BRANDED
After finishing 2008 with a 120 percent year-over-year business-to-business revenue spike,
888 Holdings has branded its successful division as
Dragonfish.
Announced on Wednesday, the new brand shows 888’s dedication to making its B2B arm a major player, the company said.
“The new name and divisional structure represents the scale of our ambitions as we continue to expand the B2B business and through the growth of our client base and service offerings we aim to make Dragonfish a leading player in the B2B market,” said Gabi Campos, Dragonfish’s managing director, in a company statement.
The online gaming operator moved into the B2B market in 2007 with business surging just one year later.
888 said it is currently looking for new partners in three areas: online gaming operators, media companies and land-based casinos and lotteries.
VAT REFUND?
Sportech wants to get more than £40 million back in overpaid VAT, or value-added tax, from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, which it said was paid in error.
The pools betting operator said on Tuesday that it has submitted a £40 million claim to Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, or HMRC, for the repayment of an overpaid VAT from “Spot the Ball” game it offered from 1979 to 1996.
Additionally, the company said that it was unsure whether it would succeed in gaining back the funds and has been advised that it could take years to do so.
According to The Press Association , Sportech believes that “Spot the Ball” is a game of chance and that should not have had to pay additional taxes on the game.
SNUBBED
After nearly two decades of service, The Louisiana Lottery Corporation passed up Gtech Corporation and awarded Intralot Inc. a 10-year contract to run new online and instant gaming systems starting in 2010.
The subsidiary of Intralot S.A. said on Wednesday that this contract win marks its seventh United States contract.
Gtech, the state lottery’s current provider, was notified last week that its contract, which expires in 2010, would not be renewed.
“With the selection of Intralot as our new gaming partner, we are confident that the people of Louisiana will be well-served as we leverage Intralot’s new technology and marketing expertise to continue to bring innovative and exciting new games to the players,” said Rose Hudson, president of the Louisiana Lottery Corporation, in a prepared statement.
SIGNING
Youbet.com Inc. has renewed an agreement with Keeneland Association Inc. to carry all racing content through 2009, the company announced on Tuesday.
The California company said its Youbet Express customers will be able to watch and wager on all Keeneland’s races through 2009.