New Stuff -- Canadian software developer CryptoLogic announced today that its licensee, Littlewoods Leisure, has achieved regulatory certification for the operation of an online casino in the Isle of Man. Lewis Rose, CryptoLogic's interim president and CEO, said the announcement marks the continued expansion of land-based standards into the online gaming industry. "CryptoLogic has long advocated
that regulation is the best solution for everyone, and I'm proud that CryptoLogic's software has been independently tested and approved for use under the Isle of Man's rigorous regulatory requirements for online gaming," he said.
Makin' Deals -- Zetters Group plc of Great Britain said today it will shift its focus to spread betting and other financial investment products. Zetters will sell its core its football pools business to Littlewoods Promotions Ltd., a unit of Sportechplc, for £1.35 million. In line with its new core activity, Zetters is changing its
name to IFX Group plc. Sportech said the purchase will add 60,000 gamblers to its roster of players. Zetters and Littlewoods Promotions also entered an agreement wherein they will promote each other's service to their customers.
US Tidbit -- The win in Nevada's casinos suffered a record decline this year, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports today. Casino win for the year ending June 30 totaled $9.3 billion, which is a drop of 3.7 percent from last year's $9.7 billion. Keith Schwer, economics professor at the University of Nevada, blamed the decline on the worldwide economic downturn and the slowdown in travel since Sept. 11.