Ladbrokes Witnesses Boost In First-Quarter Operating Profits

Ladbrokes witnessed an increase in popularity of betting machines that has boosted the first-quarter operating profits. It has eased investor worries after the gambling company’s drop in full-year online profits.

Ladbrokes was buoyed by a 21.7 per cent rise in machines net revenue, as the company invested in a wider array of games and it reported a 3.9 per cent rise in operating profits to £50.4m for the three months to March 31, compared to the same period in 2011.

Chief executive Richard Glynn remained confident the business would see profits growth in the second half of 2012 ands he said that the investment was starting to pay off, with the UK online sportsbook up 22 per cent.

Bets placed from mobile phones accounted for 20 per cent of its sportsbook and it was the market leader in people betting in-play on football matches, while shares rose five per cent after the update and there was strong growth in the number of people signing up to Ladbrokes website. However, with net revenues at its poker business suffering a 27 per cent decline and casino revenues five per cent lower, other parts of the online business continued to struggle.

In first-quarter profit, Britain’s second-biggest bookmaker Ladbrokes posted a 3.9% rise, boosted by strong growth at its retail operations, and said its online business was showing signs of improvement. On Thursday, Ladbrokes, which has around 2,100 shops in Britain, reported an operating profit of £50.4 million in the three months to the end of March on revenues 8.9% higher.

Ladbrokes said net revenue at its digital division grew 5.9% in the quarter, boosted by good growth in online sports betting. They pulled out of talks to buy online gambling businesses 888 and Sportingbet during the last year.

At the Irish operation of Ladbrokes, Favorable results from last month’s Cheltenham Festival drove first-quarter net revenue up by almost 20%. the British bookmaker saw net revenues rise by just under 9% year-on-year over the first three months of this year on a group-wide basis. Group operating profit was driven by growth in its British and European retail divisions and it was up by 3.9% at £50.4m (€62m).

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One Very Fortunate Slot Player Claimed £1.5 Million At Ladbrokes Casino

At Ladbrokes.com, one of the most popular online casinos in the Microgaming network of sites, one very lucky slot player hit the jackpot on the King Cashalot video slot on the internet and won an amazing £1.5 million.

In the last four years, this payout of 1,527,198 credits is the largest given out by the King Cashalot slot game. In this period there have been only two other million dollar payouts. The first one was for 1.00 million whereas the second one for 1.03 million. From King Cashalot the average payout per hit has been about 700,000 credits. This shows just how fortunate the player from Ladbrokes Casino has been to win £1.5 million.

A founding member of eCOGRA the online gambling industry’s safety net, Microgaming offers over 500 game titles in 20 different languages. Head of casino at Microgaming, Mike Hebden revealed his delight at yet another millionaire being created by the slot machine.

With the largest producer of proven software titles paying out €285 million on its progressive network since it was first launched, Microgaming powered casinos have an impressive history for jackpot payouts. Through the 37 different progressive jackpot games offered by the Microgaming suite of games, as many as eight thousand people have won life changing amounts of money.

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$1.5 Billion Hong Kong IPO Planned by MGM Macau Casino

CasinoPorto, Portugal MGM will become majority shareholders in the MGM Grand to be in command of Macau Casino. The deal will take MGM’s stake in the resort to 51%, which was beforehand a joint undertaking between the casino giants and the Ho family, to make more efficient operations with their other casinos around the globe and allowing the company to take full control of the casino.

In a deal anticipated to produce $300 million dollars for the company, the deal reportedly sees Pansy Ho, daughter of the head of the Ho dynasty, trading a 1% share in the casino for senior notes in MGM. With the IPO (Initial Public Offering) expected to be finished on 30th June 2011, the conclusion of the deal will probably see the casino listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the listing MGM China Holding Company.

According to a report, from the gambling industry to HK$184.1 billion in 2010, Macau has recorded a 57.5 percent year-on-year rise in revenue.

In the revenue that Macao will earn from the gambling industry in 2011, Joe Poon, an analyst with Standard and Poors, projects a 25 percent year-on-year growth. It was reported that from the mainland and Hong Kong, come 83 percent of the visitors to Macao.

MGM chose to keep its relationship with Pansy Ho in a reaction to an ultimatum from New Jersey casino regulators that MGM Resorts either sell its 50 percent stake in Atlantic City’s top casino, or cut ties with her. Pansy Ho is an “unsuitable” business partner of MGM in Macau and this is what regulators have concluded, although the company declares of no wrongdoing.

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Virgin Casino Included Zuma Slots In Its Portfolio

Virgin CasinoIn keeping with its policy to offer the best to its customers, Virgin Casino has added Zuma Slots in its collection of online slot games from diverse software providers. At Virgin Casino, this is the third Pop Cap Gamesys slot game and the other two being Bejeweled 2 and Chuzzle Slots.

Payouts can be multiplied in Zuma Slots, which has a gamble game. Being on, the player can set the default setting to this game in which case he will be automatically taken to the gamble game. From four gamble reels the player has to choose.

Reel 1 multiplies payouts by 2 as it has a 50 percent chance of success. Reel 2 multiplies payouts by 4 as it has a 25 percent chance of success. Reel 3 multiplies payouts by 5 as it has a 20 percent chance of success. Reel 4 multiplies payouts by 10 as it has a 10 percent chance of success. If the player has any money in the Winnings pane he can choose to Bank. He can gamble with the other half as the half the amount will be secured. The player will be awarded the total amount and the gamble game will end if he chooses to collect.

The Free Spins Bonus is triggered by three or more scatter mask symbols. To reveal the number of free spins the player shoots a Tiki Boss. The player chooses another Tiki Boss to reveal a multiplier, which is applied to the player’s total win in this round once he has completed the free spins and the free spins can be retriggered.

Virgin Casino is licensed by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and is powered by software from Wager Works.

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Revamped EuroGrand Casino Becomes More Exhilarating

EuroGrand CasinoThe latest refurbished EuroGrand Casino is at present regarded as one of the gaming industry’s most highly regarded online venues and, it is rapidly becoming one of the internet’s most exhilarating and remarkable gaming destinations.

In addition to the internet’s greatest jackpots, promotions and customer services, the site offers customers access to the most excellent titles around. The EuroGrand Casino is powered by the leading software provider, Playtech. Filled with opportunities, in recent months, the online casino has gone from strength to strength as ardent gamers flock online to see what all the excitement is about for themselves.

To check out the site’s wealth of Live casino titles and unique games, many players have been willing. The site offers a truly authentic online gaming encounter. As the players sample classic titles including online gambling, Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat, where they interact with a realer life dealer of their preference.

EuroGrand Casino has remained unaltered is its huge collection of Marvel Comics-inspired slot games, in spite of its revamp. The most popular are Iron Man, X Men, Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Blade and many more. Each of these games is loaded with high-paying features.

In fact, to EuroGrand Casino, Marvel slots are one of the principal drawcards and for very good reason. Slot games are packed with authentic images from the respective Hollywood blockbusters, because the games’ developer Playtech secured the rights from Marvel.

EuroGrand Casino’s huge selection of progressive jackpot games that often reach into the millions, which is another vastly popular feature, has remained unchanged. In fact, Playtech-powered progressive jackpot and poker slots have produced many instant online millionaires over the years.

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Online Gambling to be Launched by DC

Online GamblingD.C. officials said they are scheduling that by around Sept. 1 they will set up 20 to 30 online gambling “hot spots” in hotels, bars, clubs and other locations across the city, marking a chief step for the nation’s capital to twirl into a asylum for Texas hold ’em and other potentially profitable Internet-based games. This year, comparable measures have been taken by Nevada, California, Florida and Iowa.

That means instead of heading to a casino, anyone in the district will soon be capable to place bets online. Games like Texas Hold ’em style poker will feature in the city’s online gaming. Over the next three years, it is anticipated to raise $13 million, helping the city to close its $322 million budget gap for 2012 fiscal year.

Lawful online gambling in the city will be offered by the DC Lottery. With free games in early summer followed by paid gaming by late summer at allocated locations, the organization is supposed to do a soft launch.

This summer, the gambling is anticipated to begin late and quite a lot of businesses have already conveyed interest.

Councilman Michael A. Brown, who authored the provision, said that the district wishes, offset budget cuts and fund social services programs would get assist from the gambling revenue. He added that the district could bring in $13 million to $14 million through fiscal 2014, indicting conservative estimates from the district’s chief financial officer.

The district would be permitted to offer other games of both opportunity and proficiency, besides poker. It would be up to lottery officials to make a decision, which games to authorize and which one to come up with guidelines.

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Paragon Gaming Inc. Offers to Reduce Slot Machines From 1,500 To 1,200

SLOT-MACHINEParagon Gaming Inc., the Las Vegas Company proposing to build a mega casino next to B.C. Place Stadium made a last minute offer to city council to reduce the number of slot machines in its plan from 1,500 to 1,200.

Scott Menke, Paragon Gaming president said he made the offer of a reduced number of slots after listening to opponents’ concerns. He said he still needs to consult with his financiers about the impact the offer would have on the second hotel. He said this kind of phase in slots has been done at other casinos with success.

It would be the largest casino in Western Canada if Paragon was allowed to proceed with its original proposal of a 1,500 slot operation.

Chairman of B.C. Pavilion Corp. David Podmore proposed to Council late Sunday evening the idea of reducing the number of slots to 1,200 from 1,500. For an additional 300, Paragon would then later apply to council. PavCo, a B.C. Crown corporation, owns the land where the casino would be built.

With 58 in favor of Paragon’s proposal, 83 against and four with no opinion, council heard from 145 people over three nights and two days.

President of Paragon, Scott Menke said he decided to make the offer after hearing from several speakers at the hearings worried about the large number of slots. The offer does not include reducing the proposal for 150 games tables.

The offer, though, specifies that council could review the number of slots at the casino two years after the facility opens and potentially add more slot machines.

In Enoch, Alta, Paragon made a similar offer. When it built its River Cree Casino, adding 100 slots every year and now has 1,050 of the machines. It was approved for 1,200.

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Louisiana’s Casinos Recorded A 4.4 Percent Slide In Gambling Revenue

In February 2011, Louisiana’s state-licensed casinos recorded a 4.4 percent slide in gambling revenue as compared with February 2010, mostly as the result of a sharp dip in the Texas border market of Shreveport Bossier City.

In February, Louisiana casinos won $199 million from gamblers, up 4.2 percent from the $191 million haul of January, State Police reported Thursday. In January, Louisiana casinos won $191.3 million, a slight boost from $189.7 million in January 2010.

Even though a decline in revenue as compared with February of a year ago, the results at New Orleans area casinos mirrored those of the overall state total, with every casino in the New Orleans reporting an improvement in February over January.

At the Boomtown New Orleans and Treasure Chest Casino, combined winnings were $21.3 million. Boomtown in Harvey won $12.6 million in February, up 5 percent from the $12 million won in January. The casino’s winnings were down one percent, though, from the $12.7 million brought in February a year ago.

For now, Treasure Chest in Kenner won $8.76 million from gamblers in February, up 1.6 percent from January’s haul of $8.62 million. But, the riverboat’s winnings declined 2 percent from a year ago, when it won $8.94 million.

During the choppy economic recovery, many casino states have been reporting up & down revenue figures from month to month. The figures don’t include the state’s three Indian reservation casinos, which are not required to report their winnings to the public.

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Online Gaming Bill – New Jersey Governor Vetoed

New Jersey’s Governor prohibited a bill that has resulted in a huge setback to the endeavors to legalize online gambling in the U.S. The vetoed bill would have decriminalized online gaming in his state, and it would have been the first in the nation.

Through websites managed by casino companies in Atlantic City, New Jersey, residents could have placed their bets, if the bill was agreed to. Boyd Gaming Corp. and Caesars Entertainment Inc. would be entitled to run online gaming websites.

The state’s 11 Atlantic City casino companies would have been given the permission to take bets over the Internet from New Jersey residents, if the bill was allocated. New Jersey would have become the first state to give permission internet betting on casino-type games, if Christie had endorsed the bill.

The attention of the federal Justice Department would certainly have been drawn by the commencement of casino-style Internet wagering in New Jersey. A bill that forbids money transfers to Internet gambling sites by any U.S. financial institution was given a go ahead in 2006. This was done to shed light on fact that within U.S. borders, the federal government believes Internet gambling to be against the law.

Gambling by U.S. residents on horse races is an exception to the veto. This practice on Internet gambling for the past decade has not been liable from federal exclusions. The Justice Department’s official opinion was that the practice breaches federal law, regardless of of this the exemption has remained unharmed.

Caesars believes that if it were authorized federally, it could achieve a 20% share of the $5 billion online poker market. Caesars owns the admired World Series of Poker brand. Senior vice president of communications and government relations for Caesars, Jan Jones said that they have felt that endorsing federal legislation should be the first focus.

Senator Lesniak said that in order to get Internet wagering up and running as soon as possible. He will look forward to work with Governor Christie and his administration. He added that this opportunity should not be left out of their grip.

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Online Gambling: Ladbrokes Reports 20% in Full Year Operating Profit

Ladbrokes (LAD.L), Britain’s biggest bookmaker reported a 20 percent growth in full year operating profit. Popularity of in-play betting and new gambling machines was responsible for the hike in the profit.

With gross win per terminal per week up 10.2 percent, the performance of Ladbrokes’s gambling machines continued to improve. This resulted in roll out of the new supplier’s machines. Due to the online demand for in-play wagers, Ladbrokes negated a fall. At its UK high street retail division, rolling out of gaming machines continued to take place. Ladbrokes refurbished 102 shops in the year, closed down 30 shops and opened up 40 new ones. There are plans to open 50 shops and close down another 20.

Online profits were boosted from the world cup revenue and it rose by 36% to £62.7 million. Ladbrokes’s rivals have an edge for developing a growing online strategy, which has become an absolute necessity in today’s times. There has been a decline in bests staked at shop counters, since the rise in number of gambling websites.

Underlying profits got a boost from a fifth to £202million for the year to December, because of the increase in online betting on games and because of some smart moves like introduction of new gaming machines in shops.

Chief executive Richard Glynn said that as internet gaming continues to increase rapidly, investments would be made over the next two years. He did not ruled out on acquisitions, however he stressed on to focus on organic growth. The company is in the race for a possible bid for Playtech and at the same time, it is seeking for a takeover of the internet gaming firm 888.

Glynn’s long-term strategy is to invest into software development. After deciding against a similar project in 2008, rival William Hill (WMH.L) wrote off 26 million pounds and had a successful venture with Playtech.

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