Tough Break for Sportswinbet -- Sportswinbet announced Monday that it will not proceed with the trial of its branded sports book operated by Kolarmy Technology. Sportswinbet, an investment company with I-gaming interests, said it will continue to look for investment opportunities in line with its stated investment policy.
Solid Q1 for Probability -- Mobile gambling firm Probability has released first-quarter KPIs, which show a 15.5 percent rise in gross profit, with player participation up 14 percent. The company said its performance was strengthened by continued growth in its mobile bingo product. It also expects a positive effect from the U.K. smoking ban, and that its cash balance at the end of June totaled £1.23 million, in line with its expectations.
Sino Expands Chinese Presence -- Sino Strategic-subsidiary Shanghai Kelo Investment Management has announced an agreement with the Chongqing Welfare Lottery Issuing Center (CWLIC), which sees Shanghai Kelo distribute CWLIC lottery gaming products.
Risky Business -- According to the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative (SSIGI), the cross-border I-gaming dispute between Antigua and the United States stands to threaten the credibility of the World Trade Organization. Speaking at a recent Cato Institute Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., policy analyst Sallie James called the U.S. response "unprecedented in dispute settlement history." James said that if the United States indeed withdrew its obligations to the General Agreement on Trade in Services, the impact would be "unique in the organization's history and would also be extremely damaging to its credibility." "The United States should act now to address this international trade violation and end its prohibition of Internet gambling," echoed SSIGI representative Jeffrey Sandman.
Phantom Upgrades -- Mobile solutions provider Phantom Fiber has upgraded its mobile platform to accommodate a broader range of handsets and PDAs, in anticipation of its expansion into the European market.
NASDAQ De-Lists ISWI -- The NASDAQ announced Monday that shares in Interactive Systems Worldwide will be de-listed, pending the filing of a Form 25 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. According to NASDAQ, the de-listing is effected 10 days after the Form 25 is filed.
Fingers Crossed -- The U.K. National Lottery Commission will announce the "preferred bidder" for the third U.K. National Lottery license on Aug. 7 at 10 p.m. Sugal & Damani, the India-based operator, was the only group to bid against incumbent operator Camelot.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, PartyGaming was up 0.75p to 28.50, 888 was up 3p to 115 and Playtech was up 4p to 358.