eCOGRA Chairman Recognized -- Michael Hirst, Chairman of eCOGRA, has received recognition for superior work in the U.K. tourism industry by being appointed as an Officer of the British Empire in Britain's 2004 New Year Honors List. Among other accomplishments, Hirst was voted "Personality of the Year 2003" by readers of Meetings & Incentive Travel, and he has been a board member of Ladbrokes Group (now the Hilton Group). He also served as executive chairman of Hilton's hotel division and CEO and chairman of Hilton International. Hirst only recently joined eCOGRA, an online gaming industry regulatory and player assurance body. Hirst said of his award, "Whilst I am naturally honored to be receiving this award, it signifies enormous appreciation to all those involved in the U.K. business tourism sector for the important contribution they make. I hope I can achieve the same sense of purpose and recognition for the integrity and professionalism of the online gaming industry in its treatment of players and provision of fair play."
Child Mobile Restrictions -- England's six largest mobile phone operators- Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Virgin, Vodaphone, and 3- have agreed upon new mobile phone sales regulations that will prohibit customers under the age of 18 from purchasing mobile phones with unlimited Internet access. Becoming effective later this year, the new regulations will prevent children from viewing chat rooms, porn sites and gambling services. Vodaphone's public policy executive Rob Borthwick, said, "Our aim is to ensure there are safeguards in place before there's a mass market in phones with Internet access. All our mobiles will be fitted with filters to block adult content, including pornography, gambling, and chat rooms. You will have to verify that you are 18 or over in order to get them lifted."
Lingerie Bowl -- One of the world's largest online poker rooms, PartyPoker.com, has signed on to become the title sponsor of Lingerie Bowl 2004 after Dodge stepped down due to a negative public reaction. The Lingerie Bowl will be broadcast during halftime of the 2004 Super Bowl and will feature a seven-on-seven tackle football extravaganza between two scantily clad teams of female models and actresses, including Angie Everheart and Nikki Ziering. The two teams, Team Dream and Team Euphoria, will be coached by NFL hall-of-famers Lawrence Taylor and Eric Dickerson.
iTV in Australia -- Australian pay-TV services provider Foxtel announced that it had secured $550 million to upgrade its systems to digital transmission. In addition to offering more and clearer channels, the upgrade will give users access to interactive features, including betting services. Two Way TV Australia has worked with Tab Ltd. and its Sky Channel subsidiary for two years to develop a betting system and could have a channel ready for launch as soon as Foxtel completes its upgrade. Two Way TV speculates that iTV would lead to an increase in wagering in Australia like it has done in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, ThoroughVision, the company that holds the broadcasting rights to all horse races in Melbourne and Sydney, is holding meetings this week with Sky Channel and other interested parties to sell the rights. Sky Channel is hoping that its work with Two Way TV should give it more leverage toward securing the broadcasting licenses and maintaining its near-monopoly on broadcasting races in Australia.
Benchmark Plan to Alleviate Problem Gambling -- As part of the Australian Federal Government's $5 million national gambling research program, state and territory governments will be required to meet certain harm-minimization benchmarks. Each government will have to submit a public report to the Council Of Australian Governments detailing the actions it has taken to combat Australia's large numbers of problem gamblers. Kay Patterson, minister of Family and Community Services and chair of the Ministerial Council on Gambling, said that the gaming ministers have already agreed to the plan that will begin later this year.
Australian Laundering Probe -- Austrac, the Australian government's financial intelligence agency, has launched a probe into Internet and private bank money laundering. Austrac has enlisted John Walker--the man whose 1995 report on money laundering received global recognition for its analysis of money laundering and organized crime--to spearhead its investigation. Walker and his team of experts will explore how criminals use technology, the Internet and private banking, and also whether casinos, professional sports clubs, the booming property market, tax evasion and holiday resorts are being used to eliminate evidence of laundering.