Let your mouth speak archive

The precocious talking baby in E-Trade commercials offers sage advice about state-run lotteries: "Your chances of winning," he tells a delusional adult friend, "are the same as the odds of you being mauled by a polar bear and a regular bear on the same day."

I thought of that on a recent evening as I watched the long line of sad souls at a 7-Eleven store in the older, less affluent West Side of Alexandria, Va., waiting patiently to kiss their money goodbye on the lottery.It stuck in my mind because the previous day I saw an almost identical scene at a variety store on a rundown stretch of Route 59 in Nanuet, N.Y.

In Maryland, the newspaper I picked up said the state is about to begin selling lottery tickets on the Internet. Driving up and down the Northeast corridor, I heard incessant lottery commercials like the one in New York that promised "Tahitian sunsets," and another that claimed with a big win you could finally "be your own boss."

There's nothing new — or, in my opinion, good — about lotteries. But these days, with many state governments strapped, and so many of their residents hurting, it's a perfect storm.

The arguments haven't changed much since New Hampshire became the first state to run a lottery back in 1964. The view among supporters is that people will gamble if they want, so government might as well reap the profits. Besides, the money goes to good causes, usually education, which would otherwise require funding through higher taxes.


Read More: Peter Funt: Online lottery sales bad idea - MontereyHerald-com :

Public policy experts estimate that New Hampshire could net more than $50 million a year if it builds a casino in the southern part of the state. Tim Moore puts his share at about $1,500.

Moore, a 43-year-old sales manager from Seabrook, gambles at Connecticut casinos about four times a year, spending roughly $250 per visit. But he would bump up the frequency to at least six times a year if there were a casino closer to home, he said. He is fed up with the Connecticut scene and said he believes a New Hampshire casino would bring much-needed revenue and jobs to the state, while perhaps boosting tourism and lowering taxes.

"I am sick and tired of the Connecticut casino business model nickel-and-diming everyone," he said. "Take a look around the casinos. They are dirty, the staff are rude and they all look miserable."

Moore is backing Republican Ovide Lamontagne for governor next month. However, for the first time in a decade, New Hampshire will have a governor who favors legalized casino gambling regardless of who wins the election.

Lamontagne, who opposed casino gambling when he ran in 1996, is now open to allowing a single casino at Rockingham Park in Salem. Democrat Maggie Hassan, who supported a number of gambling bills during her three terms in the state Senate, also supports allowing one highly-regulated, high-end casino. Unlike Lamontagne, she has not selected a particular location.

With Massachusetts planning to build three or four casinos, New Hampshire has to be competitive, even in the face of opposition from resort and restaurant owners who fear a casino would funnel off their business, Hassan said during a recent debate.

"I don't want our gambling revenues and rooms-and-meals money to be spent in Massachusetts," she said.

But any bill would still have to get through the Legislature, which has proven difficult in past years. The House, in particular, has never supported expanding gambling bills. It defeated the most recent attempt in March after outgoing Gov. John Lynch promised to veto the bill if it reached his desk.

At least three lawmakers have signaled their intent to file gambling-related legislation if they are re-elected next month. Though the gubernatorial candidates only support a single casino, state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro said Friday that the number of licenses he will include in his bill is still an open question.

"They both seem focused on one license, but my gut tells me if you do something like that, you kill the ability to get anything passed because all the negativity about making one person rich becomes omnipresent all over again," said D'Allesandro, D-Manchester.

An analysis by the independent New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies in January projected that a large casino in southern New Hampshire could generate $189 million in revenue for the state, but factoring in competition from Massachusetts and social costs associated with gambling would bring the net gain down to about $53 million.

Residents are evenly split on whether they support or oppose the expansion of gambling, according to an April poll by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center at Dartmouth College. Two years ago, the University of New Hampshire delved into the issue more deeply, organizing a series of "community conversations" around the state and online.

In two communities, Salem and Berlin, there was general and widespread support for the concept of expanded gambling. But opponents elsewhere said expanded gambling would increase demand for social services and damage the state's business — and family-friendly reputation.

LeeAnn Michael, who owns the Country Squire Motel in Littleton, attended one of the 2010 sessions. She was opposed to casino gambling then, and remains so now.

"It's anti-family on so many levels," she said Thursday. "And they tout jobs, but these are not good jobs."

Michael plans to vote for Hassan, but she said she hopes the Legislature will continue to vote down gambling bills.

"I don't see the advantage to New Hampshire or our image," she said. "My hope is that it would be successfully held off."



Granite State still split on gambling issue | SeacoastOnline-com

Mohegan Sun’s decision to stop offering the gambling game keno hasn’t made elected officials any more interested in starting the state’s own game through the Connecticut Lottery, and the political season is likely the main reason, an analyst said.

“Gambling is always controversial, so there’s little chance it will be brought up during campaign season,” said Roger Gros, publisher of Global Gaming Business magazine. “At the federal level, that’s what has happened to online poker this year. No one wanted to address the issue during election season.”

Republican Chris Coutu of Norwich and Democrat Cathy Osten of Sprague both declined to endorse online gambling during their 19th District state Senate debate Wednesday at Kelly Middle School in Norwich. Coutu said during the debate he was “more a fan of sports book” betting, which involves wagering on professional sports such as football, basketball and baseball and something that is not legal in Connecticut, but he didn’t return a phone call seeking to know the extent of his support for the idea.

Keno operations at Mohegan Sun ceased at the end of September with that department’s 12 employees being laid off, casino spokeswoman Cathy Soper said. Foxwoods Resort Casino still offers the bingo-style game.

Read more: Keno game from state lottery not likely, officials say - Norwich, CT - The Bulletin Keno game from state lottery not likely, officials say - Norwich, CT - The Bulletin

When you die, so the saying goes, your secrets go with you. But with more of us spending time online and managing our finances on the web, it has become very important to make sure that modern-day secrets - passwords to our accounts - are recorded in our will.

Many people now run a handful of online accounts, from everyday banking and savings to online shopping catalogues, betting and gaming sites, and even social media such as Facebook.

All require a password - and if a user was to die without it being passed on, many of these accounts will die with their owner.

It could mean that thousands of rands in savings accounts, money saved as credits on shopping websites, or even credit kept in a gambling account, would be lost.

Or if a person is an active eBay seller or buyer, or trader on other sites, failure to pass on a password could jeopardise live transactions. These could then become a legal liability on the estate, as an order for goods goes through and payment is demanded.

Nicola Plant, partner at solicitor Pemberton Greenish, says the issue is fast becoming a major concern for families grappling with a deceased relative’s estate.

While older generations have long been thought to be slow to embrace the internet, figures from telecoms regulator Ofcom show that older people are becoming increasingly confident about going online.

Ms Plant says: “It’s vital you leave your account details and passwords in your will or as an addendum. Otherwise, your executors will not be able to distribute your online assets and alert organisations to your death.”

Companies vary widely in how they treat online accounts after an account holder dies. Financial companies are the easiest to deal with if you don’t have the username or password for a deceased relative.

To grant access to an account, financial services companies typically require a death certificate plus other paperwork, such as grant of probate and the executor’s ID. They will then give access to the account without the password.

Barclays and Lloyds TSB, for example, need a death certificate, proof of your identity and a copy of the will or grant of probate or letters of administration.

Aviva needs the death certificate and grant of probate before a policy is either cancelled or transferred into the new owner’s name.

On the other hand, eBay only requires a death certificate, but crucially it will close an account or eBay shop on notification, rather than transfer ownership. If it is not notified of the death, any live sales would go through its disputes procedure if not honoured.

PayPal requires a copy of the death certificate, the will or probate, plus the executor’s ID, before it will close the account and pay out any funds.

Others insist on having the password or the account remains locked for ever. This applies to online firms such as Facebook, and stand-alone email accounts.

Often, families want to have access to these both to ensure they can inform the deceased’s friends and contacts of his or her passing.

Also, having access to emails received can be a useful check that there are no accounts - perhaps rainy day savings or investments - that the executors may otherwise have missed.

Facebook ‘memorialises’ an account, so that only existing friends can see it and post comments on the wall.

The executors and close family members are given no access to the account itself without a password - though this has recently been challenged in the US - though they can request the page is shut down. Google’s Gmail says family or executors must send in detailed information in the first instance, and may then have to get a court ruling in the US before it will open the email account.

Microsoft will send the contents of a Hotmail account on a data DVD.

Yahoo says information is non-transferable and will die with the account holder, though it also says it may release the information if required to by law or if “in good faith ... it is reasonably necessary”.

It is not just emails and bank accounts that next of kin may be interested in.

Credits and avatars built up through time spent online in popular games such as World Of Warcraft can be worth hundreds of pounds. Here is how to ensure your online life doesn’t die with you:

* Make a digital inventory. List all your digital assets, including every online account and their passwords. You should also state what your wishes are for each account on your death.

For example, you may not want anyone to have access to your email account, so request it is shut down - or omit the password and say you want it left untouched. Don’t leave this as an email in case you are hacked. Consider giving it to your solicitor.

* Make a digital will - this can be included in or run alongside your main will. It will set down the names of the executors responsible for gaining access, and, where relevant, shutting down or passing over each account to the heirs.

* If you are not comfortable writing down all your passwords, you can sign up with a storage firm such as online Legacy Locker or My Digital Executor - often free for a basic account - which will store your passwords and accounts. Then, you need only give the details of this account and password to the person named in your will for them to gain access.

Alternatively, your passwords could be secretly stored in a file on your computer with the details of this file contained in your will.



Don

A member of Jerry Lee Lewis' band has been shot dead in Memphis, Tennessee.

Keyboard player B.B. Cunningham Jr., who has been a member of the group since 1997, was gunned down at the Cherry Crest apartment complex in the city in the early hours of Sunday, according to local reports.

The musician, 70, and a 16-year-old boy were found dead from gunshot wounds, according to news website CommercialAppeal.com.

Cunningham Jr. was a security guard in a neighbouring apartment complex.

As well as performing with Lewis' band, Cunningham Jr. also released a solo album, Hangin' In, in 2003. Born Blake Baker Cunningham Jr., he was also a member of Ronnie and the Daytonas in the 1960s.

Had there been a real table set up for the round-table discussion on the state of the casino industry at the recent Global Gaming Expo, the CEOs gathered around it would have been kicking the shins of Walter Bugno, the head of Spielo International.

Maybe Bugno was trying to appeal to the crowd when he said that legalizing Internet poker should be just the beginning for online gaming in the United States, if federal lawmakers could only get around to getting the votes to pass the poker legislation first.

Spielo is a gaming equipment designer with European roots. The company is owned by the Lottomatica Group of Italy and has offices worldwide.

He explained that Internet casinos wouldn’t make much money with online poker because the casino is merely a facilitator for players against players. Bugno added that instead of taxing casinos for poker play, players should be taxed on their winnings.

A bigger opportunity, he said, would be in online sports wagering and other casino games, such as the ones played for free on social media sites.

Maybe none of it makes any difference anyway, because the industry in general is pessimistic about its chances of getting any kind of bill approved in the upcoming lame-duck session. It’s not that proponents are giving up. They’re just acknowledging that there are too many obstacles to pass legislation this year.


Read More: Exactly what they

New Jersey is charging ahead in its effort to offer legalized sports betting despite the presence of some hefty opposition standing between the state and the goal line.

The state said Monday that it could begin issuing licenses for sports betting on Jan. 9, assuming a federal lawsuit filed by the major professional sports leagues and the NCAA can be overcome.

The NCAA announced Monday that it would find new hosts for five championships scheduled to be held in New Jersey next year.

Read more here: ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - NJ plans to start licensing sports bets in January - Sports - Wire - MyrtleBeachOnline-com

Israeli police have now arrested 44 people involved in the country’s biggest ever gambling ring, believed to have been worth around $7 billion over its five year history.

Following the collapse of Israeli Trade Bank in April 2002 after a massive fraud was uncovered, Israel’s criminal gangs apparently set up a new financing channel through an illegal gambling and money laundering ring headed by three brothers Ron, Yaron and Dror Kaplan.

The men created and operated an online website called Donbet which claimed to be a standard legal gambling site, but was in actual fact an illegal gambling operation which first targeted big-money gamblers in the real world who would then have to buy in and access the site through imparted secret codes. The gamblers could then wager money on games housed on global established Internet sites, as well as place sports bets. As Tel Aviv Police District Commander Gadi Eshed, explains:

“Ever since the commercial bank affair, crime organizations have been looking for new sources of revenue, and this ring was clearly one of them..[The operation] served as a lifeline for some of the country’s most active crime organizations..There is no doubt that the astronomical sums of money moved by this operation rendered it the largest such illegal gambling ring in Israel’s history.”

After police became aware of millions of dollars being generated through an illegal gambling operation, they subsequently followed the money trail which lead them to online gambling website “Donbet”. Such was the scale of operation that in addition to executives and computer technicians, it also employed over 200 sales agents to help drag in more business.

Apparently, these sales agents were given specific instructions to recruit only gamblers they could personally vouch for and would pay gambling debts without turning to the police. A network of ring agents including taxi drivers were then used to collect debts. After the arrests, those men involved are now facing a range of charges including money laundering, running an illegal gambling operation, and tax evasion.


Israeli Police Bust Multi-Billion Dollar Gambling Ring

Former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan sued a disc jockey, the DJ's ex-wife and a gossip website Monday, several months after a sex tape involving Hogan and the woman was posted online.

Hogan said in two lawsuits that he had consensual sex with his best friend's wife, Heather Clem, about six years ago in the Clems' home, but he did not know he was being secretly recorded.

"Mr. Hogan had a reasonable expectation of his privacy, just as all Americans have a reasonable expectation of their privacy in their bedrooms," attorney Charles Harder said.

The video was posted on the online gossip site Gawker. Hogan is seeking $100 million in damages from the New York-based media company.

In the suit against the Clems, Hogan claimed the video caused "severe and irreparable injury which cannot be adequately compensated by monetary damages." Hogan is seeking the rights to the video in both lawsuits.

Hogan, his ex-wife and the couple's son and daughter have appeared on the reality show "Hogan Knows Best."


People & Entertainment: Hulk Hogan sues over sex tape shown on website | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Hulk Hogan is super cool but I do not want to see him in a sex tape....juck!

Good luck Hogan

Betsson online gambling group, and Unibet Group, another leading internet gaming company, signed a multi year B2B deal with WMS Industries Inc. for access to the latter's portfolio of premium video slots.

The deal will allow both Betsson and Unibet access to the full portfolio of WMS's games through its recently acquired Jadestone platform, which includes winning titles such as Zeus, Reel 'em In and Jackpot Party video slots.

It is believed that the multi year WMS online gambling deal will eventually extend to Unibet and Betsson's mobile channels in the future.

The new video slots are expected to be launched at Unibet and Betsson casinos at the beginning of 2013.


Read More: Online Gambling Deal Signed By WMS - Gamblingkingz-com

The precocious talking baby in E-Trade commercials offers sage advice about state-run lotteries: "Your chances of winning," he tells a delusional adult friend, "are the same as the odds of you being mauled by a polar bear and a regular bear on the same day."

I thought of that on a recent evening as I watched the long line of sad souls at a 7-Eleven store in the older, less affluent West Side of Alexandria, Va., waiting patiently to kiss their money goodbye on the lottery. It stuck in my mind because the previous day, I saw an almost identical scene at a variety store on a rundown stretch of Route 59 in Nanuet, N.Y.

In Maryland, the newspaper I picked up said the state is about to begin selling lottery tickets on the Internet. There's nothing new - or, in my opinion, good - about lotteries. But these days, with many state governments strapped, and so many of their residents hurting, it's a perfect storm.

The arguments haven't changed much since New Hampshire became the first state to run a lottery back in 1964. The view among supporters is that people will gamble if they want, so government might as well reap the profits. Besides, the money goes to good causes, usually education, which would otherwise require funding through higher taxes.

Currently, 43 states run lotteries, with annual wagers totaling about $55 billion.

The odds of winning are worse than virtually any bet you could make in a casino. But on a more fundamental basis, I don' t think government should be in the gambling business. Moreover, state-created advertising for lotteries is shameful — preying on the vulnerabilities of those desperate for a financial fix. New York State spends roughly $50 million every year on ads to lure people into the game.

Online lottery sales, launched this year in Illinois, raise the stakes on this dubious government gambit. Interestingly, the primary opposition to Internet lottery sales comes not from concerned citizens, but from retailers who fear that electronic marketing will cut into in-store business.

After Illinois, Georgia approved online sales, and several more states are rushing to embrace it with the fervor of addicted gamblers. It's possible because the U.S. Justice Department last year reversed itself, saying the national Wire Act of 1961 applies only to sports betting.

Several studies confirm that state lottery revenue comes disproportionately from lower-income residents. Lotteries allow governments to take advantage of the very citizens they should be striving to protect.

It's too late to put this genie back in the bottle. States will never give up lottery revenue — certainly not in these crushing economic times. But responsible legislators should proceed with caution when it comes to online sales.

Over the summer, Delaware became the first state to authorize online casino-style gambling.

Lottery commercials all end with a wink and the throwaway line: "Play responsibly." State legislators probably don't listen to their own ads, and they're hoping their customers don't either.


www-dailyworld-com/article/20121017/OPINION/210170307/States-should-not-participate-gambling-business

Pop superstar Beyonce on Tuesday confirmed that she will headline the entertainment at next year’s Super Bowl, posting a photo of herself with the words Feb 3, 2013 inked on her cheeks.

Super Bowl organizers also posted the photo news on their official Twitter account, with the words “Beyonce will perform zpepsi #SB47 Halftime Show in New Orleans. Feb. 3 2013 on zcbs.”

In an entry on her official website, Beyoncé | The Official Beyoncé Site, the Grammy-winning singer used the caption “countdown to touchdown“ to acknowledge an earlier report that she would sing during the biggest U.S. sporting and television event of the year.

The annual NFL championship attracts more than 100 million TV viewers and high profile pop acts for its halftime show. Previous performers have included Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and Paul McCartney.

In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), which effectively shut down online wagering in the U.S. by prohibiting businesses from accepting payments for - or otherwise funding - Internet gambling.

Last September, unrelated to UIGEA, the Department of Justice effectively reversed its previous interpretation of the 1961 Interstate Wire Act, which prohibited the operation of certain types of betting businesses in the U.S. This reversal appears to have opened the door to legalized online gaming on an intra-state basis.

The Internet gaming restart will likely create a far more complex series of changes than some observers imagine, and implications for casino owners could be momentous and unexpected. Here is how I see the issues: Donovan: Will Companies Cash in On Internet Gambling? - CNBC

Online operators TLC88-com have been confirmed as the new Asian betting and gaming partner of Sunderland football club.

The initial two-year deal with one of the continent’s largest betting companies will offer Asian punters a range of online activities, including the opportunity to bet on Premier League matches.

As well as sports betting, TLC88-com also offer online casino gaming.

Sunderland international marketing director Mike Farnan said of the deal: “This is the first partnership that the club has signed in Asia and a one that will help the growth of Sunderland AFC on an international level.

“This echoes our commitment to partnering with top-line international brands and we are delighted with the partnership.”

TLC88-com Asia Pacific strategy director Mike Chong added: “In Asia, offline gambling is viewed very much as an engaging, social pursuit and the success of TLC88 has been to bring that sense of sharing and fun to the internet.”


Gambling Online Magazine | News | Sunderland unveil new Asian betting partner

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had £5,000 worth of traditional British food delivered to their home in the south of France.

The couple - who are parents to six kids, Maddox, 11, Pax, eight, Zahara, seven, Shiloh, six, and twins Knox and Vivienne, four - reportedly fell in love with baked beans, pies, ready meals and crisps while living in Surrey and recently imported their favourite foods to their home near Chateau Miraval.

A source said: ''The kids have gone off French food after living in the UK for so long.

''Brad had a look online and found an English food company who deliver ready meals such as cottage pie, toad in the hole and apple crumble.

''The kids love Turkey Twizzlers and baked beans on toast so Brad put in a massive order. He filled two freezers.''

The actor and his fiancee Angelina have been known to spoil their children in the past and the actress recently revealed she wants to be their children's ''friend'' when they are teenagers.

The 'Salt' actress said: ''I am looking forward to [them being teenagers]. I am looking forward to them trying to pretend they are not doing anything wrong.

''I'll be their friend and I'll be honest with them and I hope whatever they go through they can talk to me. That's the best I can do.

''I'll try to be as close to them as I am now. So when they get to the point they don't want to talk to me, they know deep down I love them and we have that relationship. It's tough for everyone those years.''

Angelina, 37, also admitted she is much less strict with her sons than daughters, while the girls can ''walk all over'' Brad, 48.


GossipBites | Brad Pitt imports British food for his children | entertainment.ie - entertainment.ie

In short, probably not - if your place of residency is in the UK or mainland Europe. In the United States, offline gambling winnings are taxed (wins on the lottery, from sports bets, and in land-based casinos). Online gambling is still illegal in most of the United States; therefore the issue of tax on online gambling winnings in the USA is not relevant.

Know the Law

A little disclaimer before we continue. Any information we provide is intended as a guide to help you search for further, official regulations. The ONLY way to know which - if any - tax rules apply to your online gambling winnings is to check with the relevant authorities in your country. In the UK, for example, this would be HM Revenue & Customs.

Obey the Law

Furthermore, once you've clarified the law for yourself - follow it. It's understandably annoying to have to part with some of a large jackpot, but if that's the law, do it! You might lose even more if the tax man catches up with you later.

Tax on Lottery Wins

Several countries in Europe do tax lottery wins. Presumably, even if you've bought your lottery tickets online, you're still going to have to pay that tax. In many cases, however, that money would be deducted even before the win was transferred to your bank account. But, as we said above - check! National lotteries provide support for winners. If your lucky numbers come up, they'll be able to advise you.

Is Online Gambling a Trade?

Going back to the example of the UK: there, someone who scores a lucky online gambling win, small or large, generally isn't expected to pay tax on it. This is because online gambling is not considered a trade or a business. Most online gamblers have day jobs, after all. But - there is a possibility that professional gamblers might have to pay some tax. Once again, the only way to know for certain is to ask the tax authorities where you live.




Do I Have to Pay Tax on My Online Gambling Win? - Commentary - Onlinecasinoreports-com

The horse racing industry all over the world has been experiencing rising costs for the upkeep of the sport and flagging patron interest resulting in hard financial times. Some race tracks are turning to slots and side betting which has supplemented the upkeep of the architecture involved and track grounds.

One institution in the USA connected to the Kentucy Derby that has been inspiring the crowds at horse races for years is the Churchill Downs race track where Churchill Downs Interactive has been researching studies that indicate there are gamblers that are confused by all the types of games and the odds etc. so the new offering has been created to be much simpler to relate to.

The offering has real money wins based on real horse races that start at just ten cents. Luckity-com is a new offering that you can play on the Twin Spires .com platform to bet on all kinds of races going on around the world. Fun games and winning numbers based on real horse racing, easy play, there are multiple jackpots every day, the video explains on the Churchill Downs web site. Minutes can go by before the next race starts so this type of betting is a little slower than slot action. Some time is involved in waiting for the official results and your payout if you’ve been lucky. Luckity-com is totally legal as it takes advantage of the federal gambling law that allows interstate gambling on horse races.

Now as the Churchill Downs Interactive division is playing the horses in a very different way making this a novel aspect of online gambling in America. Ted Gay, president of the newly created Churchill Downs Interactive subsidiary explains the demographic they are hoping to attract with the current offer of 24 cash games basically it is aimed at women over 35 who enjoy slots, the lottery and social networking games. This innovation allows for online betting in America and a bold stab at something new.


Churchill Downs Interactive Goes Live With Online Betting

Singapore is revising its casino rules to discourage low-income groups and the jobless from gambling. After weeks of consultation, the government has filed the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill which would empower authorities to restrict the entry of ‘financially vulnerable’ individuals in casino gaming centers. The provision as stated in a government press release:


Committees of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) will be empowered to issue visit limits to local, financially vulnerable casino patrons who visit the casinos frequently. Families and individuals may also apply for visit limits in addition to the current family and voluntary self-exclusion.

Provisional family exclusion orders can be made if there is a need to act urgently to protect the family from further severe harm. Exclusion orders can also be made if respondents to the orders cannot be located or are uncooperative.


At present, Singapore locals and permanent residents must pay an entry levy of S$100 and annual entry levy of S$2,000 if they want to play in the casinos. In the past 18 months, the government earned $288 million from casino levies.


Read More: Singapore Tightens Rules on Casinos · Global Voices

High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email]ftsales-support@ft-com[/email] to buy additional rights. William Hill seeks price for Playtech stake - FT-com

William Hill has made a raft of senior management changes at its internet business, as the UK bookmaker confirmed it was considering the buyout of the minority stake in William Hill Online held by software gambling provider Playtech.

The FTSE 250 bookmaker said on Friday that Henry Birch would step down as chief executive of William Hill Online with immediate effect, leaving the day-to-day running of the business to Andrew Lee, managing director. High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email [email]ftsales-support@ft-com[/email] to buy additional rights. William Hill seeks price for Playtech stake - FT-com

Other appointments include Jamie Hart taking over responsibility for the sportsbook and gaming platforms, while Jürgen Reutter assumes the role as head of mobile.

The changes follow the move by William Hill to seek a price for the 29 per cent stake in William Hill Online owned by Playtech. William Hill has until next month to activate a call option for the stake, and the decision is likely to hang on the price.

Each party will appoint a bank to determine a price, and if their valuations are markedly different, a third independent bank will be asked for an assessment. Valuations have ranged from £300m up to £493m.

William Hill Online, one of the biggest online gambling operations in Europe, in April reported a 29 per cent rise in operating profit to £38.3m, buoyed by a 370 per cent rise in the amounts punters bet using mobile devices.


Read More: William Hill seeks price for Playtech stake - FT-com