WEBMASTER NEWS
SWEDISH INVESTIGATOR
CONSIDERING IP-BLOCKING
INITIATIVE
Swedish internet service provider
(ISP) Bahnhof has revealed that it
has been contacted by the
investigator hired by the country’s
government to look at new
gambling laws concerning the
possibility of blocking unlicensed
gaming websites.
Jon Karlung, chief executive of
Bahnhof, said that the company will
not take a position “either for or
against” the merits of gambling,
citing the Swedish government’s
attempt to censor the internet as one
of his key concerns.
Investigator Haken Hallstedt is due
to announce his proposals for new
online gambling laws in March 2017.
“We want to strongly warn of
action to close parts of the internet
that authorities deem objectionable,”
said Karlung.
“Today there is no compelling state
filtering of the internet in Sweden. To
throttle the internet and freedom of
communication is obviously the
wrong way to go.”
Bahnhof, which hosts the
controversial WikiLeaks website, has
been involved in various campaigns
to preserve freedom in regards to the
internet in Sweden.
In 2008, it rejected government
demands to block access to filesharing website Pirate Bay.
ANTIGUA-BASED SPORTS
BETTING SITE CO-FOUNDER
PLEADS GUILTY IN US
Haden Ware, co-founder of an
Antigua-based sports betting
website, has pleaded guilty to a
gambling-related charge in the US.
Ware had been a fugitive since an
indictment was returned in 2002,
accusing him and two others of
operating sports betting business
World Sports Exchange from at least
1996 through to 1998.
The Associated Press agency
reports that he pleaded guilty to a
conspiracy charge in a Manhattan
federal court, just one day after
arriving in New York from Antigua.
“I took wagers over the internet
and over interstate lines,” Ware
admitted in court.
Authorities have suggested a
prison sentence of between six
months to one year, although Ware’s
lawyer, Jim Henderson, said that his
client should spend no time
incarcerated.
Ware has been released on
$150,000 (€137,700) bail and has so
far refused to comment.
8
iGB Affiliate Issue 55 FEB/MAR 2016
XLMEDIA DETAILS STRATEGIC REVIEW PLANS
PERFORMANCE MARKETING
BUSINESS XLMedia has appointed
Canaccord Genuity Limited to undertake a
strategic review of the business.
In a statement, XLMedia said that the
review would focus on the strategic options
open to the firm with the intention of
considering “all opportunities for maximising
value for shareholders”.
XLMedia added that the review will be
“wide ranging” and could include a corporate
transaction, such as the firm acquiring
complementary businesses, a merger
with, acquisition of or subscription for the
company's securities by a third party, or a sale
of the business.
Canaccord Genuity will serve as lead
financial adviser through the review, with
Cenkos Securities taking on the role of
financial adviser.
“Since the company's initial public
offering in March 2014, the company
has consistently reported strong financial
performance, continually invested in organic
growth opportunities, completed several
successful earnings enhancing acquisitions
and declared $21.25 million (€19.6m) in
dividends to shareholders,” XLMedia added
in its statement.
“Notwithstanding this and the company’s
financial strength, the directors of the
company have determined it is appropriate to
evaluate opportunities to maximise value for
the company's shareholders.”
The announcement in late January
followed a recent trading update in which
XLMedia said it expected to exceed market
expectations in both revenue and operating
profit in its full-year financial report for 2015.
It noted that strong growth in the second
half of 2015, building on a good performance
at the start of the year, meant it was likely to
announce annual revenues of at least $88.6
million (€81.2 million), up 75% on 2014, and
adjusted operating profit of at least $28.2
mi llion, up 66%.
The marketing business noted that which
was also boosted by the acquisition of
Marmar Media in July 2015.
It will release its audited results in March.
CALIFORNIA EDGES CLOSER TO DAILY
FANTASY SPORTS REGULATION
CALIFORNIA HAS TAKEN another
step closer to regulating daily fantasy
sports (DFS) after a bill that would allow
websites to legally offer such services
progressed through the state legislature.
AB 1437 would require websites to
acquire the relevant licence in order to
offer games in the state.
DFS operators would also need to pay
an annual regulatory fee and undergo a
background check, paying taxes on profits
and player winnings.
In January, the state’s Government
Organisation Committee approved the bill
with a vote of 17-1.
The bill has now been given a
further boost with the State Assembly’s
Committee on Appropriations voting 15-0
in favour of introducing such regulations.
Industry consulting firm Eilers Research
recently estimated that DFS games could
generate up to $3.7 billion ($3.4 billion) in
entry fees, in addition to $370 million in
revenue this year, with California, the US'
most populous state, responsible for 15% of
these totals.
NETPLAY BROKERS EXTENDED BROADCAST
DEAL WITH ITV
NETPLAY TV HAS signed an extension
to a television airtime agreement with UK
commercial broadcaster ITV.
The three-year deal will run through
to 2019.
Under the agreement, ITV will continue
to broadcast NetPlay TV’s ‘Jackpot247’ late
night, seven days a week.
Bjarke Larsen, chief executive of NetPlay
TV, said: “I am delighted to announce the
continuation of what will now be nearly a
decade-long partnership with ITV.
“Television continues to be NetPlay's USP
and at the core of our strategy.
“The combination of engagement
through television with the development of
our mobile platforms is driving customer
acquisition and retention.
“By continuous evolution of the
production, style and format of our shows we
ensure that NetPlay remains at the forefront
of interactive gaming.”