Tidbits from the US -- All has been quiet in Carson City on the gaming front since former Gaming Commission Chairman
Brian Sandoval stepped down from the position. The rumor mill was motionless until Tuesday when the Las Vegas Sun reported that
Jeffrey Rodefer, assistant chief deputy attorney general in the gaming division, has indicated that he's interested in the position. The publication noted, however, that Rodefer hasn't discussed the position with Gov.
Kenny Guinn.
Then on Thursday, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported that the top candidates are state Ethics Commissioners Pete Bernhard and Raymond "Skip" Avansino, Las Vegas lawyer John Bailey and former Democratic Assemblyman Bob Sader. The Journal additionally reported that Gov. Guinn plans to make his decision sometime next week.
After the arduous procedure of getting an account wagering bill to the desk of Gov. Gray Davis in California, unified support seemed challenged last week, with the bill sitting on Davis's desk, when owner Marty Wygod expressed concern about purses under the proposed agreement. Since Wygod is a close friend of the governor's, it was assumed he spoke for Davis as well as himself. A quick meeting was convened with Mark Wilson of TVG, who assured thoroughbred owners that TVG would protect purses should live handle be negatively affected. TOC President John Van de Kamp said there now is unified support for the bill.
Tidbits from the Remote US -- The U.S. Virgin Islands officially became the world's newest online gambling jurisdiction last Friday as Gov. Charles Turnbull signed bill 24-0046. The legislation paves the way for legalized, regulated Internet gambling from within the jurisdiction.
The Hawaii state government wasn't too thrilled to learn that advertisements for online gambling sites were appearing on its websites. The culprit, reports KITV TheHawaiiChannel.com: Real Networks. When visitors use Real Networks' streaming media software to view files placed on government sites, they are subjected to commercials displayed by Real. Following KITV's reports, Real Networks agreed to block casino ads from reaching Hawaii Internet service providers (except for America Online).
New Stuff -- Sweden-based Boss Media this week debuted a new online casino that the company is touting as its "most advanced online casino to date." The new site, says Boss, implements sophisticated management processes and compliance standards that are similar to those at land-based casinos. Notable new feature include private tables, MP3 background music and a downloader/installer that is seamless to the user and thus simple to use. Further, the casino is only one of a handful that can claim a PricewaterhouseCoopers audit of its random number generator together with the monthly payouts. They also plan to implement independent certification of the games for fairness in the near future. Ambassador Casino (www.ambassadorcasino.com) is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada and is a member of the Interactive Gaming Council.
Playboy.com officially launched its online race wagering service, PlayboyRacingUSA.com, on Tuesday. The new site offers wagering, from a Pennsylvania hub, on races throughout North America. Visitors can make win, place, show and exotic bets (in U.S. dollars) through secure Playboy wagering accounts, with cash payoffs deposited directly into the same account. The site also offers an array of interactive tools and resources, including real-time odds and scratches, past performance programs and The Virtual StableTM, a feature that enables bettors to follow thoroughbreds and American quarter horses racing at tracks in North America by creating a list of "Horses to Watch." Like Playboy's already-up-and-running sports betting site, PlayboySportsBook.com, PlayboyRacingUSA.com features Deanna the Playboy Betting Bunny, who will serve as the hostess for all of Playboy.com's online wagering sites.
Jackpot Madness, Microgaming's hugely successful progressive games portal, announced this week that its latest game, Treasure Nile, has already paid out " the biggest progressive jackpot ever won online." The new nine-line, five-real slot machine paid a lucky player, "Oliver C.," $389,843.85. Oliver won the jackpot playing at Lucky Nugget Casino on August 4.
Virtgame.com announced Wednesday that its PrimelineTM Race Book is now in final testing prior to its release to customers. The product complements the PrimelineTM Sports Book product, which was approved by the Nevada Gaming Control Board in 1998 and is already installed in land-based casinos. Like the Sports Book, it can operate over the Internet or a closed-loop network. It also features browser-based administration and a modern server architecture/implementation. Completion of the PrimelineTM Wagering System significantly enhances Virtgame's "back-end" solution to land-based casinos.
Makin' Deals -- Poker.com, Inc., a provider of online gaming systems announced last week the signing of a master license agreement with Trimon Systems of Korea. The deal will enable Poker.com to sell and sublicense casino, poker and WAP casino games developed by Trimon Systems. The new product is currently being extended into the wireless and closed-circuit areas with the development of gaming kiosks, set-top boxes and PDA client software. It will also enable cruise ships, land-based casinos and airlines to offer both casino and poker software. Trimon Systems will provide Poker.com online casino versions of baccarat, Pai Gow poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, slot machines, video poker, Caribbean poker and Let It Ride; mobile versions of blackjack, slot machine and video poker; and Java versions of Texas Hold'em, Omaha high, Omaha hi/lo, seven-card stud, seven-card stud hi/lo and five-card stud.
Poker.com, Inc. also announced that its licensee, Antico Holdings S.A. is counting down to its 2 millionth hand at www.poker.com. Antico launched the second-generation poker software at the beginning of 2001.
TrackPower Inc. this week signed a three-year contract with Elmira Raceway of Elmira, Ontario for the deployment of its first ATM. The ATM is being operated by TrackPower's partner, 4Cash ATM Services Canada Inc.