New CEO for Probability -- Mobile gambling services provider Probability has appointed Glenn Elliot, formerly of Orange, as chief executive officer with immediate effect. "Glenn will be a huge asset to the team; his expertise in the industry is invaluable, as are his extensive contacts and his deep understanding of the mobile consumer," said Probability Chief Executive Charles Cohen. "We now have a team of highly knowledgeable individuals at the forefront of our industry, which we aim to utilize fully in delivering our planned strategies for profitable growth and sector leadership."
24hPoker, Martinspoker form Casablanca -- 24hPoker and Martinspoker.com have joined to become the Casablanca Gaming Group AB (CGG). CGG, via its Maltese subsidiary, will operate the 24hPoker.com, Martinspoker.com, Staffpoker.com and Danepoker.com brands. According to a prepared statement released this morning, 24hPoker AB will become the majority shareholder in CGG while Martinspoker.com's Claus Nielsen will assume the post of chief executive officer. "[CGG] will operate our online poker site more efficient than we could do ourselves and we can focus on our supplier operation," said 24hPoker CEO Peter Åström.
Promoting Integrity -- Following the publication of a consultation paper last week, the U.K. Gambling Commission (UKGC) has called on sports bodies and betting operators to work together to preserve the integrity of British sports betting, but acknowledged the number of incidents giving cause for concern about the industry's integrity were low. In a summary of its current policy position, the UKGC noted that, currently, no evidence exists to suggest "that taking steps to limit the existing types of bet offered by British betting operators or making them pay a levy to sports bodies will impact on upholding integrity in sports betting."
High Prevalence Rate -- The Swedish Institute of Public Health (Statens folkhälsoinstitut) has published the results of a one-year study, having found that 27 percent of the 16,500 respondents exhibited symptoms of problem gambling in relation to online poker. IGN is currently researching the study, which focused exclusively on Internet poker, and will follow with its analysis in due course.
'Interesting Opportunity' -- In a piece titled "Macau Beckons," the Financial Times reports on the Macau Property Opportunities Fund, which listed on AIM in June 2006. Tom Ashworth, director of Sniper Capital, which sources and develops properties for the fund, "says demand for flats, offices and retail space in the [former Portuguese enclave] is likely to increase exponentially." So far, the paper says, the fund has raised £105 million, giving it roughly £220 million to spend on property projects. The paper calls the fund an "interesting bet," with Ashworth commenting: "It is not difficult to find sites, but finding the sites with appropriate returns is bloody difficult."
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, Fun Technologies was up 7.50p to 167.50, PartyGaming as up 0.75p to 31.75 and SportingBet was up 0.50p to 46. In Stockholm, Unibet was down SEK 3.00 to SEK 234.00, and Betsson was up SEK 0.75 to SEK 72.75.