Issue N23, 2009
June 17, 2009
New Zealand Reports Growing Offshore Gambling
The Racing Board in New Zealand has reported that more and more of the country’s citizens are taking their gambling fun abroad. According to the latest numbers, 177,000 Kiwis gamble a staggering $2 billion each year at online gambling sites, many of them which have poor standards and take no measures to curb underage gambling. The government, by following a Prohibitionist policy similar to the one found in the United States, is thus putting its own citizens at risk, as well as losing out on the money that could be generated by having a legalized and regulated gambling industry, such as through taxation and licensing.
Gambling experts have also noted that over 3,500 jobs could be created by simply allowing offshore sites to operate within the country, under tough licensing standards.
“We are starting to see cases come through where parents are bringing in their teenagers who are spending up to sixty hours a week online,” said a spokesman for the Problem Gambling Foundation group, David Coom. “We are just about to embark on some research with youth to see what actually is going on.”
"Many of these offshore operators are not required and do not have in place any proactive measures to minimize the harm from problem gambling," said Bill Colgan of the New Zealand Racing Board.
Suspicious Betting Patterns Spark Tennis Wager Voids
Some of the biggest names in the sports betting industry, including William Hill, Ladbrokes, Expekt and Unibet, picked up on suspicious betting patterns in a tennis match played out between Daniel Kollerer (Austria) and Oscar Hernandez (Spain) this week. As a result, the groups suspended betting and voided all bets. The match, played in the Netherlands as part of the Ordina Open, was eventually won by Hernandez in straight sets (6-3, 6-2).
Odds, which initially stood at 5-6 for either to win, shortened to a very suspicious 1-5 in favor of Hernandez winning, causing the sports booking groups to suspend betting.
“It was a toss of the coin market where you'd expect to see a spread of bets, but it was one way traffic for Hernandez,” said David Williams, of Ladbrokes. “Alarm bells go off, we suspended the market, taking the view we're going to sit this dance out.”
The event has been reported to the necessary authorities, including the newly created Integrity Unit, which is expected to take action.
“We are not suggesting there has been any skullduggery because we cannot know that,” said the Director of Media Relations for William Hill, Graham Sharp. “But we had no option but to close the book on this match for our financial welfare.”
Microgaming Introduces New Bingo Product
Microgaming used the Online Bingo Summit in London this week to roll out its brand new stand alone bingo product that will work independently of its casino games offering. Going under the marketing phrase: “It’s what inside that counts,” the product will incorporate a wide range of Microgaming bingo games, casino games, scratch cards and mini games and analysts believe that the it will serve as serious competition to existing bingo brands.
“Yet again, our development teams have succeeded in creating one of the most sophisticated products on the market to satisfy the rapidly growing demand for bingo games,” said the Operations Manager for Microgaming, Neill Whyte. “Microgaming is synonymous with quality and service and the bingo format excels in the quality graphics and user friendly interface”.
“With bingo growing in popularity every month, we know this is a winning offer for all operators to consider,” continued Whyte. "We really can boast, “It's what inside that counts” as the offering also includes our market leading casino products - this ultimately drives revenue for the operator and sets Microgaming apart from the competition.”
Mobile Gambling Company Spins into Ukrainian Market
Spin3, the Microgaming backed mobile gaming solutions provider, has announced its intentions to tap into the still virginal Ukrainian gambling market through its partnership with 777Mobile. Spin3 has translated three of its most popular games – namely blackjack, roulette and Major Millions progressive slot game – into Ukrainian, including game rules and instructions.
“It was important to localize every aspect of the player experience – from the game’s help and instruction pages right through to the way they deposit, top-up and collect their money,” said the Head of Spin3, Matti Zinder. “In this way, we have been able to fully support 777Mobile’s ambitions of entering one of Eastern Europe’s most promising markets.”
Spin3 also took steps to make WebMoney, one of Ukraine’s most popular web payment systems, available on its system to facilitate easy deposit and withdrawal methods for players to fund their online casino accounts and claim their winnings.
“In the current economic climate, our clients are searching for ways to expand their offerings and capitalize on the potential of new markets,” said Zinder. “777Mobile’s strategy goes beyond the UK and Western Europe to the previously untapped Ukrainian market.”
“We are committed to supporting our clients’ ambitions for growth,” he continued. “When their strategies point towards new markets that offer significant promise, we will develop the games and payment systems to make that move a success.”
Ofer Koren, the Chief Executive Officer of 777Mobile also commented on the deal and said: “The Ukraine is a market that we have been looking to enter for some time now because of its enormous potential. Being able to expand our mobile casino services into this region is a great achievement. We partnered with Spin3 in 2007 because of its ability to understand and meet our business needs whilst enabling us to offer our customers the most innovative games in Europe’s leading markets. In Spin3, we have a partner that will go to extraordinary lengths to help us grow our business.”