Global Gaming Almanac Provides Complete Overview of Casinos Worldwide 2009 - 2010
The Global Gaming Almanac describes each segment of the gaming industry including casino and card room gaming, race wagering, sports betting, commercial bingo, lotteries, charitable gaming, and online gaming. Annual financial statistics are provided in tables and charts, where avaialable, along with the historic and current regulatory environment in each jurisdiction, an overview of pending legislation, and major trends. Counts and distribution of gaming properties, devices and tables are given along with profiles of properties, owners and regulatory agencies.
As an added bonus, the Almanac appendix provides country-by-country Consumer Price Index (CPI) tables and currency conversion information.
The Global Gaming Almanac CD gives you the entire contents of the printed almanac in electronic format, a Global Gaming Property Map, more than 180 annual reports of international gaming business, plus our unique Gaming Market Analyzer tool using radius searching to allow you to define custom geographic markets to analyze.
The almanac has five main areas of focus within each jurisdiction. First, the major market segments are described, including casino and card room gaming, lotteries, commercial bingo, race wagering, sports betting, and online gaming. Information on recent financial statistics, the historical and current regulatory environment, an overview of pending legislation, and major trends is included.
Second, summary tables show the distribution and total numbers for types of gaming facilities, gaming devices (including slots, video lottery terminals, and electronic Bingo), and gaming tables (including poker) within the jurisdiction. Other summarized statistics include casino square footage, convention square footage, number of rooms, restaurants, entertainment venues, parking spaces, and number of employees.
Third, more than 2,600 gaming properties are covered across the jurisdictions. Details provided for individual properties include physical address, phone and fax numbers, website and e-mail address, property owner, types of table games, restaurant names and cuisines, entertainment venues, attractions, and hours of operation. All of the summarized statistics listed above are also provided for individual properties.
Fourth, for each gambling activity in a jurisdiction, the appropriate regulatory body is shown with name, location and contact information.
Finally, this edition of the Global Gambling Almanac is the first to include current and historical activity-specific revenue charts and tables. As this is the first year for which this type of data has been collected, it will not be included for many jurisdictions. We hope to see the number of jurisdictions providing revenue figures increase with each edition. This data is collected from regulatory agencies and commissions around the world.
Specifically, the new data includes
Four years of calendar year net gaming revenue by gaming activity. The four calendar years of data are presented in local currency and U.S. dollars for all jurisdictions. The data is also presented in inflation-adjusted terms using December 2008 as the base when the consumer price index is provided by the jurisdiction. See the appendix for details of the calculations required to produce the revenue data presented in this book.
Five-year revenue bar charts for each gaming activity in each jurisdiction. Inflation-adjusted and U.S. dollar charts are included for each available jurisdiction as well.
Summary tables with four years of revenue, revenue change since prior year, inflation adjusted revenue and inflation adjusted revenue change since prior year for each gaming activity.
Raw revenue data tables and, when obtainable, tables of taxes collected per gaming activity.
LIVE ONLINE CASINO BONUSES HIT NEW HIGHS
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Instant eChecks dont Work for Poker Stars Account Holders
U.S. online poker players frequenting the internet poker rooms, PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker, and who have grown used to withdrawing funds with Instant eCheck, are dealing with a dilemma of sorts after the third party payment processor was apparently removed as a viable account withdrawal method. In the wake of a crackdown by the New York State Attorney General’s Office (who else), a stream of non-sufficient funds notices have begun to roll in, and players are being advised to hold off on cashing in any instant eChecks.
Not to be confused with eCheck, which is widely used at online casinos, Instant eCheck is a payment method that many Poker Stars account holders have come to use over the last few years. Highly reliable until now, Instant eCheck appears to have suffered a direct attack by the NY Attorney General under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
At this stage, there is no telling just how many players have been affected. However, as mentioned, players are being advised to abstain from making hurried withdrawal requests through Instant eCheck. The consequences of doing so could result in “insufficient funds” charges being imposed by banks. As a matter of fact, it’s pretty much a given that if players try to cash an Instant eCheck, they will encounter some issues.
Poker Stars account holders need not worry, however. The premiere online poker room is advising players to simply use an alternative payment method when making withdrawal requests. In other words, players need not worry about accrued funds in their Poker Stars account. As was the case following Neteller’s seizure by the NYAG, online gambling destinations came through by offering alternative payment solutions to their members.
The warning should be heeded by more than just Poker Stars players. Instant eCheck is offered at several other online betting destinations, and as such, anyone who has ever used Instant eCheck or was considering to do so, should inquire with their online gambling cashier about an alternative withdrawal solution. Again, the payment solution, eCheck (commonly offered at the best online casinos), is an entirely different service altogether and is still safe to use.
Kentucky Racetracks Plea for Slots Extends
With the year’s biggest races behind them, Kentucky’s largest tracks are now looking toward the future, and the view is a grim one. Profits have been slipping at the tracks for several years, and the recent economic downturn has hit this segment of the gambling industry especially hard.
Kentucky has long been recognized as the heart of horse racing, and the sport generates a great deal of income for the state; an income that is subsidized by the many breeders and trainers that have made the Bluegrass State their home. Historically, the racetracks have been all about the horses and the state has been quick to emphasize this focus by restricting all other forms of gambling.
Recently this stance has fallen under fire as the Kentucky tracks have lost major action to the slots-subsidized purses offered by neighboring states. Track owners fear that the aforementioned breeders and trainers could also follow the cash across state lines, resulting in bigger losses across the board.
Last week, six of the state’s most notable racetracks spoke out at an emergency press conference demanding changes in gambling legislation and forecasting the failure of one of the state’s largest industries if these changes aren’t made immediately. First and foremost among the desired changes is a request for the state to expand its gambling legislation to allow the installation of slots and the institution of slots-subsidized purses at Kentucky’s racetracks.
Bob Evans, the current CEO of Churchill Downs, punctuated the urgency of the plea by stating, “We can’t wait any longer.” Already 11 of the states nearest to Kentucky offer some other form of trackside betting, and many others are expected to follow within the next year. “When that happens…look out,” Evans warned.
The press conference was just the beginning. This week, a series of radio ads will hit the air in an effort to rally public support for the motion, and these ads will be further supplemented by a mass mailing campaign that is expected to reach over 250,000 Kentucky homes.
State Governor Steve Beshear has already pledged his support, and a previous House proposal for video slots is under new consideration.
Gambling software developer CEO describes 2009 as bad
The Canadian Internet bingo software developer Parlay Entertainment has reported another disappointing quarterly result in its numbers for Q1 2009, with revenues declining to $1 million (Q1 2008: $2 million).
However, the company managed to substantially reduce expenses from $2.5 million in the same period last year to $1.3 million in the first quarter 2009. The company’s net loss over the quarter was $200 000, lower than the $300 000 loss recorded in Q1 2008.
Scott White, Parlay’s Chief Executive Officer commented: “2009 marks an important transitional year for Parlay as we deploy Parlay5 across our licensee base and provide enhanced technology solutions through our Parlay Games Services division in Alderney.
“With Parlay5 representing the most sophisticated and robust Internet bingo software commercially available today, our ability to support some 11 languages in a multi-currency environment, gives us a platform to service increasingly sophisticated licensees offering gaming opportunities across multiple languages and currencies.
“Through the use of this new generation of Parlay bingo, our integration of new content from our recently announced technology partners, our launch of complete remote gaming services in the UK and North America and our enhanced customer relationships, as well as opportunities to use the Parlay5 platform outside of traditional Internet gaming, will give Parlay the ability to recoup the revenue streams divested in 2008.”
Parlay remains debt free and the firm’s cash balance at March 31, 2009 was $3 million.
White said that the company had anticipated that both revenue and cost-base would shrink in Q1 2009 as plans to move out of non-regulated markets developed.
But management criticised for too much focus on online operations
The exemptions in US law that allow the horseracing industry to take bets over the Internet seem to be working well for the major Churchill Downs Inc track operator. So well, in fact, that it has attracted criticism from the press as distracting management from the core live racing business.
The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that the exchange between management and media took place during a conference call discussing the company’s first quarter 2009 results. Washington Post columnist Andrew Beyer criticised the focus by Churchill on the new online wagering business in a Kentucky Derby week piece, citing disputes Churchill had over the last year with horsemen’s groups on how to share revenue from account wagering, and CEO Bob Evans defended his company.
“We aren’t abandoning racing,” Evans said. “We’re rebuilding it.” Evans went on to confirm that the company’s results are increasingly benefitting from non-pari-mutuel gaming and its online pari-mutuel business, TwinSpires.com, and those trends will continue “…because the growth rates of these new businesses are higher than [those in] racing.”
The Washington Post writer had opined that Churchill’s bid to increase income was at the expense of the owners and trainers who put on the show at the tracks.
Evans made a general response in which he pointed out that “every single dollar spent by Churchill Downs on slot operations and online operations produces more purses for horsemen at CDI tracks, expands the customer base to which we can market racing and makes CDI a stronger financial entity, which enables us to make more investments and take greater risks.”
Gaming Technology Solutions Buys Bell-Fruit Games
Gaming Technology Solutions announced it had signed up for new games from the leading gaming machine manufacturer Bell-Fruit Games Limited. Under the contract, GTS will soon integrate these new games developed by Bell-Fruit into its Enhanced Gaming Engine or EdGE platform. In effect, anyone using the EdGE system will be able to access all the existing and upcoming game content by Bell-Fruit.
As the undisputed leader in the design and development of games for multiple markets, Bell-Fruit has an impressive catalogue of well-recognized games from the traditional pub and arcade sectors. Its venture into the on-line digital world will give players the same high-quality gaming experience from a trusted name. Its impressive knowledge and proven experience in total entertainment will help ensure all the players’ needs, wants and expectations will be fulfilled satisfactorily in both UK and the whole Europe.
Mr. Tony Oliver, the managing director of Bell-Fruit’s subsidiary Mazooma, admits being delighted with their continued cooperation with GTS. He states this gives them an excellent opportunity to extend their previous successes in the off-line space to the on-line digital arena. Bell-Fruit is without question one of the foremost makers of coin-operated entertainment machines and its logo is globally recognizable.
Even the director of GTS, Mr. Steven Matsell, is entirely confident that Bell-Fruit’s extensive experience will be a definite advantage for them since their games are very popular and hence highly profitable.
Gambling bill’s opponents still battling
Delaware is 14 votes away from becoming the first state east of the Mississippi River to allow sports betting. It would also be one of a handful to allow table games.
After a strong push by Gov. Jack Markell in the House, the measure — legalizing table games, authorizing sports betting and increasing the state’s share of gambling revenues — heads to the Senate amid the dissenting roars of the NFL, NCAA and the state’s three casinos.
Less than a year ago, a proposal that would have legalized sports betting never saw a Senate vote after then-Gov. Ruth Ann Minner vowed to veto the bill if it passed.
This version was rejected Tuesday in the House before hours of negotiations led to an agreement and passage, by a 30-4 vote, early Friday.
Brokering hinged on getting House Republicans to sign on and included several concessions. The increase in the state’s share was lowered from 8 points to 6.5 points, the licensing fee was dropped from $4.5 million to $4 million and table games were authorized “as soon as possible.”
Not everyone was pleased with the compromise. Casino representatives said the bill fails to address their concerns, and Laird Stabler, a lobbyist for the NFL, said early Friday that the pro sports leagues will continue to oppose the legislation as long as sports betting remains in the language.
It’s not clear yet if the same fight could play out in the Senate.
Senate President Pro Tempore Thurman Adams, D-Bridgeville, began saying he expected sports betting to be approved this year even before Markell won the primary. Standing trackside at the State Fair in July, Adams said after Minner left, the last barriers would be removed.
Adams sits on the board of directors for the State Fair, which owns a majority share of Harrington Raceway and Casino, and is an honorary member of the racetrack’s board of directors. Adams is expected to abstain from voting when the bill hits the Senate floor, but will still decide when the bill is heard and which committee will consider the legislation.
His counterpart across the aisle, Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson, R-Milford, also sits on the board of directors of the State Fair and said he will not vote on the bill. But that won’t stop him from being involved in negotiations or speaking on the Senate floor during debate.
Senate Majority Whip Patricia Blevins, D-Elsmere, said she anticipates the sports betting bill will be voted on in the Senate by the end of next week, after which the Legislature breaks for two weeks to allow the Joint Finance Committee to consider the budget.
“I don’t want this to drag,” Blevins said. “The members of the Joint Finance have a lot to do and they don’t need to be distracted.”
She said no one has conducted a straw poll and is unsure if the support of Harrington-area lawmakers in the House — such as Rep. Robert Outten, R-Harrington, who voted in favor of the bill on Friday — could signal a similar move by southern Senate members.
“What we’re seeing is a recognition that we need the revenues and if we don’t pass some form of this bill, then we’re going to have a much higher hill to climb to get to a budget on June 30th,” she said. “The state of the revenue has really driven the success of sports betting. I think the casinos make out pretty well with this bill. We have addressed every issue they’ve brought up. I shouldn’t say we, the House of Representatives has addressed every issue they brought up.”
Blevins said she will vote in favor of the bill, meaning only 13 more senators are needed to approve the legislation.
Only three other states can hold sports betting under federal law — Nevada, Montana, which runs a small program where people can bet on fantasy football, and Oregon, which discontinued its program.
As the fight in Dover garners national attention, other states are trying to get their piece of the sports betting attention.
New Jersey Rep. Ray Lesniak, D-Union, filed a lawsuit in March asking a federal court to overturn the law that grants Delaware an exemption from an otherwise nationwide sports betting ban.
Florida Senate passes bill on Indian casinos
The Seminole Tribe would be able to keep blackjack at its Tampa and Broward County casinos under a proposed agreement passed by the Senate.
All seven of the tribe’s casinos would also be allowed slot machines under the proposed deal that passed Friday on a 31-9 vote.
The House still needs to approve the agreement, which calls for the state to receive at least $150 million a year from the tribe.
Even if both chambers pass the agreement, there’s no guarantee the tribe will accept it. The deal isn’t as good for the Seminoles as the one they signed with Gov. Charlie Crist in 2007.
The Supreme Court, however, said Crist didn’t have the authority to sign that agreement.
State of State reflects hard times
Acknowledging the state is in its most dire economic situation since the Great Depression, Gov. Jack Markell’s first State of the State speech Tuesday was measured — renewing the state’s prosperity is critical, he said, but first it must solve its immediate fiscal crisis.
“I understand how significant the tasks before us may seem,” Markell said. “It’s as if our ship of state is stuck in the middle of a financial storm and it seems the only option available is to keep busy bailing us out. But bailing out without sailing ahead is not a long-term solution.”
He acknowledged his proposal for balancing the state’s budget “is not easy or popular,” including both 8 percent pay cuts for state workers as part of an effort to cut state spending by more than $300 million and the introduction of sports betting to raise an estimated $55 million in revenue.
“My proposal is a realistic and responsible solution to a serious problem and meets the challenge of balancing the budget while maintaining three core principles: fiscal responsibility, keeping our core commitments and shared sacrifice,” he said.
Markell reminded the General Assembly that any portion of his plan that doesn’t pass will require making cuts elsewhere.
“At the end of the day, the numbers must add up; our budget must be balanced,” Markell said. “And so the response of ‘don’t look here, look elsewhere’ to balance the budget is no longer an answer we can afford to hear.”
Markell used the speech to chastise casino owner who have helped delay his sports-betting proposal, saying if the state’s casinos want to add sports gambling, they must be willing to make a change in the state’s share of video slots revenues.
“Let me be clear: The exclusive franchise for video lottery and sports lottery belongs to the taxpayers of this state, not the casino owners,” Markell said. “The owners are the taxpayers’ partners in this venture and they need to act like partners.”
Even as the General Assembly works against a daunting deadline to balance this year’s budget by June 30, Markell said it’s important for them also to look ahead to creating an economic climate that will attract businesses and help existing Delaware companies grow.
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To that end, Markell used the speech to promote his CORE Prosperity agenda, which includes focusing on energy efficiency to save money, generate jobs and protect the environment; establishing a federal-stimulus-funded job training program; streamlining the business-licensing process to a single, statewide license; and supporting small-business development through the low-interest LIFT loan program announced last week.
Markell said he would seek legislation requiring a 15 percent cut in per capita energy consumption and a 15 percent reduction in peak electricity demand by 2015. He also said his administration will propose new, energy-efficient building codes and require consideration of conservation or renewable energy sources before new conventional supplies are considered, as well as energy-conservation investments for state buildings.
John Byrne, a University of Delaware professor who directs the school’s Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, said Markell’s proposals are ambitious and aggressive but within the state’s reach.
“It’s good to have leadership of this kind,” Byrne said. “The governor is trying to provide it at one of the most difficult times economically. In many ways, this is the right time.”
New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan, adopted in October, calls for a 20 percent reduction by the year 2020 — a goal that could cost more than $6 billion, while saving consumers more than $16 billion, Susan Coakley, executive director of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership, said.
“Delaware is actually surrounded by states which have already made this commitment,” Coakley said, “which is actually very good news, because retailers and service providers already are gearing up to respond.”
Delmarva Power President Gary Stockbridge said the company was “aligned with Gov. Markell’s vision for the state,” and said that Delmarva was looking forward to seeing details of his proposal.
“The governor has been very supportive of our rollout of smart grid technology in Delaware. Eventually all of our 300,000 customers in Delaware will be served by smart meters,” Stockbridge said in a written statement. “With this technology as a foundation, we look forward to helping the governor meet his goals, helping our customers reduce their energy use and helping them save money.”
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Rob Book, spokesman for the Delaware Electric Cooperative, did not comment in detail on Markell’s plan but offered a word of caution about alternative energy, saying, “I think we need to look at all the different types of technologies that are out there. You certainly have to weigh the costs with the proposed benefits. A lot of the renewables out there have very high price tags.”
Addressing education, which accounts for a major portion of the state’s expenditures, Markell said the state must refocus its spending from administration to the classroom.
He proposed overhauling the Delaware State Testing Program, giving districts more discretion in using state funds and consolidating school district administrative services into four regional centers by fall 2010.
Answering those who have called for consolidation of the state’s 19 school districts, he said the state will look closely at the idea — one that has long generated fervent debate — and report its findings in a year.
Markell’s proposals, most of which the governor has put forth before, drew mixed reviews.
House Speaker Robert F. Gilligan said school district consolidation, while it bears looking into, could prompt a political brawl with no guarantee of significant savings.
Christina School Board member John Mackenzie said consolidating administrative services makes sense, but called consolidating school districts “foolish.”
“Teacher salaries will have to be leveled up, not down, so there goes your cost savings,” he said. Plus, “local control keeps communities involved with their own schools, and when local control is replaced with state control, local support seems to evaporate.”
Dover Downs CEO Ed Sutor was disappointed with the speech.
“We have not had the chance to meet with him directly, though we’ve tried,” Sutor said, adding that the governor’s characterization of the casino owners “is not a fair assessment of the industry.”
“We’ve had four meetings and the casino industry has [offered proposals] three times and the administration has not moved at all,” Sutor said. “We don’t think that’s reasonable.”
Sen. Nancy Cook, D-Kenton, said Markell did a good job both of presenting goals for the future and emphasizing the need to balance next year’s budget.
“I’m pleased to see he outlined the need for us to focus on balancing out next year’s budget,” said Cook, who co-chairs the Joint Finance Committee. “The Legislature can’t be reminded enough about the responsibility we have.”
