Gaming and Casino Industrial News 4.11.2008 all over the world

04.11.2008, Lesen Sie hier den Bericht über «Gaming and Casino Industrial News all over the World».

Revenues And Profit Up At Net Entertainment
Good result in both quarterly and YTD numbers from Swedish provider

The Swedish listed online gambling software provider Net Entertainment has turned in another sterling set of quarterly and year-to-date results, with rising after tax profits and substantially improved revenues.

Highlights in the Year To Date numbers for the nine months to end September include:

• Revenue for the nine-month period increased by 50 percent to SEK 143.0 (95.1) million. • Profit after tax rose by 65 million to SEK 52.8 (32.1) million • Operating margin was 40.0 (37.0) percent • 16 new license agreements.

And for the third quarter 2008:

• Revenues increased by 63 percent to SEK 52.6 (32.3) million. • Profit after tax rose by 104 percent to SEK 19.9 (9.8) million. • Operating margin was 42.2 (32.9) percent • 8 new license agreements

Chief Executive Officer Johan Öhman said: “Net Entertainment is continuing to evolve strongly. The primary driving force is volume growth with our existing customers and the infusion of new. The games and [software] functionalities that the company has launched have strongly contributed to the success. Development during the second and third quarter is characterised by a lower seasonal effect compared to previous years. We see no tendencies for a slowdown in the market growth for online gaming and the fourth quarter has started off strongly.

"The [NetEnt] development work in the Ukraine is proceeding well and the company now has two development teams in place. The downloadable casino is at present undergoing acceptance testing and will be launched for our customers shortly. During the third quarter a virtual horseracing game in the category “soft games” was launched. The result will determine whether additional soft games will be developed.

"Sales aimed at new customers have been successful. Agreements in the first nine months of the year have been signed with four Tier 1 operators. As a result of this the company’s dependence on individual customers is drastically diminished."

A statement from the company revealed that growth in the third quarter has been strong thanks to successful marketing initiatives, with three new games released during the period and three new licensee operations launched, thereby boosting the company's revenue base. A further eight new agreements were inked during the quarter, including King, Chipleader, 21Media, Bingo Las Vegas, No IQ Poker and three operators that for now wish to remain anonymous. Four others were cancelled when the operators did not reach minimum turnover levels.

Revenue was favourably affected by the higher volumes reported for the third quarter as compared with the equivalent period 2007. However, higher volumes also meant a somewhat lower average price due to a policy through which higher volumes generate a lower price. The royalty levels per pricing system remained stable throughout the quarter. Third quarter sales increased 9 percent over the previous quarter.

Operating profit was up 108 percent compared with the period last year and 21 percent over the previous quarter as the company accelerated its development pace broadened its selection of products. Contract developments in the Ukraine and outsourced development resources in Stockholm helped to increase the rate of development. The company also incurred costs related to the ongoing listing process for the trading of shares on the OMX Nordic Exchange in Stockholm.

At the end of the quarter, Net Entertainment had 17 contracted customers that have not yet been launched.

The company says that the market for online gaming has exhibited strong growth over previous years and global sales for internet gaming are expected to exceed USD 16 billion in 2008. In the next few years, Europe is expected to represent more than half the total gaming revenues and grow by 15-20 percent annually, making it by far the largest online gaming market. Net Entertainment therefore views the conditions for continued expansion in the Internet casino market as good.

The company's intention to target a broader market and expand will depend on a more generous product portfolio, organic growth or could be achieved through acquisitions or in-licensing.

Net Entertainment has increased headcount and now employs 77 persons and 30 subcontractors.

The fourth quarter has started strongly, with the company achieving accreditation by the respected independent player protection and standards body eCOGRA, and signing another new licensee. The company currently has an operational customer base of some sixty international gaming companies. Net Entertainment releases a new games every twelve weeks, with each release comprising 4-6 new games that licensees.

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Betfair Offers In-Race Betting To Melbourne Cup
Another major race benefits from a popular betting facility

Online betting exchange Betfair Australia, which is co-owned by Oz gambling mogul James Packer, has extended its penetration of the horse racing market with the introduction of in-run betting at the prestigious Melbourne Cup, traditionally run over the first Tuesday in November. Company spokesmen said that this form of wagering is expected to dominate gambling in Australia as punters become more technologically savvy, sports become more dependent on product fees and governments less tolerant of poker machines.

Betfair has been aggressively pursuing in-run wagering in the Land Downunder, introducing it last month on selected races on Guineas Day at Caulfield, and extended it to all 10 races on the Derby card at Flemington.

Prior to the big event, Betfair's chief executive, Andrew Twaits, said: "This will be the first Melbourne Cup where Australians will have the chance to bet online while the race is being run."

Betfair's in-running volumes have risen in recent weeks, from A$48 800 on Guineas Day to A$58 800 on Caulfield Cup day and A$60 200 on Cox Plate day to A$143 500 on Derby Day.

Looked at in the context of the $1.36 billion taken by Tabcorp alone during last year's Victorian spring racing carnival, it's not yet big money, but the potential is clearly there. Twaits says, "Anything over 1 percent of total volume on the Melbourne Cup will be a good result. Online in-running betting represents a generational change in the way punters can bet on races."

Betfair extracts an average commission of 3.5 percent on the net result, compared with the 15 percent typically taken by TABs.

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Casino.com From Mansion Goes German
Tapping into a major online market

Germany's large gambling market has a new Internet destination this week following the launch of the Mansion group's Casino.com in the German language at de.casino.com.

The Gibraltar licensed and Playtech-powered website offers daily cash prizes, weekly promotions and regular big money bonuses as well as a range of game-specific and Refer-A- Friend promotions.

German players can choose from over 150 download games from classic casino table & card games like blackjack, baccarat and roulette to progressive jackpot multi-line multi-spin slots, video poker and arcade games, together with multi-hand, multi-player and private group playing modes where members can communicate with other players via fully featured chat.

Germany's Casino.com is hoping to attract new players with a US$200 Welcome Bonus on all real money action, and a loyalty program is available to encourage players to return.

The new site is backed by German language support around the clock.

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Mobile Mahjong
Phantom Fiber signs up Mahjong Time

San Diego-based Mahjong Time, which provides software for the ancient Chinese game, will soon be delivering the tile action by mobile technology following a deal with specialist wireless technology firm Phantom Fiber. Under the terms of the deal, Phantom Fiber will receive an integration fee and will then share in the ongoing revenue generated from the mobile subscribers.

Mahjong Time spokesmen said the integration will allow the company to continue delivering the functionality, graphics and speed of its software platform and internet offering to over 1 000 different handset types. In addition, the mobile extension will also offer features like multiple game types and languages, practice play, and tournament play. The mobile product will operate on hundreds of device types including Java phones, Apple iPhone, Blackberry, Palm, Microsoft Pocket/PC and Smartphone based handheld devices from anywhere in the world.

"I think we all realize that the Asian market is a very mobile and technically savvy geographic area," said William Sutjiadi, CEO of Mahjong Time. "We knew it was only a matter of time before we would have to provide a mobile solution."

Jeff Halloran, Chairman & CEO of Phantom Fiber, commented, "This agreement has a number of benefits for Phantom Fiber. We recognize the magnitude of the Asian market and its passion for Mahjong. Extending the premier Mahjong platform to a mobile environment will extend Phantom Fiber's reach into those markets. Our multi-user experience from the gaming space and our ability to support multiple languages also blends nicely with our technology."

The partners will provide the game content in a number of formats. The player can play against the computer or fully interact with the online community. By using the same login credentials as the internet, a player can search for friends who may be playing online via the internet and join the same games and contests as any other internet player, only from their mobile device.

Mahjong Time was founded in 2004 to provide mahjong software and complete turnkey solutions. Its in-browser platform is available in seven languages and provides multiple mahjong rules sets that appeal to the needs of players worldwide with features that include advanced subscription and tournament play and Web 2.0 capabilities, allowing players to interact more effectively and create private player rooms. The company is the exclusive online tournament partner of the annual World Series of Mahjong and is involved in a strategic partnership with Cryptologic.

Über Glücksspiele Las Vegas - Gambling in Las Vegas:

Las Vegas liegt im Westen der USA im Bundesstaat Nevada und ist das Glücksspiel-Paradies von Amerika.

Las Vegas hat rund 100 Spielcasinos. Im Bundesstaat Nevada sind sogar über 300 Spielcasinos registriert. Die grössten Casinos sind das Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Venetian / Palazzo, Wynn / Encore, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay.

Weitere bekannte Casinos sind das Mirage, frühere Heimat von Siegfried und Roy, das Luxor in Form einer Pyramide oder das Casino Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, in welchem jährlich die Pokerweltmeisterschaft (World Series of Poker WSOP) durchgeführt wird.

Die bekanntesten zwei Strassen sind der Las Vegas Boulevard, welcher auch als Las Vegas Strip bezeichnet wird. Daneben ist die Fremont Street eine gut besuchte Casino-Meile, wo beispielsweise das legendäre Casino Binion's (vormals Binion's Horseshoe) seine Spiele anbietet.

Las Vegas erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von 340 km2 und hat rund 650'000 Einwohner.

--- Ende Artikel / Pressemitteilung Gaming and Casino Industrial News 4.11.2008 all over the world ---


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