Done Deal -- Italy-based lotteries provider Lottomatica has completed its year-long takeover of U.S.-based gaming technologies company GTECH Holdings Corporation. The two companies announced this week that all conditions for the takeover had been met and that Lottomatica is paying GTECH shareholders $35 per share cash, which will amount to $4.7 billion (on a fully diluted basis). The ordinary shares of GTECH are no longer listed on New York Stock Exchange.
SportingIndexPoker -- Online poker software developer Tribeca Tables Europe Ltd. announced today that spread betting group Sporting Index has joined the Tribeca Tables Poker Network. Sporting Index joins the ranks of brands such as Paddy Power, Blue Square, Victor Chandler, Golden Palace, Doyles Room, G-Fed Games, Bowmans and USbets. SportingIndexPoker.co.uk is due to be launched on the Tribeca network in September.
Pre-pay the Slovakian Way -- Paysafecard, a European provider of technology for purchasing prepaid cards both online and offline, has entered into an agreement with the Slovakian retail bank ISTROBANKA, a.s. , providing 60 sales outlets throughout the country. Further outlets are expected to follow. The Slovak crown is the third local currency in which paysafecards are distributed (after the Euro and the Slovenian Tolar). Paysafecard has also entered the growing Spanish market through a distribution partnership with prepaid wireless airtime provider Telerecarga, beginning with a substantial number of sales outlets. The company expects to reach 5,000 outlets in Spain by December 2006.
Keno.com Re-Launch -- Keno.com Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Gaming Transactions Inc. and a provider of online gaming portal management, announced Tuesday that it will launch the new version of Keno.com next month and is gearing up now for a strong promotional effort. The beta version of Keno.com, powered by RedFelt Software Ltd., has over 15,000 members who will serve as the foundation of the company's marketing for the new site. The company has planned a number of promotional giveaways to coincide with the launch.
KC Odds -- According to Media Post Promotions' Media Daily News, CBS News' publicity department circulated releases on Tuesday alerting the press that Costa Rica-based online bookmaker BetCRIS.com is offering betting lines on how many viewers of "CBS Evening News" will watch Katie Couric's first day. Odds range from 12-to-1 that she'll draw less than 6.5 million, to 3.75-to-1 that she'll top 8.5 million on opening night. So far, betting has been sporadic, said BetCRIS CEO Mickey Richardson.