Gambling & Entertainment Blog

LAC's -The Google Bet- seminar discusses importance of gambling ads
One of the London Affiliate Conference?s most fascinating and busiest seminars was that from Google Israel given by Nir Korczak ? the Industry Head ? whose talk was called ?The Google Bet?. With not even any room left in which to stand, the seminar covered three main topics: Google and Gambling Advertising Overtime, The Current State of The Gambling Industry and Where Opportunities Lie. When talking about Google?s Gambling Advertising Overtime, Nir said the company generally focus on three verticals: binary option, gambling and tech (that?s internet start-up companies to help levitate Google as a platform). Giving reasons for its importance, Nir said: ?The online gambling industry has evolved over the years with introduction of more and more territories.? He continued that in October 2008 Google Israel started a test to allow online gambling operators and affiliates to start advertising in the UK due to it being legitimate territory with ?a very large gambling market.? Looking at metrix ? revenues advertisers, publishers, etc – Google extended the test because of its impressive results, eventually adding territories such as Italy and France. Nir added: ?We have recognised the opportunity in Germany, Spain and Denmark and hopefully more countries by the end of this year.? Going into The Current State of The Gambling Industry, Nir highlighted how important branding was to the gambling industry. Using a chart (shown below) made up of how seven major brands with the highest number of Google searches ? that?s William Hill, Ladbrokes Betfair, Bet365, BetFred, SkyBet and Paddy Power – he compared the searches in the UK over the last three years. He affirmed: ?There are millions of queries in these brands per week,? which all ?show uniformity in how their trends correlate to big sporting events? with their strengths maintaiingn the same position through the three year period. Although he made it clear there are some exceptions. For example, Paddy Power is usually below Bet365 in the number of searches. However, when looking at each of the major events in the chart, such as the Grand National, Paddy Power managed to put itself up above Bet365, demonstrating that it may be better at advertising events, or could have better odds, PR, for when it comes to�major sports games. He wrapped p the topic by stating the graph is an example that the UK gambling market is in fact still growing. One of the most fascinating points made in the Google Bet talk was on mobile iGaming and advertising, stating that it?s not ?the next big thing? – ?the next big thing is already happening today?. This was proven by comparing the share of general gambling queries on mobile platforms from just two years ago (at 3.5%) to today (at 11.5%). ?That?s one out of every nine searches about gambling from a mobile device ? an amazing number,? he said – suggesting that mobile iGaming is growing at a substantial rate in the UK. When talking about Where Opportunities Lie, Nir concluded the seminar by stating that Google Israel’s strategy for the U.S. could be possible by year 2013, but it will ?take some time? in order to achieve. Marketing News

Affiliates warned to keep one eye on TVShack.net case
TVShack owner Richard O'Dwyer A legal expert on the gaming industry warned that legal precedent in the US in terms of Internet-related extraditions could have a small effect on the affiliate industry. A presentation by Peter Wilson, an expert in iGaming litigation, formed the second part of a session at today?s London Affiliate Conference looking at UK Gambling Law. Wilson looked at the legal side of the table and laid out the two main changes that will occur should the national licensing method be reintroduced. The first is that anyone wanting to carry out transactions with British customers will have to have a licence. The second involves advertising and makes it an offence to advertise non UK-regulated services to UK customers ? wherever you?re based. Wilson had the same lack of optimism as the first speaker Steve Donoghue. The exorbitant tax is their main gripe and one that will put operators off obtaining a licence. There?s also the long-winded testing process and plethora of different licences present that would put licensees off, according to Wilson. It was the part involving affiliates that will have seen many of those in attendance with pricked up ears. Wilson used the case of Richard O?Dwyer to illustrate just how easy it can be for US authorities to seek extradition. The Englishman ran TVShack.net, which linked through to sites offering pirated content. The US went after the domain as it was owned by Virginia company, Verisign, and as it was a dot.net domain they claimed it came under their jurisdiction. Wilson recognized that something this drastic is unlikely in the gambling or affiliate it?s ?worth keeping an eye on.? Michael Caselli, chair of the session, added that affiliates could be considered too hard to target by US authorities if they?re doing anything wrong as the one thing the DoJ is more often than not after is easy access to funds. In terms of the UK, Caselli ended the session by stating the British market could soon be too saturated and that it could signal a bleak future for a little while at least. Will anything happen at all? It?s too early to say. Marketing News

London Affiliate Conference 2012 kicks off in Billingsgate
Arriving at the London Affiliate Conference 2012 in Billingsgate, right by the Monument to the 1666 Great Fire of London ? it felt like the place was still burning it was so hot, and we?re not talking about the weather. You could easily mistake this networking event for an iGaming sponsored strip club. Girls advertising Affiliate Boosters walked around with t-shirts made of paint – no, not a bra in sight, and yes, we got pictures. Half-naked green fairies also floated between stands offering golden envelopes, which disappointingly concealed promotional material from The Players Lottery instead of the preferable invitation to their magical bedroom in the back garden. Once you?d come to comprehend the sights of glittery bosoms and painted nipples nearly poking your eyes out, you quickly became aware that the LAC Conference was absolutely booming with affiliates, and rightly so. Everyone who is anyone was there: Bodog, William Hill, Paddy Power, 888, Ladbrokes, bet365, oh and not forgetting the most prestigious of all: CalvinAyre.com! All affiliates had their own stands, most with built in bars with freshly served beers – ready for any iGamers? networking needs. Bodog?s stand was one of the most impressive. An oriental themed chashitsu hut with built-in bar area and adorable Asian ladies on the doors dressed in sexy red Kimonos were awaiting anyone wanting make contacts and exchange ideas, while celebrating the Chinese New Year at the same time. Betvictor branded poker tables were also set up around the venue allowing plenty of space so the drinking could commence nice and early, which it did. And of course it all kicked off with the pop of beer bottle tops at the our own stand. You can?t deny, where there?s a party, there?s CalvinAyre.com, and that?s probably because we?re the ones to kick it off! Conference News

New UK gambling bill has final chance this summer
An early conference session at today’s London Affiliate Conference heard that UK Gambling laws being transformed due to “a massive fuck up” in the original licensing process. Attendance at the intriguing session was thin on he ground after what was a heavy night at last night’s affiliate awards. The words of wisdom came from Steve Donoghue, who’s been working in the governance of gambling law for the past 15 years – including time as a special advisor to the current DCMS select committee on gambling. His opinion was that the legislation is only changing due to the ‘f up’ mentioned earlier which was in large part down to the government rushing through the legislation. The rumor is rushing the regulations they were so badly written that any country could get on there without too much of a problem. The Gambling Commission itself didn?t, according to Donoghue, check over any of the jurisdictions before they were authorized and as such the DCMS allowed them a free reign. In government, Donoghue acknowledged that it?s universally thought that the ?white list got messed up as Antigua go on it.? He later adding Jersey is now experiencing problems due to the ?intransigence? that means they?re not being allowed to get on to what the government are now likely calling the ?shite list? due to the problems it?s caused them. There?s still not a mention by anyone connected to the government as to what the tax rate will be set at when it goes through and Donoghue admitted that it must go through soon. He mentioned that it?ll need to be included in this year?s Queen?s Speech in May to have any chance. There were a number of reasons given for this including an imminent reshuffle this summer and the possibility that the department is abolished. The Olympic Games have a huge bearing on this and if it?s successful the department will stay intact. If not the fire sale begins with Donoghue of the opinion that it?ll go way of the business department or back to the Home Office ? basically wherever the treasury sees fit to hide it. Business News

Becky's Bender: Official LAC Party Details
You?re already hung over. You?re already tired. You won an award last night at the iGB Affiliate Awards and had one too many celebratory shots. You?ve been fed the LAC party details with a silver spoon since December but you still don?t know what they are… Well here they are once again for those who are suffering from exhaustion and hang over from hell. The CalvinAyre.com camera and I will see you there! Friday, 27 January What: LAC Networking Party When: 20:00 Where: The Collection, 264 Brompton Road, SW3 2AS RSVP: Open to all LAC delegates Saturday, 28 January What: LAC Closing Party When: 20:00 Where: Gilt Bar & Lounge, 14 New London Street, EC3R 7NA RSVP: Open to all LAC delegates Sunday, 29 January What: Sunday Session When: 13:00-16:00 Where: The Paternoster, 2 Queen?s Head Passage, EC2M 7DZ RSVP: Open to all LAC delegates Lifestyle News

Macau to eclipse last year; Junket operators increase; Melco Crown hits new high
A scholar has added to the constant tide of praise surrounding the largest gaming destination on the planet by stating that revenue figures will eclipse last year?s total in 2012. In an interview with TDM, Davis Fong said: ?Based on last year?s MOP268 billion patacas, we think in 2012 the overall gross gaming revenue will reach MOP300 million.? In USD that $37.5bn and it?s expected that once Sands Cotai Central opens the figure will be even higher still. Junket operators are at their highest level to date with the enclave continuing to count on VIPs for much of its revenue. Figures quoted by Macau Business show there are 219 licenced junkets working in the enclave. This is an increase of 13% from the previous year and still higher than the record ? 186 in 2007. The figure means there are six licenced junkets for every casino operating in Macau. Melco Crown Entertainment hit its top level in around three months after Macau-based analysts projected the enclave?s highest ever growth. American depository receipts for the firm increased 6.8% to $12.06 and at one point in the day they?d even risen as high as� $12.18 ? a rise of 7.9%. The rise was triggered by yesterday?s projection by Union Gaming Analyst Grant Govertsen that the city could break its own revenue record this month. Vegas must be thinking, ?as if they needed a kick up the backside!? Govertsen also added that table occupancy has been high since the Chinese New Year holiday started on January 23. Company shares were recently floated on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and it was the same story there as they gained 2.6% to close at HK$29.35. US analyst David Bain, from California-based Sterne Agee & Leach Inc also restated his ?buy? recommendation for the firm?s shares and even set a 12-month price target of $21.50. That would really crown off the current year for the JV. Casino News