Nice Haul, Garcia -- In a piece titled "Feds Haul in Dirty Money," the New York Daily News reports that Manhattan federal prosecutors have seized an estimated $717 million in assets from "corporate fraudsters, drug traffickers and Internet gambling profiteers" in 2007. An additional $450 million is expected to be seized in the coming months as the result of agreements negotiated by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia. Garcia, recall, charged former Neteller Directors Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre with conspiracy and money laundering in connection with illegal Internet gambling around this time last year. In July 2007, Neteller agreed to forfeit $136 million to the Department of Justice as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.
ALC Examining New I-Games -- Atlantic Lottery Corp. -- which supplies lottery services to the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labarador and Prince Edward Island -- recently issued a request for information asking for help to "explore and consider a suite of Internet-based lottery products (including) instant win products, casual games as well as other popular games played by consumers on this online medium." Paula Dyke, a spokeswoman for ALC, told Newfoundland daily Western Star that ALC already promotes five online games on its Web site, and that the company is merely in an investigatory phase with regard to new games. "There might be new and exciting things that could replace what's there or we could add to it," she said. "But at this point we're looking to see what's out there."
Full-Year Financials from GGT -- Global Gaming Technologies said its full-year pre-tax loss had narrowed versus 2006, but said that its trading facility on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market will be suspended if it fails to make an acquisition within 12 months of its annual general meeting. GGT's pre-tax loss came in at £878,247 compared with a loss of of £12.77 million after a share-based payments charge of £614,059 and the goodwill write-off of £100,000. Regarding acquisitions, the company said the process of sourcing a potential acquisition has continued; however, to date, it has not identified a business that meets its requirements.
Spell It Out -- AlphaBet has launched its proprietary poker variant of the same name (AlphaBet). The game is a variation on poker played with words rather than traditional playing cards. Players are dealt three hole cards, each bearing a letter and a corresponding letter value. Four community cards are dealt in conjunction with rounds of betting. AlphaBet said the object of the game is for players to compete for the best-scoring word using any combination of their hole cards and the community cards. The privately-held group has partnered with NYX Interactive and Trimark Gaming to launch the game online as an interactive, multi-player game, with players competing against each other live by registering at any participating licensee. "We look forward to launching this skill game to players worldwide in partership with some of the best operators in the business," said AlphaBet Creator Keith Duddy.
Terminal Deal -- Inspired Gaming has agreed to supply Ladbrokes with its Open Server-Based Gaming Platform for use across 1,500 of the bookmaker's existing gaming machine terminals.
Stakebuilding Continues -- Asia-based investment group Guoco has upped its stake once again in Rank from 4.1 percent to 5.05 percent. Shares in Rank were up 1.50p to 91.75 on the LSE.
Stock Watch -- A good day for London shares, Neteller was up 1p to 65.75, PartyGaming was up 1.50p to 27.50, Ladbrokes was up 7p to 306.50 and William Hill as up 14.25p to 420.75.