SCALING BACK The Financial Times reports that Gala Coral Group will scale back its five divisions to three in order to prepare for the economic slowdown.
In a move that could impact up to 200 jobs, the gaming operator will merge its bingo and casino divisions as well as bring together Coral betting shops with its Italian Eurobet shops.
FAIR SIGNAL In an announcement made yesterday, Churchill Downs Incorporated said it has reached an agreement with the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association regarding the distribution of live racing signals from Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in Louisiana to national advance-deposit wagering platforms.
According to a prepared statement, the agreement covers the Fair Grounds’ signal during the 2008-09 racing meet, which commences Nov. 14. The signal, Churchill Downs said, will be available through TwinSpires.com, Magna Entertainment Corporation’s XpressBet and Youbet.com Inc.
The signal was also made available to TVG Technologies Ltd., but according to the statement, the software solutions provider “declined to accept the signal under the terms negotiated and approved by Louisiana horsemen.”
Details of the agreement were not disclosed.
RECESSION PROOF? GameAccount, an online skill games operator, said that it’s not seeing the effects of a global recession but a “dramatic increase” in money staked.
The company said it has received £120 million in stakes thus far in 2008, a significant rise against the £10.5 million it reported during the same period last year.
“People are staying at home, not just because it's getting colder, but to save money, too,” said Dermot Smurfit, GameAccount chief operating officer, in a prepared statement. “As markets all over the world are melting, we’re pleased that more and more people are turning to the Internet and skill gaming for their entertainment.”
S.E.O. ADDITION On Wednesday, GameOn Marketing Ltd., the public relations and event-management company, announced the appointment of Andy Blackburn as S.E.O. director of marketing.
With more than 10 years of gaming industry experience, Mr. Blackburn has spent the last four specializing in search engine optimization, or S.E.O., working with gaming companies.
“Sarah and I are very proud to welcome Andy to the team, especially during the current economic climate whereby companies are reducing their services and yet we continue to grow,” said Esther Whitehead, director of GameOn Marketing, in a prepared statement.
WEB WATCHDOGS Combating Cybercrime, a conference dedicated specifically to online security, has confirmed the attendance of more than 38 companies.
Taking place Jan. 27 alongside the International Gaming Expo in Earls Court Exhibition Centre, the fifth annual conference will focus on authentication and verification, security and fraud as well as emerging industry trends.
For more information, click here.
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