The respected poker information website Pokerlistings.com reports that Andreas Oscarsson, its founder, has suffered a violent death in Sweden whilst visiting his childhood home in Trollhättan, western Sweden.

Details are still sketchy, but it appears that he was found dead in his bed with a gunshot wound on August 3rd.

“For all of us who began building PokerListings with Andreas several years ago, he was a close friend and we will miss him dearly,” said a statement from Pokerlistings.

“Andreas left the operational side of PokerListings just over two years ago, shortly after the birth of his son, and had moved into an advisory role, drawing on his vast experience to lead the current team when needed.

“He was a great source of inspiration and energy to anyone he encountered – at least if you were on the same side of the fence (for those on the other side of the fence, he was a tough negotiator and a worthy, highly respected opponent).

“Andreas was a very generous person to those close to him, a brilliant internet marketing guru and a savvy business entrepreneur – always looking to break new ground, and break new records.

“He was a true pioneer within the industry; his vision with PokerListings.com was to build a world-leading online gambling company. We shall not let him down, and will bring his vision all the way to the finish line in honor of his memory – you can take that to the bank.

“Those of us who knew him well would say that most of all he was a warm and loving father.

“Our thoughts and condolences go out to Andreas’ son, family & friends.

“Andreas, we will forever miss you.

“Sincerely, The PokerListings.com Team”

Reports from Sweden indicate that Oscarsson (36) was visiting Sweden with his two year old son, when it appears that a person or persons unknown broke into the family home and shot the Internet entrepreneur.

Local police are reportedly uncertain of the motive for the attack, but media reports quoting friends and colleagues in Stockholm and Gothenburg suggest that ‘concrete threats’ had been aimed at Oscarsson.

Oscarsson’s wife flew from New York to Sweden on hearing the tragic news of her husband’s untimely death.

The English-language Swedish newspaper TheLocal.se reported:

“A 36-year-old Swede resident in the United States was shot dead during a visit to his family’s home in Trollhättan in western Sweden on Tuesday in a suspected murder believed to have been witnessed by the victim’s two year-old son.

“Several relatives, including the 2-year-old boy, were in the house where the man was found dead on Tuesday afternoon, Thord Haraldsson, head of the police anti-crime unit in Trollhättan, told news agency TT.

“None of the man’s family members are suspected of being involved in the murder, however.

“The man moved to the United States ten years ago but originally came from Trollhättan and had been on holiday in Sweden when he was shot dead, Aftonbladet reports. He had planned to leave Sweden on Tuesday.

“A forensics investigation has been conducted at the scene and a preliminary investigation has indicated murder or manslaughter,” said Robert Edh, commander of the police communication centre in Gothenburg.

“Police have questioned the man’s relatives and spoken with neighbours in search of witnesses. A crisis team has also worked with the man’s family.”

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The advertising agency Grey London’s business relationship with online gambling group 888 has come to an end after barely five months, according to reports in the UK marketing media this week which say the falling out was over a series of disagreements over money.

Gray, which was appointed to the GBP 3 million account in February this year after a three way pitch that did not include it’s former agency CHI & Partners completed only one campaign for the gambling company before resigning the account.

It is understood that 888.com is currently assembling a selection of agencies for a re-pitch with an August target date in mind.

The recent liberalisation of gambling advertising in the UK, which allows gambling ads after 9pm, has placed growing importance on recruiting the right advertising companies.

Casino Espresso.com is a new, Italian-targeted live dealer online casino, poker and sportsbetting venue powered by Gaming Zone Limited and offering live Roulette, Blackjack, Punto y Banco and 30 et 40 which is streamed live from Malta’s Casino di Venezia.

Licensed by Malta’s LGA, the operation also offers more traditional online gambling on slots and video poker.

The normally buoyant sports betting margins at Swedish online gambling group Betsson recorded a first half 2.6 percentage point decline in the six months to June 30 2009, dropping from 10.5 percent to 7.9 percent.

Management blamed a run of sports results that favoured the player rather than the operator for the decline, which was also apparent in the quarterly numbers, where a 9.8 percent margin slipped to 4.7 percent.

Betsson chief executive Pontus Lindwall remained optimistic, however, commenting that customer action and deposits had never been higher than in the second quarter, indicating solid growth.

H1 2009 revenues were up 29 percent to SEK 600 million ($80 million), from SEK 464.7 million in H1 2008, and on a quarterly basis were up 20 percent to SEK 284.6 million (Q2 2008: SEK236.9 million).

There was a slight one percent increase in pre-tax profit to SEK 62 million over the quarter and a 22 percent rise to SEK145 million over the first half of the year.

Deposits by the punters grew by 32 percent during the second quarter and gross sportsbook turnover rose 73 percent to SEK 644.8 million (Q2 2008: SEK373.2 million).

The Malta-based scratch card games developer Neo Games has signed an agreement with Betsson which will see the integration of this style of instant win games on the Betsson platform, management revealed. Betsson will launch a white label platform in partnership with Nordic Entertainment to exploit the format.

70 percent of total gross profit for Q2 2009 came from casino operations, up 10 percent on the same period last year. Poker saw a decline, from 19 percent last year to 14.2 percent this time, and sportsbetting contributed 11.5 percent of gross profits, nicely up on the 7.5 percent recorded in the Q2 2008.