Casino, Gaming and Poker Sector Continues To Heat Up Down Under In Australia
Media Man Australia director, Greg Tingle, reports the ongoing trend for punters to hit the internet for their gaming and poker fix.
Virgin Games, and in particular, Virgin Casino and PKR (the world's most animated online casino) lead the pack in Media Man's assessment.
Australia mainstays Centrebet and Lasseters recent affiliation and collaboration with Media Man Australia are forcast to further shake up the sector.
James Packer's Crown is sticking to the line that they are not interested in either the Ameristar opportunity, or acquiring part of Media Man Australia.
Pikum!, which even Virgin Money and and Richard Branson have put their name to, is in negotiation with at least one Australian media and new media company.
International online gaming brands GoldenPalace.com, 888.com, Bodog and a few others are likely to be unsettled by recent developments in the online casino world, however it's not expected to deliver a devastating blow, but certainly will heat up competition for eyeballs, web traffic, and the slice of online casino revenues.
Casinos of the month as picked by Media Man Australia and close associates - Virgin Casino and PKR.
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Friday, July 11, 2008
Crown not interested in Ameristar - The Sydney Morning Herald - 10th July 2008
Gaming firm Crown Ltd denied that it was interested in acquiring United States "local" casino operator Ameristar.
"Crown Ltd has had no discussions with Ameristar or any other party in relation to any matters pertaining to Ameristar," the company said in a statement.
"Crown has not undertaken or commissioned any evaluation of Ameristar and nor is it proposing to do so.
"Crown is unaware of any basis for the recent media and analyst speculation relating to this issue."
Ameristar has eight casinos in the US.
Financial services firm UBS said in a recent research note that an industry journal had cited Crown as a potential acquirer of Ameristar and that Ameristar's casinos would add scale to Crown's $1.84 billion acquisition announced in December last year, of US casino operator Cannery Casino Resorts.
Crown shares were nine cents lower at $8.51 at 1120 AEST.
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Gaming firm Crown Ltd denied that it was interested in acquiring United States "local" casino operator Ameristar.
"Crown Ltd has had no discussions with Ameristar or any other party in relation to any matters pertaining to Ameristar," the company said in a statement.
"Crown has not undertaken or commissioned any evaluation of Ameristar and nor is it proposing to do so.
"Crown is unaware of any basis for the recent media and analyst speculation relating to this issue."
Ameristar has eight casinos in the US.
Financial services firm UBS said in a recent research note that an industry journal had cited Crown as a potential acquirer of Ameristar and that Ameristar's casinos would add scale to Crown's $1.84 billion acquisition announced in December last year, of US casino operator Cannery Casino Resorts.
Crown shares were nine cents lower at $8.51 at 1120 AEST.
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Packer runs eye over US casino chain, by Vanda Carson - The Sydney Morning Herald - 10th July 2008
James Packer is reported to be eyeing a $US2.4 billion ($2.5 billion) chain of US casinos which spreads across six states, a move which would instantly triple his presence in the American market.
According to a note to clients of broker UBS, which cites a US gambling industry journal, Crown is a likely bidder for takeover target Ameristar Casino as its collection of eight casinos is considered a perfect fit for Crown's growing collection.
Mr Packer is executive chairman of Crown, the gambling group which emerged from Publishing and Broadcasting as part of the split-up of the company late last year.
He has rapidly created a global casino empire since he freed up cash in the demerger.
Shares of Ameristar, which have been trading at record lows, have risen in recent days on speculation of an imminent bid.
More than half of the company is owned by the family of the late chief executive, Craig Nielsen, who died two years ago.
UBS gambling analyst Sam Theodore said Crown had the financial strength to add more US casinos to its portfolio.
He said Crown could buy the company through a joint venture with a financial partner. If Crown wanted to go it alone, it would have to sell some of its valuable Australian properties, possibly by rolling them into a property trust.
In December Crown announced the purchase of three casinos on the outskirts of Las Vegas, and a racetrack-casino on the other side of the US in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
However the company does not have to hand over the $1.8 billion until later this year when regulators are expected to give the green light to the deal.
Gaming companies worldwide, including Crown, have been hit by recession worries, with half a dozen of the top US companies trading at record lows, but some observers believe it is an opportunity to increase market share through consolidation.
Most of Ameristar's casinos are in the Midwest, with two in Missouri and one each in Illinois, Iowa and Mississippi. It also has two casinos on the border of Nevada, in the aptly named town of Jackpot, and one in Colorado.
They are similar to Crown's existing US casinos as they also cater to local residents and are downmarket compared with the flashy, big-name resorts on the famed Las Vegas Strip.
Crown pulled the plug on a plan to take part in the development of a $5.2 billion casino on the Strip last month after financiers failed to support the deal.
In Macau, Crown has preferred to focus on the other extreme, luring VIP gamblers to its private, luxurious gaming rooms.
UBS has valued Crown at $9.4 billion, including $7 billion for the Melbourne and Burswood casinos, and $1.5 billion for its 37 per cent stake of the Macau venture Melco Crown Entertainment.
Crown declined to comment yesterday. Its shares2c lower at $8.60 yesterday.
Media Man Australia Profiles
James Packer
Casinos
Gaming
Poker and Casino News
James Packer is reported to be eyeing a $US2.4 billion ($2.5 billion) chain of US casinos which spreads across six states, a move which would instantly triple his presence in the American market.
According to a note to clients of broker UBS, which cites a US gambling industry journal, Crown is a likely bidder for takeover target Ameristar Casino as its collection of eight casinos is considered a perfect fit for Crown's growing collection.
Mr Packer is executive chairman of Crown, the gambling group which emerged from Publishing and Broadcasting as part of the split-up of the company late last year.
He has rapidly created a global casino empire since he freed up cash in the demerger.
Shares of Ameristar, which have been trading at record lows, have risen in recent days on speculation of an imminent bid.
More than half of the company is owned by the family of the late chief executive, Craig Nielsen, who died two years ago.
UBS gambling analyst Sam Theodore said Crown had the financial strength to add more US casinos to its portfolio.
He said Crown could buy the company through a joint venture with a financial partner. If Crown wanted to go it alone, it would have to sell some of its valuable Australian properties, possibly by rolling them into a property trust.
In December Crown announced the purchase of three casinos on the outskirts of Las Vegas, and a racetrack-casino on the other side of the US in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
However the company does not have to hand over the $1.8 billion until later this year when regulators are expected to give the green light to the deal.
Gaming companies worldwide, including Crown, have been hit by recession worries, with half a dozen of the top US companies trading at record lows, but some observers believe it is an opportunity to increase market share through consolidation.
Most of Ameristar's casinos are in the Midwest, with two in Missouri and one each in Illinois, Iowa and Mississippi. It also has two casinos on the border of Nevada, in the aptly named town of Jackpot, and one in Colorado.
They are similar to Crown's existing US casinos as they also cater to local residents and are downmarket compared with the flashy, big-name resorts on the famed Las Vegas Strip.
Crown pulled the plug on a plan to take part in the development of a $5.2 billion casino on the Strip last month after financiers failed to support the deal.
In Macau, Crown has preferred to focus on the other extreme, luring VIP gamblers to its private, luxurious gaming rooms.
UBS has valued Crown at $9.4 billion, including $7 billion for the Melbourne and Burswood casinos, and $1.5 billion for its 37 per cent stake of the Macau venture Melco Crown Entertainment.
Crown declined to comment yesterday. Its shares2c lower at $8.60 yesterday.
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James Packer
Casinos
Gaming
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Sunday, July 06, 2008
Casino and poker comps heat up in news media business
Online casinos, traditional casinos and online poker and gaming rooms are battling for headlines, as the stakes continue to raise in the gaming and gabling world. Media companies such as ours are now associated with such brands such as Virgin Games, Virgin Casino, PKR, Bwin, GoldenPalace.com, 888.com and Jamster. Virgin and PKR are setting the pace.
The Media Man Australia most improved new entry goes to PKR. Next month we expect big things from both Virgin Games and Bwin, and a major announcement from our friends at Virgin Media. We also expect Bodog to bounce back, and expect to see more bricks and mortar casinos close down or go up for sale, as online casinos dominate, with the collaboration of major news media players and celebrity support.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Casino
Virgin Games
PKR
Bwin
GoldenPalace.com
888.com
Bodog
Online Betting
Casino
Games
Gaming
Virgin Poker
Poker
Poker and Casino News
Online casinos, traditional casinos and online poker and gaming rooms are battling for headlines, as the stakes continue to raise in the gaming and gabling world. Media companies such as ours are now associated with such brands such as Virgin Games, Virgin Casino, PKR, Bwin, GoldenPalace.com, 888.com and Jamster. Virgin and PKR are setting the pace.
The Media Man Australia most improved new entry goes to PKR. Next month we expect big things from both Virgin Games and Bwin, and a major announcement from our friends at Virgin Media. We also expect Bodog to bounce back, and expect to see more bricks and mortar casinos close down or go up for sale, as online casinos dominate, with the collaboration of major news media players and celebrity support.
Media Man Australia Profiles
Virgin Casino
Virgin Games
PKR
Bwin
GoldenPalace.com
888.com
Bodog
Online Betting
Casino
Games
Gaming
Virgin Poker
Poker
Poker and Casino News
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