Rumor Mill -- Today's big rumor is that Hilton Group, owner of British betting shop giant Ladbrokes, is seeking to acquire Internet-based betting giant Sportingbet. Though some analysts dismiss the rumors as speculation, others believe that Ladbrokes' increase of at least 50 new staff members in its e-gaming department—including some at senior management levels--is an indication of its intentions. The Daily Mail estimates that such a deal would net Sportingbet £807 million, or 250p per share. Sportingbet, which only a few weeks ago purchased Paradise Poker for about £170 million, saw its share price increase 8p on today's rumors to close at 180.5p. One important thing to note, however, is that Ladbrokes could face a potential problem in acquiring Sportingbet because in doing so, it would obtain a firm grasp on the U.S. market.
AFL Agreement -- The Australian Football League has verified that it is considering entering formal arrangements with Australia's bookmakers to obtain revenue from wagering. By doing so the league would likely obtain millions of dollars in commissions from bookmakers each year. "I don't think it's any secret that a number of industry participants have said they're going to approach various sporting bodies about a formal relationship," AFL General Manager Gillon McLachlan commented. "We're one of those, and yes, I can confirm we have been approached by various parties. That's about as much as I'd like to say at this stage. . . . Sports betting is a growth market worldwide, and we think it's reasonable for our industry to receive its fair share of the revenue created by the game." Sports betting in Australia will yield between $1.5 billion and $2 billion this year, but the AFL is receiving no money from bookies. In addition to earning the league money, a formal arrangement would give the league access to bookmakers' betting sheets.
Moving to Malta? -- Officials in Malta say that British operators who are growing increasingly concerned that new U.K. gambling policies will require licensed operators to keep all aspects of remote gaming businesses in the country are considering Malta as their new destination. Mario Galea, CEO of Malta's Lotteries and Gaming Authority, told eGaming Review, "We have U.K. operators interested in Malta as a lot of people are angry and frustrated with the Gambling Bill. . . . My feeling is there is not enough of an attraction for people to establish an industry unless the U.K. government makes some changes in the way it is interpreting the bill."
Welcome Aboard -- The Tote (UK) has appointed Tim Betteridge, currently chief executive of Wetherby racecourse, to the new position of racecourse commercial director for Totepool, the company's pool-betting division. Betteridge's main task will be to maximize the Tote's commercial performance at the racecourses. . . . I-gaming software provider CryptoLogic Inc. has appointed Andrew Goetsch as its new vice president of poker software development. Goetsch, who has 18 years experience as a senior executive, is also an avid poker player who has appeared at final tables several times and also finished in the money over 200 times on both online and traditional tournaments, including at this year's World Series of Poker main event. His main priorities will include expanding new games, table and betting variations, optimizing satellite tournament functionality and enhancing customer support and back-office management capabilities. . . . World Gaming, a provider of I-gaming software and e-business services, has appointed Jon Moss as director of sales and marketing. Moss was previously employed as business development director at WagerLogic, the licensing and services subsidiary of CryptoLogic. Before joining WagerLogic, he was a director of a leading industry consulting group that helped launch Internet casino Lasseters.com in 1999.