Italian Policy -- The Italian government's budget proposal for the next year reportedly describes a method to crack down on unauthorized foreign Internet gambling sites by requiring Internet service providers to filter them and prevent access. Non-compliant companies could face fines between 30,000 and 180,000 euros. It is thought that only six Internet gambling portals run by the state monopoly are authorized under Italian law. The European Betting Association and the Remote Gambling Association have both stated that such a policy would violate at least five European Union laws.
New Betfair CEO -- David Yu, who has served as both chief technology officer and chief operating officer of Betfair, has been appointed chief executive officer of the company. The position had been open since Yu's predecessor, Stephen Hill, stepped down in October following the company's decision to delay its float on the London Stock Exchange. Hill had been CEO since June 2003. Before joining Betfair, Yu was vice president of engineering for Alta Vista's e-commerce and international divisions. He has spent over 10 years working for Internet-based businesses and holds an MS Computer Science from Stanford University as well as a BS Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Betfair also announced that Executive Chairman Sir Robert Horton and non-executive directors Nick Irens and Justin Dowley have resigned from their positions and that Tim Bunting has joined the board and taken over as chairman.
Quoteworthy -- ". . . Beginning at least in 1999 through January 2001, Abramoff and others sought Staffer A's agreement to perform a series of official acts, including in assisting in stopping legislation regarding Internet gambling and opposing postal rate increases. With the intent to influence those official acts, Abramoff provided things of value including, but not limited to, from June 200 through February 2001, ten equal monthly payments totaling $50,000 through a non-profit entity to the wife of Staffer A. The total amount paid to the wife of Staffer A was obtained from clients that would and did benefit from Staffer A's official actions regarding the legislation on Internet gambling or opposing postal rate increases."
- No. 35 out of 41 statements contained in the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The Republican lawyer has been under investigation for a number of federal offenses, including conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion.
Virtual Racing -- British bookmaker Ladbrokes has announced the launch of a new TV channel to be broadcast exclusively to its 2,200 retail outlets. Ladbrokes Xtra will carry a virtual racing program provided by Inspired Broadcast Networks.
Avago Rebranding -- British gaming group Gala has signed a deal to acquire the "Avago" brand and all associated intellectual property, along with its database of over 250,000 registered customer accounts, from interactive media group YooMedia. Gala plans to re-brand the numbers game channel and re-launch it by the end of the third quarter of 2006. YooMedia will receive a net income contribution of between £5.1 million and £8.05 million depending on performance of the channel over an initial three-year period in which it will continue to receive a share of gaming revenues and offer support.