C4 Snub -- Betfair is livid with broadcasters at U.K. horse racing station Channel 4 over their failure to credit the betting exchange during its extensive Cheltenham Festival coverage. C4's exchanges expert Tanya Stephenson on Tuesday referred generically to "the exchanges" rather than Betfair by name during a report of the in-running prices available during the first race. Betfair feels it should be given credit the way bookmakers are when traditional prices are mentioned. C4 said there was no bias in its reporting and Betfair is regularly mentioned.
Myth and Facts -- Internet gambling advocacy site OnlineGamblingMythAndFacts.com (OGMF) has published a list of counterarguments to concerns expressed in Rep. James Leach's Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Some examples include the myth that "online gambling is more susceptible to money laundering than land-based gambling." OGMF says that "there is no credible evidence of money laundering associated with online gambling. Land-based gambling in venues such as casinos and race tracks is more susceptible to money laundering than online gambling." Leach also says that "online gambling presents greater risks of addiction and abusive gambling." But OGMF say that online gambling has a better chance of being monitored to avoid problem gambling than traditional forms of land-based gambling."
We Lost . . . Badly -- Of interest to IGN's publisher, River City Group, a horse named "River City" raced in the Cheltenham Festival's Queen Mother Champion Chase today. While still fighting to be in the race, River City threw its rider and lost at the ninth. Let the records show that River City Group has no interest or relations with this horse, its ownership, its jockey or its trainers (although, had it performed better, we might have claimed otherwise). We are waiting by the phones for Betfair to call with an MOU proposal.
Demo -- Israel gaming company Namtiori Ltd. has launched a demo version of another Stock Exchange-based game (patent pending) called "Real-Trade-Gaming." Access at this time is granted only to a select group of operators, specifically companies with existing gaming interests looking to expand their operations portfolio.
Change -- North American racecourse owner Magna Entertainment Corp. (MEC) announced Tuesday that its board is on the hunt for a new CEO with in-depth knowledge in the horse racing and gaming industry to replace its current CEO, Tom Hodgson. "Tom Hodgson joined MEC in early 2005 to develop and implement the Company's recapitalization plan which was announced in July 2005," MEC Chairman Frank Stronach said. "Under his leadership, the recapitalization plan has progressed well." Hodgson will leave his positions at the company and step down from the board at the end of March of this year but will make himself available on a consulting basis to assist in a transition, and as needed to assist in closing pending transactions.