Ten Years of Internet Betting -- Intertops, the self-proclaimed world's first online sports book, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Among its accomplishments since taking its first online bet in 1996, the group has brought mobile betting to the industry with its in-house developed WAP portal and joined one of the largest poker networks, PartyPoker.com. Incidentally, the very first bet came from Finnish gambler Jukka Honkavaar who bet $50 on a football match between U.K. teams Tottenham and Hereford United and won $52. Michl Posch, head of marketing at Intertops.com said, "2006 may be our 10th anniversary, but it is as well the 10th anniversary of the whole online betting industry."
Beating a Dead Horse -- Following the November death of three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, betting exchange Betfair is looking into amending its policy on ante-post betting (bets offered before the race day) to stop layers from profiting on the sudden death of a leading contender in a race. Betfair suspended its market on next year's Gold Cup less than three minutes after Best Mate collapsed, but a number of punters had already attempted to lay bets on the chaser which had been left on the site as others placed bets on other contenders for the race. Betfair, in response, surveyed all of its clients who had placed a bet on an ante-post racing market in the last three months and offered five alternatives, should similar incidents occur. Of the 5,500 customers surveyed, only 20 percent responded, with a majority favoring a change to the rules. The most popular option was for all ante-post bets placed after a certain time, such as the time of death of a horse, to be declared void. Betfair is considering methods for determining a precise time of death.
Appointment -- Online gaming company PartyGaming Plc has appointed Nigel Birrell as director of mergers and acquisitions, effective immediately. Birrell, formerly of children's entertainment company HIT Entertainment, will report directly to Martin Weigold, Group Finance Director of PartyGaming. Birrell, a former lawyer, was instrumental in HIT Entertainment's acquisitions of several entertainment brands, including Barney the Dinosaur, Thomas the Tank Engine and others, and he was a key player in devising, negotiating and establishing SPROUT, the only dedicated 24-hour digital pre-school satellite and cable television channel, launched in the United States in September.
Litigation -- Interactive software systems developer Interactive Systems Worldwide Inc. (ISWI) has filed a patent infringement complaint in a U.S. District Court in New Jersey against gaming machine provider Progressive Gaming International Corporation and software group STB Holdings. ISWI claims the two companies have copied its patented SportXction product, a computer-based system that enables bettors to place continuous bets while sporting events are in progress. "As the originators of real-time wagering during the course of a sporting event and a pioneer in the interactive wagering market in general, we have invested significant energy and financial resources in developing, marketing and operating our unique SportXction System," Barry Mindes, ISWI's chairman and CEO, explained. Progressive gaming and STB have not yet made any statements regarding the matter.
Jon Is Happy -- Just in time for the Holidays, English punter Jon R. of Essex, has netted one of the largest jackpots in online casino history by winning US$1.77 million Thursday on InterCasino's progressive Millionaire's Club Slot. The enormous jackpot comes just five months after another InterCasino customer, Richard R. (presumable no relation to Jon), won US$1.06 million playing the same game.