The Seventy-Cent Extradition? -- Betcha.com founder Nicholas Jenkins and two other Betcha employees face possible extradition to from Washington to Louisiana, reported Jenkins in his blog on Betcha's Web site, after the site allegedly facilitated $35 in Internet bets from a Louisiana resident. "Our crime: some guy in Louisiana used our site to take $35 worth of bets from other bettors, whereby we made exactly $0.70 in gross revenue," Jenkins wrote. If extradited, and subsequently convicted, the three could face up to five years in prison and $20,000 in fines, under Louisiana State Code. One spokesman with the Louisiana State Police Gambling Enforcement Division (SPGED) told IGN he had not yet heard the outcome of the hearing. However, a different SPGED spokesman said that he knew that the extradition hearing was "upcoming," but was unsure of the date. More on this to come.
New Biz Model for 24hPoker -- Swedish online poker company 24hPoker is taking on a new consumer-based approach. The company has diversified its operations into two divisions: a business-to-business company and a new business-to-consumer sector. 24hPoker Holding AB will focus on fortifying its position as a gaming supplier, while 24hPoker.com is setting its sights on becoming a stronger consumer brand in the Scandinavian market. In doing so, the company has signed a letter of intent with Martinspoker.com regarding the incorporation Martinspoker.com and Staffpoker.com, which will facilitate the strengthening of the 24hPoker.com brand.
Neteller Optimistic about Interim Results -- Neteller announced today that it is optimistic about its forthcoming interim results, despite the legal and financial challenges it has faced during the first half. The company said it has returned more that $71 million of the $94 million owed to U.S. customers, in accordance with its settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over illegal gambling-related charges in the United States. Moreover, if Neteller meets all the terms of the settlement agreement, the charges will be dropped in two years. The company will release results for the first six months ended June 30 on Aug. 23.
Crypto Launches New Product on WPT site -- Toronto-based software developer CryptoLogic has launched a new Vegas-style casino brand on the World Poker Tour (WPT) gaming site. CryptoLogic and WPT Enterprises have signed an agreement through which WagerLogic, CryptoLogic's wholly owned subsidiary, would be the sole software supplier of the new casino offering.
PlayLine Launches BetonBattles -- ESI Entertainment Systems Inc. subsidiary PlayLine Technologies has launched a skill gaming site called BetonBattles.com, targeting to the 18 to 30 year old market segment. PlayLine is kicking off the launch with CasinoBoB, a multiplayer first-person shooter game in which players compete head-to-head using an array of weapons including toothpick guns, olive launchers, dice bombs, and poker chip shooters, and the battleground is a virtual casino. BetonBattles will not take U.S. play from the 14 states where local statues prohibit skill gaming. PlayLine also announces the World Series of Battles, from which the cream of the crop will compete in the $100,000 tournament to be held in Las Vegas.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, 888 was up 1.25p to 108.75, PartyGaming was up 0.50p to 24.25 and Ladbrokes was up 10p to 383.25. In Vienna, bwin was 0.86 euros to 17.76 euros, while in Stockholm, Unibet was up was down SEK 3.50 to SEK 184.00.