Inspired Slump -- Icelandic investment firm FL Group has dissolved takeover talks with Inspired Gaming to current financial market conditions. "FL Group continues to be impressed by the Inspired Gaming business and management team and remains a supportive shareholder," it said today. Meanwhile, Inspired said it was disappointed by the decision but noted trading for the current financial year has started in line with expectations. Shares in AIM-listed Inspired were down 28p, or 10.69 percent, to 234.00.
Paddy Power Ad Banned -- The London Underground has banned a Paddy Power ad campaign for its potential to offend public decency. One of the ads features a man breastfeeding a baby and the headline reads "Where Have All the Women Gone?" The ad sought to entice women into taking a break from their daily responsibilities and come to the recently re-launched Paddy Power bingo site, but succeeded only in becoming the third time the company has created controversy over its advertising. In 2001, a campaign featuring two elderly women crossing a busy road with odds above their heads was banned, as was the 2005 campaign, "The Last Supper."
Ladbrokes Ad Not Banned -- The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority has rejected complaints that television ads by Ladbrokes featuring well-known ex-football personalities were irresponsible. The £5 million campaign features ex-footballers Ally McCoist, Ian Wright, Lee Dixon and Chris Kamara with the tagline "Everyone's got an opinion, what's yours worth?" The ASA received four complaints alleging the ads were a clear encouragement to gamble and appealed to young men who could be influenced by the celebrity status of the athletes. Ladbrokes, however, argued that they took the greatest care to embrace the spirit and substance of the new U.K. gambling regulations, which went into effect in September. The ASA sided with Ladbrokes and will allow the ads to continue to air.
NetEnt Stryykes Deal -- Net Entertainment has signed a license agreement with Stryyke Entertainment Ltd. to deliver its CasinoModule product, bringing the total of license agreements signed in 2007 to 17. Malta-licensed Strykke operates a sports betting Web site called stryyke.com, most focused on central Europe.
Acquiring -- Liberty Genius, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, will acquire all of FUN Technologies' issued and outstanding common shares for a cash payment of £1.75 per common share, without interest. The arrangement was approved today by an overwhelming 99.95 percent of the votes cast by FUN shareholders present or represented by proxy at the company's special meeting and by approximately 99.89 percent of the votes cast by minority shareholders present or represented by proxy at the meeting. Finalization of the deal is subject to court approval and satisfaction of certain conditions specified in the agreement. It is expected to close on Dec. 21.
First Mexican Mobile Lottery -- The Mexican National Lottery (Pronósticos Deportivos), U.S-based wireless company, Digital Orchid, and Mexican cell phone company Telcel have created the first mobile lottery game system for Mexico called Melate Móvil. Draws will be held twice a week and players can participate through the purchase of a pre-paid card.
AG Plea -- The National Association of Attorneys General on Nov. 30 sent a letter of disapproval to the four respective leaders of Congress, expressing their "grave concern" over the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. The AGs say that they are worried that the IGREA will undo what the UIGEA has done in driving many illegal operators from the U.S. market. They also believe that the state opt-outs proposed in the bill would undermine states' traditional powers to make and enforce their own gambling laws.
Stock Watch -- Not too much movement on the LSE today, but 888 closed up 4.50p to 133.25, while William Hill dropped 9.75p to 491.75.
Quoteworthy -- "In you want to place a bet online there is probably a place you can still do it in the United States."
- From Catherine Hanaway, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, who admitted in a press conference today in St. Louis that the U.S. online gambling industry has not completely shut down.