Crimea Casinos: Few Takers Expected

Russian President Vladimir Putin (l.) is no fan of the gaming industry, but he wants to make an exception the economically ailing Crimea. Industry experts have their doubts, though,...

Published May 12, 2014

For Sale: One 375-Year-Old Casino

Venice’s legendary Casino Di Venezia has plenty of history going for it, but not much else, or so it seemed from the resounding silence that greeted the city’s recent...

Published May 12, 2014

Lawrence Ho Eyes Casino in Barcelona

A company controlled by Macau casino magnate Lawrence Ho is negotiating with Spanish developers to manage a casino in a planned megaresort complex near Barcelona. The news comes just...

Published May 5, 2014

Hill Closing 109 Betting Shops

William Hill is closing scores of betting shops in response to the UK’s new get-tough stance on the electronic table games that are the sector’s mainstay. Actions include a...

Published May 5, 2014

Racino Dead in Wolverhampton

Plans to open Britain’s first racino have been scrapped by track owners. The facility in Wolverhampton was to anchor a £22 million plan for revitalizing the area with a...

Published May 5, 2014

Putin Wants Casinos in Crimea

The Kremlin has come up with a novel plan for bailing out Crimea’s struggling economy—casinos. President Vladimir Putin (l.) has introduced an authorization bill in the national parliament that...

Published April 28, 2014

A Tough Year for Holland Casino

Holland Casino continues to bleed money ahead of the Dutch government’s plans to sell off the monopoly to a private buyer. The 14-casino group lost a record €22.3 million...

Published April 28, 2014

FA Seeks Ban on Betting

The governing body of English football wants a total prohibition on betting by any of its members anywhere in the world. The crackdown by the Football Association follows a...

Published April 21, 2014

OPAP’s Monopoly Under Fire

The Greek government has promised the new owners of OPAP a monopoly on online betting in the country, but the plan has hit two big obstacles. Prospective competitors in...

Published April 21, 2014

UK Town Gets Money Laundering Conviction of Illegal Poker Den

The UK’s Enfield Council has successfully prosecuted the country’s first money laundering conviction of a suspect involved in running an illegal poker den.

Published April 21, 2014

FOBT Crackdown Coming

Birmingham officials have been told there is nothing they can do to stop more FOBTs from coming to its major shopping streets. At least not until the central government...

Published April 14, 2014

UK Study: Gaming Research in Thrall to Industry

Objective research into gaming’s social impacts is largely non-existent in Great Britain, according to a new report. The problem, it says, is that the gaming industry funds most of...

Published April 14, 2014

Codere Fights To Keep Control

The board of Spanish gaming and betting operator Codere has dismissed a plan by bondholders to invest more money in the company in exchange for taking it over. Codere...

Published April 7, 2014

Casinos Possible in Crimea

The Russian government is considering opening the Crimea to gaming development to help boost its troubled economy, according to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Kozak (l.). Proposals are being prepared...

Published April 7, 2014

New Bill Torches Greek Smoking Ban

Greece has more smokers relative to its population than any country in the EU. Their numbers won’t be shrinking if lawmakers sign off on a new bill to scrap...

Published April 7, 2014

UK Bookies Protest Tax Hike

Britain’s bookmakers are calling on Chancellor George Osborne (l.) to reconsider plans to raise the tax on revenue from electronic table game. The controversial devices are the mainstay of...

Published March 31, 2014

UK To Impose Mandatory Licensing, Tax Increase on FOBTs

The British Parliament has passed a bill that requires all gambling operators doing business in the country to be licensed, including those operating online and offshore. The government also...

Published March 24, 2014

Cyprus’ First Casino Hopefully Not Its Last

A village in Cyprus wants to host a casino and claims history is on its side. It was the location of a 19th century casino that was the island’s...

Published March 24, 2014

Paddy Vows to Fight Betting Shop Curbs

Paddy Power has weighed in to the FOBT controversy with a promise to sue to block the British government from imposing zoning limits on new betting shops. The limits,...

Published March 17, 2014

Grosvenor Plans Southampton Bid

Grosvenor, the UK’s largest casino operator, wants to get larger. The company says it plans to challenge Aspers for the license to a new casino in the English city...

Published March 17, 2014