Fun Acquisition -- SkillJam Technologies Corporation, the wholly owned subsidiary of online gaming provider Fun Technologies plc, has entered the mobile gaming realm after completing the acquisition of interactive media and entertainment developer Octopi LLC, which specializes in mobile gaming platforms. The consideration for the sale of Arizona-based Octopi is an upfront payment to the sellers of US$3 million as well as an earn-out of up to $3 million.
Star Tract -- Star Trek drama king William Shatner has agreed to sell his kidney stone for $25,000 to publicity hounds GoldenPalace.com to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, a charity that builds house for the homeless or those living in poverty. Shatner, 74, passed the stone last fall and persuaded doctors to return it. "This takes organ donors to a new height, to a new low, maybe," Shatner said. "How much is a piece of me worth?" The actor reportedly turned down GP's original offer of $15,000, noting that his Star Trek tunics have sold for more than $100,000.
KY Hub -- The Kentucky General Assembly on Tuesday approved regulations drafted by the Kentucky Racing Authority (KRA) that would allow up to four international hubs to operate at racecourses in the state. Jim Gallagher, KRA's executive director characterizes hubs as the greatest area of growth in terms of revenue. Bets placed by Kentuckians through Oregon's interactive horseracing channel TVG accounted for $119.8 million of the industry's $262.9 million third-quarter results. Under the proposal, applicants for a Kentucky hub would pay $200 a day and no more than 1 percent of bets handled by the hub. The Assembly approved the proposal for the hubs two years ago.
Betfair Bits -- Tasmanian Economic Development Minister Lara Giddings said Tuesday that the decision to grant U.K. betting exchange Betfair a license is an economic boon for the state. Betfair signed a lease at Hobart's Technopark and will pay full commercial rent for the space. Operations in Hobart are expected to be fully equipped by April and should employ 150 people by the end of two years, with 75 at the end of the first year. . . . Betfair on Tuesday diffused rumors that the company has revived plans to float on the London Stock Exchange. The British press reported this week that the company is preparing to float in September 2006, but Betfair Communications Director Mark Davies was quick to deny such a plan exists. "It's complete nonsense and news to me," Davies said. "I've no idea where this came from. It's just not on the agenda." Betfair in October 2005 scrapped its original plans for an LSE float.
Complaints Are Down -- eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) has released a report indicating that player disputes with gaming sites carrying eCOGRA's "Play It Safe" seal were at a low level in 2005. Tex Rees, the association's fair gaming advocate, reports that a total of 439 complaints were lodged during 2005, but 103 of those were related to non-eCOGRA sites. "Of the 336 disputes that we received, 10 percent turned out to be valid complaints demanding redress," Rees said. "Seventy percent of these were made up of bonus and cash-in issues, almost entirely to do with Terms and Conditions or Support errors." Over 95 percent of disputes were dealt with in less than 48 hours, according to the report.
Getting Down in Motown -- The proprietors of the soon-to-be-launched music-themed casino MotownLegendsCasino.net are throwing Motown Music Fest Feb. 4 on the eve of Superbowl XL to kickoff the casino. Actor Jamie Foxx and recording artists Nelly and John Legend will join legendary Motown artists the Four Tops, the Miracles, the Contours and many others who will all be backed by the Funk Brothers.