Rumor Has It -- Rumors have begun to circulate regarding a possible deal between 888 and Blue Square, as 888 looks to launch a Europe-facing sports-betting service. 888 chief executive Gigi Levy told eGaming Review that, with regard to the deal, "nothing is finalized," though refused further comment. In its full-year report, released April 30, 888 said that it would continue to "investigate opportunities to add a sports-book proposition to its offering to fulfill its one-stop-shop strategy."
King, Real Ink Syndication Deal -- Skill games site King.com has entered into a syndication agreement with RealNetworks to integrate gaming content across the companies' gaming portals. "King's partnership with Zylom has been a terrific success over the last two years, and we are pleased to extend the partnership to the other RealNetworks sites," said King co-chief executive Toby Rowland.
IGT Releases Q3 Results -- International Gaming Technology has released third-quarter results, which show a 20 percent jump in profit, which the company attributed to strong product sales and growth in gambling operations. IGT saw earnings rise to $136.4 million, or $0.41 per share, compared to $114.1 million, or $0.33 per share, during Q3 2006. "IGT delivered another quarter of solid results with new records set on a number of fronts, despite lower replacement demand in Japan and a challenging domestic market," said IGT chairman and chief executive TJ Matthews. According to a survey conducted by Thomson Financial, analysts forecast a net income of $0.39 per share.
UKGC Publishes Annual Report -- The U.K. Gambling Commission has released its annual report, in which commission chairman Peter Dean extolled the progression of gambling-reform-related initiatives in the country. "It is a cause of great satisfaction that the reform has now been carried out and the [Gambling Act 2005] placed on the statute book, with the commission at the center of a new regulatory system," Dean said. In the year to March 2007, the commission reported an expenditure of £14.4 million and employed 218 staff. From Sept. 1, 2007, under the Gambling Act, the commission will assume "new, significant" legal powers to prosecute illegal gambling and to regulate the U.K.-based remote gambling and betting industry.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, PartyGaming was down 1.75p to 31.00, Sportingbet was down 1p to 53.25 and 888 was down 0.75p to 116.50.