PAYMENT TACTICS REVEALED
With the dust just settling after last week's
$105 million deal between
PartyGaming and the
U.S. Justice Department, new legal documents have surfaced reportedly outlining how the online operator took American bets.
According to the London Times, these documents show that PartyGaming "used intermediaries to hide gambling payments while customers bought 'virtual' credit and phone cards so they could play without being detected by the American authorities."
"We had no intention of breaking any laws in the U.S., and we are not being charged with any offence," The Times quoted PartyGaming as saying. "The non-prosecution agreement is an amicable resolution to our situation in the U.S. before the law was changed on 13 October 2006, when we voluntarily exited the market."
SPONSORING
Last week Betfred, a privately held United Kingdom firm, announced a four-year partnership with World Snooker.
Through the partnership, the bookmaker said it will become the main sponsor of the World Snooker Championship for four years, and the event will be renamed the "Betfred.com World Snooker Championship."
"It's always been an ambition of mine to sponsor a World Championship, and this is a competition with so much history," said Fred Done, Bedfred's founder, in a company statement.
Additionally, Sir Rodney Walker, World Snooker chairman, was pleased to find a long-term sponsor during the recession.
"The fact we have been able to secure a four-year agreement within the current economic climate is testament to the popularity of snooker in the U.K. and internationally," he said.
LEGAL ACTION?
Intralot S.A., the Greek lottery operator, says the placement of its lottery products in Victorian shops has hurt its sales, and it believes Tatts Group Ltd. is to blame.
The Age reported on Sunday that Intralot is considering a $200 million class action suit against Tatts Group, an Australian lottery operator, for its favorable selling spots.
"There is no doubt that the designated area has hampered sales particularly in the early months of trading," Leo Watling, Intralot Australia's general manager, told The Age.
According to the newspaper, Mr. Watling said his company is exploring legal strategies but could not confirm whether Intralot would be moving forward with a lawsuit at this time.