Returning Champion -- Fun Technologies subsidiary WorldWinner has partnered with FreemantleMedia to launch an online, real-money version of Family Feud. The game sets participants against each other in a competition to identify the most popular answers to survey-type questions. "This partnership represents yet another step in our strategy to enhance the WorldWinner site with branded content, further demonstrating the integration between television and online games," said WorldWinner president Peter Blacklow.
Betdirect Overhauls Poker Site -- Betdirect announced this morning that its poker site will receive an overhaul in the coming weeks. The new site will feature tips from Betdirect-sponsored professional Angus Dunnington, and will cater to the "poker novice," said Betdirect spokesman Charlie McCann.
On Track -- Scientific Games has inked a deal with the Great Canadian Gaming (GCG) to run its pari-mutuel wagering systems. The agreement also sees Scientific Games supply racing terminals and its Quantum wager-processing system to GCG-operated racetracks in British Columbia and Ontario.
Uncertain Future -- Following Monday's news regarding the U.K. gambling ad policy review, the Guardian suggests that Prime Minister Gordon Brown's recent decision to nix plans for a supercasino "looks like the start of a retreat on the liberalization of gaming legislation pushed through by [former culture secretary] Tessa Jowell." Jowell's successor, James Purnell, is reportedly reviewing legislation allowing bookmakers to advertise on television. The news has been received poorly by the industry, the paper says, as "many of the major firms have commissioned campaigns and booked prime slots for Sept. 1, the day the current ban is to be lifted."
Swedish Government Targets 24hPoker -- Sweden's Gaming Board has reportedly solicited 24hPoker for information regarding the roles of its employees and the use of its trademark. "We want to ensure that the listed Swedish companies do not conduct any illegal activity," said Johan Rydstedt, who Gaming Intelligence Group identifies as a "lawyer working with issues concerning illegal gambling." Rydstedt added that while many gaming companies operate within the country, they are prohibited from "working with [, and deriving money from,] gaming-related tasks." The report, which is also carried by PokerListings.com, says that any operator found to be providing "illegal gambling" services "risks fines or imprisonment of between six months to two years." However, neither report specifies what constitutes "illegal gambling" in the country, whether 24hPoker had targeted Swedish players or what Mr. Rydstedt's official position in relation to the Swedish government is.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, Playtech was down 15.50p to 366, PartyGaming was down 0.50p to 34.25 and 888 was down 0.25p to 116.75.