Awaiting Completion -- Betbrokers said it remains in final negotiations with the vendor regarding the $6.8 million acquisition of Winning Edge, and that the completion of the transaction, scheduled for today, has been delayed. The U.K.-based betting brokerage said it would make a further announcement in due course.
Party, ITV Partner Up -- PartyGaming on Wednesday announced a deal with broadcaster ITV to provide ITV-branded betting, casino and bingo products on its Web sites. A company spokesman told Reuters that the games had been live since Tuesday, but would not comment regarding Party's future plans with ITV. In its interim results, Party alluded to a deal that would be the first of a "number of further important business alliances with companies around the world." In 2002, ITV agreed to provide Sportech with gaming-related products via its interactive service--the deal was nixed in January 2006.
Interims from Veikkaus -- Finnish state-owned operator Veikkaus released half-yearly results last week, which show turnover up 3.2 percent to 682.7 million euros and revenue up 8.3 percent to 207.6 million euros. The company said its most "eager players" hail from central Finland, and its Lotto game was most popular among all players (42 euros per capita), followed closely by its keno offering (26 euros per capita). Veikkaus added that it would contribute an estimated 419 million euros to the Finnish Ministry of Education during FY 2008.
The Maltese Pair -- Dutch Antilles emigrants InterCasino and InterPoker have been granted online gaming licenses to operate from Malta. Presumably, the brands, owned by London-based OIGE N.V., are seeking domicile within the European Economic Area to gain access to the British I-gaming market--what the company called "operational advantages." "We have done this to ensure that all our customers are able to enjoy playing at InterPoker in full knowledge that their game play will be with the premier European gaming license jurisdiction," said InterCasino Spokesman Peter Marcus.
Berserk Joins Microgaming -- Following a period of "significant growth," Norwegian poker site BerserkPoker has joined the Microgaming network. "As poker continues to grow in popularity throughout Norway, we feel the time is right to make the move to the next level," said BerserkPoker Managing Director Stein Hansen.
Florida Governor Mulls Privatizing Lottery -- According to the Associated Press, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is considering selling the Florida State Lottery to a private vendor for "billions in cash." Crist was quoted by the news agency as saying that privatizing the lottery via sale could "help solve Florida's financial dilemma," but cautioned that the sale is "merely an idea" and that "it's not something [he's] promoting."
Sweden's Social Democrats Speak Up -- After Sweden's Liberal People's Party called for the sell-off of state-owned operator Svenska Spel last month, A-lotterierna (A-l)--the Social Democratic Party (SDP)-owned betting company--has accused the country of squeezing non-governmental organizations (NGOs) out of the market. According to Swedish daily The Local, A-l Chief Executive Håkan Bystedt has cited the NGOs' shrinking share of the country's gambling market (10 percent) as a source of concern for the organization, which brings in SEK 110 million annually for the SDP and its youth wing, the SSU. While Bystedt is critical of Svenska, the report said, he also expressed disappointment regarding the former government's "wait-and-see" approach. "Nothing ever became of the promises made at the beginning of the 2000s to improve the situation for NGOs," Bystedt reportedly told SR International-Radio Sweden (SIRS), the country's official broadcasting station.
For Sale -- The Sunday Times reported that William Hill and Ladbrokes could be in the running for the controlling stake (50.68 percent) in Snai, the Italian betting firm. Hedge fund Fortress was also mulling a bid for the company, which Reuters valued at $1.36 billion. Snai controls 51 percent of Italy's betting market, including 69 percent of the horse race-betting market.
Q2s from Codere -- Spanish gaming firm Codere has released second-quarter results, which show turnover up 23.8 percent to 221 million euros and EBITDA up 23.1 percent to 51.7 million euros against figures from the previous year. The company said it still intends to provide Spanish stock market regulator CMNV with documentation regarding its September flotation.
New Broker for Gaming VC -- Gaming VC has appointed Arbuthnot Securities as its nominated adviser and broker. The company also said it will release interim results on Sept. 25.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, 888 was up 1.25p to 122.75, PartyGaming was up 0.75p to 28.25 and Neteller was up 1.75p to 94.75. In Vienna, bwin was down 0.39 euros to 19.04 euros, and in Stockholm, Unibet was down SEK 8.50 to SEK 189.00.