Happy Friday igamers! This week Diary ponders the Gambling Commission's position on loot boxes, mulls Nicky Morgan's appointment to the DCMS, considers the latest developments in Sweden and reminds you to vote for the most influential women.
The Remote Gambling Association (RGA) and Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) are to be wound up and replaced by the Betting and Gaming Council, a new UK-facing operator body that aims to act as the industry’s mouthpiece. British Beer & Pub Association chief executive Brigid Simmonds will lead the new body.
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has warned William Hill and Flutter Entertainment to refine how their advertising targeting strategies, after promotions for each operator appeared in an app seen as being of particular appeal to minors.
Playtech has reported a 54% year-on-year increase in revenue for 2018, though growth for the year was largely down to the acquisition of Italian operator Snaitech, with the solutions giant’s B2B division struggling.
The $4.8bn (€3.9bn) purchase of Playtika, agreed in 2016 between the social gaming developer’s owner and a Chinese consortium including Alibaba’s Jack Ma, has hit a regulatory hurdle according to a WSJ report
The American Gaming Association (AGA) has released an updated version of its code of conduct, complete with a number of measures designed to help protect players.
Zynga has launched legal action against two former senior members of staff after alleging that they stole confidential information to support a new employer.
Zynga has reached a settlement worth approximately $23 million (€21 million) to end litigation accusing the social gaming company of defrauding shareholders about its business products before and after an initial public offering (IPO) in December 2011.
Zynga is to face a lawsuit in the US that accuses the social gaming company of defrauding shareholders about its prospects both before and after its initial public offering (IPO) in December 2011.
High 5 Games (H5G), a developer of land-based, online, social and mobile games, is reportedly suing International Game Technology (IGT) over a number of alleged violations regarding a licensing agreement between the two companies.
Pools and sports betting operator Sportech will have to wait until November for its appeal to be heard over a VAT repayment claim on the ‘Spot the Ball’ game.
Mark Pincus, the founder of social gaming company Zynga, is to face a lawsuit alleging that he unfairly benefited by selling $192 million (€153.2 million) of stock in 2012 when other early investors were under a lockup agreement.
The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has reported that following two consecutive months of growth, the US state suffered a fall in online gaming revenue during September.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will reportedly allow casinos and racetracks in the US state to start to offer legal sports wagering pools, with the provision that bets are placed on events outside of the state.
Authorities in South Korea have moved to block all games on Facebook as part of an effort to clamp down on what they refer to as the ‘social gambling industry’.
Online gambling trade organisation the Remote Gambling Association (RGA) has said while it welcomes the Portuguese government’s decision to regulate the country’s online gambling market, it is concerned that ‘unworkable’ tax rates could render the market unviable for internet sports betting operators.
This week the iGB Diary marvels at Willie Brown's damascene conversion, wonders why Paddy was so soft on Giggsy, roots for gender equality and praises Ladbrokes (yes you read that right).
