Next in Line -- U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday nominated Trade Representative Rob Portman as the administration's new budget director. Bush characterized Portman as a man who gets things done, but for those who are unaware, Portman has been at the helm of the United States' refusal to comply with the WTO ruling in favor of Antigua and Barbuda, which said that while the United States was entitled to restrict Internet gambling, the rules were not being applied fairly. Portman's appointment requires Senate confirmation.
No Threat -- Maltese online gaming firm Astrabet is claiming victory in its battle with the Italian government. A new Italian law banning all foreign gambling Web sites from offering their services to Italian citizens has been challenged by companies such as Betfair, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral Eurobet and SkyBet with the help of the European Betting Association. The Civil Court in Rome has reportedly ordered the re-establishment of Astrabet's connection because it poses no threat to the Italian system of granting licenses.
BetandWin Bits -- Online gambling company BetandWin announced today that it will be the new shirt sponsor for Italian football team AC Milan for an initial term of four seasons, beginning July 1. Additionally, BetandWin's sports betting odds will be streamed live on the displays in the San Siro Stadium, where the team plays. . . . In other BetandWin news, the company has extended its Internet casino contract with Boss Media, initially, to August 1, 2007. BetandWin has been with Boss Media since 2004 and part of Boss's poker network since 2005.
Monday -- A new weekly online lottery launching Thursday will raise as much as £150 million a year for U.K. charities. Run by charity lottery firm Chariot plc, Monday - the Charities Lottery, "The Lottery for Unlucky People," will benefit 70 British charities by donating 30p for every £1 spent, and players choose the beneficiaries. Monday has two draws instead of one, increasing the chances of winning and the player(s) with the nearest match to the six winning numbers will get the jackpot. There are no rollovers, guaranteeing jackpot winners every week. And instead of awarding huge cash prize to just one player, Monday will give bigger cash prizes for matching three, four and five numbers. Registration is open at www.playmonday.com, and the first draw will be held May 8.
Ladbrokes Bits -- British bookmaker Ladbrokes has two new games. A new bingo offering at Ladbrokesgames.com features games start at least every seven-and-a-half minutes and players can play up to 36 cards at a time and play a range of mini-games, such as trivia quizzes, between games. And LadbrokesPoker.com launched a new wagering game called "Pokerbet," which enables players to bet on the outcome of computer-generated Texas Hold'em games. Players can see all the cards throughout the game, and odds are displayed at each stage (blind, the flop, the turn, and the river) of the game. Players bet on who they think will win the hand.