Stock Watch -- According to the Independent, shares in online gaming groups with the majority of their customers in the United States took a nosedive Tuesday after a "gambling Web site" published a warning that Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va. was preparing to present a new gambling prohibition bill to the House of Representatives, suggesting that the fallout from Washington's recent lobbying scandal could aid its passage. Poker giant PartyGaming, which takes 80 percent of its customers from the United States, and online gaming operator 888 suffered the biggest blows on the London Stock Exchange. PartyGaming shares dropped nearly 4 percent to 123.5p, while 888 was down 5 percent to 187.75p.
Lay-Free Betfair -- Betfair announced Tuesday at the racing industry's annual lunch that it will launch a "win only" site for bettors who are intimidated by the complexity of its current site, which allows customers to lay horses to lose. The new site, which will look like an ordinary sports book, will be up and running in time for the Cheltenham festival next month.
Sold -- Swedish online gaming company Unibet Group plc today sold its entire holding (23 percent) of equity shares in Swedish online gaming company B2B Poker AB to its partner, Swedish gaming operator and software provider 24hPoker AB for a total of SEK 15 million (US$1,909,608). SEK 10 million (US$1,273,048.08) is payable today and the remainder on Sept. 1. Subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, Unibet is entitled to an additional consideration of up to SEK 7 million (US$891,251). Unibet will remain a partner with B2B until Aug. 31, with an option to renew the contract.
BoDog in Sky -- The Bodog.com brand will soon be seen at 30,000 feet. The online gambling company on Tuesday announced a three-month advertising deal involving six large Allegiant Air passenger jets flying to and from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Each plane, externally and internally branded with the company's logo and colors, comes with the total gambling experience, including in-flight announcements highlighting some of the Bodog.com products, inserts in each seat back with detachable poker and blackjack strategy cards and passenger seat trays that look like a blackjack tables.
Australian Trends -- The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is reporting that money spent on gambling now accounts for 40 percent of turnover in the nation's pubs and clubs. According to the Bureau, gambling accounts for 1.8 percent of total retail turnover in Victoria, but the largest contribution comes from New South Wales, where gambling revenue accounts for about 7 percent of retail turnover. States like Queensland and South Australia are running neck and neck reporting around 3 percent of total turnover coming from gambling. It's an interesting contrast to New Zealand, which recently reported a decrease of 0.6 percent in gambling spending.