Rat Race -- The Alaska attorney general's office is reviewing an opinion that could put a stop to a state fair tradition called the "rat" race. In a rat race, a gerbil is placed on a slowly turning wheel with several colored holes, and bettors try to guess which hole the gerbil will use to exit the wheel. If Palmer Elks Lodge, the group that hosts the game, is able to prove that it has been holding the races since before Alaska became a state in 1959, then it might be permitted to continue the tradition.
Dealing -- OpenTV, a provider of interactive television technology, today acquired all assets of BettingCorp Ltd. OpenTV projects that it will invest $3 million to $5 million in BettingCorp's operations and product lines within the next few years. BettingCorp. is currently developing a remote betting and gaming platform that will offer traditional lottery, pools, and casino operators a single platform that can be operated by any betting product over the Internet, iTV, and wireless devices. . . . Prism Affiliate today announced the re-launch of its affiliate programs with a new staff of marketing experts and member pages that are easier to navigate. Prism's affiliate programs provide an online casino, bingo entertainment and a sports book to webmasters who would like to earn commission on advertising the products.
Lawsuit -- British bookmaker Ladbrokes has filed a complaint against the Finnish government, which it claims has actively sought to harm Ladbrokes' marketing programs. Finnish official argue that their practices are consistent with Finnish gaming laws.
Launches -- Recently released GoddessPoker.com is designed to appeal to the growing female demographic in the I-gaming scene. The site features multiplayer Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha Hi Lo, Seven Card Stud and Seven Card Stud Hi Lo and offers a $1,000 free roll tournament, a $25,000 progressive jackpot, and a 100 percent match-play bonus. . . . Olympic Sports is launching a new sports book at BetJamaica.com. Located in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Olympic Sports offers 24-hour access to BetJamaica. The minimum bet via Internet is $2; the minimum bet via phone is $10.