We'll start with the good news for those of you who hate on-line gaming related firms for all the addictive traits associated with gambling. It is ironic that the US authorities are striving to protect its residents from the evils associated with anti social habit of gambling, by targeting company directors of listed companies with US facing on-line gaming businesses...arresting and charging them with racketeering and the taking of illegal bets, and tax evasion. Perversely, another gambler has been hit rather hard today....the ordinary investor, fund managers, etc.
The wrong kind of interest has hammered gaming associated stocks hard today, and the blood letting may not be over. I sure its not.
US Congress unexpectedly passed a bill this weekend that could help outlaw on-line gambling. The new proposals would make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to settle payments to on-line gambling sites.
The measures were tacked on to a bill aimed at enhancing port security, and passed on Saturday. The bill needs to be signed by President George Bush to become law.
For example, Nobody was partying at *PartyGaming or *888 Holdings as related companies plummeted today, with *PartyGaming lost 62p to 45p and 888 fell 38.25p at 108p. *Sportingbet lost a massive 134.5p to 49.75p, while Gaming VC, be it a European facing business, was also hit rather harshly, plummeting 30.5p to 108.5p. The U.S. legislation came as a shock to everybody, especially as in the last 8-years the bill never got through. Although early trading looked even worse, this will not be any comfort to anyone holding on-line gaming related stocks.
* Not Lemming Investor stocks
As we previously warned in mid August. The main battle is in the US where there is a ban in most states. The US has been a heated battleground surrounding moral issues for a few years now. An estimated 20 million Americans - well over half of those betting globally - visit on-line gambling sites - the Bush Government wants to keep the ban in place, arguing that Internet gambling threatens public morals and contributes to the spread of crime. With the US taking no prisoners (well, actually they did), the ante has been raised against US targeted gaming sector. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that prohibits the use of credits cards for gambling. Professor Joseph Kelly of the State University of New York, a leading US consultant to on-line gaming industry, believes "You can't enforce it. People will just use electronic cash entities like NETeller." This has been the cornerstone of our Bull argument for NETeller. So we thought. Unfortunately, the company has been hit harder than most related companies.
NETeller said the new US gaming legislation unexpectedly passed by the US Congress this weekend 'may have a material adverse effect' on its US facing business.
The company said it is considering the potential impact of the Act and once it has more information about what the regulations will stipulate, it will have a clearer view of which companies are affected, how those companies will be expected to comply, and any possible resulting impact on NETeller.
NETeller, which draw a large chunk of their income from money transfers to on-line gambling companies, were also badly impacted by the legislation. NETeller fell 214.5p to 140.5p.
On-line gaming software developer, Cryptologic also took a hit. Though not as harsh in percentage terms, nevertheless, the shares fell 245p at 957p. The company said Licensees will no longer take U.S. bets; after five years of planning have been hit. With more than 70% of its licensees' revenue now coming from outside the U.S. CryptoLogic is one of the industry's most geographically diversified businesses. In an attempt to quash investor fears, CEO Lewis Rose said, 'Since 2001, CryptoLogic has been shifting its business to Europe, and our record revenue and earnings in 2005 and 2006 to date flow from our success in the markets that embrace Internet gaming. 'While the new U.S. developments will be a challenge for the industry, our company's diversification, strong balance sheet, thriving European customers and potential new business in emerging markets enable us to face the future with confidence.'
http://www.lemminginvestor.com/newshub.html