REGULATORY UPSIDE According to a report commissioned by the Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland, a regulated land-based and online casino gambling sector could, over the next 12 years, create 13,000 new jobs.
The report, undertaken by DKM Economic Consultants, suggests moreover that a regulated sector -- with the appropriate strictures in place -- could deliver annual returns of 280 million euros, by 2020, to the country's finance ministry.
The report, "Economic Assessment of a Regulated Casino Gaming Sector," follows a July report published by Ireland's justice minister, Dermot Ahern, called "Regulating Gaming in Ireland." Mr. Ahern's report made "significant public policy implications regarding the future architecture of many aspects of gaming and betting in Ireland," including the recommendation that the country begin regulating remote gaming.
"As the Government’s own Casino Committee’s report highlighted there is a particular window of opportunity for Ireland at the moment, because the on-line sector is currently largely based in offshore locations that tend to suffer from limitations in terms of IT infrastructure or specialist skill sets," John Lawlor, the report's author, said in a prepared statement.
"According to the industry sources we have consulted," the statement went on, "they would prefer to move onshore to more established and larger jurisdictions, but no such jurisdiction has moved to adequately accommodate them as of yet. This window of opportunity is unlikely to remain open in the long run, however, as strong growth in the sector and straitened economic times make them an attractive target."
WELCOME BACK, RUBIK'S Ash Gaming Ltd., the interactive gaming technology developer, has signed a licensing agreement with Seven Towns Ltd., a group which holds the rights to the Rubik's Cube, to develop a cube-inspired puzzle game.
"The Rubik's Cube is a global phenomenon and we are honored to have the opportunity to develop this iconic model into a format which delivers what players expect from a quality gaming product offering," Steve Schrier, commercial director of Ash Gaming, said in a prepared statement.
BUSTED An online advertisement launched by Partouche Betting, the Internet betting arm of Groupe Partouche, has been banned by the United Kingdom Advertising Standards Authority.
In its adjudication, the authority decreed the ad -- which featured the former football star Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona dressed as King Arthur -- suggested gambling constituted an escape from personal problems.
ON THE AIR PKR, the online poker operator, has unveiled a standalone Internet channel dedicated to broadcasting episodes of its programming, PKR TV.
The channel, which was launched in late September, has attracted 7,000 views, the company said.
"The new site allows anyone to view any episode of PKR TV at their leisure," Simon Prodger, marketing director of PKR, said in a prepared statement. "Our ultimate aim is to build the largest ever library of poker TV material and we shall soon be adding new formats to the current crop to offer more variety."
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