Chinese Online Lottery 500.com Pays Off Well for Investors

Chinese Online Lottery 500.com Pays Off Well for Investors

Chinese online lottery 500.com has entered the ny Stock Exchange, and is apparently winning (Image: Wan Li/China frequent)

Investors in Chinese online lottery platform 500.com Ltd. are off to a happy start to the New Year; within the six months since its ny Stock market birth, the value of the company has almost tripled from the initial public offering price of $13.

Winning the Lottery Lottery

As the only Chinese lottery company become placed in the United States, 500.com is one of just a handful of businesses set to enjoy the Chinese government’s whittling down of thousands of private lottery operators, as they permit and regulate the industry to just a little number of organizations. Most of these will ultimately be vying for the market that is potential of 400 million lottery players in the nation.

‘Over the next 5 years it is very clear that the Chinese market will continue steadily to develop rapidly therefore the government regulatory regime can be more open and transparent,’ explained 500.com’s Chief officer that is financial Pan.

China’s lottery market has taken off remarkably in recent years, thanks to a rise in disposable earnings through the country, as well as a appetite that is national gambling and advancements in gaming technology. Because of this, Asia’s lottery spending reached $23 billion in 2012, while the U.S. the lottery market that is largest in the world was still staunchly in the # 1 spot with $37 billion spent yearly on tickets.

Experts expect the Chinese lottery market to grow by 20 percent over the following three years, and even predict that they’ll jump into the leading spot by 2015, due to the fact U.S. is expected to see a much slower growth price during that same time period.

Playing Asian Lottery Catch Up

The government is certainly anxious to expand regarding the 7-8 percent of Chinese grownups who currently buy lottery tickets, particularly since the wider Asia Pacific region is currently seeing 70-80 percent of adults buying seats. To increase this percentage, industry experts say that the us government is going to be looking to improve payouts, bring new products forward, and widen distribution channels, making it easier to purchase tickets from more locales.

‘ The government that is chinese to combine the current lottery market, making it simpler to control and regulate,’ explained Hoffman Ma, deputy chairman of Success Universe Group Ltd., an outfit authorized to offer sports lottery sales agency solutions in three of China’s provinces. ‘They are seeking operators with stable platforms and want to ensure that all bets that come through will probably pay tax.’

While lotteries in China have mostly consisted mainly of conventional paper tickets, single match games which give punters the opportunity to bet regarding the outcomes of basketball or football as well as video lottery terminals and scratch cards have be typical in current years. And because the government legalized Internet and phone lottery stations at the conclusion of 2012, engaging has become easier and much more popular.

But, appeal in the U.S. is often garnered by enormous jackpots reaching into the a huge selection of millions of dollars. China, on one other hand, still caps their jackpots at 10 million yuan ($1.65 million). As in the States, not winners that are only; a portion of the proceeds from the tickets which cost between 2 yuan and 200 yuan go towards supporting various sports and welfare charities.

PartyPoker to Sponsor Devils, 76ers for Advertising First

A new marketing alliance between online web site PartyPoker and two New Jersey area recreations teams is just a first

Sports betting will be the most heavily limited as a type of gambling into the united states of america, but let’s not pretend: everybody else knows how to place a bet on their favorite teams when they want to, whether that’s with their local bookie or at a sportsbook that is online. But the major sports leagues in the USA still have a guarded relationship with the gambling industry, often fighting states like nj-new jersey that want to grow sports betting.

New Marketing Territory

Nevertheless, that’s not stopping one owner from taking benefit of the newly regulated New Jersey market to find a brand new sponsor for their groups. Both the latest Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia 76ers will now be sponsored by online web site PartyPoker, the first deal that is such any major expert teams in the united states of america.

The two teams are both owned by Josh Harris, and both also have large fan bases in and around New Jersey. The Devils actually play there, while the 76ers are close sufficient that there’s plenty of media coverage in southern nj as well as a great amount of fans who could play at the potentially bwin.party-owned internet sites in that state.

‘We are proud to welcome PartyPoker to the family once we embark for an journey that is exciting an innovative, global frontrunner within the digital marketplace,’ stated Scott O’Neil, CEO of the Harris-owned teams. ‘ As an organization, we shall continue to align with brands that wish to grow with us, in true partnership.’

No Sports Betting, But Gambling Okay

Both the NHL therefore the NBA have already said they’re fine with both of these sponsorships. It surely helps that this particular on the web gambling is in a regulated market, however the key here is really that sports wagering isn’t part of this New Jersey online gambling scene, at the least not yet.

‘As long as the gambling site doesn’t include sports gambling or recreations gambling, it’s now allowed within our rules,’ said NBA vice president Mark Tatum.

A leg up in the very competitive New Jersey market by partnering them with two revered local franchises for PartyPoker, the deal will hopefully give the company.

‘They are two of the most iconic names in American hockey and basketball with huge and dedicated fan bases throughout New Jersey therefore the surrounding metropolitan areas,’ said bwin.party leader Norbert Teufelberger. ‘There can be an affinity between playing in online poker tournaments and activities winning is all about having intense focus, stamina and a fantastic competitive spirit.’

In a method, the announcement ended up being a relief for fans of both teams especially fans associated with the Devils. The Devils’ Twitter feed had been teasing fans about a ‘huge announcement’ that has been coming on Thursday, leading some to fear all kinds of potential changes for the team, up to and including the likelihood of the team relocating.

According to reports, the agreement is worth at least $10 million. It is the first such contract into the United States, though the Toronto Maple Leafs did previously have a marketing agreement by having an online gaming business.

Rick Burton, a former Australian Basketball League commissioner and present sports administration professor at Syracuse University, said that the offer makes sense that is perfect both teams.

‘You’ve got all these teams and leagues where everybody is being told you better have the ability to sell, but every category that is possible been explored,’ Burton stated. ‘Here, there is a salesman who says, ‘I can get you big cash, you have to let me in the gambling space.»

MGM 2014 Outlook Points to Overall Growth and healing

MGM Resorts’ CEO Jim Murren has a lot on his plate for the next years that are few and investors require a piece of the pie. (Image: Steve Tetreault, Stephens Washington Bureau)

In search of investment some ideas for the new year? Consider MGM Resorts, is the word decreasing from gaming analysts who are bullish regarding the gaming outfit.

According to experts, MGM Resorts International hasn’t had this kind of outlook that is bright quite awhile; the casino conglomerate has so many pending projects both in the States and abroad on the docket right now that industry analysts are going for a gold star for ‘fresh ideas’ whenever it comes to stock investments.

Stocking Up

J.P. Morgan video gaming analyst Joe Greff really called MGM a ‘top gaming investment idea’ in a recent industry research note, saying that the company’s stock prices are really worth a second look today. Stocks which closed later last week at $23.45 are showing an 85 percent jump within the last few year, and experts predict a lot more subtle gains to come.

Section of the positive picture is pinned to Las Vegas’ therefore the general U.S. casino markets’ continuing recovery through the brutal hit each of them took during the recession. Credit Suisse gaming analyst Joel Simkins says that MGM ‘remains the best-positioned operator to capitalize on the continued recovery of Las Vegas while the U.S. economy recovers.’

The rosy outlook also stems from the bevy of anticipated new casinos and ancillary projects that MGM has in the pipeline. Which includes brand new projects on the vegas Strip: MGM has $100 million cycling on a new shopping, dining and entertainment area that they are constructing between company-owned casinos New York-New York and the Monte Carlo. That district in change opens the hinged door for the ensuing $350 million sports and entertainment complex. Projected opening dates are 2014 and 2016, respectively.

Strip Comeback

Along with 10 Las Vegas Strip casinos under their auspices, and convention bookings once more selecting up, 2014 appearance to become a far better than years past year.

‘We believe 2014 gets the potential to be a stronger year for Las Vegas, as any uplift that is meaningful the economy will offer retail gamblers and leisure travelers confidence to book their trips to the Strip,’ industry analyst Simkins said.

MGM CEO Jim Murren will also be taking over the chairman position with lobbying company United states Gaming Association this year. As that team continues to attempt to redefine legal video gaming in the U.S., the high-profile gig can only further cement Murren’s already solid reputation as a mover and shaker within the American casino industry.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for MGM’s construction projects. In total, the business has $3 billion going towards not only Las Vegas, but in addition new ventures in Atlantic City and the very lucrative Macau Cotai Strip too.

The company is waiting for licensing re-approvals for a 50 percent vestment in one of the more successful Atlantic City casinos, the Borgata in New Jersey. To avoid hassles that are regulatory in 2010 due to their other pending U.S. projects, MGM permitted their profit shares of Borgata which were about $110 million become held in trust while issues surrounding their ties for their Macau project’s casino partner Pansy Ho were ironed away. The allegations were that Ho’s casino magnate father Stanley had ties to Asian mob figures; allegations that all parties have rejected.

Regaining that licensing footing would bring cash flow from both Borgata’s land gaming and new ventures pouring back into MGM’s coffers.

Meanwhile, in Macau, it is looking like a 2016 opening for their $2.6 billion Cotai Strip project, and this can be the business’s second casino into the #1 gaming revenue area in the planet.

But wait, there’s more.

While still awaiting last regulatory approvals, an $800 million hotel casino in Springfield, Massachusetts would make it one of the Bay State’s first land gaming facilities; and another $925 million resort in National Harbor myfreepokies.com, Maryland perched just outside the nation’s capitol make the company’s expansion efforts even more enticing. Those projects expect a 2017 opening date.

All in all, it is a turnaround that is marked their financial outlook of just a couple years back. Back in 2009 during the height associated with the recession which hit the Las Vegas Strip particularly hard their $8.5 billion CityCenter complex seemed like a huge drain that is economic their bottom line; but MGM has reduced its long-term debt to $13 billion a quantity not considered egregious compared to, say, Caesars Entertainment’s at $23 billion + as well as extending their loan maturity times to closer to 2020.