Two online casino operators are making the news

This month’s online casino news features two of the major players in the online gaming sector, both of which have had their problems over the last couple of years. Last year’s merger between Party Gaming and Bwin of Austria appeared to be a very logical move from a commercial point of view, but the reality of the formation of Bwin Party has not always gone according to plan. Part of the problem has of course been the uncertainty of new regulations governing online casino and online sports gambling throughout Europe over the last two years, although it has to be said that Bwin Party are not the only online casino games operator to suffer from the introduction of new legislation in various countries. Nevertheless, the merger is now almost complete and Jim Ryan one of the co-chief executives has decided to leave the company and return to his native Canada. He is credited with securing several potentially lucrative partnerships during his tenure and overseeing the expansion of the enlarged group in the newly regulated European online gaming market. His departure has not been a surprise and many analysts welcome the fact that the company will now have a sole chief executive in Norbert Teufelberger. Meanwhile Betfair are also responding to the uncertainty of European online casino legislation, and their new chief executive Breon Corcoran is to pull out of unregulated markets altogether, slash costs and refocus the company on its core betting exchange. It is not yet clear whether Betfair will continue to offer online poker and casino games, but expectations are that they will dispose of more of their international businesses. Both of these online gambling companies have seen big falls in their share price over the last few months so we await the outcome of their latest plans.