Online Gambling News all over the world 8.8.2009

08.08.2009, Online Gambling in Denmark Coming Soon / Online Casino Causes Stir at French Football Match / Online Poker in the USA Given Another Chance / Haydock Online Gambling with Bodog in Asia / Online Gambling Betfair's Remarkable Growth

Online Gambling in Denmark Coming Soon
Ladbrokes the U.K.based wagering operation that recently announced it will be moving it's online gambling operatons to Gibraltar has now indicated that it will be prepared to submit to regulations if Denmark opens it's doors to the online gambling industry.

Denmark has recently drafted a new regulatory set of rules after many years of skirting the Danske Spil's monopoly situation in that country. Government proposals will be submitted to the European Commission for it's approval which will consider them and deliver an opinion by October 7th of this year. There is much speculation that the new licences offered by the Danish government will be expensive and therefore not competitive.

Some numbers have been proposed that seem unrealistic when it comes to making a profit in Denmark. Numbers such as 340,000 GBP to 455,000 GBP have been talked about. Taxation rates of 15 percent and even 20 percent on profits derived from online poker and casinos have also been discussed. It is thought that these numbers will cause many would be online gambling operators to think twice about taking the leap into the Danish market.

Richard Funch, Ladbrokes regional manager in Denmark is on record as saying that these proposed numbers are reasonable and therefore would not keep the firm from seeking a licence in that nation. One possible challenge to the new rules proposal before the E.C. may be Denmark's intention to keep online bingo and online lottery, as the sole property of the state monopoly Danske Spil.

Funch recently commented, “We will be getting a legal view on this and the arguments the government will use to support restricting these games to the monopoly because we believe that, in principle, games shouldn’t be treated differently. Admittedly, lottery has a historic structure attached to it, but when it comes to scratchcards and bingo, which we offer in other E.U. markets such as the UK, it becomes problematic."

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Online Casino Causes Stir at French Football Match
A Parisian-based online casino may have started a trend that we will see at European sporting events more often in the future. It is possible that matches may be cancelled or postponed if clubs do not remove illegal sponsor colours and logos from their teams jerseys. This is the latest problem facing the Lyon football club as the LFP (Ligue de Football Professionel) has given owners of the club the ultimatum, show up for the game without the branding of their new sponsor or the match will not begin.

Olympique Lyonnais football club faces a real dilemma, change their colours or quit playing. Referee Lionel Jaffredo has been given authority by the Ligue de Football Professionel to postpone the Ligue 1 match against Le Mans should the Olympique Lyonnais not comply with the current rules. The rules are set to change as of January first 2010 as France opens it's doors to online gambling but as for now the action taken by the Lyon club to use the logo colours on their uniforms of the sponsoring casino is illegal and therefore non compliant. Not having the name of the sponsor on their shirts was not enough to stop authorities from crying foul. The appeal the team made went unheard leaving them with only one other course of action, a second appeal to the Olympic committee for an unbiased opinion on the LFP ruling.

Budget Minister for France, Eric Woerth was immensely critical of the whole affair. He stated in an article for Le Journal du Dimanche, "The opening of the market for online gambling will take place during 2010," "Until then, both sides must respect French law. In a democracy, laws are not negotiable. Being a sports leader and an outlaw is incompatible. I therefore call on Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon president and the company in question to keep their nerve."

Woerth is claiming that it has largely been a publicity stunt on the part of the website. Mr. Woerth commented that, "They carry out an operation for publicity, but it’s bad news for sport," "Many other operators are behaving quite correctly. Obviously, the State, as the regulatory authority for online games, will take into account what is happening at the time of issuing the licenses. Wearing an advertisement for an illegal transaction is strictly prohibited. I will not let it happen."

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Online Poker in the USA Given Another Chance
American's must be pleased as yet another senator has put another proposal before the house in an attempt to get online poker regulated and taxed in the USA. It is estimated that half of the 16 billion dollars wagered internationally online was made by Americans. Online poker players in the USA have been vocal in their disagreement with the treasury department in the states arguing that online poker is a game of skill and not pure chance. A new bill sponsored by Robert Menendez a Democrat from New Jersey, estimates that more than $3 billion dollars in annual revenue can be raised by licensing and regulating online poker. Menendez said, " Pulling Internet poker out of the shadows and into the light of the law, we have an opportunity to help our economy while protecting our families. By bringing these games of skill into the mainstream, we can generate billions in revenue for businesses and the treasury during these troubled times."

Menendez's bill would create a five year renewable licence to operate online gambling web sites.The Treasury department would be given the power to deny licenses to potential operators who they feel do not meet the criteria for integrity, honesty, experience and financial capability. Mr. Menendez’s proposed law will also require online gambling sites to enforce age and residence verifications and other safety nets to combat money laundering and fraud.

Those States and Native areas that do not want to be part of the system will be considered illegal and must refuse business from those areas Menendez also said, "The safety benefits of the bill are particularly crucial. Parents are worried about their children falling prey to illegitimate gaming sites and thousands of Americans have been fleeced of millions of dollars by these sites. He concluded “with proper regulation, we can prevent minors from playing poker online, crackdown on predatory operations and sanction the legitimate ones."

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Haydock Online Gambling with Bodog in Asia
Ian Dunning, Managing Director of Haydock, the Bodog brand licencee for the Asian facing customer base recently granted an interview with Rebecca Liggero of Casino City. This article is an attempt to summarize some of that interview and let the public know about Haydock's plans.

Originally from Liverpool U.K. Ian Dunning spent most of his childhood in Jamaica and Botswana and so is familiar with different cultures and experiences. His interest in on- line gambling started when he began working for easyInternet café as Business Development director. Dunning worked for Ladbrokes in various positions for 14 years with his final position as Area Manager in West London. When asked what attracted him to the Asian market Mr. Dunning replied that the sheer size and potential of the region was invigorating. The emerging middle class is the target market, marketing the product and providing fast efficient payment back to customers is the ultimate goal for Haydock's Bodog brand. Dunning feels that the target customer shares many similar demographic features with European and American customers. Bodog88 is focusing on the large and growing young male middle class, who have disposable incomes and a passion for sports.

Haydock's objective is to be the largest on-line provider of betting and gaming in Asia. It will take some time to accomplish this goal looking at the sheer size of the jurisdiction. New products and games will be launched with a significantly enhanced Live Dealer product in the new future.

The challenge at Haydock is to make sure the brand values that have served other brand licensees become well known in Asia. Trust is an issue in the Asian market and the potential wagerer can easily check the brand out and start betting with confidence knowing that Bodog is a honest brand.

When asked about affiliate networks in Asia, Dunning said, the affiliate networks in Asian bookmaking are not as sophisticated as those in the west, but that is changing rapidly. Haydock has just launched its affiliate site and affiliates will be very important to Bodog88's success.

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Online Gambling Betfair's Remarkable Growth
industries and others. Betfair, the mega online wagering exchange in the United Kingdom showed them all this week that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It's revenues have leaped another 27 percent to £303m so far this year up to April 09.

Betfairs revenues have doubled in the last three years, despite investing heavily in expansion offshore it continues to grow it's market share and build it's customer base, without increasing debt.

Impressive figures from Betfair fueling the rise in fortunes was a 20% jump in its sports division and 31% growth in its games division. It's also profiting overseas, where nearly half of its revenues are now from its international business ventures. This year, new acquisitions include the TVG Network in the USA which was recently purchased for $50 million USD. Betfair has still managed a profit of £72m, up 29%. It now has 652,000 registered users which is up 25% from the previous year, with some £240m deposited in their online accounts. The online exchange model, which allows people to act as either bookie or punter, clearly looks like a better value option than the high street operators offer and since Betfair takes its commission either way it is pleased with the results.

For a company that began less than ten years ago, Betfair has done extremely well. Investors, about half of which are a Japanese bank and a private equity group, at some point will want to reap the rewards of their input. There are rumours of a floatation of stock options that may take place soon.

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