This Month
Major Ainsworth investor accuses pokies giant of understating assets
The son of the company’s billionaire founder has commissioned valuations that he says show properties owned by the business are worth 40 per cent more.
Crown Resorts could replace Star under Queen’s Wharf plan
Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium do not want Star Entertainment to run its Brisbane casino.
Escalante sets up second casino business, annoying VGW investors
The Perth businessman quietly established Kickr, which provides some of the same services as Virtual Gaming Worlds, the company he wants to take private.
Former SkyCity CEO among directors, officers targeted in legal action
The investor-led court action seeking redress for Austrac penalties will be closely watched by shareholders of Westpac, Star and Crown.
ASX’s fetish for dual-class shares is downright nuts
Computershare’s PointsBet fiasco, the ASX’s James Hardie waiver and its fetish for dual-class shares are the result of decades of policy malaise and neglect of financial infrastructure.
June
ASIC making inquiries into botched vote on PointsBet takeover
Shareholders in bookmaker PointsBet were caught up in a botched vote last week to approve a $402 million takeover offer from Japanese entertainment giant Mixi.
Computershare saves PointsBet from its own constitution
In Sam Swanell’s and Brett Paton’s eagerness to explain the exclusion of Betr’s votes, it seems some finer print was overlooked.
WiseTech investor Michael Gregg buys three-year Everest slot
Michael Gregg, who rejoined WiseTech’s board earlier this year, has bought his new venture Mulberry Racing a slot in the big race for three years.
Computershare emerges as villain in PointsBet and Betr’s snafu
The share registry provider has overseen more investor votes than most people have watched Melbourne Cups. This one is becoming a headache for all involved.
Blackstone says Crown overhauling the ‘fun stuff’ after licence return
The private equity giant says it is investing in the casino’s hotels and restaurants after repairing governance and money-laundering risk issues.
Pointsbet’s $400m scheme-meeting blow-up looks like a fat-finger farce
A Japanese social media company paying $400 million cash for a bitsy Australian bookmaker is not the most crazy thing about this deal.
Shuffle follows Stake into the gutter
It seems the crypto casino operators are keen to emulate their heroes in more ways than one.
A messy wagering takeover battle could change the market forever
PointsBet is in the sights of Japan’s Mixi and Matthew Tripp’s Betr. Neither side wants to let go of the prize in a rapidly consolidating market.
PointsBet’s takeover saga not over as rival Betr waves cash buyback
The two ASX-listed bookmakers have been at odds since the arrival of Japanese social media and entertainment giant Mixi this year.
Mystery at the heart of $20m in PointsBet shares
You know a prospective offer is a good deal when it offers payouts for performance not yet delivered.
Chris Minns blows up Crown pokie dream at Sydney casino
The NSW premier has ruled out lifting a restriction on pokies at Sydney’s second casino after a scathing report on failed harm minimisation.
Israel strikes Iran; Plane’s mayday call; CEO’s criminal probe
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Pokies giant leaves investors in dark about CEO’s criminal probe
For years, the chief executive of Ainsworth Game Technology has been under criminal investigation in Austria. The ASX-listed company hasn’t told shareholders.
Billionaires Escalante and Arnaout taking liberties with ASIC
The Perth entrepreneur’s attempt to wrestle back total control of VGW should have been a bit more obvious were its disclosures made in time.
V’landys backs Tabcorp’s Gil McLachlan in pub wagering stand-off
The wagering giant plan to scrap commissions for pubs and clubs has irked the powerful hotels’ lobby. The racing industry sees things differently.