Mar 03, 2012
The Isle of Man has received seven expressions of interest in building and operating the island’s second casino resort. The economic development minister has not ruled out the prospect of a “super-casino” project if it can be shown to be viable.
Sat, Feb 25, 2012
Russian players have to travel if they want to play at legal casinos. Some choose relatively nearby Minsk, in Belarus, but the hotels apparently do not meet their standards. The solution: buy an apartment for use while in town.
Sat, Feb 25, 2012
A casino in über-taxed Germany receiving a $10-million-plus renovation is news. Casino Hohensyburg (l.) is taking that step to try and regain its position as the nation’s leading casino.
Sat, Feb 25, 2012
Finland continues to operate a monopoly system for gaming despite all the changes occurring at other E.U. lands. The positive results from 2011 are not likely to encourage the government to mess with the status quo anytime soon.
Sat, Feb 25, 2012
An ongoing tax case against Italy’s 10 licensed operators of AWP networks has resulted in a judgment of almost €3 billion in taxes owed the government. The decision in the long-running case is expected to be appealed.
Sat, Feb 25, 2012
The first casino license to be awarded by Liechtenstein, Casino Vaduzerhof (l.), has led to the first court case involving a Liechtenstein casino license. The plaintiff, a Novomatic subsidiary, is objecting to the winning bidder’s switch of operating partners after proposals had been submitted.
Sat, Feb 18, 2012
Holland Casino has issued a casino ban to a man it suspects of using illegally obtained money for gambling. The man has turned to the courts and is awaiting a ruling on the case.
Sat, Feb 18, 2012
An alleged proliferation of betting shops has been criticized in a report whose aim is to suggest improvements to the main shopping streets in U.K. cities and towns. Defending the industry is the CEO of the Association of British Bookmakers, Dirk Vennix.
Sat, Feb 18, 2012
The license to operate Ireland’s national lottery is going on the market sometime in the next year. The government must still arrive at details regarding length of validity and prize percentages, but the initial cost to the bidder is expected to be above €600 million.
Sat, Feb 18, 2012
Denmark has announced another step in efforts to regulate its domestic online gaming market. Increased communication between the gaming regulatory body and the consumer protection authority is intended to stop potential problems before they start. Birgitte Sand (l.), director of the Danish Gambling Authority, says her agency is protecting consumers.
Sat, Feb 18, 2012
Cyprus continues to wrestle with the issue of whether or not to license casinos. The latest effort comes from a suggestion by the finance ministry as it seeks measures to stimulate growth and increase revenue. But the ruling party and President Demetris Christofias (l.) remain opposed to the move.
Sun, Feb 12, 2012
The line between free-play and pay-to-play online gaming sites has become blurred with the advent of virtual cash. A new U.K. virtual cash poker site that bears the name of pop idol Robbie Williams (l.) is drawing fire from critics in political circles.
Sat, Feb 11, 2012
Belgium has issued its initial blacklist of online gaming websites to be blocked by ISPs and payment processors. The list of 10 sites includes a few of the more recognizable names from the online gaming world.
Sat, Feb 11, 2012
The U.K. has been re-visiting its 2005 Gaming Act on the subject of licensing online gaming sites. The 15-percent tax on gaming revenue has driven most operators offshore, while U.K. players continue to conduct gaming with familiar brands—whether or not they have a U.K. license.
Sat, Feb 11, 2012
Liechtenstein has its first officially licensed casino. The government has awarded the license to Casino Vaduzerhof AG, which in turn has awarded the operating concession to Grand Casino Baden from neighbor Switzerland.
Sat, Feb 11, 2012
The anti-gaming atmosphere that has permeated the governments of Poland in recent years has not completely halted progress by the local casino industry. Casinos Poland plans to open three new properties, one at Lodz’s Manufaktura Center (l.), this year and is hoping to re-acquire the licenses to three major cities held previously.
Sat, Feb 04, 2012
The U.K. is on course to change its regulations regarding offshore operators of online gaming who target customers in the U.K. A bill is being introduced this week that would require all such operators to obtain a U.K. license.
Sat, Feb 04, 2012
Some 14 prosecutors in the Moscow region have lost their jobs over last year’s illegal casino scandal. The chief regional prosecutor has said he will keep going with his efforts to “cleanse the ranks.”
Sat, Feb 04, 2012
Greece is once again talking about selling off part its 34 percent stake in betting operator OPAP. The sale is expected before April if all the other conditions surrounding the latest bailout effort are favorable.
Sat, Feb 04, 2012
The U.K. casino market is on the verge of another major consolidation. Rank Group is attempting to add the casinos of Gala Coral to its current stable and become the biggest operator in the land overnight.
Sun, Jan 29, 2012
Ladbrokes of the U.K. has purchased a controlling stake in Las Vegas software firm Stadium Technology Group. The move is seen as positioning Ladbrokes to take advantage of changing regulations in the U.S. regarding sports betting and other products.
Sun, Jan 29, 2012
The opening of the Austrian casino market has begun. Sort of. The Finance Ministry has received three bids for the first bundle of six licenses, which bundling is being protested by Novomatic, the parent of two of the bidders.
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