Ladbrokes Suitors -- Ladbrokes, part of the Hilton Group, confirmed Thursday that it has been approached by multiple suitors interested in purchasing the company. The interested parties, as revealed today in several media reports, are understood to be from private equity houses BC Partners, Blackstone and CVC Capital.
Progress in South Africa -- Despite the Eastern Cape Gambling and Betting Board's recent declaration to the contrary, Internet gambling may soon become legal in South Africa. The National Gambling Board recommended in a report released last month that legalizing online gambling will ensure local gamblers have legal protection, prevent "criminal influence and exploitation" in the industry and it promote the development of an interactive gambling industry in South Africa. A move to legalize online gambling could come quickly if Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa follows the recommendations because the only requirement for proceeding is the drafting of regulations.
Another Fix? -- Two members of Vietnam's national soccer team face permanent ousting from the sport if convicted for allegedly fixing a match that took place during November's Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines. Star striker Pham Van and midfielder Le Quoc Vuong were arrested Tuesday and charged with taking tens of thousands of dollars from bookies to fix at least one match during the games. "For now, they were banned from the V-League, which starts in January," said Nguyen Trong Hy, president of Vietnam Football Federation. "They could be banned for life if convicted in a court." Nearly two dozen referees, coaches and sports officials are facing criminal charges for various match-fixing incidents in the past year.
On the Move -- ACT Commissioner for Public Administration Cheryl Vardon has accepted the position of CEO of the Australian Gaming Council and will leave her post with the ACT in January (just a few months before the end of her term). Vardon, who was appointed commissioner in 2003, said yesterday that she had enjoyed being able to make a contribution to the ACT. ''I've delivered two very robust and accurate state-of-the-service reports and two reports for the Child Protection Review which have contributed to changes in public policy and public administration,'' she said.
Poker Launch -- Gaming Corporation plc, online gaming portal operator and owner of both Gambling.com and Casino.co.uk, announced today that its poker site, poker.casino.co.uk, is now live.
Bleeding Down Under -- The Victorian racing industry was shocked to learn Thursday that it will lose more than $3 million next year due to the New South Wales government's decision not to approve the merger of NSW TAB and Victorian Supertab TAB pools. NSW Gaming and Racing Minister Grant McBride said he rejected the merger because it demonstrated no guarantee that it will benefit NSW taxpayers, despite Tabcorp's projections showing financial benefits from joint pooling for this financial year at $3.1 million for Victorian racing. "It is not good news for the racing industry." Tabcorp wagering chief executive Michael Piggott said. "It is a tough marketplace. We have been damaged by the TVN split-vision situation, now we have this. It's a double whammy, it's a real problem."