Magna in Europe -- North American racetrack owner and betting house Magna Entertainment Corporation has opened its MagnaBet online horse betting platform to the European market. Located at www.magnabet.co.uk, the site is available in five languages and allows customers to bet on races at 58 tracks around the world, including 32 in the United States, 25 in central Europe and one in Dubai. The site also offers live streaming of up to 160 races each day in addition to downloadable racing programs, expert tips, form statistics and other related information. The betting and information services are also available via WAP-enabled mobile devices.
Quoteworthy -- "People will have to accept the exchanges are there. You're better off regulating them, legislating for them and charging them appropriately rather than pretending they don't exist.
-Alan Delmonte, spokesperson for the British Horseracing Board. Members of the board and the Jockey Club have recently made statements that seem to support Betfair's efforts to seek a license to operate a betting exchange in Tasmania. Meanwhile, Australia's The Mercury reports that Greens Senator Bob Brown has written a letter to Prime Minister John Howard, urging a federal ban on betting exchanges, while welfare group Anglicare Tasmania is adamant that the government hasn't done proper research on existing forms of gambling and that consumer protection is especially difficult when gambling is done online.
Soap Gaming -- Sportech, operator of the Littlewoods brand of gaming services, has signed an agreement with British media company ITV to produce interactive betting games linked to "Coronation Street," England's longest running soap opera. Viewers can now play Coronation Street-themed fruit machines and scratch cards by pressing the red button on their remote controls. Sportech is reportedly planning to launch similar games in conjunction with daytime talk shows. Edinburgh-based Rodime developed the new games.
Got2Bet Deal -- Gaming Corporation, owner of gaming site www.casino.co.uk, has acquired Got2Bet.com, an online gambling portal that has provided online casino information, reviews, ratings, news and message boards in Chinese and English since March 2000. Gaming Corp will pay $270,000 for the site, which generated a net profit of US$106,340 for the six-month period ended Jan. 31, 2005. Brokerage for the deal was provided by River City Group. . . . In recent weeks Gaming Corp. has launched portal sites skillgaming.co.uk and Findpoker.com, as well as a mobile casino, on the Orange World cellular portal. The company raised £10 million last month through a share placement.
World Gaming -- I-gaming software provider World Gaming has announced the signing of two new licensees for its online sports betting and casino solution in addition to extending a contract with one of its existing licensees for another five years. The company has not named any of the licensees, but stated that the already existing client is a major one and that the two new clients have significant experience in direct and affiliate marketing within the online gaming industry (although this is their first operating venture).
Gaming Law Symposium -- The next annual gathering of the International Masters of Gaming Law will take place May 12-13 in Dearborn, Michigan. The symposium provides an opportunity for gaming attorneys and regulators to share and information and insight on such topics as responsible gaming, gaming developments in specific geographic areas, bingo, slot machines, Native American and First Nation gaming, charitable gaming and more. As part of the organization's commitment to public education on gaming law issues, the IMGL has opened its day-and-a-half conference to the gaming industry.
Solution for Land-Based Operators -- A company called Legal iGaming says it has developed a secure remote access gaming solution for closed-loop networks that would enable licensed land-based casinos to provide connectivity to their casino floor from their hotel rooms. LiG is finalizing a private placement round of financing at $2 per share, however, most investors will not be able to participate because the company is not at liberty to discuss its future plans or exit strategy.