News in brief: Gala near re-financing; Amuso, Cashball, NYX to launch site; GTech G2; Intercasino... 20/01/2010

GALA CORAL could be close to refinancing, with lengthy negotiations understood to be near a resolution. Gala's senior lenders, led by the Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group and Alcentra are in talks with the holders of its £540m of mezzanine debt regarding a proposal to convert the debt into equity. The mezzanine holders have been requested to make a cash payment of up to £150m, raised by way of a rights issue. Gala currently has net debts of £2.5bn, which would be cut to less than £2bn if the conversion of the mezzanine debt into equity went through. The operator is owned by private equity houses Candover, Cinven and Permira. 

Online game show business Amuso has signed a deal with online gaming network operator Cashball and Swedish gaming technology provider NYX Interactive to create a trivia gaming network with an integrated bingo and casino suite based on the NYX account. The network will also feature TV quiz show formats. The Cashball branded bingo network will go live in the first quarter of this year and will be syndicated to existing and new media partners. 

Fourteen UK sites on GTech G2’s International Bingo Network (IBN) have upgraded their bingo and mini games with the new G2 Bingo 2.2 software release and moved to a newly expanded network to take advantage of pooled liquidity across European markets. The sites in the initial migration include UK bingo brands: Butlins, Chit Chat Bingo, Littlewoods and Yahoo! Bingo. 

InterCasino and its poker arm, InterPoker, will launch overhauled sites developed by branding consultants Michael Peters & Partners on 24^th February. 

Mahjong software developer Mahjong Logic Network has launched a real money version of the game. Mahjong Logic was granted its egaming license on 31 December 2009.

The Microgaming Poker Network will run a €10+€10 buy-in tournament on 22 January, with the €10 fee being entirely donated to the Haitian Health Foundation, who will use the funds for disaster relief in Haiti. The Microgaming Poker Network will match all funds raised from the tournament. 

Greentube is to present an expansion in its casino product portfolio at the IGE show in London next week, following an investment in new casino software. Games titles include Mermaid’s Pearl, Bugs’N Bees, Ramses II, The Alchemist, 3 different versions of Videopoker and Sic Bo.

This month saw the introduction of Alderney’s new licensing framework. Alderney’s new regulatory regime will be showcased at the AlderneyGambling stand at IGE.

Don't miss out on egaming news: sign up for our free, daily Snapshot email. Or get the news as its breaks with the free eGaming Review RSS feed.

Posted: 20/01/2010