League Bookie -- Authorities with the German Football Association (DFB) are considering establishing their own betting firm as a way to prevent match-fixing and help amateur soccer improve its earnings. If such a move were to occur, it would happen sometime after the 2006 World Cup. Theo Zwanziger, one of the DFB's two co-presidents, said bookmakers take in US$3.9 million worth of turnover on German matches each year. "We want to get a cut since we provide the foundation," Zwanziger said.
Racing Post Mobile -- The Racing Post has teamed up with mobile solutions firm Cellectivity to create a Racing Post Mobile service that is available to subscribers of all of the United Kingdom's cellular providers. The service gives users the ability to compare racing and football odds and place wagers with BlueSquare, Ladbrokes, PaddyPower, SportingOdds and Totalbet. Users can also open and manage accounts with those bookmakers through the Racing Post Mobile service.
Chimera in China -- Publicly listed I-gaming software provider Chimera Technology Corp. has announced that its 724Pay.com payment gateway will provide all of the company's current and future licensees with access to the Chinese gambling market.
Bulgarian SMS -- According to the Sofia News Agency, the Bulgarian Gambling Commission has stated that out of the multitude of companies running SMS games in coordination with TV programs, only two of them actually possess licenses to conduct such games. Gambling Commission Chief Mitko Kirov stated in mid February that all of the other companies are apparently trying to pass their games off as non-gambling. Kirov also stressed Bulgaria's need to tighten legislation governing the operation of the games.
Greek Case -- OPAP, the only company licensed by the Greek government to offer gambling games, has taken legal action against Coral Eurobet because the company advertised its betting products through the outdoor panels of Master Media, which is also facing legal action from OPAP. The one-member District Court of Athens has issued a temporary order prohibiting Eurobet from advertising any further in Greece, and Master Media has been ordered to take down all of Eurobet's outdoor advertising. A hearing of the case is scheduled for May 11.
iTouch -- U.K.-based mobile phone content supplier iTouch will soon begin testing a mobile blackjack gaming service. The company has already signed an agreement to provide a technology platform to distribute Zone4Play's mobile gaming services to iTouch customers through its direct mobile channel model and also via its media, telco and broadcast partners in the United Kingdom. iTouch is also negotiating partnership agreements with other gaming groups. The publicly listed company reported €5.3 million in profits in 2004.