UK Will Release Gaming Law Progress Report -- On Thursday U.K. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will deliver the government’s new six-page gaming regulation plan. The report will list industry progress and the government’s intended plan for casino regulation. In October a joint committee of both Parliamentary houses will publish a draft of the Gambling Bill for criticism before the full bill will pass. The Gambling Bill is expected to establish a Gambling Commission that will modernize the Gaming Board of Great Britain.
Broadband Spending Stats -- A study composed by Scarborough Research shows that America’s 23 million broadband users account for 31 percent of all online spending and represent 19 percent of online adults. Defined as anyone who uses an ISDN, DSL technology or a cable modem to access the Internet, broadband users are two times as likely to have spent more than $2,500 online as compared to all other users. Scarborough Research, a leader in local, regional, and national consumer patterns and media usage, compiled evidence for its report between August 2001 and September 2002
Another Scam in Scotland -- Scotland’s Metropolitan Police are alerting punters about a betting scam from a group called the Oakwood Racing Club that has been sending letters to bettors and claiming to be involved in the racing industry as owners, stable/stud owners, or professional gamblers. The group offers inside information in exchange for betting assistance from would-be victims. The group always provides a mobile telephone number for interested parties and a time period in which to call on a particular day. The group guarantees no financial risk, but hundreds of people have been coaxed to send money to addresses which turn out to be convenient locations such as bed-and-breakfast and guest houses from where it disappears soon after collection. The mobile numbers can be bought in a shop without registration requirements so police have no way to trace the fraudsters. The operation is similar to two others that plagued Scotland earlier this month.
London Betting Shop Robberies Are Way Down -- In the first half of 2003, London betting shops experienced only 50 robberies, a number that is a huge improvement compared to previous statistics. Shops experienced 67 robberies in the first six months of 2002, and 179 in all of 2002. Police began working with the Association of British Bookmakers and the major betting-shop chains to create training programs when it became apparent in 1999 that betting shops were an easy target; that year they experienced 444 robberies.
BSkyB Wants Soccer Highlights -- Reuters reports that British Sky Broadcasting Group has bid for the rights to transmit soccer league highlights via mobile phones. The bid may be part of an effort to control all soccer media rights in the United Kingdom. Other bids have been placed by Vodafone Group and 3 UK, the third generation mobile phone operator that currently holds the rights and paid around $56 million for a three-year deal in June of 2001.
Betonbet Relaunch -- Betonbet will relaunch this weekend as a second-generation person-to-person betting site. It will offer new features, including personalization options, a messaging system, and a ticker that will display unmatched bets.
RAL Purchased -- PPM has bought RAL Holdings for £40m. Existing management for RAL will retain a 15 percent share of the company. RAL operates around 5500 slot machines throughout the United Kingdom.
Responsible Gaming Education Week -- The American Gaming Association-sponsored sixth annual Responsible Gaming Education Week is underway in Las Vegas this week. The program aims to raise awareness of gambling addiction throughout the American public.