Rosy Update from GVC -- Germany-facing operator Gaming VC said this morning that trading was slightly ahead of management's expectations for the full year, bolstered by additional revenue from its Italy-facing sports book, Betaland.com. Gross win for the three months to November's end totaled 39.1 million euros, up 5 percent against figures from the previous-year period. "Securing our Maltese license and moving our core business there positions Gaming VC well to reduce legislative risk to its operations in Germany and to provide an additional platform to expand our business," said Gaming VC Chief Executive Kenny Alexander. Like German operator Fluxx AG the company has repeatedly stressed its desire to diversify ahead of the government's adoption of the proposed Interstate Lotteries Treaty in January 2008.
Negotiations Ongoing, Shares Falling -- Inspired Gaming said today that it is still in negotiations with Iceland-based investment company FL Group over the possibility of a takeover. In September, Inspired said it had received a £270 million takeover approach from FL, which already holds a 10 percent stake in the London-listed company. Shares in Inspired, which floated in June 2006, were down 57.50p, or 17.04 percent, to 280p.
ISWI News -- Interactive Systems Worldwide Inc. has entered into a non-binding agreement to supply Neptune Race and Sports Book, Inc. with its SportXction wagering software. In other ISWI news, the company said wagering via its SportXction product -- operated in the United Kingdom by ISWI subsidiary Global Interactive Gambling Ltd. -- has topped $3 million for the second consecutive month. ISWI, listed on the Over the Counter bulletin board, said it was "very encouraged by this sustained increase in wagering volume." It added that it was in discussions regarding new bookmaking partnerships with several domestic and foreign companies in the gaming industry.
Beefing up CMR -- Paddy Power has enlisted online communications specialist Email Reaction to strengthen its CRM. "When looking at e-mail marketing solutions, a key requirement for us was to integrate software with our own CRM system that would be easy to use, but have sophisticated day analysis capabilities," said Paddy Power User Experience Manager Stephen Lowell.
Big Numbers for Macau -- According to the South China Morning Post, gambling revenues for Macau in October jumped 56 percent from a year earlier, crossing the $1 billion mark for the first time month-on-month. Casinos in the Special Administrative Region took $1.15 billion, besting May's record by 23 percent.
Public Light -- The CBC reports that the Quebec Court of Appeals has ordered the province's lottery commission, Loto-Québec, to make public its reports on gambling-related suicides. According to the report, "the Appeal Court justices didn't even bother hearing from Loto-Québec's lawyers before issuing the ruling." At this time it is uncertain as to why the court ordered the records to be publicized, and Loto-Québec has yet to announce whether it will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Canada.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, Rank was up 5.25p to 105.25, Neteller was up 1.50p to 61.00 and Probability was up 0.50p to 41.50.