RTG 6.1 -- Online casino software developer RealTime Gaming has introduced version 6.1 of its online gaming software platform. It's the company's second release of 2006, with one more scheduled before year's end. The new platform features 11 new games, including a new dice-based table game and a slew of slot titles, all available in download and Flash formats. Version 6.2 is set to be released before the end of 2006.
Spanish Proliferation -- The number of Spanish citizens gambling online increased by 137 percent this year, according to Nielsen/NetRatings. The research firm reports that in the second quarter of 2006, there were 3.46 million Spanish online bettors, compared to 1.45 million in the same period last year.
Love Spanning the Tasman -- The New Zealand Racing Board (NZRB) and Australian gaming company Tabcorp signed an agreement today to promote a closer relationship, with the combining of betting pools at the top of the agenda. NZRB CEO Graeme Hansen has said that it could be implemented by early next year. The two groups also agreed to discuss increased coverage of each other's racing. Tabcorp holds the betting licenses for New South Wales and Victoria.
Snooker and Gold -- Online casino and poker room 888.com has announced the launch of two sports-themed video slot machine games available on the downloadable Casino-on-Net software program. "Top Spin Snooker" draws players into the excitement of the 888.com-sponsored World Snooker Championship, and "Goals of Gold" transports players into an action-packed football game. Betting amounts on the two new video slots range from 5 cents to $10 per line, with up to nine active paylines per game.
Enter the Overlord -- Internet gambling may soon become accessible to citizens of China thanks to a local warlord, according to the Asia Times Online. The newspaper said last week that new gambling facilities have been built in a remote Myanmar region in the town of Mong La, the hub of tourist gambling in the 1990s. During that era China sent a small number of troops to enforce travel bans and pressure casino operators to close down their operations. Sai Leun, the town's overlord is believed to have financed much of the city's gambling infrastructure in the late 90s. He is now expanding his gambling enterprise into online gambling. He opened seven Internet-enabled casinos in April this year, specifically designed and outfitted for online China-based gamers, and another 14 gambling venues are in development southwest of Mong La.