Gates vs. Spam -- Addressing a World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Microsoft's Bill Gates boasted that, "Two years from now, spam will be solved." Gates revealed that Microsoft is currently developing two different techniques of spam prevention. The first involves technology that could accurately identify the sender of e-mail no matter how many proxies through which a message is sent. The second method includes a mechanism that would allow recipients of spam to charge a bill to the sender.
DDoS Attack -- PlanetPoker.com customers are reporting that they received an e-mail in mid December apologizing for occasional network inaccessibility over one particular weekend due to distributed denial of services attacks. This is the first IGN has heard of a poker site being targeted by cyber extortionists.
Quoteworthy -- ". . . A far more sensible policy would be to legalize Internet bookmakers. This would allow policies to be put in place that could limit the potential excesses of gambling and minimize the role of the criminal element. As side benefits, a legalized regime would likely displace the widespread illegal operations. It is perhaps understandable that such an option is rarely considered. Gambling is a subject that many feel passionately about. But the argument for legalization and regulation should have appeal for opponents and supporters of gambling alike."
- Koleman Strumpf, associate professor of economics at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The above passage is Strumpf's conclusion of a foxnews.com article titled Online Gambling Ban Doomed to Fail.
Casino Barter -- Gaming Corporation, the operator of gaming portal casino.co.uk and online casino play.casino.co.uk, has entered into a global strategic alliance with trade exchange Bartercard International, whereby it will provide Bartercard with its own branded casino site so that its members and card holders use their Trade Pounds on the site. Gaming Corp will manage Bartercard Casino and receive all profits, which will be applied to a global advertising campaign across the Bartercard network.
Weekly Mobile Lottery -- The Mobile Lottery of the United Kingdom has launched the country's first weekly mobile phone lottery, the Pick 3 for 50p and its jackpot Mobile Million. The Pick 3 for 50p pays out £200 for three correct matches and gives players free entry into the weekly Mobile Million Draw held every Saturday.
Boss Sells Casino -- Swedish online gaming software provider Boss Media has sold Gold Club Casino to a company that wishes to remain anonymous. The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed, but under the terms of the deal Boss will continue to provide gambling software and services to the new buyer. When it sold gaming portal casino.com in autumn of 2003, Boss stated that it planned to sell its gaming operations to that it could concentrate on it core business, which is software development.
Survey Says -- Research company Digital Marketing Services recently completed a report for America Online's AOL Games division. The report, which evaluated the gaming habits of male and female adults and teenagers and the reasons for which they play, uncovered some surprising results. On average, women over 40 spend the most hours per week playing computer games online, spending 9.1 hours or 41 percent of their online time playing games. Women over 40 are also more likely to play games every day than are men or teenagers. Although women play more, they tend to do so in order to relieve stress, whereas men do it to satisfy a competitive urge. Men are also more likely to play games for money.