Nambling Notes - Feb. 8, 2007

8 February 2007

Sold . . . Almost -- U.K. sports minister Richard Caborn is expecting a favorable decision "in principle" regarding the sale of the Tote to an alliance of racecourse operators, racehorse owners and Tote directors within a month/ The Racing Post reports that the £400 million ($783.3 million) was submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) by the Jan. 26 deadline and that Caborn said it satisfied the requirements of Treasury and his team.

UK National Lottery Update -- Reuters reported today that India- and Greek-based lottery operators are expected to enter the U.K National Lottery race. The news source suggests, however, that current operator Camelot is still the "frontrunner," while U.K.-based Ladbrokes, operator Gala Coral and Australia-based Tattersall's--all rumored contenders--have "ruled themselves out."

From Japan with Love -- Online operator Kiwi Gaming said it has launched a Japanese-language version of its FastWin Casino.

Quoteworthy -- "The impressive thing about the case, part of the [U.S.] Justice Department's legally shaky crusade against online gambling, is not the evidence but the government's sinister spin on it. The feds pretend they're pursuing criminals while prosecuting honest businessmen for providing services Americans want."

    Reason magazine senior editor Jacob Sullum regarding the recent Justice Department action targeting the I-gaming industry.