Media Rights -- As part of a fifth group vying for the broadcasting rights to the major Sydney racing clubs, well known advertising and radio executive John Singleton will deliver a proposition to ThoroughVision, the company that holds all the racing media rights of Victoria Racing, the Australian Jockey Club, and the Sydney Turf Club. Singleton's group will be the last to present its case after the four other groups-- Perrin Legal, Telstra Media, tenten Digital, and Sky Channel-- presented last Wednesday. Sky Channel owns all the rights, but the contract with the NSW clubs will expire March 4 and the Victoria contracts will expire a year later. ThoroughVision is expected to meet with representatives of the racing clubs soon after the presentation and to reach a decision immediately thereafter… UNiTAB Managing Director Dick McIlwain said that on Thursday he would issue his UNiTAB's bidder's statement for Tab Ltd., the company that owns Sky Channel.
Gambling in Iraq -- The Boston Globe reports that gambling, most notably horse racing, has been making a comeback in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein in April. According to the Globe, "One undeniable appeal is gambling, which was banned during Hussein's rule but has become an aboveboard pastime and a source of income for some of the thousands of men who lost their jobs in the economic and political dislocations of recent months."
Child Mobile Protection -- Joan Keating, the head of communications for Vodafone Ireland and chairperson of the Irish Cellular Industry Association, told ElectricNews.Net that mobile phone operators in Ireland have begun the process of establishing a child-protection code for phones with mobile Internet access. Keating said the code would be similar to the one announced last week by mobile operators in the United Kingdom, but it would take at least a year before the code is finalized.
Stats -- A recent report shows that Rhode Island is ranked first among all U.S. states in per-capita spending on gambling. The report shows that in 2002 Rhode Islanders spent $1,115.33 per each person in the state on lottery-sponsored gambling, such as scratch tickets and Keno. Most of the money went toward video lottery terminals in Lincoln Park and Newport Grand. Delaware ranked second in gambling spending per capita with $842 per person, and South Dakota was third with $828 per person.
Stronach -- Belinda Stronach officially announced her bid for the leadership of the Conservative party in Canada. Stronach, 37, also resigned as president and CEO of Magna International Inc. today. Upon making her announcement, Stronach unveiled a platform that included cutting taxes, building a strong economy, reducing the size of government and creating a more integrated U.S.-Canada border.
Dispute Ending -- YouBet and TVG Network have asked for a two-week extension to formalize an agreement between them that would settle their legal battle. TVG filed suit against YouBet in September, alleging that Youbet had provided false and misleading proxy information to its shareholders to swing a vote that would amend Youbet's charter. TVG also alleged that Youbet's attempt to change the charter breached an agreement that would give TVG the right to control a majority of Youbet's board.