Redbet Partners with Ongame -- Ongame Network, a subdivision of Vienna-listed bwin, has announced a deal with Redbet, whereby several Redbet-operated poker sites, including NextPoker.com, will join the Ongame network.
Strong H1 for Norsk Tipping -- Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian national lottery operator, has released first-half results, which show a 4.6 percent jump in turnover compared to H1 2006. "All the traditional numbers games are in a period of growth--the most robust being Viking lotto and lotto," said Norsk CEO Reidar Norby. "This growth is very welcome and shows that the games are maintaining their appeal with the general public."
Tipp24 Completes Buyback -- Germany-based online lottery operator Tipp24 AG has completed its share buyback program launched in February. In May, company shareholders authorized that a total of 443,615 shares--an estimated 5 percent of its capital stock--be bought back at an average of 17.88 euros per share, or 7,932,516 euros ($10.8 million), in total.
Avoiding the Rake -- Rank Group CEO Ian Burke told the Independent last week that the company is considering moving its Blue Square operation offshore to a jurisdiction like Gibraltar, in order to avoid the 15 percent Remote Gaming Duty announced by U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown in March.
Addicts, Beware the UK Gambling Act -- A study conducted by a gambling expert for a Tory Party policy commission has found that 3.5 percent of all respondents aged between 11 and 15--around 100,000--are considered problem gamblers. The Daily Mail reported Friday that the findings of the commission, headed by former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, are due to be published this week. According the report, sentiment--a good deal of it--exists in the United Kingdom to raise the age limit for all forms of gambling to 18. Furthermore, the paper said, the study, conducted by Mark Griffiths, professor of gambling studies at Nottingham Trent University, alleges that the Gambling Act will increase the number of addicts. The United Kingdom is the only country in the world that allows children of any age to play slot machines with jackpots of up to £5, while 16-year-olds may buy lottery tickets, scratch cards and play the football pools, the report said.
Good Draw -- Pokernews.com reports that, on the first two days of the World Series of Poker Main Event, 1,287 and 1,545 players attended, respectively. Two "Day 1" sessions remain, the report said, with the total number of Main Event entrants said to total nearly 6,000 by Day 1d--the fourth and final Day 1 session.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, PartyGaming was up 1.25p to 35.25, 888 was up 0.50p to 115 and Playtech was up 2.50p to 379.50.