Thursday, February 24, 2011

Tabcorp And Crown Want Aussie Gvt To Lift Game On High Rollers, by Greg Tingle - 24th February 2011

G'day punters, casino millionaires and billionaires, politicians, legal eagles, one and all. Australia's leading gaming companies, namely Tabcorp (Star City etc) and Crown Limited (Crown Casino and Burswood Casino etc) are demanding the the Australian government lift its game to help down under become more high roller whale friendly, especially at our international airports in Sydney and Melbourne. We probe and examine if the fact that the Gillard government not officially being a big fan of gambling is a factor, or if its a smoke screen hiding something more sinister. Media Man and Gambling911 hit the runway as we play plans, trains, automobiles (and politics)...

Tabcorp And Crown Limited To Aussie Government: Lift You're Game For High Rollers In Airports...

Tabcorp casinos big wig Larry Mullin has joined the pack of not happy Aussie casino and gambling tycoons and top brass telling the federal government to lift their game - streamline customs and immigration paperwork and checks for Oriental high-rollers flying down under into Australia, backing up his Crown Casino equal Rowen Craigie. Mullin advised making visas easier to obtain and installing "VIP customs lounges" at major airports to allow high-roller customers to avoid unsatisfactory queues should be seriously considered, and pronto. He said Australia needed to consider a similar model to Singapore, which has created a private lounge to fast-track customs and immigration processing for high-rolling whales. It's understood revenue from Singapore's two land based casinos opened last year is already close to $US5 billion a year. "The customers and the customer experience is everything. That first and last impression is so helpful, especially after long flights. "You go into Singapore, they pick you up in a golf cart and drive you to a private area and there's a government official in the receiving area. You almost feel as if you are going into a hotel experience, that was the seamlessness of it. I understand why you need the processes that are there, but I think we need to explore and get as fast as we can similar type of conveniences here." Mullin said Crown Casino chief exec Rowen Craigie was heading up the discussions with the federal government in his role as the president of the Australasian Casino Association. Craigie last month said the improvements were necessary in order for Australia to plug into the lucrative middle and upper-class Chinese tourism market and compete with Singapore. Tabcorp, which will launch its first personalised jet service for high-roller customers tomorrow, generates less than 10% of its casino revenues from high-rollers. But it is the fastest-growing arm of its business, with revenues from VIP customers up 36% to $32.9 million in the December half. Tabcorp is understood to have spent about $40m leasing the 14-seater jet which came on high recommendation by rock star Bon Jovi, a friend of Mullin. It will start transiting in punters from Asia tomorrow. The firm, which is spending a massive $960m on renovating its flagship Star City casino in Sydney, is now also throwing in $160m on its domestic and international VIP businesses to upgrade digs, improve and expand private gambling facilities and lease two private jets. Originally the jets were going to be purchased, but the bean counters thought better to lease. Mullin also advised Tabcorp, which plans to demerge its casino division by mid-year, was planning to work with the New South Wales government on tourism campaigns targeting potential casino customers. "As our project gets more mature we would like to get better placed in that," he said. Various gambling experts have leaked to Media Man that they expect Crown and Tabcorp to have a better year than last, as well as improved government dealings.

Tatts Gets Profit; Good News Finally...

Tatts Group Ltd has reported a 3.4% lift in first half net profit as the gambling and gaming company sees signs of growth reemerging after set backs due to recent natural disasters such as floods and cyclones. Net profit rose to $149.91 million for the 6 months to December 31 from $144.96 million a year earlier, Melbourne based Tatts said in a statement on Thursday. Revenue jumped 17.4% to $1.62 billion. The firm declared a interim dividend of 10.5 cents per share, fully franked. Chief executive Dick McIlwain said the growth rates of the first half were showing signs of re-emerging after the disruption from the floods in Queensland and Victoria and Cyclone Yasi in Northern Queensland. Tatts said investors and other observers had enquired about the effect on the business from the natural disasters. The company said there was very little damage to company facilities while a significant number of agents and hosts suffered short term damage to electricity supply. Shares in Tatts declined 3.5 cents, or 1.4 per cent, to $2.435.

Aristocrat Leisure Shares Up; Back To Profit!

Airistocrat shares surged to a 3-month high today after the gaming machine supplier returned to the profit zone for 2010. Its stock rose 14 cents, or 4.4%, to $3.30 by 1029 AEDT, the best since November 25, 2010. Aristocrat Leisure today booked a net profit of $77.19 million for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to a loss of $157.8m in 2009. Revenue fell 25.1% to $680.5m. Aristocrat declared a dividend of 1.5 cents per share, nil franked, compared to no final dividend in the prior year.

Melco Crown Makes US$16 Million Profit; Crown's James Packer Pleased; Could Have Been Much Worse...

Melco Crown Entertainment announced yesterday it recorded net income for the fourth quarter of 2010 of US$16.3 million (MOP130 million), compared with a net loss of US$89.7 million a year earlier. It was the company’s second consecutive quarterly profit. The gain in bottom-line results was driven by the year-over-year improvement in the operating performance at City of Dreams and Altira Macau, the company said. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was US$133.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, as compared to adjusted EBITDA of US$2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Lawrence Ho, co-chairman and chief executive officer of Melco Crown Entertainment, said "our fourth quarter results demonstrate our success in driving operating leverage and in improving the profitability of our portfolio of assets. Our mass market table games business continues to grow and our rolling chip segment remains strong," he said. James Packer, who teamed up on the project via Melco Crown, is understood to have been pleased with the result. The Packer family remains on good terms with the Ho's. It's one happy family again (or at least mainly), which is what we like to hear.

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

Profiles

Australian Casinos

World Casino Directory

Global Gaming Directory

Casino Travel

Casinos

Australia

Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.

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. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered.

*The writer owns shares in Crown Limited and Virgin

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Sunday, February 20, 2011

PartyGaming News: PartyPoker Launches Win Tonight Promotion

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Samsung 3D televisions, Apple iPads, and Monster Beats headphones are just a few of the prizes up for grabs as part of PartyPoker’s Win Tonight promotion, which runs until March 28th. The series of daily freerolls is open to new players only.

The PartyPoker Win Tonight promotion began back on February 15th and gives players an extra incentive to sign up for the longstanding room fronted by Mike Sexton, Kara Scott, and the always boisterous Tony G. There are 42 freerolls that will be held in total – one each day until March 28th.

Between Monday and Saturday, the prizes that will be given away include a 16 GB iPad and cover, Canon EOS 1000D with tripod and bag, PSP Go and Monster Beats headphones, 320 GB PS3 Slim, PS3 Move Pack and charging kit, FIFA 11 and Call of Duty Black Ops games, 64 GB iPod Touch and docking speakers, and a Sony Vaio VPC that comes complete with a 16 GB flash drive. Swank.

On Sundays, PartyPoker is kicking the prize package up to a brand new 40-inch Samsung 3D television. To boot, you’ll also get a Blu-ray player and a set of 3D glasses for your viewing pleasure. If you’ve never seen a 3D television before, you should. Video games, movies, and more pop out of the screen at you like never before and, with 40 inches of screen space, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of Pandora.

The freerolls are held at 20:00 CET nightly and are only open to new players. To qualify, just make your first deposit between February 15th and the end of the day on March 27th. Then, enter as many freerolls as you can stomach. If you want to play every single day of the week, go for it. If you’d rather just enter on Sundays when the 3D television is up for grabs, do that instead.

If you make the final table of a Win Tonight freeroll, but don’t capture the top prize, you’ll still walk away with cash in tow. The top 10 players will finish in the money, with second place banking $30, third place scoring $20, fourth place earning $13, and fifth place earning $11. The sixth through tenth place finishers will collect between $3 and $8. The winners can also opt for a cash alternative, although the amount is up to PartyPoker to decide.

By the way, if you head to Best Buy’s website and search for a 40-inch Samsung 3D television, the asking price is $1,600, so there is plenty of value for players in the site’s Win Tonight promotion.

While you’re busy winning the hottest electronic items on PartyPoker, mark your calendar for March 6th, which will mark next month’s running of the Monthly Million. The $640 buy-in contest runs on the first Sunday of every month and features a solid mix of regulars and satellite qualifiers.

Speaking of satellites, there are plenty to choose from for the Monthly Million, including a $1 Million Mega Friday Satellite that sends at least 20 players to the big dance and costs $55. On Saturdays, look for $35 qualifiers that send at least 15 lucky PartyPoker players to the Monthly Million. Real money satellites start as low as a buck. Daily points qualifiers and country-specific freerolls also exist, so check out PartyPoker for full details. (Credit: Poker News Daily)

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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

PartyGaming, PartyCasino, Bwin Do Deal With Las Vegas Land Based Casinos, by Greg Tingle - 15th February 2011

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PartyGaming, the Gibraltar based iGaming powerhouse, is understood to have signed at least two major agreements to supply a gaming platform for online poker (and perhaps casino) to whale size Las Vegas land based casinos.

The Vegas casinos that Media Man and Gambling911 insiders hint are in the mix include MGM, Las Vegas Sands, Boyd Gaming and Caesars (former Harrahs Entertainment). It's unlikely a Donald Trump casino is in, as he's just sold at least one of his establishments. Trump is a fan of online casinos, but leaks say he is frustrated by what appears to be slow progress of igaming into mainstream America.

PartyGaming left the US after the UIGEA bill became law and a settlement towards $300 million was made with the DOJ (Department Of Justice).

The firm smartly snatched the opportunity to re-enter the US market if online gambling was ever legalized.

PartyGaming, which has now merged with Bwin, an Austrian based outfit is now ideally positioned to become a major force in the US, having also conducted b2b with other nations government departments, and has many a U.S senator and lawmaker on side, not to mention poker and casino associations and players.

Legalized online gambling in the US is tipped to be just around the corner, as legislators will provide a bill to congress for a vote.

Pro gambling groups and switched on politicians who can see the financial benefits are pushing hard for PartyGaming and a number other iGaming brands to go above board in the United States.

Party enjoys strong presence in the U.S (and Canada and Australia), with its Hollywood titles including Marvel Entertainment tie ins, plus the World Poker Tour brand which it owns and operates, and frequently gets airtime on television broadcasts in much of the western world. It's now or never for PartyGaming, and our leaks tell us its now, no bluff!

Readers, as always, bet with your head, not over it, and have fun.

*Media Man conducts some b2b with PartyGaming brands, as they do with dozens of other media, entertainment and gaming companies. Media Man is not a gaming company, but covers the sector, as they do over a dozen other industry verticals.

*The writer is a regular contributor for Gambling911.

*The writer's favorite slot games are Sinatra Slot and Thor!

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Sunday, February 6, 2011

Australian Media And Gambling Wars; Aussie Rich List, by Greg Tingle - 6th February 2011

G'day punters, journos, sports nuts, high rollers - casino whales, gambling millionaires and billionaires, media tycoons, politicians, insiders, outsiders, ... one and all. You know who you are. This is yet another instalment into the Australian media wars, with a dash of the Aussie rich list (a few gaming gambling types there) for good measure... Media Man and Gambling911 prob the Australian media business, and do the math on whose loaded up to the hilt down under...

James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch Rumoured To Be Worried With Network Ten News Progress...

After only two weeks on air, the Ten Network’s news evolution has reportedly come under scrutiny from new stakeholders James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch, thanks to a poor ratings performance. On Thursday night 6pm with George Negus attracted its lowest audience to date with only 398,000 viewers. The state based Ten Evening News at 6:30pm performed even worse, attracting only 362,000 viewers. The direction and performance of the George Negus fronted news vehicle is said to be of particular concern to new stakeholders Packer and Murdoch, the press reports. The pair reportedly told Ten Network executives they're worried that the international content of the bulletin is a turn-off for viewers. "Basically (an) email sent to Ten bosses said the predominance of overseas stories was unwise and indulgent and not calculated to build ratings," a well-placed source told Confidential. However, another Ten executive dismissed the report as "utter bollocks", going on to reaffirm the network’s long term commitment to the two-and-a-half hour news and current affairs block. "This is not a two-week plan or three-month one - you can't do what we've done and expect instant results - this is a long haul," a spokeswoman said. Rivals from other network’s have also expressed their thoughts on the $20 million a year investment in news, with one source pointing towards the timeslot winning lead-in 6pm with George Negus receives. "Aren't they conveniently overlooking the substantial lead-in it's provided every night by Ten's 5:00pm news which has always rated respectably for yonks?", said the source. On Thursday, David Gyngell, chief executive of the Nine Entertainment Company, described the performance as worse than he had expected.

Nine Network Presents Weekend 5pm New Slot...

The Nine Network will launched a new national 5:00pm weekend news bulletin Saturday, taking advantage of the Ten Network's recent departure from the timeslot. Nine's director of news and current affairs, Mark Calvert, told The Spy Report that the bulletin will be a permanent addition to the network's Saturday and Sunday schedule once the cricket season concludes tomorrow. Calvert unexpectedly announced the move via his Twitter account. "Missing having news at 5:00pm? Feeling abandoned by Channel Ten News at weekends? See Nine News first at five with Wendy Kingston," he posted. "Incredible flood rescue pix Nine News at 5:00pm. Yep, 5:00pm. You know...when Channel Ten News used to be on at weekends. Nine News at 5:00pm and 6:00pm. "Working harder than ever - Peter Stefanovic, Tracy Vo, Lizzie Pearl to get ready for Nine News first at 5:00pm then more at 6:00pm." Ten abandoned its national 5:00pm bulletin on weekends as part of its $20 million early evening revamp it unveiled two weeks ago. Since then, it has instead opted for a 6:00pm state-based service rivalling those on Nine and Seven. At this stage, it's unknown whether the half-hour bulletin will broadcast into Sydney and Brisbane when Nine's Sunday Afternoon Football returns on March 13. Nine's Afternoon News Hour will also continue to air weekdays from 4:30pm.

Australia's Richest Person Gina Rinehart Adds Value To Channel Ten Sports...

'Our Gina' loves sport, at least as far as it being a strong part of the line up on Network Nine. Fellow shareholders James Packer and Lachlan Murdoch also like sport, especially the cricket (sports betting connection), but Rinehart is more of an all rounder when it comes to the sports media side of the business. Our friends and Fairfax Media have secured a strong leak aka deep throat delivering the following: "She's tough, opinionated, sometimes difficult but never frightened". Rinehart is understood to be very happy with her 10% per cent stake in the network, and intends on getting her money's worth (and continuing to exercise her clout). Packer and Murdoch recently told Ten executives that while they like sport, they believe the network more than they should be, particularly for AFL broadcasting rights. The late great media and gambling tycoon, Kerry Packer, put aside an AFL $780 million deal over five years, not long before his passing away, but Packer Jr may want to talk it about a bit more. The AFL is set to receive the $1 billion at its next contract commencing at 2012. Ten wants to renegotiate its deal with Channel Seven over AFL coverage. David White, the sports director of Ten, has advised analysts that returns from AFL over the past season were not good. It is anticipated Ten will go after an improved ratio with Seven of their share of future fees, or demand an allocation of higher-rating match ups. Under the existing 7 - 10 agreement both networks must bid together, however if Ten is unable to improve its payment or game quality ratios, the deal might collapse. "Ten now has two directors (Packer and Murdoch) who would support the move to walk," a leak said. Rinehart may lobby to retain the agreement in support of Kerry Stokes, the owner of Seven. The word is her main reason for investing a dab of her $4.75 billion wealth for 10% of Ten is political influence. He took note of the success of the advertising campaign against the mining tax and sees the powerful control of the media on the political landscape, and those who work in it. Packer snatched his 17.9% take in Ten ($128 million) to boost his political clout, and then went on to selling half to Murdoch. JP likes the gambling and sport connection, as do many NRL and AFL clubs ala Rabbitohs - Star City and his own Crown Casino - Melbourne Storm baby. Packer gets on well at this stage of the game with Australian Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, and they are understood to enjoy a spot of golf from time to time. Packer and Murdoch famously had a bite with him at Crown Casino months ago. This past Thursday Conroy announced amendments to sport's anti-siphoning list, allowing free-to-air networks to show live sport on their digital channels! This falls into line with the ministers strategy to move Australia quickly away from analog TV. Ten has the only sports-dedicated digital channel (One) at this time. Should Packer and Murdoch be successful in convincing the Network Ten board that One is too costly and must be closed up, or switch programming, it would automatically undermine Conroy's plan to use sport to boost along the uptake of digital TV. It would also quite possibly piss off the big wigs at the NRL and AFL. AFL games shown live on a free-to-air network's principal channel in Melbourne could be shown live on its digital channel in New South Wales and Queensland, rather than suffer piss weak ratings, as Ten suffered in Sydney and Brisbane, especially on Saturday evenings. At the moment Queensland AFL fans who want Seven's coverage of Friday nights must subscribe to pay TV operator Foxtel, part-owned by companies associated with Packer and Murdoch. Shutting up shot on One would be a strategic step with a major goal being to protect this money machine, but a leaker revealed Packer would be hesitant to make too much noise or agro that might stir up regulators, with Crown Limited going so well. Best not have the government tests applied to the ownership of a casino licence if you follow. Packer is also keen to ramp up online gambling, expanding on his 50% owned Betfair. He's also aware of overseas gaming giants like PartyGaming eyeing off the Asia Pacific region, and its well known PartyGaming have the smarts to ink big government deals, as well as land based casino and b2b deals. Party also have the Hollywood branded deals performing well, so Party could be an opportunity or a threat to Packer, depending upon which way the wind is blowing, and what Australian politicians decide will be law in the online space, with the Liberal Party calling for full regulation, something PartyGaming, Media Man and we understand, Betfair, are all keen to see happen. In will also get rid of any bad eggs in the iGaming space down under. Back to the traditional news media, if Ten walks from its AFL deal with Channel Seven, it would therefore leave a 7 - Foxtel consortium as the only bidder worth their salt. Sen. Conroy "decoupled" the existing anti-siphoning arrangement where free-to-air on-sold the bottom 4 games a week to pay TV, permitting Foxtel to bid directly. Gyngell's Network Nine reserving its art of war strategy for NRL rights which expire in 2012, it is unlikely the Australian Football League will be able to hold a auction for the rights. So, no challenger to Seven for the top 4 games and Nil to Foxtel for the other 4, the AFL may not get their $1 billion bucks with JP and Murdoch Jr paying less for rights, helping make sure of continuing solid profit margins in Foxtel and Fox Sports. 'Our Gina' out in the Wild Wild West - West Australia, looks to be a key player in all of this, and not just because she's loaded and is now down under's richest woman. Yep, politics, power and money all take a seat in the box beside professional sports being broadcast on Australian TV. Don't even start us on Aussie TV being broadcast on the internet. That's all sports, but stay turned in the coming days and weeks for more on the art of war that is Australian news media.

Australian Rich List

1 Georgina Rinehart, 56, $9b (mining)

2 Andrew Forrest, 49, $6.9b (mining)

3 James Packer, 43, $4.4b (gambling, media and new media)

4 Frank Lowy, 80, $4.3b (property)

5 Harry Triguboff, 77, $3.4b (property)

6 John Gandel, 76, $3.3b

7 Anthony Pratt, 50, $2.7b

8 Kerr Neilson, 61, $2.4b

9 David Hains, 80, $2b

10 Kerry Stokes, 70, $1.9b

11 Lindsay Fox, 73, $US1.7b

12 Angela Bennett & Michael Wright, 66, $1.55b

13 Leslie Alan Wilson, 69, $1.5b

14 Paul Ramsay, 75, $1.45b

15 Michael Hintze, 57, $1.4b

16 Chris Wallin, 58, $1.3b

17 Gerald Harvey, 71, $1.2b

18 Solomon Lew, 65, $1.15b

19 Leonard Buckeridge, 75, $1.1b

20 Stanley Perron, 88, $1.05b

Source: Forbes

Online Casinos, Online Poker and Sports Betting...

Ok readers, we hear you... you also want to know some of the best places to play online (that accept Aussies) if your in or around the Asia Pacific - Australia (including Tassie) and New Zealand, so here it is...

PartyCasino.com

Captain Cooks Casino

Betfair (sports betting only)

PKR.com (poker, slots including Marvel slot games and sports betting)

PartyPoker.com (online poker at one of the world's most respected poker rooms and gaming brands)

Profiles

Australian Casinos

World Casino Directory

Global Gaming Directory

Casino Travel

Casinos

Australia

Media Man and Gambling911 remind our readers to keep the following in mind:

Take the time to research and learn games before placing down money

Media Man, Casino News Media and Gambling911 are website portals. Not casinos as such, however are recognised as world leading websites that cover the sector and act as central points to games, news, reviews and more.

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. Gaming is just one of a dozen sectors covered

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