The deal will see Providence-based GTech replace NSL’s existing central system for the operation of its lottery games and assist with the transition process. GTech stated that it would also provide other related technical, marketing and commercial support services for the duration of NSL’s license, which expires in December of 2016. Both the Nigerian license and GTech’s agreement may then be extended for an additional ten-year term with the American firm revealing that it expects to receive revenues of approximately $38 million from the eight-year agreement, which starts during the third quarter of this year.

“The Nigerian market has, for quite a long time, been very attractive to GTech,” said Jaymin Patel, President and Chief Executive Officer for GTech.

“Being one of the most populous and fastest-developing economies in Africa and occupying a strategic position in the West African sub-region, Nigeria provides an opportunity to realise yet another shared vision of a positive linkage of our technology and services with sound local capacity, knowledge and expertise.”

Under the terms of the agreement, NSL’s current 15,000 terminals will be connected to GTech’s new central system with an additional 10,000 units installed before the end of this year.

In addition, GTech Printing Corporation will serve as the exclusive provider of instant-ticket printing for the twelve months following the launch of the new system, which is expected to occur in July.

GTech stated that it would maintain a data centre in Lagos and provide additional services including the design and marketing of lottery and instant games as well as implementing a comprehensive marketing plan including market research, advertising and retail network optimisation.

Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com

The decision announced late last week reverses a European Commision ruling from 2004 that stated the enclave’s corporate tax scheme constituted unlawful state aid.

Online gambling operators including such giants as PartyGaming, 888 Holdings and Mansion Group employ almost twelve percent of the enclave’s population of 28,800 citizens. Peter Caruana, Chief Minister of Gibraltar, stated that if the case had been lost, it would have resulted ‘in the bulk, if not all, of the finance centre and gambling companies leaving Gibraltar’ with ‘the loss of thousands of jobs throughout our economy’.

The Commission had claimed that tax reform for Gibraltar was ‘regionally selective since it provided for a system under which companies in Gibraltar would be taxed, in general, at a lower rate than those in the United Kingdom’.

In its ruling, the Court found that ‘the competent Gibraltar authorities, which have devised the tax reform have, from a Constitutional point of view, a political and administrative status separate from that of the central government of the United Kingdom’.

The Gibraltar Government stated that the Commission’s case was ‘based on the false proposition that, for European Union State Aid purposes, Gibraltar is merely a region of the UK and thus is not entitled to have its own tax system different to that of the UK’.

”Regional selectivity was the overriding and crucial issue for Gibraltar because without our ability to devise and implement our own tax regime, Gibraltar’s economy, and thus our social and political model, could not have survived,” said Caruana.

“This is a huge and vital victory for Gibraltar. A threat to our economic, social, and thus political well being, has, once again, been successfully seen off.’

Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com

Barking-based Gala Coral is one of Europe’s largest gaming companies with revenues for the past year of $1.93 billion and operates the Coral.co.uk, EuroBet.com, GalaBingo.com and GalaCasino.co.uk domains.

London-based Mfuse revealed that the deal would see it initially provide Gala Coral with technology enabling it to launch advanced mobile sportsbetting in the first half of 2009. It stated that Gala Coral would then use its technology to premiere other game formats later in the year.

“Gala Coral is a pan-European business which fits well with our strategic direction for 2009,” said Charles Palmer, Marketing Director for Mfuse.

“Mfuse already counts some of the world’s largest online bookmakers including Ladbrokes, Bet365 and William Hill as clients. The addition of Gala Coral with its international reputation further enhances Mfuse’s reputation in this growing marketplace.”

Mfuse stated that the new services would be powered by its Novo Provision and Transact platforms to seamlessly handle the complex matrix of devices and mobile networks standards, enabling consumers to quickly and easily use the service.

“Mfuse was the obvious choice,” said Joe Coughlin, Head of New Product Development for Gala Coral.

“They are the leaders in this sector by a long way and have shown a commitment to product development that Gala Coral asks of all its suppliers. We’re very happy to be doing business with them.”

Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com

The New Jersey Sports And Exposition Authority operates the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park racetracks in the eastern American state and revealed in a budget statement last week that the tracks are set to lose $16.9 million for this year. According to a piece in The Star Ledger newspaper, things are set to get even worse for the state’s two publicly owned tracks with an expected shortfall for 2009 of $20.8 million.

The Authority stated that it expects revenues of $238.5 million for 2009, which is five million dollars less than it made in 2008, and has instituted a hiring freeze for next year in order to cut costs. According to Dennis Robinson, Chief Executive Officer for the New Jersey Sports And Exposition Authority, the regulator saw a two percent increase in total betting for this year despite a six percent national decline.

However, the Authority’s Giants Stadium continues to be the top-grossing venue of its kind in the world and earned nearly $26.5 million this year with the nearby Izod Center taking in $37.8 million to remain as the fourth top-grossing arena in the country.

In addition, income from Internet, phone and off-track wagering is rising and the Authority predicted such operations would take in $9.3 million after expenses next year, roughly $220,000 more than was seen in 2008.

Horse breeders and owners have argued that the tracks should be allowed to run slot machines but casinos have opposed such plans because this competition would hurt their businesses in Atlantic City. Casinos are currently paying $90 million in exchange for an agreement from the Authority not to add slots before the end of 2011.

Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com

Poker.it has been around since 1996 but has seen it popularity skyrocket following recent changes in Italian poker legislation. The nation’s Autonomous Monopolies State Administration regulator has so far judged fewer than 30 online poker rooms as legal, leaving many players in the dark as to where to play without breaking the law. Poker.it has a slogan that translates as ‘where everything is poker’ and stated that it has eliminated this confusion by featuring only legal poker rooms.

According to Mario Brandi, Spokesperson for Poker.it, the site’s new features include a sleek design alongside content written by actual poker professionals and the diverse community the game attracts. He stated that several Italian pro players seized the rare opportunity to associate with a successful and legal online poker brand and collaborated with developers pre-launch to produce some of the most authoritative content available. This is alongside polls, newsletters and in-depth reviews written by objective editors.

“Italians want to play legally but don’t want to forfeit quality features to do it,” said Brandi.

“Poker.it combines both. We’re a legal poker portal and the best source for poker room reviews of leading legal poker rooms.”

Marcello Giacopuzzi, Chief Editor for Poker.it, stated that the site would soon add social networking tools in order to link together members of the online poker community.

“Blogs, forums, user ratings and a poker club index are slated for completion in early 2009,” said Giacopuzzi.

Abstract from www.igamingbusiness.com