CAN-SPAM -- E-mail filtering and security company MX Logic analyzed 10,000 e-mail messages last month and found that only 3 percent of bulk commercial e-mail complied with the United States' new CAN-SPAM Act by including the required postal address and valid opt-out links in each message. Analysis from two other e-mail filtering firms, Brightmail and Postini, also indicate that the Act has had a negligible effect in its first month. Brightmail's statistics show that in January spam constituted 60 percent of all the e-mail that was processed, while in December it was 58 percent. Postini estimated that 80 percent of e-mails were spam in January, while 79 percent were spam in December.
Cricket Corruption -- The Times of India reports that the International Cricket Council (ICC) will deploy at least three anti-corruption officials as well as secret agents to safeguard against match-fixing on the upcoming India-Pakistan series. Retired Pakistani Army Colonel Qaza Noor and one security official from India and one from Australia will tightly monitor the situation. The series marks the first time in 14 years that the teams from neighboring countries will face each other.
Launch -- Market System Inc., the first licensee of Nevada-based I-gaming software developer Chimera Technology Corp., is launching its www.724sportsbook.com Web site today. The site offers wagering on major sporting events all over the world and will soon offer casino games and pari-mutuel horse race wagering. . . . Irish betting company Paddy Power launched an online casino site from Alderney at the end of last month. Paddypowercasino.com, which uses WagerWorks software, is now the sixth online casino to launch from Alderney.
Virtual Mobile Horses -- Asian mobile entertainment provider PlayWizard Co. Ltd. has developed a mobile horseracing game that lets players wager play tokens on virtual horse races. The game, "Grand International Bangkok Derby," features electronic horses with their own odds and individual strengths and weaknesses.
The Streaker Has Landed -- Super Bowl streaker Mark Roberts returned home to a hero's welcome party at Heathrow airport today. Roberts was greeted by cheering crowds of fans who held signs with such messages as "One Super Streak," "Don't end the trend," "The streaker has landed," and "We love you to bits Mark." U.K. glamour model Hayley Finch was also on hand to show her support by lowering her shirt to reveal the words "GoldenPalace.com" tattooed across her more-than-ample cleavage. Needless to say, the welcome party was quickly escorted outside by security.