Makin' Deals -- Gaming Insight plc today announced a deal with Euro off-track Ltd., a tote provider that is part of betinternet.com plc, to broadcast the remaining races of the Paddy Power Irish
Greyhound Derby. Gaming Insight will broadcast the races on its greyhound racing and betting channel, gobarkingmad. The deal will enable users to bet on the races directly from their interactive television set. David Sanderson, CEO of Gaming Insight, said the agreement means viewers in 6 million U.K. homes will be able to bet from home on the greyhound races. "This move by Euro off-track is a compelling vindication of the red-button racing proposition pioneered by gobarkingmad," he said.
Names and Faces -- Paddy Power plc is announcing the addition of Fintan Drury and Stephen Thomas to its board of directors as non-executive directors. Michael Quinn and Peter O'Grady
Walshe are resigning from the board and their positions as non-executive directors effective today. Drury is chairman of sports management company DSMI and Thomas is the CEO of Luminar plc, an independent operator of late-night entertainment venues in the United Kingdom.
Good Deeds -- MGM Mirage said today that its employee-funded philanthropic foundation is donating $1.9 million to charities in southern Nevada. "Our employees have once again demonstrated their incredible strength and resolve in doing the right thing to support the communities where we live, work and care for our families," said J. Terrence Lanni, chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage. The foundation, called the Voice Foundation, enables employees to make direct contributions or devote a part of their paycheck
directly to the fund.
New Stuff -- The BETonSports VIP Club had its grand opening on Aug. 24 in San Jose, Costa Rica. The company said celebrities including Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson from "That 70's Show" were in attendance.
Bit from Down Under -- Tattersall's said today that it will give back money that punters bet that the Bulldogs would win the National Rugby League premiership. John Mortimore, general manager of the company's sports betting division, said the money was being refunded in the interest of fairness to bettors. Less than one week ago, the Bulldogs were put of the running for the premiership when they were docked 37 points
for going above the league's AU$1 million salary cap. "It appears that many of our competitors are keeping bets placed on the Bulldogs, but we felt it was bad enough for Bulldogs supporters that their team lost the premiership, let alone that they lose their bets as well," Mortimore said.
Bit from the UK -- The U.K. government announced Wednesday that it is getting rid of the tax on bingo sales. John Healey, the economic secretary to the treasury, said by abolishing the tax, the government can boost the bingo industry, give players a better deal and strengthen the role bingo clubs play in community life. "If we can repeat for bingo the success of our tax reforms for betting and the pools, we will help to make the next twenty years ones of growth and development for bingo clubs, and help to safeguard their place in the heart of our local communities," he said.