Released -- According to the British media, Victor Chandler was among a small group of bookies detained by French authorities on Sunday for allegedly taking illegal bets during the Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamps racecourse. French police allegedly questioned Chandler though released him on the condition that he not leave the country before further questioning on Monday. Chandler's spokesman, Neal Wilkins, reportedly released a prepared statement Monday, which said: "Four people from Victor Chandler were questioned by French police on Monday in respect of various aspects regarding entertaining at Longchamps. They were subsequently released without charge." IGN is in the process of confirming these reports and will continue to investigate.
Open -- In a brief interview with the Financial Times in Barcelona last week, PartyGaming CEO Mitch Garber indicated that the company is "open to approaches from Las Vegas-based casinos regarding a sale," though did not comment as to whether the group was already in talks with any possible suitors. "It's highly likely at a significant premium to the current price, in our view, but probably only once the U.S. Justice Department settles with them," an analyst told IGN.
Optimized -- Sky Bet has enlisted search engine optimization (SEO) specialist Neutralize to handle SEO across its Sky Bet, Sky Poker, Sky Vegas and Sky Bingo brands. "In the crowded U.K. gambling industry we needed an agency that had a successful record of [SEO], as this will be an essential part of our ongoing marketing mix and so Neutralize was the natural choice for us," said Sky Bet Head of Poker Emma Crowe.
Supplied -- Scandinavian software developer Net Entertainment has agreed to supply its CasinoModule platform to online poker and bingo operator BestGames. "The fact that Net Entertainment has a license in Malta and that their product supports 21 languages means that we now have a casino product that aids our continued expansion," said Best Games Chief Executive Henrik Magnusson.
Coming Soon -- Boss Media has said its interim report will be released on Oct. 26. Take a look back at first- and second-quarter results.
Quoteworthy -- "I think that all sport has always been liable to corruption, by the very nature of it producing clear results one way or another. They say that chariot races were rigged for financial reward. I don't see why subsequent sporting events should suddenly have been less liable to corrupt practice. We would strongly dispute the idea that sport suddenly has a corruption problem because of the boom in gambling . . . The amount of money bet in the legal market may have grown--who knows if it has risen or fallen in the illegal one--but the number of people who can be tempted by that money and use it for corrupt reasons is the same as it always was."
- From Betfair Communications Director Mark Davies in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, discussing the ongoing allegations of match-fixing and irregular betting patterns in and on professional tennis.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, 888 was up 3p to 120.25, PartyGaming remained even at 32p and Rank was down 3.50p to 159.25.
On the Hook -- Texas-based poker pro, and 2006 World Series of Poker (WSOP) contestant, Richard Lee has been arrested in connection with running an illegal online sports betting site from his San Antonio home. According to the Bexar County, Texas district attorney's office, Lee and fours other men who allegedly operated the business with him, are charged with gambling promotion, which is a misdemeanor charge in Texas punishable by up to one year in jail or a $4000 fine. The defendants will be arraigned on Nov. 7. Calls to the district attorney's office were not immediately returned.