Another Two Years -- Boss Media has extended its deal with Gaming VC to supply it with German-language I-gaming products. The two-year extension reduces annual royalty fees 30 percent based on current activity, which, in turn, could decrease revenues for the remainder of FY 2007 by an estimated $1.3 million, Boss said.
Dynasty Acquires Stake in 3Q1 -- Dynasty Gaming has signed a letter of intent with 3Q1, the Shanghai-based mahjong operator, to acquire a 10 percent stake in 3Q1 in exchange for an undisclosed cash sum. "This initial purchase of a stake in 3Q1 will provide Dynasty with an opportunity to further its China strategy and to get even closer to China's universe of online mahjong players, a good number of whom are already 3Q1 clients," said Dynasty's chief executive Albert Barbusci.
Gtech Acquires Finsoft -- Lottomatica subsidiary Gtech has acquired Finsoft, the London-based sports-betting management solutions provider. "The addition of Finsoft allows us to deliver a complete, integrated sports-betting solution to our customers and prospects," said Lottomatica CEO W. Bruce Turner.
WPT Re-Launches Web Site -- World Poker Tour Enterprises (WPTE) has launched its real-money and play-for-fun gaming site, WorldPokerTour.com. In April, the company announced an agreement with CryptoLogic to re-launch its online poker room and casino. "WPTE played a key role in the global poker boom and remains one of the most visible and respected poker brands today," said WPTE chief executive Steve Lipscomb. "By moving our online global gaming platform to CryptoLogic and securing immediate liquidity, we are poised to make a major impact in the online gaming industry."
Digitally Reincarnated -- Glu Mobile has launched its World Series of Poker (WSOP) Pro Challenge game. "I've played some colorful players in my day, but this is the first time I've played myself on a mobile phone," said poker pro and Glu spokesman Johnny Chan.
Smoking from Home -- The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday that Netplay TV has launched a televised bingo game to capitalize on the U.K. smoking ban. Netplay chief executive Martin Higginson told the paper that bingo players are more likely to gamble at home where they can smoke--and that according to one published report, ". . . some 70 percent of people who play bingo smoke." Higginson expects the new venture, called BigBoxBingo, to break even after six months, the paper said.
Coming Soon -- The South African Broadcasting Company reports that Mandisi Mpahlwa, the South African trade and industry minister, said the announcement as to which consortium will run the country's national lottery will be made shortly. Only "shoe-shine work" remained to be done, Mpahlwa told the news service, though no date has been set for when the lottery will resume.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, Playtech was up 4.25p to 384, PartyGaming was down 0.50p to 32.25 and Ladbrokes was down 5p to 437.