Online Gambling News

Beveridge joins an impressive company in legal and regulatory section of awards list.

Andrew Beveridge, chief executive of eCOGRA, is among the nine executives named in the legal and regulatory section of the latest Hot 50 list published annually by the business publication Gaming Intelligence.

The list honours "the most talented, innovative and inspired people working in online gambling" and was this year compiled by a judging panel that comprised Warwick Bartlett of Global Betting & Gaming Consultants; Andrew Bulloss, head of betting and gaming practice at Odgers Berndtson; Mark Davies, chief executive at Camberton reputation management; Morgan Stanley executive director Vaughan Lewis; EGBA general secretary Sigrid Ligné; Gaming Intelligence managing editor Bobby Mamudi and financial analyst Dawid Myslinski.

Mamudi said the objective of the Hot 50 list was to recognise the achievements of industry executives who are shaping the future from a wide range of international CEOs, regulators, technology wizards, lawyers and marketers.

The list includes industry legends such as Denise and John Coates of Bet365 and Isai Scheinberg of PokerStars, and the legal and regulatory section names:

• Juan Carlos Alfonso, deputy director general, National Gaming Commission Spain
• Martin Cruddace, chief legal and regulatory officer, Betfair
• Clive Hawkswood, CEO of the Remote Gambling Association
• Jeff Ifrah, a US lawyer who has been deeply involved in the Full Tilt Poker issues in America
• Francesco Rodano head of remote gaming at Italian regulator AAMS
• Birgitte Sand, director of the new Danish Gambling Authority
• Paul Telford, general counsel for PokerStars, and
• Jenny Williams, chief executive of the UK Gambling Commission.

The individual citation for Beveridge reads:

"As CEO of eCOGRA since 2003, Andrew Beveridge has had a considerable influence on responsible gaming. But it is his handling of the process that developed the CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) Agreement for Responsible Remote Gambling that wins him a place in the Hot 50. The process began facing pretty fierce opposition but in his role as chairman, Beveridge assuaged doubts and balanced hundreds of different viewpoints to produce an agreement that has been widely accepted by the industry. It is now being used as a template for good practice to win over sceptical and protectionist governments."

Commenting on his inclusion on the list, Beveridge said he felt honoured to be in such respected company as the industry matures and moves increasingly toward national regulation in many countries, with the benefits to players that this brings.

Earnings report 2011 – Quarterly report October – December 2011

2011 WAS A YEAR OF NEW INITIATIVES FOR CONTINUED SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

FOURTH QUARTER 2011

• Revenues for the fourth quarter increased by 21.6 % to SEK 121.1 (99.6) million
• Operating profit amounted to SEK 42.2 (33.8) million
• Operating margin was 34.9 (33.9) %
• Profit after tax amounted to SEK 36.6 (29.0) million
• Earnings per share amounted to SEK 0.93 (0.73) before and after dilution
• Two new license agreements were signed, and two new customers’ casinos were launched

FULL YEAR 2011

• Revenues for the full year increased by 16.1 % to SEK 427.6 (368.3) million
• Operating profit amounted to SEK 129.7 (136.4) million
• Operating margin was 30.3 (37.0) %, 31.9 % excluding costs amounting to SEK 6.7 million related to former senior executives
• Profit after tax amounted to SEK 115.6 (120.5) million
• Earnings per share amounted to SEK 2.92 (3.05) before and after dilution
• Seven new license agreements were signed, including G.Matica and Sky Betting & Gaming. Eleven new customers’ casinos were launched
• Proposed transfer to shareholders is SEK 2.00 (2.00) per share

IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER

Revenue growth for the fourth quarter was 21.6 percent compared to the fourth quarter 2010. The strengthened Swedish currency has held back revenue growth in SEK. In local currency, revenues increased by 23.1 compared to the fourth quarter 2010.

The number of game transactions amounted to 2.6 billion in the fourth quarter, an increase of 19.6 percent compared to the previous quarter and 48.9 percent compared to the same period in 2010.

During the fourth quarter agreements were signed for delivery of the casino portfolio to several large operators on the newly regulated online market in Denmark. On January 1 2012 Denmark opened up as a regulated market. Operators signed include Betsson, Unibet, Bet24, Sportingbet (including Scandicbookmaker and Danbook). Companies who intend to operate on the local market must fulfill the gaming authority’s compliance requirements during the fourth quarter 2012.

During 2011, Net Entertainment has adjusted and developed the Company’s system and games to be compliant with mobile units. In December the first mobile games were launched on the market. The initial launch includes mobile games supporting IOS terminals, i.e. Iphone, Ipad and Ipod, with three of the Company’s most successful casino games, Gonzo’s Quest, Jack Hammer and Blackjack. Net Entertainment’s mobile offering will be launched under the name NetEnt Touch™ and will include some of the best games from both the existing portfolio and new game releases. The launch of new mobile games will follow a phased roll-out approach to several partners during 2012.

Net Entertainments strategy is to be the leader within online casino. It is a continuous process to improve and expand the product portfolio and the Company constantly analyzes new opportunities. As a result from this, the Company has decided to launch its own Live Casino product with a planned release to the market around year-end 2012. This product segment is a complement to the Company’s existing games portfolio and is estimated to contribute positively to the Company’s growth in the future.

During the fourth quarter Per Eriksson was appointed CEO of Net Entertainment with a start date on March 1, 2012. Per is presently serving as CEO and President of Dustin Group AB. Prior to that, Per has had a long career within Dell, where he left as Head of Dell EMC (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

Intralot Interactive was launched in Italy where Net Entertainment is now live with five out of eight operators.

COMMENTS FROM BJÖRN KRANTZ, ACTING PRESIDENT AND CEO

Year 2011 was a year of new markets and product initiatives to secure continued solid growth for Net Entertainment moving forward. Revenues increased by 21.6 percent during the fourth quarter which is a result of organic growth. Net Entertainment has been successful in strengthening the position as a leading supplier of games and systems within online casino and our focus on customer closeness and product and technology leadership will continue to differentiate us. During 2011 our market share in Europe increased to 22.4 percent compared to 19.3 percent in year 2010 1.

Net Entertainment has a clear focus on online casino and to complement the existing product portfolio and strengthen the Company’s offering it was decided during the fourth quarter to launch our own Live Casino product with a planned release around year-end 2012. Live Casino is a relatively new form of gaming which has proven to be successful and is also expected to show good growth in the coming years.

We are committed to and take part in the ongoing regulation of our industry in Europe. Whether Net Entertainment enters a regulated market or not, is evaluated from case to case with regards to the financial, organizational and the strategic impact on the Company as a whole. Net Entertainment was among the first to enter Italy which regulated the market in July 2011 and Denmark which was regulated in January 2012.

We have now commercially launched five out of eight operators in Italy. The roll-out of remaining customers will take place as soon as practically possible. In addition, it is our ambition to launch slots as soon as the Italian authority allows it.

As a response to the growing mobile market the first mobile games were completed and launch took place according to plan during December 2011. Ongoing launches of new mobile games will take place during 2012 and we will monitor the development closely. The launch of new customers will take place continuously during 2012.

Several successful games have been lunched during 2011. Frankenstein was developed as part of our collaboration with Universal Studios and during the fourth quarter the development of Scarface was initiated which is one of the most well known brands ever in the movie industry. Two new platinum games were launched during the year, Robin Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk with graphics and a gaming experience which truly proves why Net Entertainment is the leading premium supplier of online games on the market today.

We will continue to invest in our business and organization to secure the opportunities identified by the Company, and to ensure short and long term competitiveness. We are taking another step towards becoming a full scale provider within online casino and it is very exciting to be able to offer our partners a broader product portfolio which strengthens both business and customer value in our strategic delivery responsibility as a supplier. I am convinced that Net Entertainment is well positioned for 2012 and I look forward to another exciting year.

(1), The market share is based on the gross gaming yield with Net Entertainment’s customers in relation to the European online casino market, estimated by H2 Gaming Capital in December 2011.

Online poker players will enjoy the intuitive and friendly navigation menus, the quick seat and my favorite functions, and the bonus redemption progress stats.

Leading online poker room Titan Poker, has upgraded its poker software to improve loading and performance capabilities. As part of ongoing efforts to enhance its gaming environment, Titan Poker’s software lobby was completely redesigned with a clean look and feel.

The new lobby, re-sized at an easy-on-the-eyes 1000×700 pixels, provides online poker players with an intuitively easy navigation menu, allowing them to quickly find the cash tables and tournaments that they would want to join. The menu includes easy access to a graphical listing of the player’s favorite games, tables, and tournaments, as well as a "quick seat" function that makes it possible for a player to choose an appropriate table within seconds.

In the redesigned lobby, poker players are able to easily follow the progress statistics of their player point accumulation, hands played, and bonus redemption status.

Players nostalgic for the older version of Titan Poker’s lobby design can switch back to that earlier viewing mode with the click of a button.

The redesign of the Titan Poker lobby is the latest step of the online poker room’s ongoing efforts to improve the gaming experience it offers players. In the coming weeks, Titan Poker will introduce new and exciting types of tournaments, alongside an ever-changing schedule of innovative promotions and gaming activities that will interest novice and veteran poker players alike.

Online poker players alike are invited to try out the free poker software download at Titan Poker and experience the redesigned lobby and enhanced features of Europe’s most exciting online poker room.

Top internet casino enters the New Year with two new games from Microgaming, namely The Grand Journey and Megaspin Break da Bank Again.

Internet Casino La Vida has announced this week that it has received its first internet casino games of 2012. The Grand Journey and Megaspin Break da Bank were released on January 9, 2012 across 160 Microgaming online casinos, including Casino La Vida.

The release of The Grand Journey and Megaspin Break a Bank Again has reaffirmed Microgaming’s ability to capture one’s imagination through crisp digital graphics.

On Monday Victoria Lamonte, the promotions manager at Casino La Vida, said that "the new games offer a playful start to the New Year but, at the same time, make it evident that Microgaming has a lot up its sleeve this year."

This is good news for Casino La Vida players. As the driving force behind critically acclaimed games such as The Lord of the RingsTM and Immortal Romance, Microgaming is renowned for producing quality games that often set new standards in the industry, and this year will be no different.

The new casino games are as follows:

The Grand Journey, this month’s most anticipated game, offers a brilliant journey to a world where prehistoric animals roam the landscape, fiery volcanoes create a colourful backdrop and beautiful Amazons inhabit dense jungles. Through game’s colourful graphics, players get to go embark on an otherworldly adventure that comes to life through an array of familiar features, which include Expanding Wilds, Free Spins Bonuses and Multipliers.

Megaspin Break da Bank Again takes the concept of the original "Break da Bank Again" game and multiplies the action by four to deliver a super slot complete with richly rewarding Scatter combinations and generous Free Spins. When 2, 4 or 5 Scatter symbols appear across the reels, the player is rewarded with between 15 and 25 free spins, during which all wins are multiplied by 5.

The Grand Journey and Megaspin Break da Bank Again can be played by registering a free Casino La Vida account. Alternatively, visit the internet casino for more information.

Casino Tropez is pleased to announce the release of eight new casino games. All eight games are Playtech originals, each with an exciting twist on traditional casino games, guaranteeing players endless entertainment in their quest for real money prizes.

The new online games now available at Casino Tropez are:

Fishing with Buddies – The ultimate multiplayer slot game with animated 3D avatars and a two stage bonus round.

The Mummy – Based on the blockbuster movie of the same name, this exciting slot game has players winning more game features as they play (in addition to jackpots).

Medusa’s Gaze – A video slot game that only the truly adventurous dare play Medusa’s Gaze offers players a mesmerizing journey with every spin.

Desert Treasure II – Now the original Desert Treasure slot game is bigger and better than ever with three bonus stages, free games and a X2 multiplier.

Wheel of Light – A thrilling arcade game based on the 80s television show of the same name, players are sure to love the endless betting options and whirling wheel.

Video Roulette – This new Casino Tropez online roulette game has a unique video delivery engine for the most realistic online roulette experience.

Irish Luck Scratch – Players can win up to £1,000 when they pick a pot and uncover the leprechaun within.

A Night Out Scratch – For a wild time online, players simply need to find three of a kind.

To download casino games, including all new games, players simply have to go to the Casino Tropez website where they can do so, free of charge.