EUROPEAN GAMING
A failed Cyprus casino bidder, which includes U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump (l.), says favoritism is at work as the island republic prepares to grant its sole casino license....
Smoking Ban Begins In Romania
Casino operators in Romania are concerned a new smoking ban, which took effect March 16, could cause revenue decreases of up to 40 percent. However, casinos are exempt in...
Cyprus Approves Casino Legislation
Lawmakers in Cyprus approved enabling legislation for the Greek republic’s nascent casino industry. Winning bidders for a license are said to include Hard Rock and Melco International; Philippine operator...
Romanian Gaming Tops €1B
Regulatory overhauls in 2015 helped to improve the gaming market in Romania and opened it up to international operators, resulting in a 71 percent rise in tax revenues to...
UK to Replace Levy Betting System
Calling for “a level playing field,” the UK government has introduced a new funding model for the horseracing industry that requires offshore bookies to pitch in. The British Horseracing...
Slovenia Seeks Casinos, i-Gaming Licenses
The government of Slovenia recently asked the European Commission for permission to build up to 15 new casinos and open 45 smaller gambling halls. It also would license i-gaming...
Report: Paddy Power Targets Minorities
The Campaign for Fairer Gambling recently released a study indicating Irish bookmakers Paddy Power place more fixed-odds betting terminals (l.) in minority ethnic communities than competitors. Paddy Power said...
Who’s Who in Cyprus?
Speculation continues about the operators who are first in line for a Cyprus casino license. To date, the bidders have not been identified, but reports say the short list...
Novomatic, Investors to Control Casinos Austria
Novomatic Group and Sazka Group are forming a joint venture that will control the Austrian casino and lottery operator Casinos Austria. The company has properties outside of Austria, as...
Moscow Monitors Illegal Gaming
A statement on the Moscow government website acknowledges that a group of anti-gaming activists are at work to detect and report illegal gambling and other offenses. The vigilantes have...
Distrust Permeates UK Gambling
UK citizens are less trustful of the nation’s gaming industry than they have been in recent years and are betting less, partly due to match-fixing and reports of betting...
Malta Casinos Challenged by New Entry
The December opening of Olympic Entertainment’s Casino Malta, operated by Eden Leisure, may compel its competitors in the Baltics to step up their games. Olympic operates 97 sites in...
Sky Betting & Gaming Joins Senet Group
Sky Betting & Gaming became the first online-only gaming company to join gaming industry watchdog the Senet Group, and says the partnership will help to develop online gaming regulations,...
Brits Smash Cyprus Gaming Gear
British military personnel destroyed gambling equipment worth tens of thousands of euros and mostly seized from two illegal casinos that operated within territory controlled by Britain’s two military bases...
Hard Rock Presses BCN Project
The planned $6 billion BCN World project in Spain is in a holding pattern, but U.S.-based casino giant Hard Rock International continues to pitch its proposed $2.5 billion holiday...
Will Russia Hike Gaming Taxes?
The Russian Ministry of Finance has stunned the gaming industry with a proposed tax that is 10 times the current rate. The legislation, which also includes a 10 percent...
One-Size-Fits All Gaming Regs in EU? Forget About It
Speaking at ICE in London earlier this month, EU Commissioner Harrie Temmink (l.) said there will be no blanket regulations for online gaming across Europe, due to opposition from...
Melco Shelves Georgia Casino Plan
Melco International Development Ltd. has dropped a plan to develop a casino resort in Georgia in Eastern Europe. In a joint announcement, Melco and its MelcoLot Ltd. subsidiary said...
UK Zeroes In on ‘Hotspots’ for Problem Gambling, Experiments With Drug Treatment
A study of the English cities of Manchester and London suggests that policymakers may be able to draw accurate maps of areas where problem gambling could be more common....
Gauselmann Buys into Berlin
The Gauselmann Group, which opened its first German casino in 2015 in Saxony-Anhalt, has acquired a 40 percent stake in Gustav-Jaenecke, owner of Spielbank Berlin. Spielbank operates five gaming...