Wikileaks continues to draw national and international attention with its ongoing bombshells on diplomatic scandals, war strategy secrets and the like. The arrest of its founder, Julian Assang, two days ago on rape charges has many Aussies up in arms and they have taken their voice to the streets with a series of public protests. The buzz in 'Sin City' Sydney is that riots may follow! Readers will recall us forecasting great public disappointment in the way Australia was being run, with cover ups and political scandal been a key reason for Aussies getting severely pissed off. It's the Wikipedia lovers VS the Wiki haters (mainly some politicians and diplomatics). Media Man and Gambling911 with the latest from the mean streets on 'Sin City' down under...
Most journalists, newsrooms, and Australians in general (plus gamers and gamblers) are with Assange. Why? How about because its about freedom of information and Wikileaks itself has not broken any laws, however at least a couple of its informers - leakers have.
The free flow of information (and ideas) is a human right under United Nations law. It's this free flow of data, often published by Wikileaks, that has made the Aussie government look like a pile of crap (that may long suspected, but couldn't prove)... now the proof is out there kids.
We and most newsrooms think that Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has royally screwed up with her public comment on Wikileaks: "I absolutely condemn the placement of this information on the WikiLeaks website. It is a grossly irresponsible thing to do and an illegal thing to do.". What the hell was Gillard thinking. Perhaps she was just pandering to the United States government. Why? They don't have much or any credibility left, so why the heck bother.
Western governments continue to panic at red face level, are increasingly demanding for Assange's animal to be halted or "killed" as WikiLeaks continues to publish more than 250,000 confidential documents from the United States State Department, but its easier said than done. 'Our Julian' and his world class team have dozens of mirror websites on a number of domain names, so the .com is gone, but the other octopus tentacles are swimming the world's oceans like nobodies business. If they Chinese are staying pretty quite on the matter, despite being named and shamed in a number of wires. Ex Aussie PM Rudd mid week stayed on political message with a reply to the harsh comments a number of U.S diplomatics made about him. "Water off a ducks back". Ruddy, are you sure you the duck, are not known as the royal goose. You were running this country a few years ago, or so Australia's were led to believe. Did you lead as astray? That's right. It's the Labor Government, riddled with scandal, so of course you were!
Now, the guts and balls of the latest is protests, that may turn to riots!
Hundreds of pissed on Australians gathered in 3 cities yesterday to protest against the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Roughly 500 people gathered in Melbourne, 400 or so in 'Sin City' Sydney and 200 approx in Brisbane for the rallies which coincided perfectly with International Human Rights Day.
Our friend in the UK, Richard Branson, is big on human rights, as his community arm, Virgin Unite, along with 'Every Human Has Rights', and Media Man has previously tipped them off on a number of scandals in the Aussie Labor government, and now strong evidence has surfaced on some of the allegations that Media Man put forward. Yep, it look Like P.M Gillard will be going down for the count.
Some protesters wore face masks as they marched, knowing 'Big Brother' was watching with video cameras on just about every street corner, plus satellite eyes in the sky. The protesters were chanting and waving banners calling for the release of Assange.
'Mr Wikipedia' is being held in custody in London, wanted in Sweden for alleged sexual assault. Note it's a big "alleged".
"The reason why Julian Assange is facing a sex assault charge... is to de-mobilise public support," a protester cared to share.
"Julian Assange is a contemporary hero and we must all rally for him and for the cause."
Another protester said she was a survivor of sexual abuse.
"I know what it is to not be listened to and not be believed. I am standing here today and I am saying free Julian Assange," she said.
"Feminists for free speech are saying loud and clear they will not use our struggle against sexual assault in their struggle against freedom of speech."
Among the speakers to address the Melbourne rally was Assange's Melbourne-based legal eagle Rob Stary, who said the Federal Government should be ashamed of its approach to the matter at hand.
"What we need to do is continue to agitate publicly, we need to agitate with our so-called political representatives, to expose the sham of all this, to support WikiLeaks, to support Julian Assange, to show greater transparency and greater accountability," he said.
Up north in Bris Vegas - Brisbane, Peter Russo, the legal eagle for Dr Mohammad Haneef who was accused of supporting terrorism while working at a Gold Coast hospital, addressed the wild eyed rally.
He was adamant that freedom of society was at stake and called for due process to be followed in court.
"It's an important occasion because it's important that we understand that really what's at stake here is freedom, and it's not only the freedom of the individual, it's the freedom of all of us," he said.
Former Democrats senator and Greens candidate Andrew Bartlett told the fired up rally the Aussie public needs to send a strong message to governments across the globe about what he said was the persecution of 'Mr Wikileaks' Assange.
"We do not accept and we do not support governments using their power to persecute individuals, using corporate power, abusing and misusing the law, calling publicly for individuals who've not even been accused of any crime to be assassinated, to be called a terrorist," he said.
Greens party Upper House MP Lee Rhiannon, well known to Bondi Beach based social and community entrepreneurs, was in the mix at the Sydney rally to bash the Federal Government's stance against WikiLeaks.
"Now we have seen over the years from successive Coalition and Labor governments doing whatever the US administration wants. So right now Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Attorney-General Robert McClelland have really gone too far. Ms Gillard, shame. Absolute shame."
Australian shadow communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, member for Wentworth (and political king of Bondi Beach), a former internet entrepreneur himself has a lot to say (and write) on the Wikileaks matter, and his relent history in these type of things, and we thank MT for allowing up to republish part of with full credit to the man himself...
There are many reactions to the Wikileaks disclosures. More than twenty years ago in the Spycatcher litigation I successfully argued for a former MI5 officer’s right to publish his memoirs, and, in part, on the basis that their disclosure showed the British Government had engaged in criminal activities.
However it is fair to say that we also argued that there was no current operational material in the book, that we had offered it to the British Government to be blue-pencilled (to remove any such material) and in any event almost all of it was no longer confidential having been previously published (with the connivance of MI6).
So this material is very different from Peter Wright’s memoirs and in many respects is quite unique; the only comparable disclosure being Daniel Ellsberg’s Pentagon Papers. Mr Assange is being denounced just about everywhere and has gone so far as to claim that Australia has abandoned them. That is not, and should not, be the case.
I note that my colleague Senator George Brandis has described Mr Assange’s actions as morally reprehensible but not legally actionable, and I am sure that is right. I cannot see how he could be said to have breached any Australian law and I understand that it is not alleged he has broken any American law.
Mr Assange is free to return to Australia and if he is charged with a crime overseas then he would be entitled to consular assistance.
So his claims of being "abandoned" by Australia seem rather melodramatic. On the other hand the Prime Minister’s clumsy accusations of criminal activity on the part of Mr Assange just reinforce the impression that in this, as in so many other areas, she is way out of her depth.
So, having said that, what are we to make of Mr Assange’s conduct?
Governments will always seek to suppress leaks of information, especially if they contain embarrassing information. There is a public interest in shedding more light on the activities of Government. (Turnbull's full article is located on his official website for interested readers).
Assange, an Australian citizen, recently published an opinion piece in Rupert Murdoch's The Australian newspaper. An excerpt from a preview begins, "In 1958, a young Rupert Murdoch, then owner and editor of Adelaide's The News, wrote: "In the race between secrecy and truth, it seems inevitable that truth will always win."
Media Man also tips that Murdoch and / or Assange fans (or anti fans) should check out the movies 'They Live', 'The Net', 'The Running Man', 'Black & White', 'Citizen Kane' and 'The Shawshank Redemption' for further insight into the media and legal systems. Social media fans will also enjoy 'The Social Network' which focuses on 'Facebook', who has also also seen a lot of legal and media action since they first hit the web, even before the world caught the internet bug, with most getting hooked into the information pandoras box.
Wikileaks: Wonderful or wicked? You be the judge, jury and executioner.
How did you find the report today? Offer your opinion in the Gambling911 forum.
If you have a bet, bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a Special Contributor to the Gambling911.com website and proprietor of Media Man International
*Media Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They also offer political analysis.
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Saturday, December 11, 2010
Australian Media, New Media And Casino Wars, by Greg Tingle - 10th December 2010
G'day punters, media, casino and gambling millionaires and billionaires, warmongers, politicians, super whales, media entrepreneurs, journalists, politicians... one and all. Today we revisit the Australian media, new media and casino wars, and as you will learn, there's some action pretty close to home. Media Man and Gambling911 take bets, so to speak, on who will win the Aussie casino and media wars, as major Aussie players continue to jockey for position...
Ok readers, you've very familiar with Crown Casino (Crown Limited) VS Star City (Tabcorp Holdings), but let's get you further up to speed with Ten Network Holdings VS Network Nine...soon to be more well known in business circles at Nine Entertainment Co, as they get ready to hit the exciting Australia Securities Exchange (ASX).
Our friends at Ten Network Holdings are a tad busy talking down concerns of potential conflicts of interest arising among its expanded board, advising in no uncertain concerns that "appropriate protocols" had been put in place. A bit of an inside joke is if James Packer friend Sen. Stephen Conroy might be part of those "appropriate protocols". No, we're suggesting anything untoward, just saying.
Australia's best known Billionaires buddies Lachlan Murdoch, James Packer along with Gina Rinehart and Paul Mallam (WIN TV man) have joined the board of directors on TEN.
They make up a solid 42% Ten's share registry. In another scoop of sorts, xx Ernst & Young world chairman Brian "How" Long, who had no public board experience prior to his appointment to Ten last July, is to be chairman. Money and clout do count for something, but you likely knew that already. 'Our Gina' knows it too, but more on her later.
Outgoing exec chairman Nick Falloon advised the meeting protocols had been put in place to deal with potential conflicts of interest among the impressive 11-member board.
Some concerns have been raised over Ten's continued independence, given Murdoch's interest in News Corporation and Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings, which each owning a sweet 25% of Foxtel and 50% of Fox Sports, a competitor of Ten's free-to-air OneHD.
"We have the appropriate board protocols in place and we will continue to provide a balanced and hopefully very successful news service into the future" Falloon said.
Fallon dismissed questions about the influence of the board.
"This company has a great record on editorial independence and I expect it to continue. Having had some experience working for billionaires over my lifetime their main interest is making money and I'm sure that is the same interest of all shareholders," Falloon said.
The group revenue increased by a modest 10% to $991.5 million with EBITDA increasing 38 per cent to $208.1 million.
The shares paid 11c in unfranked dividends in November and closed down .34 per cent at $1.485
Spreading Risk...
Sharing risk over a number of entities, and just having a "few irons in the fire", as the Aussie lingo goes, appears to be part of the overall strategy of Packer and Murdoch, and 'Our Gina', mining baron, not content with just having a media stake in Ten has now acquired approx a 10% stake in Fairfax Media.
In the spirit of fair play, we wish all Australian media networks and casinos well, but not too much good luck. It's all good fodder for the ongoing soap opera that is the Aussie media and casino wars".
Media Man Buys Shares In Ten...
Media Man director and founder, Greg Tingle, has today purchased a modest amount of Network Ten Holdings (TEN) shares.
Media Man director, Greg Tingle commented "We are very excited at our investment into Ten today. The company show tremendous leadership from the top down, and we have enjoyed positive dealings with them over the years. We think they represent some of Australia's, even the world's, best in the entertainment, sports and lifestyle programing, and our share purchase today is a real and tangible show of our support and confidence in the company. They are competing better than most in the Australian media landscape, especially in television and advertising, and have substantial assets and risk management across a number of verticals. We are very impressed and take a keen interest in both its television programing with hits such as Bondi Rescue, Bondi Vet, Oprah, MasterChef, News at Five, The Simpsons, Glee, NCIS, as well as their advertising arm EYE. Digital station OneHD has performed well, with it now being recognised as Australia's number one sports channel. Advertising arm EYE is also on the upswing. The addition of James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch to the board was a key catalyst for our purchase of shares, but its a decision based upon track record, compelling and quality television and value for money. We strongly believe that Ten will continue to be at the forefront of the Australia media and new media landscape, and will be driving forward areas such as gaming, lifestyle and digital convergence. The board's lines of communication with key private and government media identifies such as Senator Stephen Conroy also set Ten up for strong ongoing success. Media Man is keen to build upon our existing history with the Ten family".
Media Man business brands include Media Man International, Media Man Brand, Media Man Network, Media Man Canada, Casino News Media, Global Gaming Directory, Australian Casino News and Property News Media. Media Man covers over a dozen different business sectors and is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. The founder, Greg Tingle, enjoys a background in sales and marketing of Pay TV, journalism, and has been a leading media agent and commentator since 2001. Media Man has enjoyed some b2b dealings with Ten over the years, the details of which are commercially sensitive in nature.
Gina Rinehart Delighted To Become Major Ten Network Shareholder...
Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, has followed the lead of fellow billionaire James Packer, and snatched up Ten Network shares.
The daughter of ex mining king Lang Hancock became one of the network’s major delighted shareholders last week when she bought around $165 million worth of Ten shares in the 12 days from November 10.
Ms Rinehart's $165 million buy-up gives her a very modest 10.01% stake in the company.
She purchased the lot of shares via her company Hancock Prospecting, of which she is chairman.
A Ten spokesman said the network was not aware Ms Rinehart intended to become a major shareholder and was only found out she had bought the shares when a major shareholder statement was lodged to the Australian Stock Exchange.
Ms Rinehart is the chairman of Hancock Prospecting and bought the 104,000 shares through her mining company.
Her major stakeholder notice came a month after Packer swooped line a Bondi Beach seagull on the stock in a whopping $180 million share raid to become Ten's largest shareholder, with an 18% stake in the company.
Packer is selling half of his Ten stock to mate Lachlan Murdoch, and whispers say the deal may have just happened, or is just a whisker away from going through.
Packer and Murdoch were promptly offered board positions after a blowtorch of media speculation was thrown on Packer’s share jackpot.
Ten's chairman Nick Falloon agreed to resign from the Ten board about a fortnight ago to pave the way for Packer and Murdoch to become directors.
The BRW (Business Review Weekly) Rich List 2010 estimated Ms Rhinehart's financial wealth at $4.75 billion earlier this year. Oh, we thought we would just mention that she's rich in having enjoyed a big life also, one which is about to get much bigger, via media and political clout down under.
Network Nine's Gyngell Scraps PBL Media Brand Ahead Of Potential Float...
Fellow Bondi Beach resident, David Gyngell, has scrapped the iconic PBL Media brand and replaced it with Nine Entertainment Co ahead of its potential float. The Nine top dog announced the new name at the channel's 2011 program launch in Sydney last week.
The new brand is expected to resonate better with across the board - public, advertisers and potential retail investors ahead of the expected $5 billion-plus initial public offering of the television, magazine and digital group in 2011. The Publishing & Broadcasting Limited name is synonymous with the Packer family after the company was formed in 1994 through the merger of (the late) Kerry Packer’s Nine and ACP Magazines businesses.
"From today Nine Entertainment Co is our group's new title, new brand and new future. It will embrace Nine Television, Nine Magazines (through ACP), Nine Digital (through ninemsn, Carsales, Cudo and Sky News), and Nine Events (through Ticketek and Acer Arena) and thus draw together under one new banner all the outstanding people and vast assets of this great company."
So, its a war of sorts between Ten and Nine, but Packer and Gyngell remain adamant they are still close mates, and we think that's pretty cool, and could also be a good indicator that both gents have the work - life balance in check, as well as having the priorities right, war or not.
Oh, one last thing... Media Man purchased a modest amount of shares in Ten Network Holdings today, as a sign of support and respect to both gents and their respective companies. MM also look forward to becoming a happy shareholder in Nine Entertainment Co, should they float (on the stockmarket... not off Bondi Beach)!.
Awards...
Last month was a very big month for casino awards.
PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)
Oh, we almost forgot...Media Man and Casino News Media 'Casino Babe Of The Month': Jenny Woo, 'Poker Babe': Kara Scott, 'Gambling Babe Personality': Pamela Anderson.
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australia Casinos
Cricket
Star City
Crown Casino
Politics
Property
Broadcasting
Television
Media Companies
Network Ten
Channel Nine
Nine Entertainment Co
Australian Sports
News
Casino News
Entertainment News
Media News
Technology News
Sports News
News
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Who will eventually win the Australian media, entertainment and casino wars? When will a true victor emerge, or will they continue to coexist? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Ten Network Holdings, Crown Limited and Virgin.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Ok readers, you've very familiar with Crown Casino (Crown Limited) VS Star City (Tabcorp Holdings), but let's get you further up to speed with Ten Network Holdings VS Network Nine...soon to be more well known in business circles at Nine Entertainment Co, as they get ready to hit the exciting Australia Securities Exchange (ASX).
Our friends at Ten Network Holdings are a tad busy talking down concerns of potential conflicts of interest arising among its expanded board, advising in no uncertain concerns that "appropriate protocols" had been put in place. A bit of an inside joke is if James Packer friend Sen. Stephen Conroy might be part of those "appropriate protocols". No, we're suggesting anything untoward, just saying.
Australia's best known Billionaires buddies Lachlan Murdoch, James Packer along with Gina Rinehart and Paul Mallam (WIN TV man) have joined the board of directors on TEN.
They make up a solid 42% Ten's share registry. In another scoop of sorts, xx Ernst & Young world chairman Brian "How" Long, who had no public board experience prior to his appointment to Ten last July, is to be chairman. Money and clout do count for something, but you likely knew that already. 'Our Gina' knows it too, but more on her later.
Outgoing exec chairman Nick Falloon advised the meeting protocols had been put in place to deal with potential conflicts of interest among the impressive 11-member board.
Some concerns have been raised over Ten's continued independence, given Murdoch's interest in News Corporation and Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings, which each owning a sweet 25% of Foxtel and 50% of Fox Sports, a competitor of Ten's free-to-air OneHD.
"We have the appropriate board protocols in place and we will continue to provide a balanced and hopefully very successful news service into the future" Falloon said.
Fallon dismissed questions about the influence of the board.
"This company has a great record on editorial independence and I expect it to continue. Having had some experience working for billionaires over my lifetime their main interest is making money and I'm sure that is the same interest of all shareholders," Falloon said.
The group revenue increased by a modest 10% to $991.5 million with EBITDA increasing 38 per cent to $208.1 million.
The shares paid 11c in unfranked dividends in November and closed down .34 per cent at $1.485
Spreading Risk...
Sharing risk over a number of entities, and just having a "few irons in the fire", as the Aussie lingo goes, appears to be part of the overall strategy of Packer and Murdoch, and 'Our Gina', mining baron, not content with just having a media stake in Ten has now acquired approx a 10% stake in Fairfax Media.
In the spirit of fair play, we wish all Australian media networks and casinos well, but not too much good luck. It's all good fodder for the ongoing soap opera that is the Aussie media and casino wars".
Media Man Buys Shares In Ten...
Media Man director and founder, Greg Tingle, has today purchased a modest amount of Network Ten Holdings (TEN) shares.
Media Man director, Greg Tingle commented "We are very excited at our investment into Ten today. The company show tremendous leadership from the top down, and we have enjoyed positive dealings with them over the years. We think they represent some of Australia's, even the world's, best in the entertainment, sports and lifestyle programing, and our share purchase today is a real and tangible show of our support and confidence in the company. They are competing better than most in the Australian media landscape, especially in television and advertising, and have substantial assets and risk management across a number of verticals. We are very impressed and take a keen interest in both its television programing with hits such as Bondi Rescue, Bondi Vet, Oprah, MasterChef, News at Five, The Simpsons, Glee, NCIS, as well as their advertising arm EYE. Digital station OneHD has performed well, with it now being recognised as Australia's number one sports channel. Advertising arm EYE is also on the upswing. The addition of James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch to the board was a key catalyst for our purchase of shares, but its a decision based upon track record, compelling and quality television and value for money. We strongly believe that Ten will continue to be at the forefront of the Australia media and new media landscape, and will be driving forward areas such as gaming, lifestyle and digital convergence. The board's lines of communication with key private and government media identifies such as Senator Stephen Conroy also set Ten up for strong ongoing success. Media Man is keen to build upon our existing history with the Ten family".
Media Man business brands include Media Man International, Media Man Brand, Media Man Network, Media Man Canada, Casino News Media, Global Gaming Directory, Australian Casino News and Property News Media. Media Man covers over a dozen different business sectors and is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. The founder, Greg Tingle, enjoys a background in sales and marketing of Pay TV, journalism, and has been a leading media agent and commentator since 2001. Media Man has enjoyed some b2b dealings with Ten over the years, the details of which are commercially sensitive in nature.
Gina Rinehart Delighted To Become Major Ten Network Shareholder...
Australia's richest woman, Gina Rinehart, has followed the lead of fellow billionaire James Packer, and snatched up Ten Network shares.
The daughter of ex mining king Lang Hancock became one of the network’s major delighted shareholders last week when she bought around $165 million worth of Ten shares in the 12 days from November 10.
Ms Rinehart's $165 million buy-up gives her a very modest 10.01% stake in the company.
She purchased the lot of shares via her company Hancock Prospecting, of which she is chairman.
A Ten spokesman said the network was not aware Ms Rinehart intended to become a major shareholder and was only found out she had bought the shares when a major shareholder statement was lodged to the Australian Stock Exchange.
Ms Rinehart is the chairman of Hancock Prospecting and bought the 104,000 shares through her mining company.
Her major stakeholder notice came a month after Packer swooped line a Bondi Beach seagull on the stock in a whopping $180 million share raid to become Ten's largest shareholder, with an 18% stake in the company.
Packer is selling half of his Ten stock to mate Lachlan Murdoch, and whispers say the deal may have just happened, or is just a whisker away from going through.
Packer and Murdoch were promptly offered board positions after a blowtorch of media speculation was thrown on Packer’s share jackpot.
Ten's chairman Nick Falloon agreed to resign from the Ten board about a fortnight ago to pave the way for Packer and Murdoch to become directors.
The BRW (Business Review Weekly) Rich List 2010 estimated Ms Rhinehart's financial wealth at $4.75 billion earlier this year. Oh, we thought we would just mention that she's rich in having enjoyed a big life also, one which is about to get much bigger, via media and political clout down under.
Network Nine's Gyngell Scraps PBL Media Brand Ahead Of Potential Float...
Fellow Bondi Beach resident, David Gyngell, has scrapped the iconic PBL Media brand and replaced it with Nine Entertainment Co ahead of its potential float. The Nine top dog announced the new name at the channel's 2011 program launch in Sydney last week.
The new brand is expected to resonate better with across the board - public, advertisers and potential retail investors ahead of the expected $5 billion-plus initial public offering of the television, magazine and digital group in 2011. The Publishing & Broadcasting Limited name is synonymous with the Packer family after the company was formed in 1994 through the merger of (the late) Kerry Packer’s Nine and ACP Magazines businesses.
"From today Nine Entertainment Co is our group's new title, new brand and new future. It will embrace Nine Television, Nine Magazines (through ACP), Nine Digital (through ninemsn, Carsales, Cudo and Sky News), and Nine Events (through Ticketek and Acer Arena) and thus draw together under one new banner all the outstanding people and vast assets of this great company."
So, its a war of sorts between Ten and Nine, but Packer and Gyngell remain adamant they are still close mates, and we think that's pretty cool, and could also be a good indicator that both gents have the work - life balance in check, as well as having the priorities right, war or not.
Oh, one last thing... Media Man purchased a modest amount of shares in Ten Network Holdings today, as a sign of support and respect to both gents and their respective companies. MM also look forward to becoming a happy shareholder in Nine Entertainment Co, should they float (on the stockmarket... not off Bondi Beach)!.
Awards...
Last month was a very big month for casino awards.
PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)
Oh, we almost forgot...Media Man and Casino News Media 'Casino Babe Of The Month': Jenny Woo, 'Poker Babe': Kara Scott, 'Gambling Babe Personality': Pamela Anderson.
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australia Casinos
Cricket
Star City
Crown Casino
Politics
Property
Broadcasting
Television
Media Companies
Network Ten
Channel Nine
Nine Entertainment Co
Australian Sports
News
Casino News
Entertainment News
Media News
Technology News
Sports News
News
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Who will eventually win the Australian media, entertainment and casino wars? When will a true victor emerge, or will they continue to coexist? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Ten Network Holdings, Crown Limited and Virgin.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Media Man founder and director buys Ten Network Holdings shares - 9th December 2010
Media Man founder and director buys Ten Network Holdings shares - 9th December 2010
Media Man director and founder, Greg Tingle, has today purchased a modest amount of Network Ten Holdings (TEN) shares.
Media Man director, Greg Tingle commented "We are very excited at our investment into Ten today. The company show tremendous leadership from the top down, and we have enjoyed positive dealings with them over the years. We think they represent some of Australia's, even the world's, best in the entertainment, sports and lifestyle programing, and our share purchase today is a real and tangible show of our support and confidence in the company. They are competing better than most in the Australian media landscape, especially in television and advertising, and have substantial assets and risk management across a number of verticals. We are very impressed and take a keen interest in both its television programing with hits such as Bondi Rescue, Bondi Vet, Oprah, MasterChef, News at Five, The Simpsons, Glee, NCIS, as well as their advertising arm EYE. Digital station OneHD has performed well, with it now being recognised as Australia's number one sports channel. Advertising arm EYE is also on the upswing. The addition of James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch to the board was a key catalyst for our purchase of shares, but its a decision based upon track record, compelling and quality television and value for money. We strongly believe that Ten will continue to be at the forefront of the Australia media and new media landscape, and will be driving forward areas such as gaming, lifestyle and digital convergence. The board's lines of communication with key private and government media identifies such as Senator Stephen Conroy also set Ten up for strong ongoing success. Media Man is keen to build upon our existing history with the Ten family".
Media Man business brands include Media Man International, Media Man Brand, Media Man Network, Media Man Canada, Casino News Media, Global Gaming Directory, Australian Casino News and Property News Media. Media Man covers over a dozen different business sectors and is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. The founder, Greg Tingle, enjoys a background in sales and marketing of Pay TV, journalism, and has been a leading media agent and commentator since 2001.
Media Man has enjoyed some b2b dealings with Ten over the years, the details of which are commercially sensitive in nature.
Media Man Profiles
Network Ten
Bondi Rescue
Media Man
Media Man director and founder, Greg Tingle, has today purchased a modest amount of Network Ten Holdings (TEN) shares.
Media Man director, Greg Tingle commented "We are very excited at our investment into Ten today. The company show tremendous leadership from the top down, and we have enjoyed positive dealings with them over the years. We think they represent some of Australia's, even the world's, best in the entertainment, sports and lifestyle programing, and our share purchase today is a real and tangible show of our support and confidence in the company. They are competing better than most in the Australian media landscape, especially in television and advertising, and have substantial assets and risk management across a number of verticals. We are very impressed and take a keen interest in both its television programing with hits such as Bondi Rescue, Bondi Vet, Oprah, MasterChef, News at Five, The Simpsons, Glee, NCIS, as well as their advertising arm EYE. Digital station OneHD has performed well, with it now being recognised as Australia's number one sports channel. Advertising arm EYE is also on the upswing. The addition of James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch to the board was a key catalyst for our purchase of shares, but its a decision based upon track record, compelling and quality television and value for money. We strongly believe that Ten will continue to be at the forefront of the Australia media and new media landscape, and will be driving forward areas such as gaming, lifestyle and digital convergence. The board's lines of communication with key private and government media identifies such as Senator Stephen Conroy also set Ten up for strong ongoing success. Media Man is keen to build upon our existing history with the Ten family".
Media Man business brands include Media Man International, Media Man Brand, Media Man Network, Media Man Canada, Casino News Media, Global Gaming Directory, Australian Casino News and Property News Media. Media Man covers over a dozen different business sectors and is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. The founder, Greg Tingle, enjoys a background in sales and marketing of Pay TV, journalism, and has been a leading media agent and commentator since 2001.
Media Man has enjoyed some b2b dealings with Ten over the years, the details of which are commercially sensitive in nature.
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Casino News Media: PartyCasino Players Celebrate The Best Game Releases of 2010, by Greg Tingle - 7th December 2010
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PartyCasino.com is preparing to celebrating a massive year of awesome game releases with a 'Games of the Year' promotion scheduled to take place from December 16th to the 22nd. Opt-in to the promotion and you will be able to take advantage of a special money back guarantee on 10% of any losses made while playing any of the casino's 'Games of the Year' collection.
Only bets made during the promotional period will count towards a cashback bonus. Players can opt-in at any time during the promotion and regardless of when you register for the event all of your game play from the beginning of the promotion will count towards the cash back amount. Regular players can earn up to $300 cashback and VIP players can earn up to $500. All cash-back bonuses will be awarded as a cash bonus and requires no deposit.
Only bets on the 'Games of the Year' titles will count towards your bonus. The full list of games eligible for this prom is Festive Fortune$, Snow Business, Kung Food, Glamour Puss, Safari Soccer, Circus, Jail Break, Slotblox, Rubik's Cube, Amazon Wild, Alice's Wonderland, Heist, Shaaark Super Bet, Crocodopolis, Unicorn Legend, Chain Reactors, Super Cubes, Cash Drop, Final Score, Midas Millions, Chest of Plenty, Once upon a time, and Melon Madness.
PartyCasino has been providing players with world class online entertainment for more than decade. New players can get a 100% welcome bonus of up to $3,000 to play slots, and PartyGaming has some of the world's best including many exclusives.
PartyCasino has a number of awards and commendations to its name including Media Man and Casino News Media 'Online Casino Of The Month' and EGR 'Slots Operator Of The Year'. PartyGaming was established in 1997 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Festive Fortunes Snow Business Kung Food Jail Break Slotbox Media Man Casino News Media Global Gaming Directory
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PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker PartyBingo Shaaark Super Bet Alice's Wonderland Crocodopolis Unicorn Legend Chain Reactors Super Cubes PartyCasino New Games
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PartyCasino.com
Profiles
PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker PartyBingo Circus PartyCasino Marvel Slots The Big One Melon Madness Casino World Poker Tour PartyCasino Promotions
PartyCasino.com is preparing to celebrating a massive year of awesome game releases with a 'Games of the Year' promotion scheduled to take place from December 16th to the 22nd. Opt-in to the promotion and you will be able to take advantage of a special money back guarantee on 10% of any losses made while playing any of the casino's 'Games of the Year' collection.
Only bets made during the promotional period will count towards a cashback bonus. Players can opt-in at any time during the promotion and regardless of when you register for the event all of your game play from the beginning of the promotion will count towards the cash back amount. Regular players can earn up to $300 cashback and VIP players can earn up to $500. All cash-back bonuses will be awarded as a cash bonus and requires no deposit.
Only bets on the 'Games of the Year' titles will count towards your bonus. The full list of games eligible for this prom is Festive Fortune$, Snow Business, Kung Food, Glamour Puss, Safari Soccer, Circus, Jail Break, Slotblox, Rubik's Cube, Amazon Wild, Alice's Wonderland, Heist, Shaaark Super Bet, Crocodopolis, Unicorn Legend, Chain Reactors, Super Cubes, Cash Drop, Final Score, Midas Millions, Chest of Plenty, Once upon a time, and Melon Madness.
PartyCasino has been providing players with world class online entertainment for more than decade. New players can get a 100% welcome bonus of up to $3,000 to play slots, and PartyGaming has some of the world's best including many exclusives.
PartyCasino has a number of awards and commendations to its name including Media Man and Casino News Media 'Online Casino Of The Month' and EGR 'Slots Operator Of The Year'. PartyGaming was established in 1997 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Festive Fortunes Snow Business Kung Food Jail Break Slotbox Media Man Casino News Media Global Gaming Directory
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PartyCasino.com
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PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker PartyBingo Shaaark Super Bet Alice's Wonderland Crocodopolis Unicorn Legend Chain Reactors Super Cubes PartyCasino New Games
Heist Glamour Puss Safari Soccer Rubiks Slot Amazon Wild Media Man Casino News Media Global Gaming Directory
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Casino News Media: Win A Dream Holiday And Guaranteed Entry Into WPT Celebrity Invitational; PartyCasino Big One Near $3 Million
Win A Dream Holiday And Guaranteed Entry Into WPT Celebrity Invitational; PartyCasino Big One Near $3 Million
‘The Big One’ at PartyCasino.com is nearing $3,000,000 while the accumulated jackpots on the world’s largest online casino are nearing $4,000,000! ‘The Big One’ is structured as a five tiered pool. The highest tier - Colossal Cash - seeds at $1.5 million, the biggest online jackpot seed in the industry, and currently stands at $2,840,000. Customers can play for ‘The Big One’ through traditional slot Melon Madness and the recently introduced Snow Business. Somebody is going to win very big!
PartyPoker.com recently introduced anonymous heads-up tables. How does that change your game? We asked Kara Scott et all for their views.
Win A Dream Holiday And Guaranteed Entry Into WPT Celebrity Invitational
Gibraltar – 16th November 2010 -- PartyPoker.com is offering customers the opportunity to indulge themselves in the world of the rich and famous by winning a four-day dream holiday to Los Angeles, including a seat in the prestigious WPT Celebrity Invitational at the Commerce.
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “Win one of our amazing prize packages and we’ll make sure you live it up in one of the coolest cities on the planet. Last year we took package winners on a tour of Hollywood and Beverley Hills as well as organising a fun-filled day at the world-famous Universal Studios – and this time it could be you experiencing the A-list lifestyle. As well as the sightseeing you’ll also get a seat at the exclusive WPT Celebrity Invitational. This event is packed full of celebrities and big names from poker but we’ve made sure our winners will have their place among the elite for a chance to win a major slice of the $200,000 prize pool.”
"These packages are sure to be popular. We don’t know how many of the 14 packages we’ll give away in each weekly satellite so remember, once they’re gone they’re gone and the promotion will be over."
PartyPoker.com’s Los Angeles packages include:
Four nights’ hotel accommodation
$2,000 spending money
Our world-renowned hospitality throughout your stay in Los Angeles
Guaranteed entry to the WPT Celebrity Invitational
There are a wide range of daily qualifiers that run until the 19th December or until 14 packages are given away. Daily freerolls mean there is the chance to win the trip to LA for free!
The WPT Celebrity Invitational is the curtain raiser for the LA Poker Classic and takes place on the 18th – 19th February 2011 – the event is overseen by WPT Executive Tour Director Matt Savage. The event is strictly invite only. Amongst the celebrities spotted in the field in 2010 were Ricki Lake and Terri Hatcher, with reality star Trishella Cannatella and poker pro Thor Hansen making the final table. Amateur Leron Washington took the $100,000 first prize.
Full information can be found at: PartyPoker.com
Please note that players have to be 21 to take part in the WPT Celebrity Invitational.
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Kara Scott
Tony G
Mike Sexton
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Party Casino News
Party Gaming Media
Global Gaming Directory
‘The Big One’ at PartyCasino.com is nearing $3,000,000 while the accumulated jackpots on the world’s largest online casino are nearing $4,000,000! ‘The Big One’ is structured as a five tiered pool. The highest tier - Colossal Cash - seeds at $1.5 million, the biggest online jackpot seed in the industry, and currently stands at $2,840,000. Customers can play for ‘The Big One’ through traditional slot Melon Madness and the recently introduced Snow Business. Somebody is going to win very big!
PartyPoker.com recently introduced anonymous heads-up tables. How does that change your game? We asked Kara Scott et all for their views.
Win A Dream Holiday And Guaranteed Entry Into WPT Celebrity Invitational
Gibraltar – 16th November 2010 -- PartyPoker.com is offering customers the opportunity to indulge themselves in the world of the rich and famous by winning a four-day dream holiday to Los Angeles, including a seat in the prestigious WPT Celebrity Invitational at the Commerce.
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “Win one of our amazing prize packages and we’ll make sure you live it up in one of the coolest cities on the planet. Last year we took package winners on a tour of Hollywood and Beverley Hills as well as organising a fun-filled day at the world-famous Universal Studios – and this time it could be you experiencing the A-list lifestyle. As well as the sightseeing you’ll also get a seat at the exclusive WPT Celebrity Invitational. This event is packed full of celebrities and big names from poker but we’ve made sure our winners will have their place among the elite for a chance to win a major slice of the $200,000 prize pool.”
"These packages are sure to be popular. We don’t know how many of the 14 packages we’ll give away in each weekly satellite so remember, once they’re gone they’re gone and the promotion will be over."
PartyPoker.com’s Los Angeles packages include:
Four nights’ hotel accommodation
$2,000 spending money
Our world-renowned hospitality throughout your stay in Los Angeles
Guaranteed entry to the WPT Celebrity Invitational
There are a wide range of daily qualifiers that run until the 19th December or until 14 packages are given away. Daily freerolls mean there is the chance to win the trip to LA for free!
The WPT Celebrity Invitational is the curtain raiser for the LA Poker Classic and takes place on the 18th – 19th February 2011 – the event is overseen by WPT Executive Tour Director Matt Savage. The event is strictly invite only. Amongst the celebrities spotted in the field in 2010 were Ricki Lake and Terri Hatcher, with reality star Trishella Cannatella and poker pro Thor Hansen making the final table. Amateur Leron Washington took the $100,000 first prize.
Full information can be found at: PartyPoker.com
Please note that players have to be 21 to take part in the WPT Celebrity Invitational.
Profiles
PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker PartyBingo Bwin Casino Online Casino Poker Online Poker World Poker Tour The Big One
Kara Scott
Tony G
Mike Sexton
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News
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Thursday, December 02, 2010
Palladium VIP's - Spoil Yourself With As Many Presents As You Want From PartyPoker - Santa's Party Pack Open To All On PartyCasino!
Palladium VIP's - Spoil Yourself With As Many Presents As You Want From PartyPoker - Santa's Party Pack Open To All On PartyCasino.com !
** Win your share of $5,000 every day in December. See: PartyPoker.com **
** The first episode of PartyPoker.com World Open VI is now online.
Many of the players involved will remember the jaw dropping quads over quads – Andrew Robl, Toby Lewis, Mike Sexton and Jesse May talk about this in a special post here: PartyPoker.com
** Aussie Millions qualifiers are up and running. Team Party pro Tyron Krost won the event last year and gives his own guide to satellites. PartyPoker.com **
Palladium VIP's - Spoil Yourself With As Many Presents As You Want From PartyPoker - Santa's Party Pack Open To All On PartyCasino!
Gibraltar – 30th November 2010 -- The festive season is drawing closer and PartyPoker.com is making sure they treat their most-valued players to a whole stack of presents. Palladium VIPs have the opportunity to pick up six presents and fill their very own Santa sack by just earning points by playing at PartyPoker.com’s online tables from the 1st to 14th December 2010.
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: "The premise is very simple – Palladium VIPs earn points that make prizes. At the bottom end there is a $50 cash bonus, while 30,000 points delivers a $5,000 WPT entry. Players are entitled to keep all of the prizes they can win - so with six prize levels there’s six fantastic presents to keep!"
Here’s what’s on offer in the VIP Gift Accumulator:
Prize level Points required Prize Prize Draw tickets
1 1,500 $50 cash bonus 1
2 3,000 $100 cash 2
3 6,000 iPod Touch 4
4 12,000 $700 cash 8
5 20,000 16GB iPad 14
6 30,000 WPT entry 20
The feast of presents doesn’t just end here though. Every time a player hits a prize level PartyPoker.com award tickets for the VIP Gift Accumulator prize draw which offers the chance to win a share of $10,000. The more prizes a Palladium VIP earn the more entries they’ll get into the draw, giving more frequent players a better chance of winning the $5,000 first prize, the $3,000 second prize or the $2,000 third prize. Winners will be announced on the 17th December.
Please note that this is an OPT-IN promotion. For more information see: PartyPoker.com
Santa is also coming to PartyCasino.com. Unlike the poker promotion this is open to non VIPs too and runs from the 1st – 14th December, whether you have been bad or good. Points mean prizes including a luxury Caribbean holiday!
See: PartyCasino.com for more information.
Santa’s Party Pack
Prizes whether you’ve been good or bad!
Starts: 00:00 ET, 1st December
Ends: 23:59 ET, 14th December
Santa is making an early appearance. He’s spreading Christmas cheer, handing out killer Christmas presents to non-VIP and Palladium VIP players.
From 1st to 14th December, you can celebrate Christmas in style with a double whammy of festive winning opportunities. There’s a prize giveaway where you can scoop up to 6 prizes, and a massive cash prize draw!
Winning a share of Santa’s Party Pack is simple, and you don’t even have to sit on Santa’s knee! Simply opt-in between the 1st-14th December and collect points by playing your favourite slots and jackpot slots. The more you play, the more prizes you’ll unwrap.
Prize Giveaway
If you’re not a VIP yet, check out the Christmas List below, Santa could bring you up to 5 fantastic prizes worth $1,000:
Points Cumulative prizes
20 $5 cash bonus
100 300 points
500 $50 cash bonus
1,000 $100 free cash
5,000 iPad 32GB WiFi*
*The iPad 32GB WiFi has a cash alternative of $600, this will automatically be credited to your account. Please see T&C’s for details of how to receive the non monetary alternative.
If you’re a Palladium VIP player, check out the Christmas list below. Santa could bring you up to 6 prizes worth $10,000:
Points Cumulative prizes
2,000 $75 cash bonus
3,000 1500 points
5,000 $150 cash bonus
7,500 $250 free cash
15,000 iPad 64GB WiFi**
50,000 Luxury Caribbean Holiday**
(worth $8,500)
**The iPad 64GB WiFi has a cash alternative of $1,000, **The Luxury Caribbean Holiday has a cash alternative of $5,000 these will automatically be credited to your account. Please see T&C’s for details of how to receive the non monetary alternative.
Santa’s Big Prize Draw
What a cracker! But wait…there’s an extra present under the tree – Santa’s Big Prize Draw. By taking part in Santa’s Party Pack, you will be eligible for the draw. The more points you earn the more entries you will receive. Check below to see how much cash you can win:
Non-VIP Big Prize Draw
Every time you earn 20 points during the promotion, you’ll get one entry to the Big Prize Draw. $10,000 will be shared equally between 10 lucky players.
VIP Big Prize Draw
Every time you earn 500 points during the promotion, you’ll get one entry to the Big Prize Draw. $20,000 will be shared between 3 lucky players in the following amounts: 1st - $10,000, 2nd - $6,000 and 3rd - $4,000.
You can collect points on any of our slots and jackpot slots. To join the festivities you need to Opt-In from the 1st-14th December. Win some exceptional presents this Christmas with Santa’s Party Pack.
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with PartyGaming, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour Casino
Profiles
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour
PartyGaming
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
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Global Gaming Directory
** Win your share of $5,000 every day in December. See: PartyPoker.com **
** The first episode of PartyPoker.com World Open VI is now online.
Many of the players involved will remember the jaw dropping quads over quads – Andrew Robl, Toby Lewis, Mike Sexton and Jesse May talk about this in a special post here: PartyPoker.com
** Aussie Millions qualifiers are up and running. Team Party pro Tyron Krost won the event last year and gives his own guide to satellites. PartyPoker.com **
Palladium VIP's - Spoil Yourself With As Many Presents As You Want From PartyPoker - Santa's Party Pack Open To All On PartyCasino!
Gibraltar – 30th November 2010 -- The festive season is drawing closer and PartyPoker.com is making sure they treat their most-valued players to a whole stack of presents. Palladium VIPs have the opportunity to pick up six presents and fill their very own Santa sack by just earning points by playing at PartyPoker.com’s online tables from the 1st to 14th December 2010.
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: "The premise is very simple – Palladium VIPs earn points that make prizes. At the bottom end there is a $50 cash bonus, while 30,000 points delivers a $5,000 WPT entry. Players are entitled to keep all of the prizes they can win - so with six prize levels there’s six fantastic presents to keep!"
Here’s what’s on offer in the VIP Gift Accumulator:
Prize level Points required Prize Prize Draw tickets
1 1,500 $50 cash bonus 1
2 3,000 $100 cash 2
3 6,000 iPod Touch 4
4 12,000 $700 cash 8
5 20,000 16GB iPad 14
6 30,000 WPT entry 20
The feast of presents doesn’t just end here though. Every time a player hits a prize level PartyPoker.com award tickets for the VIP Gift Accumulator prize draw which offers the chance to win a share of $10,000. The more prizes a Palladium VIP earn the more entries they’ll get into the draw, giving more frequent players a better chance of winning the $5,000 first prize, the $3,000 second prize or the $2,000 third prize. Winners will be announced on the 17th December.
Please note that this is an OPT-IN promotion. For more information see: PartyPoker.com
Santa is also coming to PartyCasino.com. Unlike the poker promotion this is open to non VIPs too and runs from the 1st – 14th December, whether you have been bad or good. Points mean prizes including a luxury Caribbean holiday!
See: PartyCasino.com for more information.
Santa’s Party Pack
Prizes whether you’ve been good or bad!
Starts: 00:00 ET, 1st December
Ends: 23:59 ET, 14th December
Santa is making an early appearance. He’s spreading Christmas cheer, handing out killer Christmas presents to non-VIP and Palladium VIP players.
From 1st to 14th December, you can celebrate Christmas in style with a double whammy of festive winning opportunities. There’s a prize giveaway where you can scoop up to 6 prizes, and a massive cash prize draw!
Winning a share of Santa’s Party Pack is simple, and you don’t even have to sit on Santa’s knee! Simply opt-in between the 1st-14th December and collect points by playing your favourite slots and jackpot slots. The more you play, the more prizes you’ll unwrap.
Prize Giveaway
If you’re not a VIP yet, check out the Christmas List below, Santa could bring you up to 5 fantastic prizes worth $1,000:
Points Cumulative prizes
20 $5 cash bonus
100 300 points
500 $50 cash bonus
1,000 $100 free cash
5,000 iPad 32GB WiFi*
*The iPad 32GB WiFi has a cash alternative of $600, this will automatically be credited to your account. Please see T&C’s for details of how to receive the non monetary alternative.
If you’re a Palladium VIP player, check out the Christmas list below. Santa could bring you up to 6 prizes worth $10,000:
Points Cumulative prizes
2,000 $75 cash bonus
3,000 1500 points
5,000 $150 cash bonus
7,500 $250 free cash
15,000 iPad 64GB WiFi**
50,000 Luxury Caribbean Holiday**
(worth $8,500)
**The iPad 64GB WiFi has a cash alternative of $1,000, **The Luxury Caribbean Holiday has a cash alternative of $5,000 these will automatically be credited to your account. Please see T&C’s for details of how to receive the non monetary alternative.
Santa’s Big Prize Draw
What a cracker! But wait…there’s an extra present under the tree – Santa’s Big Prize Draw. By taking part in Santa’s Party Pack, you will be eligible for the draw. The more points you earn the more entries you will receive. Check below to see how much cash you can win:
Non-VIP Big Prize Draw
Every time you earn 20 points during the promotion, you’ll get one entry to the Big Prize Draw. $10,000 will be shared equally between 10 lucky players.
VIP Big Prize Draw
Every time you earn 500 points during the promotion, you’ll get one entry to the Big Prize Draw. $20,000 will be shared between 3 lucky players in the following amounts: 1st - $10,000, 2nd - $6,000 and 3rd - $4,000.
You can collect points on any of our slots and jackpot slots. To join the festivities you need to Opt-In from the 1st-14th December. Win some exceptional presents this Christmas with Santa’s Party Pack.
Good luck and Merry Christmas!
Media Man, Casino News Media and Global Gaming Directory do have a b2b relationship with PartyGaming, as they do with dozens of other companies in the gaming, igaming, media and entertainment industry.
Websites
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour Casino
Profiles
PartyCasino.com
PartyPoker.com
World Poker Tour
PartyGaming
Website Network
Media Man International
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Crown Limited AGM: Rev Up 6%, Hit By Singapore, by Greg Tingle - 30th November 2010
G'day punters, casino and gambling millionaires and billionaires, poker nuts, politicians, super whales, journalists, ... one and all. Today we have the run down from Crown Limited's annual general meeting that took place in Perth, West Australia. Media Man and Gambling911 report from beautiful Perth...
What a huge 24 hours its been for our friends at Crown Casino. Earlier today the Crown Limited AGM was held, Crown Casino remaining the Aussie crown in the jewel, and tonight Crown Casino hosts the Sports Performer Awards. Drinks have been flowing all around, and the pokies have been happily singing along. Cleopatra and Queen Of The Nile never sounded so good, and Shane Warne's positive impact and buzz has been bouncing off the walls and is on the tip of everyone tongue.
Crown powers that be tell us revenue from its Australian casino and hotel operations since the commencement of the financial year are up on the same period in 2009, so that's the good news. We'll give you the bad new later.
The combined gaming revenue from Crown Casino in Melbourne and and Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth between July 1 and November 24 was up roughly 6%, chief executive Rowen Craigie told the gathering.
Craigie was speaking at the group's annual general meeting in Perth, Western Australia, earlier.
Non-gaming revenue in the same period was up by roughly 5% on the same period last year, not including the impact of the newly opened Crown Metropol hotel, pretty much next door to Crown Casino.
Including the Metropol, non-gaming revenue was up a modest 13% on the previous corresponding period, Craigie advised.
The Singapore Effect...
Ok, so overall Crown Limited is still one of the strongest gaming and gambling companies on the planet.
Crown has spent more than $1 billion over the past 4 years, and is to spend another $800 million to update and expand its facilities over the next few years.
Competitors, Tabcorp, is in the midst of its own redevelopment of Star City which, with the cost of the extra licence payment to the New South Wales government to make way for the work, represents about $1 billion of capital expenditures. That redevelopment is understood to be a key factor in the proposed de-merger of Tabcorp’s casino and other gambling interests. Getting ready for Packer in a few years maybe?
A key factor for both firms investing so much in their casinos was a goal to protect and expand their VIP customer bases, while they face stiff competition from the new casinos in Macau and, more recently, the 2 new "complexes"...Crown refers to them as "integrated resorts"...in Singapore. Star has wrestled to attract a reasonable share of VIP revenues, but maybe the tide will soon turn.
Crown had been pretty cool, no fussed about the 2 new Singapore resorts, based on its experience of the opening of the Macau casino resorts. Despite compound annual growth of 34.7% in Macau’s gaming revenues since the last quarter of 2005, Crown and Burswood have been pretty much unaffected, but who really knows what is around the corner.
It had initially appeared that the explosion of gambling capacity in Macau...there has been more than $17 billion spent on building the Macau complexes – was actually benefiting Crown by significantly expanding the pool of VIPs in the region. Crown was optimistic the opening of the Singapore resorts earlier this year would have a similar impact, but the jury is out for the moment.
It could well be too early for that sort of effect to show up...the Singapore casinos, which opened in January and April, would still be fresh an in their honeymoon period, like a new bride.
Packer and Craigie are understood to be concerned that those complexes are hurting Crown’s VIP visits and volumes.
Packer made noise of the government support the Macau and Singapore complexes receive, both the supporting infrastructure and promotional activities, because of their perceived capacity to help stimulate tourism. Tourism growth in Singapore is up 22% this year and Singapore has set a target of increasing tourism numbers from a modest 9 million visitors to 17 million by 2015, Crown says. Some segments of the Australian news media were keen to dismiss the tourism aspect of land based casinos, but now most newsrooms have come to their senses, despite the still odd media "beat up" on casinos, gambling and all that.
Crown is calling on the federal and state governments, the tourism industry and Asian-focused tourism operators to work more closely to lift Australia’s stagnating tourist numbers.
Despite Crown’s claimed status as the largest non-airline tourism operator, it is unlikely at this stage of the game it will get any direct government assistance in the current political climate, particularly given the anti-gambling stance taken by at least two of the independents in Canberra.
The strong Aussie dollar, the depressed state of the local industry and the increased regional competition for high net worth tourists, however, means there out to be an increased focus and spending on tourism generally.
Regaining its share of the international VIP market is critical to Crown Limited. So is increasing its 16% share of VIP revenues is crucial to Tabcorp’s casino strategy and massive investment. Crown estimates more than 35% of its revenue...more than $850 million a year...comes from international visitors. Don't even get us started on "funny money"... you know, the allegations of money laundering and "cleaning" of money via Crown (and pub) pokies.
Bad News...
Ok, the bad news. He said turnover from VIP high roller punters aka "whales" at the Melbourne and Burswood casinos in the first 21 weeks of the financial year was down 10% on the same period last year, which is enough to raise some concern, especially when one joins the dots and analyses the likely cause, and its not just the global financial crisis, or crunch, if your prefer.
"We are continuing to see an impact from the opening of the two new integrated resorts in Singapore and are yet to capitalise on the opportunity to capture the new business that Singapore potentially offers," Craigie said reading off his notes.
Good News...
The Metropol Hotel, which opened last April, was achieving better than expected occupancy rates and room rates were "firming'', he disclosed.
Melco Crown Entertainment, Crown holding a 33.5% stake, has disclosed a "broad-based improvement" in the performance of its champion resort City of Dreams, Macau, the meeting was made aware.
In some much needed good news, Melco reported improved revenue and earnings in the 3 months to September 30 compared with the same period last year, Craigie said.
Crown Limited shares finished off down 3 cents at $8.21.
Awards...
It's been a big month for casino awards.
PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)
Australian Land Based Casino Of The Month: Crown Casino, Runner Up: Star City
Oh, we almost forgot...Media Man and Casino News Media 'Casino Babe Of The Month': Jenny Woo, 'Poker Babe': Kara Scott, 'Gambling Babe Personality': Pamela Anderson.
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Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
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What a huge 24 hours its been for our friends at Crown Casino. Earlier today the Crown Limited AGM was held, Crown Casino remaining the Aussie crown in the jewel, and tonight Crown Casino hosts the Sports Performer Awards. Drinks have been flowing all around, and the pokies have been happily singing along. Cleopatra and Queen Of The Nile never sounded so good, and Shane Warne's positive impact and buzz has been bouncing off the walls and is on the tip of everyone tongue.
Crown powers that be tell us revenue from its Australian casino and hotel operations since the commencement of the financial year are up on the same period in 2009, so that's the good news. We'll give you the bad new later.
The combined gaming revenue from Crown Casino in Melbourne and and Burswood Entertainment Complex in Perth between July 1 and November 24 was up roughly 6%, chief executive Rowen Craigie told the gathering.
Craigie was speaking at the group's annual general meeting in Perth, Western Australia, earlier.
Non-gaming revenue in the same period was up by roughly 5% on the same period last year, not including the impact of the newly opened Crown Metropol hotel, pretty much next door to Crown Casino.
Including the Metropol, non-gaming revenue was up a modest 13% on the previous corresponding period, Craigie advised.
The Singapore Effect...
Ok, so overall Crown Limited is still one of the strongest gaming and gambling companies on the planet.
Crown has spent more than $1 billion over the past 4 years, and is to spend another $800 million to update and expand its facilities over the next few years.
Competitors, Tabcorp, is in the midst of its own redevelopment of Star City which, with the cost of the extra licence payment to the New South Wales government to make way for the work, represents about $1 billion of capital expenditures. That redevelopment is understood to be a key factor in the proposed de-merger of Tabcorp’s casino and other gambling interests. Getting ready for Packer in a few years maybe?
A key factor for both firms investing so much in their casinos was a goal to protect and expand their VIP customer bases, while they face stiff competition from the new casinos in Macau and, more recently, the 2 new "complexes"...Crown refers to them as "integrated resorts"...in Singapore. Star has wrestled to attract a reasonable share of VIP revenues, but maybe the tide will soon turn.
Crown had been pretty cool, no fussed about the 2 new Singapore resorts, based on its experience of the opening of the Macau casino resorts. Despite compound annual growth of 34.7% in Macau’s gaming revenues since the last quarter of 2005, Crown and Burswood have been pretty much unaffected, but who really knows what is around the corner.
It had initially appeared that the explosion of gambling capacity in Macau...there has been more than $17 billion spent on building the Macau complexes – was actually benefiting Crown by significantly expanding the pool of VIPs in the region. Crown was optimistic the opening of the Singapore resorts earlier this year would have a similar impact, but the jury is out for the moment.
It could well be too early for that sort of effect to show up...the Singapore casinos, which opened in January and April, would still be fresh an in their honeymoon period, like a new bride.
Packer and Craigie are understood to be concerned that those complexes are hurting Crown’s VIP visits and volumes.
Packer made noise of the government support the Macau and Singapore complexes receive, both the supporting infrastructure and promotional activities, because of their perceived capacity to help stimulate tourism. Tourism growth in Singapore is up 22% this year and Singapore has set a target of increasing tourism numbers from a modest 9 million visitors to 17 million by 2015, Crown says. Some segments of the Australian news media were keen to dismiss the tourism aspect of land based casinos, but now most newsrooms have come to their senses, despite the still odd media "beat up" on casinos, gambling and all that.
Crown is calling on the federal and state governments, the tourism industry and Asian-focused tourism operators to work more closely to lift Australia’s stagnating tourist numbers.
Despite Crown’s claimed status as the largest non-airline tourism operator, it is unlikely at this stage of the game it will get any direct government assistance in the current political climate, particularly given the anti-gambling stance taken by at least two of the independents in Canberra.
The strong Aussie dollar, the depressed state of the local industry and the increased regional competition for high net worth tourists, however, means there out to be an increased focus and spending on tourism generally.
Regaining its share of the international VIP market is critical to Crown Limited. So is increasing its 16% share of VIP revenues is crucial to Tabcorp’s casino strategy and massive investment. Crown estimates more than 35% of its revenue...more than $850 million a year...comes from international visitors. Don't even get us started on "funny money"... you know, the allegations of money laundering and "cleaning" of money via Crown (and pub) pokies.
Bad News...
Ok, the bad news. He said turnover from VIP high roller punters aka "whales" at the Melbourne and Burswood casinos in the first 21 weeks of the financial year was down 10% on the same period last year, which is enough to raise some concern, especially when one joins the dots and analyses the likely cause, and its not just the global financial crisis, or crunch, if your prefer.
"We are continuing to see an impact from the opening of the two new integrated resorts in Singapore and are yet to capitalise on the opportunity to capture the new business that Singapore potentially offers," Craigie said reading off his notes.
Good News...
The Metropol Hotel, which opened last April, was achieving better than expected occupancy rates and room rates were "firming'', he disclosed.
Melco Crown Entertainment, Crown holding a 33.5% stake, has disclosed a "broad-based improvement" in the performance of its champion resort City of Dreams, Macau, the meeting was made aware.
In some much needed good news, Melco reported improved revenue and earnings in the 3 months to September 30 compared with the same period last year, Craigie said.
Crown Limited shares finished off down 3 cents at $8.21.
Awards...
It's been a big month for casino awards.
PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)
Australian Land Based Casino Of The Month: Crown Casino, Runner Up: Star City
Oh, we almost forgot...Media Man and Casino News Media 'Casino Babe Of The Month': Jenny Woo, 'Poker Babe': Kara Scott, 'Gambling Babe Personality': Pamela Anderson.
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australia Casinos
Cricket
Movies
Crown Casino
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News
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
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Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Casino Cheat Gang In Court: Australia, Italy, UK, USA..., by Greg Tingle - 28th November 2010
G'day punters, casino and gambling millionaires and billionaires, poker nuts, politicians, super whales, journalists, politicians... (and cheats!) one and all. Two of the world's most successful casino cheats have been stopped in their tracks, sort of, having had their day in court. They hit Australia, Britain, China, Italy and god knows where else, cheating casinos across the globe out of millions of dollars. Media Man and Gambling911 play Pink Panther, and Cluedo and Heist with this special report...
Two of the world's most successful international casino cheats have had their day in court.
The rumour mill says the duo, understood to be part of a larger casino crime group, enjoyed time down under in Australia, having a soft spot for both Crown Casino in Melbourne and Star City Casino in 'Sin City' Sydney.
Last Friday they faced court and admitted they possessed hell of a lot of fake IDs, which they used in land based casinos they were banned from across the world. It's understood they didn't target online casinos.
Using a clever global strategy, the pro active gang upper ranked Francesco Baioni, 64, and Frank Camilleri, 61, travelled the world cheating casinos out of a bucket load of money.
Police and other law enforcement had described them as "notorious" and "professional". The crooks have served time in America after cheating their way to "vast" amounts of cash.
Baioni, of Rackstraw House, Primrose Hill, was handed down a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months. Camilleri, of Derrick Road, Beckenham, was sentenced to nine months suspended for the same duration.
Both were also issued with an 18-month curfew between 11pm and 6am and were barred from all premises regulated by the Gambling Commission for 18 months.
Police would not discuss the tactics that landed the Italian duo so much money over the years but did reveal they had operated in countries including China, Australia America and Britain.
Roulette is understood to be a favorite of the duo, and industry talk is one of them would distract the dealer, and the other would move chips on the table into winning positions.
Both were busted on CCTV cameras at various central London casinos conducting reconnaissance visits, testing the water, and attempting to sign up for membership, using false identities. In one case, Baioni was filmed being refused membership at a casino after the false identity he was attempting to use was flagged up on the operator's computer system as "barred".
The daring pair were caught following an intelligence-led operation by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command. On August 9 search warrants were executed at their homes and Baioni was arrested.
Detectives discovered "a large quantity" of fake Italian identity papers containing pictures of Baioni and Camilleri. All had false names.
There were also tons of false identities awaiting pictures and individual passport photographs of both fellas prepared to be attached to the documentation. On August 23 Camilleri was arrested at Gatwick Airport when he flew back from Malta.
Casino crooks and shady figures in the gambling industry have often come unstuck at airports, and this helps explain why some casino tycoons in the likes of Malta, Cyprus and Antigua do not travel on commercial airliner. Sometimes their private aircraft have also been intercepted.
Both crooks were charged and just last month Baioni admitted 9 counts of possessing false documents with intent, possessing articles for use in fraud, and making articles for use in fraud. Camilleri admitted 8 counts of possessing false ID documents with intent.
Remember, crime doesn't pay, unless you're very good at it. You're throw of the dice.
Awards...
It's been a big month for casino awards. Ok, as you read earlier, Macau's Altira Macau was awarded the prestigious Forbes Five Star Ratings for the second year in a row, so Packer and the Ho family continue to work their magic.
PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australia Casinos
Cricket
Movies
Crown Casino
Politics
Broadcasting
Television
Media Companies
Australian Sports
News
Casino News
Entertainment News
Media News
Technology News
Sports News
News
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Did you enjoy learning all about the international casino fraudsters? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
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Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
Two of the world's most successful international casino cheats have had their day in court.
The rumour mill says the duo, understood to be part of a larger casino crime group, enjoyed time down under in Australia, having a soft spot for both Crown Casino in Melbourne and Star City Casino in 'Sin City' Sydney.
Last Friday they faced court and admitted they possessed hell of a lot of fake IDs, which they used in land based casinos they were banned from across the world. It's understood they didn't target online casinos.
Using a clever global strategy, the pro active gang upper ranked Francesco Baioni, 64, and Frank Camilleri, 61, travelled the world cheating casinos out of a bucket load of money.
Police and other law enforcement had described them as "notorious" and "professional". The crooks have served time in America after cheating their way to "vast" amounts of cash.
Baioni, of Rackstraw House, Primrose Hill, was handed down a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months. Camilleri, of Derrick Road, Beckenham, was sentenced to nine months suspended for the same duration.
Both were also issued with an 18-month curfew between 11pm and 6am and were barred from all premises regulated by the Gambling Commission for 18 months.
Police would not discuss the tactics that landed the Italian duo so much money over the years but did reveal they had operated in countries including China, Australia America and Britain.
Roulette is understood to be a favorite of the duo, and industry talk is one of them would distract the dealer, and the other would move chips on the table into winning positions.
Both were busted on CCTV cameras at various central London casinos conducting reconnaissance visits, testing the water, and attempting to sign up for membership, using false identities. In one case, Baioni was filmed being refused membership at a casino after the false identity he was attempting to use was flagged up on the operator's computer system as "barred".
The daring pair were caught following an intelligence-led operation by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Human Exploitation and Organised Crime Command. On August 9 search warrants were executed at their homes and Baioni was arrested.
Detectives discovered "a large quantity" of fake Italian identity papers containing pictures of Baioni and Camilleri. All had false names.
There were also tons of false identities awaiting pictures and individual passport photographs of both fellas prepared to be attached to the documentation. On August 23 Camilleri was arrested at Gatwick Airport when he flew back from Malta.
Casino crooks and shady figures in the gambling industry have often come unstuck at airports, and this helps explain why some casino tycoons in the likes of Malta, Cyprus and Antigua do not travel on commercial airliner. Sometimes their private aircraft have also been intercepted.
Both crooks were charged and just last month Baioni admitted 9 counts of possessing false documents with intent, possessing articles for use in fraud, and making articles for use in fraud. Camilleri admitted 8 counts of possessing false ID documents with intent.
Remember, crime doesn't pay, unless you're very good at it. You're throw of the dice.
Awards...
It's been a big month for casino awards. Ok, as you read earlier, Macau's Altira Macau was awarded the prestigious Forbes Five Star Ratings for the second year in a row, so Packer and the Ho family continue to work their magic.
PartyGaming's PartyCasino has also come back with seconds, picking up another Media Man 'Online Casino Of The Month Award' for November, and also the parent company, PartyGaming, picked up the prestigious EGR Slots Operator Of The Year Award ...Some other top picks of ours who picked up awards at the EGR night of nights were:
Virgin Games (Affiliate Programme)
Betfair (Innovation, Mobile Operator and UK Sports Betting Operator)
Bwin (European Sports Betting Operator
PKR (Poker Operator)
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australia Casinos
Cricket
Movies
Crown Casino
Politics
Broadcasting
Television
Media Companies
Australian Sports
News
Casino News
Entertainment News
Media News
Technology News
Sports News
News
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Did you enjoy learning all about the international casino fraudsters? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
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Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Online gaming companies in for huge 2011, by Greg Tingle - 23rd November 2010
Online gaming companies in for huge 2011
Profiles
PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker PartyBingo Bwin Betfair Centrebet SportingBet 888 World Poker Tour World Series of Poker
Harrah's Entertainment Virgin Games PKR Microgaming Playtech Media Man Casino News Media Global Gaming Directory
Could online gaming firms be in the mix of the top stockmarket investments to make in 2011?
The listing of Betfair (BET) at the conclusion of October on a fancy multiple and the $3.3 billion megamerger between PartyGaming and Bwin (PRTY), due to complete in the first quarter of 2011, appears to have added spark to the industry of late.
Then there is the prospect, albeit slight, of the liberalisation of the US igaming market which has put the industry firmly on investors' watch list, including ours, for next year.
It is understandable, as even a snapshot look at the stockmarket gains of the world’s biggest online gaming companies between circa 2004-2006 reveals just how quickly fortunes were made and lost.
The iGaming Global Top 30 Index, an index of the stockmarket performance of the biggest 30 online gaming companies, surged 40% between July 2004 and August 2005. This was followed by 12 months of extreme volatility before sinking thanks to a controversial piece of legislation in the US.
Since 2006, online gaming’s real story has been dominated by America’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
The multibillion-pound global industry virtually collapsed in a heap after its biggest market - the US - was closed down overnight when Congress introduced a surprise clause to legislation in September 2006, in effect making internet betting illegal. Not only was that a blow for investors - it was a hugely expensive one.
British-based companies were among the biggest casualties.
As soon as the London Stock Exchange opened the following Monday morning, shares in PartyGaming - then a FTSE 100 member - dived by 58%, while rivals 888 Holdings (888) and Sportingbet saw their shares slide by 26% and 64% respectively, wiping an estimated £4 billion off the sector's value.
The companies were forced to focus on opportunities in other parts of the world, but the businesses have never fully recovered from the impact of losing their most lucrative market. Last year, online gambling was worth an estimated $5.4 billion (£3.5 billion) overall, a figure that could rise to $12-$16 billion if the market was opened up, analysts say.
Despite the recent loss of a sympathetic Democrat majority in Congress last month, there is renewed hope of floated gambling companies being dealt a good hand on both sides of the Pond.
The new Republican chairman of the House financial services committee is likely to be an old-style Alabaman named Spencer Bachus.
Yet he is likely to listen to the prospects of a reinvigorated gambling sector for the ailing US economy. The Federal government’s non-partisan accountants, the Joint Committee on Taxation, have estimated online gambling could generate between $10 billion and $42 billion in new revenue by 2019, depending on the number of states that opt into a federal regulatory programme.
Yet he is likely to listen to the prospects of a reinvigorated gambling sector for the ailing US economy.
The Federal government’s non-partisan accountants, the Joint Committee on Taxation, have estimated online gambling could generate between $10 billion and $42 billion in new revenue by 2019, depending on the number of states that opt into a Federal regulatory programme.
And you can see why if you glance at the forecast numbers.
With the US nationwide unemployment rate at 10%, 48 of 50 states facing budget shortfalls and a Federal deficit approaching $1.3 trillion, the economic backdrop against which to promote regulation and taxation of internet gambling has arguably never been more favourable.
Yet those companies poised to get a real boost should America legalise online gambling, such as the impressive PartyGaming/Bwin combine, are getting excited about the future.
"We are seeing things from a legislative perspective that are quite exciting for us," says Jim Ryan, chief executive of PartyGaming, whose comments undoubtedly reflect the mood of a growing contingent of gambling operators on both sides of the Atlantic.
There has been speculation that PartyGaming and Bwin have decided to merge at this time precisely because they will be better placed than any other operator to seize a huge market share should the US decide to legalise online gambling. You only have to look at the market share that Party was able to capture by becoming one of the first operators into the online poker market back in 2001.
Analysts agree the enlarged company is in a strong position to exploit the opening up of the US market.
In a note to investors recently, the Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Vaughan Lewis said: "The overall political tide is moving firmly in favour of regulation, rather than prohibition.
"With its expertise... market-leading technology, strong marketing capability and good brands, we think the combined entity of PartyGaming and Bwin would be extremely well positioned to benefit from any market opening in the US. We include nothing in our forecasts for the US, so any new market here is pure upside."
And in a recent Barclays Capital research note, the investment bank said: "In the event of Federal regulation, we believe PartyGaming would be the likely key beneficiary.
"Under this hypothetical scenario, we estimate the potential [underlying profits] uplift could be 94% for PartyGaming and 58% for Bwin and 888. On a state-by-state hypothetical scenario, we estimate the uplift for the group would be considerably lower, but still meaningful."
Meanwhile, at the end of October analysts at Numis published a note saying there is 50% upside potential at Party when the merger with Bwin completes in March 2011. With the shares trading at around 230p at the beginning of November Numis have put a price target of 400p on the stock.
The PartyGaming/Bwin merger has got the other big companies in the sector scurrying around to do similar deals. They don't want to be left behind in what will become a gold rush should the US legalise online gaming.
888 and Sportingbet are also possible future takeover targets as the industry consolidates, but only once their legal liabilities in the US market are cleared. Serious negotiations in the PartyGaming/Bwin merger were only concluded once Party had secured a $105 million settlement with US authorities.
Analysts say a resolution would clear the way for 888 and Sportingbet to re-enter the lucrative US market should moves to overturn the 2006 legislation succeed.
Sportingbet has already acted telling shareholders at its latest results meeting that it had made a £22.8 million settlement with the US Department of Justice over an investigation into illegal internet gambling. The agreement means the firm will avoid being prosecuted in the US for accepting online bets made by Americans between 1998 and 2006.
Sportingbet would hold the most appeal to potential bidders, analysts reckon, pointing to its very strong market positioning in Australia and commenting that Ladbrokes (LAD) and William Hill (WMH) could be interested in a takeover.
Liberum Capital analyst Richard Taylor recently highlighted the strength of Sportingbet’s sports betting business, which he said had one of the best gross margins in the sector at around 10%. In addition, he said Sportingbet’s management was open to a bid, having previously stated up to 55% of their cost base could be removed.
Another former giant of the sector, now somewhat depleted thanks to the UIGEA, is 888.
Analysts say 888's attraction would be the potential for cost savings in a tie-up with a rival online gaming operator, and that Party/Bwin might be a possible buyer. What would make it attractive is that both Party and Bwin use 888 as a supplier.
However, the Shaked family who founded the company, and who control over 50% of the shares, would be looking for a price significantly above the 40p at which the company currently trades.
There have been whispers among London traders in the last few weeks that a £262 million, or 76p a share, cash bid from a much bigger industry player, possibly US entertainment giant Harrah's, which already has close business links with 888 could be on the cards.
Certainly 888 chief executive Gigi Levy has said recently that he looks at consolidation as one of the possible routes to realising shareholder value.
Another giant of the industry looking to become bigger still is the mighty Betfair. Having listed on the LSE at the end of October at 1,300p, the shares soon touched 1,600p-plus, as tracker funds piled in confident it will canter into the FTSE 250 index at the December review with a market value above £1.6 billion.
If things are hotting up at the Federal level for the online gaming industry there are also some exciting developments at state level.
So far in 2010, four states have considered whether or not to legalise some combination of online poker, casino gaming and sports betting: Iowa, Florida, California and New Jersey.
The state making most headway is New Jersey, where internet gambling has been under consideration by lawmakers since 2001. It is finally receiving serious consideration in the state Senate where two bills, which would legalise internet sports betting and casino gaming respectively, have already passed the committee stage this year.
From California to New Jersey to Florida, more state and federal congressmen are taking the reality of a legal online gambling regime a lot more seriously.
Whoever wins the race, state or federal, one thing is clear: more and more stakeholders in the US are finally coming around to understand the risks and implication of a ‘do nothing’ strategy. This is an opportunity cost and gambling companies are getting their bets on regardless.
But ongoing political deadlock clearly poses a real threat to regulatory efforts at all levels of American government. But even as gambling industry stakeholders duke it out in the halls of legislatures around the country, as well as on Capitol Hill in Washington, the very fact that the conflict between them is intensifying signals that interest and investment in pushing for online gaming regulation is rising.
With billions of dollars out there to harvest and market share to win, the entire online gaming sector looks ripe for an upturn in coming months. Investing in online gaming companies has always been a white knuckle ride - and there looks to be every sign this particular circus is once again rolling back into town.
Profiles
PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker PartyBingo Bwin Betfair Centrebet SportingBet 888 World Poker Tour World Series of Poker
Harrah's Entertainment Virgin Games PKR Microgaming Playtech Media Man Casino News Media Global Gaming Directory
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Profiles
PartyGaming PartyCasino PartyPoker PartyBingo Bwin Betfair Centrebet SportingBet 888 World Poker Tour World Series of Poker
Harrah's Entertainment Virgin Games PKR Microgaming Playtech Media Man Casino News Media Global Gaming Directory
Could online gaming firms be in the mix of the top stockmarket investments to make in 2011?
The listing of Betfair (BET) at the conclusion of October on a fancy multiple and the $3.3 billion megamerger between PartyGaming and Bwin (PRTY), due to complete in the first quarter of 2011, appears to have added spark to the industry of late.
Then there is the prospect, albeit slight, of the liberalisation of the US igaming market which has put the industry firmly on investors' watch list, including ours, for next year.
It is understandable, as even a snapshot look at the stockmarket gains of the world’s biggest online gaming companies between circa 2004-2006 reveals just how quickly fortunes were made and lost.
The iGaming Global Top 30 Index, an index of the stockmarket performance of the biggest 30 online gaming companies, surged 40% between July 2004 and August 2005. This was followed by 12 months of extreme volatility before sinking thanks to a controversial piece of legislation in the US.
Since 2006, online gaming’s real story has been dominated by America’s Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA).
The multibillion-pound global industry virtually collapsed in a heap after its biggest market - the US - was closed down overnight when Congress introduced a surprise clause to legislation in September 2006, in effect making internet betting illegal. Not only was that a blow for investors - it was a hugely expensive one.
British-based companies were among the biggest casualties.
As soon as the London Stock Exchange opened the following Monday morning, shares in PartyGaming - then a FTSE 100 member - dived by 58%, while rivals 888 Holdings (888) and Sportingbet saw their shares slide by 26% and 64% respectively, wiping an estimated £4 billion off the sector's value.
The companies were forced to focus on opportunities in other parts of the world, but the businesses have never fully recovered from the impact of losing their most lucrative market. Last year, online gambling was worth an estimated $5.4 billion (£3.5 billion) overall, a figure that could rise to $12-$16 billion if the market was opened up, analysts say.
Despite the recent loss of a sympathetic Democrat majority in Congress last month, there is renewed hope of floated gambling companies being dealt a good hand on both sides of the Pond.
The new Republican chairman of the House financial services committee is likely to be an old-style Alabaman named Spencer Bachus.
Yet he is likely to listen to the prospects of a reinvigorated gambling sector for the ailing US economy. The Federal government’s non-partisan accountants, the Joint Committee on Taxation, have estimated online gambling could generate between $10 billion and $42 billion in new revenue by 2019, depending on the number of states that opt into a federal regulatory programme.
Yet he is likely to listen to the prospects of a reinvigorated gambling sector for the ailing US economy.
The Federal government’s non-partisan accountants, the Joint Committee on Taxation, have estimated online gambling could generate between $10 billion and $42 billion in new revenue by 2019, depending on the number of states that opt into a Federal regulatory programme.
And you can see why if you glance at the forecast numbers.
With the US nationwide unemployment rate at 10%, 48 of 50 states facing budget shortfalls and a Federal deficit approaching $1.3 trillion, the economic backdrop against which to promote regulation and taxation of internet gambling has arguably never been more favourable.
Yet those companies poised to get a real boost should America legalise online gambling, such as the impressive PartyGaming/Bwin combine, are getting excited about the future.
"We are seeing things from a legislative perspective that are quite exciting for us," says Jim Ryan, chief executive of PartyGaming, whose comments undoubtedly reflect the mood of a growing contingent of gambling operators on both sides of the Atlantic.
There has been speculation that PartyGaming and Bwin have decided to merge at this time precisely because they will be better placed than any other operator to seize a huge market share should the US decide to legalise online gambling. You only have to look at the market share that Party was able to capture by becoming one of the first operators into the online poker market back in 2001.
Analysts agree the enlarged company is in a strong position to exploit the opening up of the US market.
In a note to investors recently, the Morgan Stanley leisure analyst Vaughan Lewis said: "The overall political tide is moving firmly in favour of regulation, rather than prohibition.
"With its expertise... market-leading technology, strong marketing capability and good brands, we think the combined entity of PartyGaming and Bwin would be extremely well positioned to benefit from any market opening in the US. We include nothing in our forecasts for the US, so any new market here is pure upside."
And in a recent Barclays Capital research note, the investment bank said: "In the event of Federal regulation, we believe PartyGaming would be the likely key beneficiary.
"Under this hypothetical scenario, we estimate the potential [underlying profits] uplift could be 94% for PartyGaming and 58% for Bwin and 888. On a state-by-state hypothetical scenario, we estimate the uplift for the group would be considerably lower, but still meaningful."
Meanwhile, at the end of October analysts at Numis published a note saying there is 50% upside potential at Party when the merger with Bwin completes in March 2011. With the shares trading at around 230p at the beginning of November Numis have put a price target of 400p on the stock.
The PartyGaming/Bwin merger has got the other big companies in the sector scurrying around to do similar deals. They don't want to be left behind in what will become a gold rush should the US legalise online gaming.
888 and Sportingbet are also possible future takeover targets as the industry consolidates, but only once their legal liabilities in the US market are cleared. Serious negotiations in the PartyGaming/Bwin merger were only concluded once Party had secured a $105 million settlement with US authorities.
Analysts say a resolution would clear the way for 888 and Sportingbet to re-enter the lucrative US market should moves to overturn the 2006 legislation succeed.
Sportingbet has already acted telling shareholders at its latest results meeting that it had made a £22.8 million settlement with the US Department of Justice over an investigation into illegal internet gambling. The agreement means the firm will avoid being prosecuted in the US for accepting online bets made by Americans between 1998 and 2006.
Sportingbet would hold the most appeal to potential bidders, analysts reckon, pointing to its very strong market positioning in Australia and commenting that Ladbrokes (LAD) and William Hill (WMH) could be interested in a takeover.
Liberum Capital analyst Richard Taylor recently highlighted the strength of Sportingbet’s sports betting business, which he said had one of the best gross margins in the sector at around 10%. In addition, he said Sportingbet’s management was open to a bid, having previously stated up to 55% of their cost base could be removed.
Another former giant of the sector, now somewhat depleted thanks to the UIGEA, is 888.
Analysts say 888's attraction would be the potential for cost savings in a tie-up with a rival online gaming operator, and that Party/Bwin might be a possible buyer. What would make it attractive is that both Party and Bwin use 888 as a supplier.
However, the Shaked family who founded the company, and who control over 50% of the shares, would be looking for a price significantly above the 40p at which the company currently trades.
There have been whispers among London traders in the last few weeks that a £262 million, or 76p a share, cash bid from a much bigger industry player, possibly US entertainment giant Harrah's, which already has close business links with 888 could be on the cards.
Certainly 888 chief executive Gigi Levy has said recently that he looks at consolidation as one of the possible routes to realising shareholder value.
Another giant of the industry looking to become bigger still is the mighty Betfair. Having listed on the LSE at the end of October at 1,300p, the shares soon touched 1,600p-plus, as tracker funds piled in confident it will canter into the FTSE 250 index at the December review with a market value above £1.6 billion.
If things are hotting up at the Federal level for the online gaming industry there are also some exciting developments at state level.
So far in 2010, four states have considered whether or not to legalise some combination of online poker, casino gaming and sports betting: Iowa, Florida, California and New Jersey.
The state making most headway is New Jersey, where internet gambling has been under consideration by lawmakers since 2001. It is finally receiving serious consideration in the state Senate where two bills, which would legalise internet sports betting and casino gaming respectively, have already passed the committee stage this year.
From California to New Jersey to Florida, more state and federal congressmen are taking the reality of a legal online gambling regime a lot more seriously.
Whoever wins the race, state or federal, one thing is clear: more and more stakeholders in the US are finally coming around to understand the risks and implication of a ‘do nothing’ strategy. This is an opportunity cost and gambling companies are getting their bets on regardless.
But ongoing political deadlock clearly poses a real threat to regulatory efforts at all levels of American government. But even as gambling industry stakeholders duke it out in the halls of legislatures around the country, as well as on Capitol Hill in Washington, the very fact that the conflict between them is intensifying signals that interest and investment in pushing for online gaming regulation is rising.
With billions of dollars out there to harvest and market share to win, the entire online gaming sector looks ripe for an upturn in coming months. Investing in online gaming companies has always been a white knuckle ride - and there looks to be every sign this particular circus is once again rolling back into town.
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Crown Casino Forced To Defend Reputation In Press, by Greg Tingle - 23rd November 2010
Crown Casino, Australia's leading land based casino and prize jewel of gambling and media tycoon James Packer, is publicly fighting back against a number of serious allegations being thrown at them. Media Man and Gambling911 play devil's advocate as we bring you this special report on the cafe and pub talk about Crown...
In the past year or so most of the media reports on James Packer owned Crown Casino have been balanced, with a number of even positive reports, but now a new batch of negative stories, allegations and even a spot of "attack journalism" is starting to read its ugly head again.
Casino Casino bosses are not happy in the least about a bush tucker bag of allegations being leveled at their gambling and entertainment premises.
One of the more gross allegations is that Crown was accused of letting desperate gamblers urinate at machines during 24-hour pokie marathon sessions!
Other leaks say Crown throws fights into the street and tries to cover up crimes and other unwanted attention.
The hard hitting allegations are found in a report based on interviews with 225 current and former Crown casino staff who spoke out about their impressions of the level of violence, problem gambling and alcohol abuse inside Australia's biggest gambling venue.
A number of Australian media and gambling commentators believe the reports may have been geared to generate negative results for the casino, and that a large number of former staff and disgruntled current staff may have been tricked into focusing on negatives, and that somehow the Uni compiled report was designed to make Crown Limited look bad.
The so call "study" was conducted by Deakin University researchers, sphere headed by Associate Prof Linda Hancock. Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union staff agreed to participate in the industry-wide research.
The most disgusting allegation was that some one armed bandit players stood by the same pokies for up to 24 hours, with one respondent saying they "sit there and just wee, go to the toilet at the machine"
Crown Casino advises that allegation is not true.
Some staff also allege that Crown Casino is:
Permits patrons to gamble when drunk, even though it is against the law in Victoria
Calling taxis RSL cabs, Silver Service etc) for injured patrons and staff to avoid an ambulance incident report.
Permitting punters to stay on pokies for 24 hours plus marathon sessions or more.
Forcing drunks onto the street.
Covering up up 20 to 30 brawls per evening, with up to 40 punters a night being escorted out onto the street. This is mostly due to fighting, and sometimes patrons used knives and bottles.
Dr Hancock states her research showed a "systematic breakdown between Crown, government and regulators who don't enforce codes of practice".
The report that some say is bias, was rigged, and not accurate, also demonstrates poor awareness among staff of problem gambling, with half of those interviewed saying they wouldn't intervene if a gambler was in a distressed state.
A media spokesperson at Media Man said "The results of the report are not a total surprise. It's well known that there is an agenda from certain parts of the educational and political sector to get negative press on Crown Casino. Whispers are that the report was focusing on negatives and that they interviewed people who were not happy at Crown and has an axe to grind. They have used this report to try to create a media beat up, and also trying to generate attack journalism. University reports are often used to try to give certain agendas more credibility Do not believe everything you read, including from University reports. We know Crown Casino to do an excellent job of dealing with problems and are a very responsible employer. The report smells of a rat".
Crown casino spokesman Gary O'Neill said the comments in the report were all false and did not deserve to be described as "research: (a term also used to describe Japanese whaling).
"Crown absolutely denies that staff are encouraged or allowed to permit patrons to gamble while intoxicated," he said.
O'Neill said ambulances were regularly called to Crown and he denied claims that responsible gaming codes were being ignored.
At the time of press more media outlets are starting to go public saying there are flaws in the "research" and that Crown Casino haters are trying to create media beat-ups.
Crown Casino is understood to be considering some reality TV concepts and also is pursuing more national and international top line acts to add to its overall entertainment experience, as the famous Aussie casino wars continue with its main competitor being the embattled Tabcorp, owner - operator of Sydney's Star City, who are spending roughly 1 million dollars to try to play catch up to Crown - eventually wanting to become #1. Good luck Tabcorp, you will need it in spades.
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Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Is Crown Casino good or evil? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
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In the past year or so most of the media reports on James Packer owned Crown Casino have been balanced, with a number of even positive reports, but now a new batch of negative stories, allegations and even a spot of "attack journalism" is starting to read its ugly head again.
Casino Casino bosses are not happy in the least about a bush tucker bag of allegations being leveled at their gambling and entertainment premises.
One of the more gross allegations is that Crown was accused of letting desperate gamblers urinate at machines during 24-hour pokie marathon sessions!
Other leaks say Crown throws fights into the street and tries to cover up crimes and other unwanted attention.
The hard hitting allegations are found in a report based on interviews with 225 current and former Crown casino staff who spoke out about their impressions of the level of violence, problem gambling and alcohol abuse inside Australia's biggest gambling venue.
A number of Australian media and gambling commentators believe the reports may have been geared to generate negative results for the casino, and that a large number of former staff and disgruntled current staff may have been tricked into focusing on negatives, and that somehow the Uni compiled report was designed to make Crown Limited look bad.
The so call "study" was conducted by Deakin University researchers, sphere headed by Associate Prof Linda Hancock. Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union staff agreed to participate in the industry-wide research.
The most disgusting allegation was that some one armed bandit players stood by the same pokies for up to 24 hours, with one respondent saying they "sit there and just wee, go to the toilet at the machine"
Crown Casino advises that allegation is not true.
Some staff also allege that Crown Casino is:
Permits patrons to gamble when drunk, even though it is against the law in Victoria
Calling taxis RSL cabs, Silver Service etc) for injured patrons and staff to avoid an ambulance incident report.
Permitting punters to stay on pokies for 24 hours plus marathon sessions or more.
Forcing drunks onto the street.
Covering up up 20 to 30 brawls per evening, with up to 40 punters a night being escorted out onto the street. This is mostly due to fighting, and sometimes patrons used knives and bottles.
Dr Hancock states her research showed a "systematic breakdown between Crown, government and regulators who don't enforce codes of practice".
The report that some say is bias, was rigged, and not accurate, also demonstrates poor awareness among staff of problem gambling, with half of those interviewed saying they wouldn't intervene if a gambler was in a distressed state.
A media spokesperson at Media Man said "The results of the report are not a total surprise. It's well known that there is an agenda from certain parts of the educational and political sector to get negative press on Crown Casino. Whispers are that the report was focusing on negatives and that they interviewed people who were not happy at Crown and has an axe to grind. They have used this report to try to create a media beat up, and also trying to generate attack journalism. University reports are often used to try to give certain agendas more credibility Do not believe everything you read, including from University reports. We know Crown Casino to do an excellent job of dealing with problems and are a very responsible employer. The report smells of a rat".
Crown casino spokesman Gary O'Neill said the comments in the report were all false and did not deserve to be described as "research: (a term also used to describe Japanese whaling).
"Crown absolutely denies that staff are encouraged or allowed to permit patrons to gamble while intoxicated," he said.
O'Neill said ambulances were regularly called to Crown and he denied claims that responsible gaming codes were being ignored.
At the time of press more media outlets are starting to go public saying there are flaws in the "research" and that Crown Casino haters are trying to create media beat-ups.
Crown Casino is understood to be considering some reality TV concepts and also is pursuing more national and international top line acts to add to its overall entertainment experience, as the famous Aussie casino wars continue with its main competitor being the embattled Tabcorp, owner - operator of Sydney's Star City, who are spending roughly 1 million dollars to try to play catch up to Crown - eventually wanting to become #1. Good luck Tabcorp, you will need it in spades.
Media Man Profiles
Australia
Australia Casinos
Crown Casino
Politics
Media Companies
Australian Sports
News
Casino News
Entertainment News
Media News
Technology News
Sports News
News
Wrap Up...
Readers... er, punters, how did you like our report? Is Crown Casino good or evil? Tell us in the forum.
If you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. They cover a dozen industry sectors including gaming and offer political commentary and analysis.
*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited
Website Network
Media Man International
Media Man
Media Man Australia
Media Man Asia
Media Man Canada
Media Man Games
Media Man Brand
Media Man Network
Casino News Media
Poker News Media
Global Gaming Directory
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