Makin' Deals --Bingo.com Inc. announced today that it is entering a partnership agreement with Walter Drake Inc. , an online catalog and retailer, to bring discount coupons to members of its online bingo halls. Players of Bingo.com's bingo, poker and slots games receive Bingo Bucks, which can be used for purchase coupons of up to 15 percent off all the merchandise available at Walter Drake sites. ... Ladbrokes has signed two three-year deals to provide Premiership champions Arsenal and Liverpool with betting and gaming services. The deals make Ladbrokes.com the official interactive betting and gaming supplier to fans via the official Web sites at www.arsenal.com and www.liverpoolfc.tv. In May 2002, Ladbrokes signed a four-year deal to provide betting services to Manchester United.
New Stuff -- PaySports.com has announced the release of its new multi-brand sports book affiliate program, which offers incentive packages to Webmasters who want to cash in on the upcoming football season. PaySports.com is offering new members a 30 percent net win for as long as customer accounts remain active and in good standing--up to $60 per qualified customer--and 15 percent of the initial deposit per qualified customer.
UK Tidbit -- Fears are growing that the U.K. gaming industry will face a levy on its profits unless it coughs up an extra £2.2 million to fund treatment for gambling addicts. So far the industry has raised £800,000 to fund GamCare, which promotes responsible attitudes toward gambling, and Gordon House, the country's only residential treatment center. All of this comes in the wake of the Culture Minister's announcement that warned gaming companies that they must find £3 million to pay for addiction treatment or the government will introduce a levy on gross profits.
International Tidbit --Reidar Nordby Jr. , World Lottery Association(WLA) president, responded to the proposals for a UN Global Lottery by stating that under no circumstances would WLA members be committed to such a proposition without the full consent from each participating lottery and government. According to the National Post, the international lottery could have a first prize of up to US$250 million, with an equal amount generated for the UN and the governments participating in the game.
Clarification -- The IGN story "A Familiar Quandary Surfaces Down Under," published on Friday, Aug. 16, lacked the information that while it is illegal for Australian and offshore companies to offer Internet casino gambling to Australians, it is allowed to offer Internet sports betting and wagering on horse races. However, it is illegal in New South Wales and Western Australia to bet on racing with an operator that is outside of Australia. The story as it is on the IGN site has been changed to reflect this.