Member Info for JohnLewis79

I quote from update:... *.....improvement has been driven by a robust performance... *....board expects ebita to be ahead of market forecasts... *.....board expects that interim profits will be ahead of market... So despite the downer 'put option' exercise the shares have barely moved which sadly is the usual market reaction to good news these days. I remember the days when a statement like that from a CEO would have lit up the share price! The markets seem to focus on the negatives and for sure there are a few, the put and currency worries... but imo Zam's prospects clearly outweigh the aforementioned and anything under 15 is in bargain basement territory. I'm happy to be still invested although I have had to extend my time frame somewhat and with a couple of my other shares showing signs of life, I may just tuck these away in the bottom drawer and forget about them?

Very confident statement by Irwin re prospects for the next 6 months should give us a small boost early doors?

Expected to be ahead of market forecasts!

Sads announced Q 1 results this morning. Not much to say as the new CEO delivers his new turn -around strategy. Only point of interest to a non holder was they have a £3M liability should Leicester win the Prem. It's touch and go now and we all know something happens to rescue the bookies at the last noggins, well its happened to me often enough, so they may get out of jail on that one!

Sp retrace to current symptomatic of a few nervous holders fearing the vat decision going against us. Often happens in stocks awaiting game changing news and more so as we await news on two fronts. Excellent opportunity to pick up some cheapos if you fancy the UT will overturn HMRC appeal and double bubble if Hogg succeeds in taking the pools over. Pointless speculating further forward than that but the attractions of a treble have not passed me by.....!!!

Dec 23 Spo announced it had received a number of proposals to purchasel the Pools and interested parties were given till mid Jan to submit offers. I suspect of the 3 bidders only one is left....... the Hogg consortium that matched Sportech's valuation. I read that they were given a grace period to raise funds. I don't believe that, I'm sure Hogg had the funds. If so why the delay? Assuming monies were available back in Jan and Hogg satisfied all other criteria (licenses etc) why 3 months later has the deal not been completed? It's been speculated that the Co don't want to announce the sale until the vat decision? I guess that's possible but surely an adjustment to the sale price could be agreed should Spo win? After all we may still be waiting in June! None of this supposes a full bid for Spo which I think is unlikely at this late stage. A bidder should have struck back in Dec.....if not earlier when the sp had dropped into the low 50's. However things play out I'd rather be in than out!

I remember when it was first mooted that we would be entering the Indian gaming market........must be 5-6 years ago to provide "cricket pools." This seemed a wonderful opportunity for Spo to leapfrog the likes of WH who had feelers out in the sub continent and lead the race to become the No 1 legally regulated betting operator. Obtaining licenses firstly in Sikhim proved tortuously long drawn out, Indian bureaucracy being what it is was probably the reason the cricket pools were stalled. Now that we have prescence in the Horse Racing industry via Sporting & Racing licences for a pools type operation have probably been granted? Everything Spo touches seems to get delayed or put back or we suffer bad luck that I wonder if we have not missed the boat in India. The Co never came clean on the reasons for the Pools delays, as far as I know and while I can see the advantages getting ramped up and running with Playwin after so many delays is going to cost!! I doubt Hogg will be best pleased if we form an "India pools" division if indeed that's the idea or are the cricket pools dead and buried? Whatever we are in a very good space even if the market still views us with suspicion as a laggard among the go -go betting firms I reckon the upside could be of the order of 50 should we catch a break on the vat & pools sale.

I see India is back on Spo board minutes...heh heh heh!!! Strange after initial interests that we were going to become the leading gaming provider of lotteries and cricket pools....a deathly hush descended over all plans. With interest revived with Playwin our Indian partner some of our vat/pools win monies could be heading to the betting (most of it illegal) mad Indian continent perhaps via Sportech & Racing initially?

Last time we were at the "airified" height of 70 was last August when CG made their 'non-bid' for Spo and we're soon tumbled by everyone as a bunch of chancers the sp dropping quickly to c 55-60. Not this time. Hogg has credibility and solid backing which he will need if going the IPO route is his preferred option? That so far is market chatter but obviously makes sense to bring the Pools to market with those GP nos! We will probably tread water around this sp range (70-80) until both outcomes are resolved. Post the Pools & Vat?.....now that is the $64k question!

According to the WSJ about 20 US States already have pending legislation that would largely permit fantasy sports of the daily variety. Rhode Island Attorney General has deemed DFS contests likely legal under State law. In contrast to the action being taken by the NY Attorney General why are there so many restrictions on gambling games in America and how does State Law differ? Broadly speaking laws differ from State to State and fall into 4 groups: 1) States that ban contests where chance is a predominant factor. 2) States that ban contests where chance is a material factor. 3) States that ban contests with any degree of chance. 4) States that ban all cash games of skill and chance. 5) States that ban all contests that are FUN to play. Ok I made up no 5 but Gordon Bennett that's the logical next step. I guess you picks your State and you takes your chance but mind crossing the road it's odds against you'll make it in NY State.

Morning M. Seems the case has aroused a little interest in Spo, the volumes of late while hardly voluminous are better than normal. Perhaps the UT will surprise us with a speedy decision? The turnaround from early March lows of 50 has been most 'unsportech' like putting on c 40% one has to go back to late 2012/early 2013 when the sp put on c 20p on news of N.Jersey permitting on line betting and the F/Y results. The shares were trading around 87-88 when news of the vat win spiked the stock to 119. HMRC were given leave to appeal by end April 2013 and the Upper tier turned HMRC down in late May only to reverse their decision in late June. The case was heard in April 2014 and duly ruled against Spo in Sep 2014 the shares tanking 20 to 58. So here we are once again waiting for the final final, well never say final ruling on the SPB saga. I cannot see any court granting an appeal this time round. Surely this is the end of the matter? We win 2-1 in extra time one for the little guys!!

Anything between 1-3 months to reach a decision!??? Well they are lawyers!! Keep this baby running!

T.Hemmings nag Many Clouds (fav) for the Grand National lost at Liverpool so if your superstitious it does not bode well for Spo? I'm not and I don't read tea leaves or wear my socks inside out. The merits of our case should win the day as long as the submissions did not get bogged down on whether posting a coupon is called a game or any of the other blind alleys HMRC have tried to go down in order to confuse the Judge. It's going to be a nail biting few weeks.

Morning bags...yes of course in the lap of the God's! Seems play 'ol common sense has been lost in the myriads of argument. When did anyone last win the jackpot on spb?....think the answer is never! So much for a game of skill! I was in a bearish mood when I posted prev but I just have a nagging feeling were gonna get screwed! The last reversal by the Tribunal was just plain silly, so having done it once?.... Initially we could take a 10p hit but as you say the air would be cleared and might uncover a lurking predator to bid for the whole Co? A long shot I grant you. Can't fathom the delay on the Pools unless the bod are waiting for the vat decision and then announce a blockbuster rns? I'm trying not to get ahead of myself counting all the vat & pools monies we might have to invest in the US, but worst way we could be debt free and c £100m in the kitty. Let's hope they don't keep us hanging about for the result!

Ok....I'm going out on a limb here...cos there are so many vested interests dependent on the decision.... (other cases in the queue) for starters...... that I'm betting it's a knock back for Sportech. Now I ain't got 'shorts' on (not in my dna)..so that despite a common sense approach to the case, a contrarian view will prevail. Seems the market are pretty neutral as to the outcome so I doubt a 20% fall..at worst. Am.going to sign off with views not completely developed....

Bulls have resumed coverage of Spo (last recommend was Buy @54) and advise to stay long. One for the "squiggly line" followers among you. Not for me as the only line I'm interested in.....no not that one!! ....is the one going UP. 'D' day tomorrow( if the lawyers turn up?) and expect arguments to take at most two days. Presume it's a new bench who will/won't have the benefit of previous submissions so may not be up to speed? Reckon no decision for a month.

At long last the case now running into Jarndyce v Jarndyce territory will be finally resolved, well hopefully in this country! I suspect if we succeed HMRC will call it a day as adding another layer of costs to such a small sum, considering the fees already racked up by the shysters does not make sense. I feel sure we will do the same though I know of one large pis holder who would go to hell and back to see this through to the European Courts of Appeal or anyone else who would hear our case! Won't happen! This bloody vat business has taken up too much of the Co & investors time and stumps need to be drawn come the decision.

Morning Bruce. ..ain't that always the way! Hope you did not compound your selling of Spo into another loser! Out of a good'un into a bad'un been down that road myself a few times! Good luck anyway. Speak soon JL.

Your very generous M but really no need to send me a case of wine. Let's just say I shall metaphorically raise a few glasses while tap dancing to my local winery! I hope the good sense of the bench see this for what it is, nothing more than a game of some skill and a bucket full of luck!

All bets off (sale of pools) until Tribunal decision. Well 'engineered' imo to coincide with the Court case. Arguments expected to take no more than two days then who knows? Could be a matter of days or more likely a month which i think was the case last time? The rise today reflects investors interest in the outcome, of we hope the final appeal and this long running saga can at last be put to rest.