Ladbrokes, Playwize Partner Up -- London-listed software developer Playwize has agreed to develop a version of its three-dimensional online poker product for the Ladbrokes poker network. The two-year agreement will be funded by a one-off development fee as well as licensing fees under a revenue sharing deal with Ladbrokes. "The agreement represents the first step in the company's new strategy to develop and license its online 3-D poker technology to third-party poker rooms," said Playwize Chief Executive Foo Katan.
On the Up -- The Guardian reports that the British Gambling Prevalence Study, scheduled to be published Wednesday by the U.K. Gambling Commission, is expected to show that as many as 800,000 U.K. residents are "problem gamblers." A similar study was conducted in 1999 and found that around 300,000 respondents (out of 33 million) experienced significant problems with gambling. The Independent also carries a report ahead of the study's release and estimates that as many as 600,000 U.K. residents could be "hooked." The paper speculates that the "dramatic rise [in problem gamblers] over the past eight years ties in with the increasing popularity of online betting and touch screen roulette games where players can bet anything up to £300 a minute."
Another One -- Inspired Gaming today announced a $1 million agreement to deploy its server-based gaming (SBG) products across Asia. In April, the company announced a similar deal with Asian sports betting and casino operator Silver Heritage, which purchased 250 of its SBG terminals. The company added that it would invest a further $5.5 million in server-based gaming and casino technology in the region.
Svenska Spel Launches Televised Ad Campaign -- Gaming Intelligence Group reports that Svenska Spel has launched its first televised ad campaign in an effort to compete with advertising from gaming operators based outside of the country. According to the report, the United Kingdom's legislation, as well as the numerous international broadcasters it hosts, has given private operators the opportunity to advertise in areas "that would otherwise not be permissible." As Poker Channel Commercial Director Christopher White explained to IGN in March, EU law--the Television Without Frontiers Directive--allows U.K. regulation to cover channels that are broadcast out of the United Kingdom into Europe.
More from Italy -- Gambling Compliance reports that in the second half of September the Italian government is expected to announce which skill games operators will be able to make available to the Italian public. The news source says that the Italian media are already abuzz with details that have been released unofficially, among them that the The Amministrazione Automona dei Monopoli di Stato (AAMS), Italy's state gambling monopoly, appointed U.K.-based operator King.com as consultant in the early stages of planning. Much discussion between the AAMS, Italian Government and the operators themselves has been dedicated to where, and if, poker and its variants will fit into the offering. According to reports, poker will be included but no cash games will be allowed.
Stealing the Show -- A young Norwegian woman stole the show, and the prize money, as the first World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) tournament, sponsored by Betfair, came to a close on Sunday in London. Annette Obrestad, an 18-year-old online poker player from Sandnes, Norway, broke records not only with her age--she is the youngest WSOP winner ever--but surpassed poker pro Annie Duke's record for the woman with the most money won in WSOP events ($2 million). Obrestad collected $2.013 million, having beat out 362 players across the six-day Main Event.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, Playtech was down 12p to 344, Neteller was down 3.50p to 94 and William Hill was down 12p to 617.