A Misunderstanding -- The Swedish Gaming Board recently questioned the extent of Malta-licensed online poker group 24hPoker's operations within Sweden. In response, Pia Rosin, corporate communications director for the company, which maintains offices in both Sweden and Malta, says it is simply a misunderstanding. Rosin told IGN, "A [written statement] has not been issued on this. However, our opinion is that all our operations are compliant with Swedish, Maltese and European law. The problem seems to be that our Maltese gaming operation and the Swedish supplier operation have the same name, which is confusing. We are going to change the name of our Swedish operations. Hopefully that will make some of the confusion go away and we can become known for our ability to offer licensed and own developed gaming software to companies instead."
Carruthers Speaks -- Speaking to an audience of several hundred I-gaming professionals at the European I-Gaming Expo in Barcelona, IGN Publisher Sue Schneider delivered a message to the industry from former BetonSports CEO David Carruthers, who is still awaiting trial in St. Louis for Internet gambling-related charges. In a written statement, Carruthers thanked his contemporaries for their continued support and urged them to continue fighting for regulation. Following is an excerpt of his letter:
At no time in the past has the industry needed strong leadership as much as it needs strong leadership today. It will require a focused approach from all, the retired executives, the active executives, and the prospective executives across all stake holder groups, to make a positive difference. I would call it "Leadership for All" pulling together successfully to clear all obstacles and define the path forward, a path that is free from protectionism and inconsistency. This approach must entail a ‘coming together’ to share resource, agree goals and put things into action.
A starting point would be to agree, as an industry, to operate with Integrity in, overall business practices, customer service and customer protections. To have a shared conviction to regulated environments and licensing and good corporate citizenship.
Above all you, as an industry, need to have a collective vision to see beyond current turbulence in certain markets and establish this industry as a truly valued entertainment medium, respected for its approach to social responsibility and creating value for all.
You must be prepared to act to expose and drive out those who do not measure up and follow this high road, tainting all and allowing accusation and criticism.
It’s up to all of you to act now, and a word of caution, don’t bet on getting a 2nd chance!
Very Excited at Slingo -- Casual games developer Slingo, Inc. today announced the test results at several Nevada casinos for its new mechanical five-reel, 20-line, 400-coin slot game, "Triple Slingo Jackpot." International Game Technology conducted a six-week test and reports that the game ranked first out of all games of its type tested in 2007. "We at Slingo are very excited about these results," Slingo Casino Slot Operations Vice President Dave Lyons said. "This just proves the popularity and awareness of the Slingo brand."
No Internet Entry! -- New guidance from the U.K. Gambling Commission clarifies that live TV competition operators cannot offer free Internet entry forms as a way to avoid being regulated as lotteries. The Gambling Act of 2005 specifies that a game is not a lottery if it can be entered for free, leading TV producers to hold that offering online entry is a free-entry route that makes their games competitions rather than lotteries. Out-Law News reports, however, that the Commission says the online option does not suffice as a means of avoiding the lottery classification. Susan Biddle of the law firm Pinsent Masons, which is behind Out-Law.com, said the Commission accepts that "Internet use is effectively free, but they say that in live quizzes where answers are needed in a very short time frame, many people don't have access to the Web."
Quoteworthy -- "The fact that it is anticipated to take the Bush administration close to two years to fully implement UIGEA, further demonstrates how the law is not needed and is counterproductive. Congress should instead recognize that despite prohibition millions of Americans continue to gamble online and that a better solution is to regulate and tax Internet gambling, which would protect consumers and generate billions of dollars to fund important government programs. Regulated Internet gambling could also potentially spare the U.S. from paying claims of approximately $100 billion for economic injury resulting from a World Trade Organization trade agreement violation involving Internet gambling."
- Jeffrey Sandman, a spokesman for the Safe and Secure Internet Gambling Initiative, commenting on the U.S. government's announcement of rules to implement the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006.