Poker Beat -- Internet casino and poker room Empire Online reported today that it is in "advanced discussions" with former partner PartyGaming about settling a legal dispute filed in December. Empire is suing PartyGaming for damages incurred when it was shut out of PartyPoker network. . . . Online gaming software developer Planet Ace Gibraltar Ltd., owner of poker tournament reporting site PokerPages.com, today announced the completion of the acquisition of a second online poker reporting service, TournamentReporter.com. Tournament Reporter reports on over 1 million players at gaming sites such as Paradise Poker, PartyPoker, Poker Stars and Ultimate Bet.
Resigning -- Interactive Systems Worldwide Inc. (ISWI) today announced the resignation of Chairman and Director Barry Mindes, effective immediately. In his resignation letter, Mindes, also founder of ISWI, cited family health matters and personal issues as reasons for his decision. In an independent statement released after the announcement, Mindes said, "I continue to be a great supporter and fan of ISWI and obviously have an enormous emotional attachment to the company, being its founder and the originator of most of its concepts, systems and initiatives. My resignation was the result of purely personal considerations and I have every faith in the skill and competence of the new management in protecting and increasing the value of my equity position."
Great Denial -- Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, coach and part owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, has publicly denied making any bets with a New Jersey-based gambling ring allegedly headed by his friend and assistant coach, Rick Tocchet. Gretzky also told reporters that he has no plans to resign as head of Canada's Olympic hockey team and that he will be in Italy this Sunday.
Quoteworthy -- "PartyGaming admits that Americans wager on its site and that a significant portion of its revenue comes from those who shouldn't be using the site. You have people volunteering to pay a tax, and the government won't go for it; it's a farce."
-- MGM-Mirage Chairman Terry Lanni, speaking at the fourth quadrennial Racing Congress during the opening day general session of the Thoroughbred Racing Association and Harness Tracks of America joint annual meeting Feb. 8 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Lanni expressed that gaming companies and racetracks should work together to legalize more forms of Internet gaming.