Mulling a Challenge -- Austrian business daily WirtshaftsBlatt reports bwin is examining the possibility of a legal challenge to a 50,000 euro fine imposed by the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. The report says the fine was leveled against the Austria-based operator for failing to keep residents of the state from accessing its online sports betting and gaming offerings. "We are reviewing whether we will address this fine through expedited proceedings," a company spokesman told the paper. Baden-Wuerttemberg's Superior Administrative Court ruled in November that bwin could not offer its online products to the state's residents.
Sorry, Ms. Spears -- Good news for poker as a growing global phenomenon: Search engine Lycos published its "50 Top Search Terms of 2007," and for the second year in a row "Poker" grabbed the top spot. "Propelled by the continued success of the World Poker Tour and numerous televised celebrity poker tournaments, online interest in poker dominates Lycos's search logs week after week," the group said in a prepared statement. (Incidentally, "Poker" beat out "MySpace," "Britney Spears" and the ever-popular "Golf.")
Coming Soon -- This Friday, a ruling is expected in the long-standing WTO dispute between the United States and Antigua, and Antigua's attorney, Mark Mendel, feels his client has the upper hand. "We feel pretty condiment about our case, to be honest," Mendel told Reuters.
D-Day -- The public comment period for the proposed Unlawful Internet Gambling Regulation Enforcement Act regulations ends on tomorrow, and as of today the Federal Reserve has published 63 comments on its Web site. The rules, proposed jointly in October by the Federal Reserve and the Department of Treasury, require financial institutions to prescribe which transactions are restricted. IGN will follow up with a full story tomorrow.
GigaGreement -- Taiwan-based GigaMedia has announced a strategic partnership with South Korean XL Games to develop massively multiplayer online role-playing games -- an agreement the company called the latest step in its "plan to build the region's (Asia) leading online entertainment platform." Financial details were not disclosed.
Good News, PBL Shareholders -- Shareholders of James Packer's formerly unified Publishing & Broadcasting empire are set to receive some "Christmas spending money," reports Sydney Morning Herald. This Friday, PBL will mail checks for its A$2 billion cash return that came as part of its split into Crown and Consolidated Media Holdings.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, Neteller was down 1.25p to 59.75, 888 was down 2.75p to 132.75 and Sportech was up 1.50p to 100.50.