Europe news: bwin.party avoid shareholder revolt; Poker networks sign up Spaniards; Serbia to regulate soon

euro flag 1Bwin.party digital entertainment is the latest firm to survive the march of the shareholders with their renumeration report passing the AGM with flying colours. Lower than eight per cent of shareholders disagreed with the money being paid to Mr Ryan and Mr Teufelberger with 92.36 percent agreeing that the wonga they were awarded was the right amount. Jim Ryan took home €1.63 million, made up of €573,000 salary, €519,281 cash bonus, €523,772 worth of deferred shares and €15,933 in benefits. Norbert Teufelberger, in comparison, took €1.48m, including a €429,750 salary and €519,281 bonus. That should end any speculation as to who wears the trousers in that relationship.

GTECH G2 has announced that six amigos have signed up to their Spanish poker network. Grup Peralada, Acrismatic, Orenes Groupo, Grupo Comar, Grupo Nervion and Suertia are all part of GTECH’s Spanish gang and CEO Walter Bugno told CardPlayer: “We are delighted to announce the launch of the Spanish Poker Network, and to have been awarded 10 licenses that will enable us to provide our partners, and, in turn, their players, with a simply great gaming experience.”

Ongame has also launched its Spanish offering with Paf and Goalwin opting to join the network. Peter Bertilsson, managing director of Ongame, added: “We are proud to once again be one of the first poker networks in a major regulated market,” said “We have established direct contacts with all major land-based operators in addition to the online operators. Negotiations with several operators are ongoing.”

Serbia could be the next company to throw its hat into the online gaming industry ring. A spokesperson from industry body JAKTA told eGR that a deal signed between Sportingbet and the country’s national lottery, Državna lutrija Srbije (DLS) will be the precursor to the market becoming regulated. Milenka Acimovic, president of JAKTA, added: “Serbia will bring new technical rules very soon and we are expecting more than 10 licences for online gambling to be issued in near future. We are expecting gaming laboratories to be appointed very soon, and for the majority of Serbian operators it is obvious that they can see ‘the light at the end of the tunnel’ and that Serbian gaming market is going to be well regulated and very profitable.”