Sportsbook News

Ladbrokes Gaining Ground in Online Gambling

(Reuters) - Ladbrokes, Britain's second-largest bookmaker, expects to see payback this year from a 50 million pound ($77 million investment in an online business that had failed to keep pace with rivals.

While growing numbers of people are gambling via smartphones and tablet computers, Ladbrokes has been hit by delays upgrading its technology. It has lost ground to market leader William Hill in online and faced competition from smaller rivals.

Gone Fishing: Ladbrokes Takes Bets on Species Extinction

Ladbrokes may be known more for the fish that play in their online poker room. 

Now the fish have become a focus of the company’s sports betting arm….and we’re not talking the Bassmasters Classic. 

The UK’s second largest bookmaker, Ladbrokes, is taking odds on various fish species becoming extinct.

George Monbiot of the Guardian noted that, earlier in the week, Ladbrokes was taking bets on mackerel after conservationists removed it from the “fish to eat” list.

Monbiot noted:

Ladbrokes Buys Betdaq for €30m

One of the United Kingdom’s biggest bookmakers, Ladbrokes, has agreed to acquire Betdaq from TBH Ltd. in a deal said to be worth €30m.  Ladbrokes will also acquire a 10 percent stake in TBH Guernsey Ltd, which is the technology partner of Betdaq for an additional €4m.

BTCSportsBet.com: The Future of BitCoin Sports Betting is Now

BitCoin, the anonymous online payment solution, is starting to make waves with the recent $510k investment into payment solutions company BitPay.  This is likely to further drive business towards BTCSportsBet.com, one of the few online sportsbooks currently accepting BitCoins.   They have nearly 8000 followers on Twitter.

Online Gambling Software Pioneer Facing Prison Time

An Arizona-based Internet gambling software pioneer, Robert (Bob) Stuart, has been charged with promoting gambling in New York because authorities claim the software in question was used by other individuals for “illegal” purposes.

Playtech May Complicate William Hill Takeover of Sportingbet

LONDON (Reuters) - British bookmaker William Hill has rejected a claim by joint venture partner Playtech that it should share in the benefits of a planned takeover of online gambling group Sportingbet.

The intervention by software group Playtech has complicated a deals seen as pivotal in the overseas expansion of William Hill, Britain's largest bookmaker.

William Hill is spending 454 million pounds to acquire Sportingbet's Australian operations and an option to buy its business in Spain.

Defense Rests in High Profile Philadelphia Mob Trial

PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — They won’t be going home for Christmas, but several accused mobsters appeared upbeat Wednesday as their racketeering trial in Philadelphia nears an end.

BetIslands.com, EZ Street and 7RedSports.com to Shut Down: 'Money Man' Pulls Out

SBRForum.com confirmed Tuesday morning what many hard core sports bettors already feared, that BetIslands.com will be shutting down and stiffing its relatively small but high end customer base.

Replacement Checks for TopBet.com Customers Now Arriving

Good news for TopBet.com customers as some have reported the receipt of new replacement checks following a series of payouts that resulted in “insufficient funds” (i.e. checks bouncing).

Gambling911.com reported earlier in the week that TopBet.com had lost one of its processors, a common industry problem facing US-based players.

UK Putting Restraints on Internet Gambling Firms

The United Kingdom, long a hotbed for Internet gambling firms, has drafted a gambling bill that would tighten current regulation.

The bill would require overseas operators to inform the Government about suspicious betting patterns. 

A 2005 bill enabled companies operating in Gibraltar and the Isle of Man to obtain a gambling license from the UK as well as advertise there.  

Top Bet Checks Bouncing Following Loss of Payment Processor

Concerned sports bettors have taken to the message boards complaining of checks issued by online sportsbook Top Bet bouncing (insufficient funds). 

The culprit is a loss of their payment processor, which has also prevented most new depositors from coming on board as well. 

Andy Murray Helps Betfair Smash Record After Slow Football Start

Betfair, the world’s largest betting exchange, revealed on Tuesday that the Wimbledon final was its biggest ever market following reports that the company has gotten off to a slow start with Premier League wagering. 

Betfair.com reports that more than £58 million of bets were taken on the July tennis match in which Murray lost to Roger Federer but ultimately went on to secure his first ever Grand Slam title in New York. 

Terror in Costa Rica as More Earthquake Videos Surface (Video)

San Jose, Costa Rica, is, and has been for over 15 years, the epicenter of online gambling.  Up until recently even PokerStars, the world’s largest “real money” online poker firm, maintained a base there. 

San Jose is an epicenter for something else.....EARTHQUAKES!

7.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Online Gambling Hub of San Jose, Costa Rica

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake has hit the online gambling hub of San Jose, Costa Rica, one of the worst quakes in some time.  The earthquake hit at 14:42 UTC, just before 9 am local and 11 am EDT.

The quake was not directly located in the San Jose region where most online gambling companies are set up.  Employees were rattled by the event as one of the biggest weekend’s in online sports betting is about to kick off. 

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