NEW GIGA CHAIRMAN
GigaMedia Ltd. has appointed Michael Y.J. Ding, 51, a member of the online gaming developer's board since 2003, as its chairman.
"Michael Ding is widely viewed as one of the most respected and experienced finance executives in Asia, and we are very proud to welcome him as our new chairman," said Arthur Wang, the Taipei-based group's chief executive, in a company statement.
Mr. Ding's experience ranges from leading finance and investment banking firms including Waterland Securities, Fubon Securities Investment Consulting, Fubon Asset Management and R.O.C. Fund to writing a newspaper column covering economic and financial issues, according to GigaMedia. He has also served as chief economist and head of research at Citicorp International Securities in Taiwan.
LOCALIZED BINGO
Dragonfish,
888 Holdings' business-to-business division, has launched
El Catonazo, a Spanish bingo network, for
Daub Ltd., the company announced on Friday.
The localized platform, catering to the Spanish market, touts 90-ball and 75-ball rooms, 'quick play' games and features a partnership with Los Morancos, the Spanish comics.
WPT ITALY 'SUCCESS'
Both WPT Enterprises Inc. and Bwin Interactive Entertainment A.G. have called Italy's first World Poker Tour a "success."
The event, which took place at Casino di Venezia in early May, attracted 397 players and included poker pros such as Carlos Mortensen, Vanessa Rousso, Chad Brown and Surinder Sunar. At the close of the five-day tournament, Ragnar Astrom won $542,000, a $25,000 seat in the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas and an official WPT bracelet.
"The combination of the online and offline player experience coupled with the information systems and being able to offer bets on the tournament adds a whole new dimension to both sides," said Manfred Bodner, Bwin's co-chief executive, in a prepared statement.
At the tournament, Bwin introduced its "Live Tournament Information System" that provided real-time streaming information like leader boards and updates throughout the competition.
The tournament follows the closure of WPT China, which was discontinued in March 2009 because "cash needs to support the growth in this business were greater than the company was willing to expend," WPT Enterprises said in its first-quarter earnings report.
UPDATING
After spending nearly a year in beta form, Sporting Index, the spread betting operator, has unveiled its new Web site.
Mark Maydon, the firm's commercial director, said the beta site began as a prototype and was shaped by client input.
"Today’s website -- from the design to the functionality -- is therefore very much their creation," Mr. Maydon said in a company statement. "We’ve been really encouraged by the sheer amount of feedback we’ve received."
According to Sporting Index, clients showed the most interested in in-play betting and live prices, and the group said it has speeded up both functions. Updates also include a change in the bet placement and open bet areas.
NINTH U.S. CONTRACT
The New Hampshire Lottery has selected Intralot Inc., a subsidiary of Intralot S.A., to be its vendor to implement online and instant games, the Greek lottery supplier announced on Tuesday.
Coming in as Intralot's ninth United States contract, the agreement covers an installment period, six years of production operations and one option for a four-year renewal, the group said.
Plans to connect 1,250 lottery terminals to the company's "LOTOSTM O/S Central System" are set for July 1, 2010.