WPT Console -- WPT Enterprises has signed a deal giving 2K Sports, the sports division of 2K Games, exclusive licensing rights for World Poker Tour interactive poker games on console, PC and handheld systems. 2K Games is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, which owns an empire of proprietary video gaming brand franchises that includes "Grand Theft Auto," "Max Payne," "Railroad Tycoon" and others.
Thorough Coverage -- Poker information Web site PokerPages.com has hired four journalists to report on major poker events in North America and Europe. Mike Paulle, Daniel Lazerek and Steve Hall will cover poker tournaments in the United States, while Rolf Slotboom will cover European events. The PokerPages Web site also features a searchable database of poker establishments, tools to find online poker action, daily-updated events & results, tips, daily articles and a comprehensive poker player gallery and profiles section.
Poker Portal -- Gaming Corporation, the owner of online gaming portal www.casino.co.uk, has launched another portal at www.findpoker.com. The new site will replicate the business model of the casino.co.uk site by providing news, editorial content and links to poker sites. It will also generate revenue through a cost-per-click advertising system that uses the same ad-serving technology and backend system used for casino.co.uk.
Accepting US Play -- Alderney-licensed Littlewoods Casino recently began accepting play from U.S. residents. Parent company Sportech Plc this month revealed that half of its gross win for 2004 came from non-sports gambling. The company is expected to report full-year gross winnings for the year 2004 that are 65 percent higher than 2003's figures, due largely to growth in casino, poker and telephone betting operations.
Record Payout -- A 40-year-old hospital worker named Ted Reid received a £743,760 payout from a fruit machine last week at Ladbrokes' online casino. The sum is apparently the largest Internet payout ever in the United Kingdom. Reid had placed a 20p bet on the "Major Millions" game.
Shakeup -- I-gaming software provider IQ Ludorum has made a number of changes to its management personnel. Dick Wright has resigned as a director of the company, and Gurcharan Singh has resigned as a director and officer to the company. Replacing them are three non-executive directors: Joseph McFadden, Samuel Drennan and Phillip Rhee. Meanwhile, board member John Reynolds has been appointed interim chairman to temporarily fill the position vacated by Nicholas Willis last month.
Arrests Pending -- Sergeant Julian Goodchild, the media liaison officer for the City Of London Police, stated recently that he expects more individuals to be arrested soon in connection to the investigation of race fixing in Britain. Goodchild stated that the arrests will likely occur in a matter of days rather than weeks, and jockeys may be among those apprehended. So far 26 individuals have been arrested as part of the investigation, five of whom are jockeys.