GVC’s UK retail net gaming revenues have dropped 19% in Q2 2019. This was driven by a 39% plunge in UK like-for-like machine sales following the Government’s move to slash the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to £2 in April.

“The transition to a post-£2 stakes-cut environment in UK retail is progressing very well and we believe the Ladbrokes Coral estate is best placed to take market share,” Chief executive Kenneth Alexander said.

Bookmakers have been hammered by the FOBT crackdown, which has been compounded by challenging high street conditions. William Hill announced earlier this month that it was closing around 700 betting shops across the UK, putting 4500 jobs at risk. GVC has previously said up to 1000 of its bookies are at risk of closure due to the stake cut.

GVC confirmed the boost from online gambling with website net gaming revenues up 16% in Q2 and 17% over the first half despite a strong performance a year earlier from the football world cup.

Win Systems, a global technology supplier to the gaming industry, has got good remarks for its GameStar Arcadia gaming machine from some of the most prestigious Spanish gaming venues.

The managers of the gaming venues confirmed that GameStar Arcadia received a great response among the players, thanks to its effective selection of games combined with the attractive Pyramid jackpot. Several of the operators have expressed their satisfaction after the first few days of operation of the machines.

After the successful presentation of GameStar Arcadia at the Feria International del Juego de Madrid in April, many contracts were signed to install GameStar Arcadia units in the most important venues in Spain.

“Spain is a key market in our strategic expansion plan, which is why it was very important to get the best operators support and confidence with the installation of the GameStar Arcadia. We are sure that this slot machine is fully adapted to the needs of the operators in the country especially to the preferences of the players. The first results reaffirmed that we are on the right path and it has given us full confidence for our future installations,” Ignacio García del Frade, Head of Business Development at Win Systems said.

New York Casinos have started legal sports betting. Bettors placed their first wagers on pro sports games following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a ban on the practice last May. Gamblers at the Rivers Casino near Schenectady plunked down bets on the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners and tennis phenom Varvara Lepchenko.

“We’re going to get mobile sports betting before the middle of next year, it just has to be, because right now New Jersey is cleaning our clock when it comes to sports betting. I think New York should always be at the forefront of everything and right now we’re a little bit behind them,” Assemblyman Gary Pretlow said.

Sports betting is expected to raise millions of dollars as tax revenue. But proponents say the state is losing out on millions more because bets can only be placed at four upstate casinos rather than online and via mobile phone as is allowed in New Jersey.