RETIRING Ladbrokes’ current corporate development director, Alan Ross, who has been with the bookmaker since 1971, will retire on July 19, 2009, the company announced on Wednesday.
Ladbrokes said that Mr. Ross will not be standing for reelection to the company board at the annual general meeting, scheduled for May 15, 2009. Mr. Ross joined the board in 2006, after spending 35 years working up from shop duty to become the managing director of Ladbrokes Retail in 2000.
Earlier this month, Ladbrokes announced its chairman, Sir Ian Robinson, would be stepping down after the company’s annual general meeting.
Following his retirement Mr. Ross will continue to act as a consultant to Ladbrokes, the company said. Taking his place on the board will be Richard Ames, who is the managing director of United Kingdom and Ireland retail. Mr. Ames will officially be brought on at the first of the new year.
“Alan has made an enormous contribution to Ladbrokes and the betting and gaming industry,” said Christopher Bell, Ladbrokes’ chief executive, in a prepared statement. “He played a major role in developing the business from the introduction of live pictures into betting shops through SiS in 1986 to the introduction of FOBTs in 1998, and he played a significant part in our major acquisitions and disposals across the globe.”
GETTING OFF-TRACK The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Wednesday that California Horse Racing Board voted unanimously to approve expanding off-track betting to card rooms, sports bars and other facilities in the state.
The expansion, adopted by state legislature last year, is intended to strengthen revenues and boost awareness, the newspaper said.
On Monday, Richard B. Shapiro announced his resignation as the chairman of the board, which went into effect the next day.
“Let me be very clear: This decision is mine and mine alone,” Mr. Shapiro said in a prepared statement. “No one has asked me to do this; to the contrary, I have been asked to stay. But this is a personal decision I have pondered for many months, and I have decided it is time for me to move on.”
WINTER SPORTS Greentube A.G., a skill games developer, said that within a week of its fourth annual ski challenge launch, it has been downloaded more than 1.3 million times.
According to the company, last season saw 3.3 million active players in 300 completed races with 14 billion page views. It said it expects between 3.5 and 4 million gamers worldwide for this year’s season.
Already working with media partners in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia and Norway, the company said more media partners are expected to come during the season.
“We are absolutely delighted about the sensationally positive feedback from our international fans, who, along with our media partners, have made this success possible,” said Eberhard Dürrschmid, Greentube’s chief executive, in a prepared statement. “Even when the topic of in-game advertising is still seen somewhat sceptically, we have proven how successful it can be. Moreover the mobile version of Ski Challenge and its circulation have shown that there is further potential.”
INTEGRATING On Monday, Entraction Holding A.B., an online poker network operator and software developer, announced a partnership with Income Access for an affiliate marketing solution.
Through the partnership, Entraction’s software will be integrated with Income Access’ affiliate marketing software allowing Entraction partners to be able to have programs powered by a single platform provider.
“Access to a market leading affiliate system makes Entraction more attractive to established gaming operators that already benefit from affiliate marketing as well as to other partners that want to capitalize on affiliates,” said Peter Åström, Entraction’s chief executive, in a prepared statement.
iLAUNCH Spin3 announced on Monday that it will be supplying All Slots Casino with its GameWire mobile casino system, which offers games for the iPhone and iPod Touch among other devices.
To be launched with a focus on the United Kingdom and France, the games will include blackjack, roulette and "Tomb Raider" with an English and French version, according to the company. The mobile solutions provider said this was the first time a casino operator would offer games for both the iPhone and the iPod Touch.
“The launch of a mobile casino represents an important step forward for our business strategy and a powerful extension to our brand,” said David Brickman, All Slots Casino’s vice president of player affairs, in a prepared statement. “On both sides of the channel, our customers want to be able to play casino games on the go as well as at their computers.”
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