Quoteworthy -- "In 2000, a ban on Internet gambling received 245 votes on the suspension calendar, but, according to news accounts, we were kept from passing it because of Jack Abramoff’s machinations and manipulation. Passing it now would be good public policy and a clear signal that the era of Abramoff’s influence is over."
-- From an article written by Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., which appeared in "The Hill," a newspaper for and about the U.S. Congress. Shadegg is one of three Congressmen vying to replace Rep. Tom DeLay, R-TX, as House Majority Leader.
BHB Vs. ATR -- The British Horseracing Board (BHB) is reportedly planning to appeal last month's High Court judgment in favor of UK horse racing channel At the Races, which ruled that the BHB had abused its market dominance in demands for payments to use its pre-race data. BHB contends that the decision to appeal was made for the sake of racing's future funding, which is expected to switch to a commercial agreement between the sport and the betting industry when the levy is scrapped in 2009.
OpenBet Casino -- British I-gaming solutions provider Orbis Technologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of open end-to-end digital pay TV solutions company NDS Group Plc, will debut its OpenBet Casino at this week's International Casino Exhibition (ICE) in London. OpenBet Games is an open games engine that enables players to choose from Orbis' own games, or third-party gaming applications. Powered by in-house games development company NT Media, which Orbis acquired in September, OpenBet Games provides a complete set of online gaming products, which can be played across a range of channels.
Sportsman -- The Sportsman, the new sports and gaming newspaper sure to give the Racing Post a run for its money, is aiming for a launch in time for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. "We have said the paper will be launched in the spring," said Charlie Methven, the newspaper's editor in chief. "So we could launch at the Cheltenham Festival; or at the Grand National; or at the Guineas Festival at Newmarket. Obviously sooner rather than later is better." The paper's backers have raised £3m in funding so far. The paper will need a further £9m for its full commercial launch. The online edition will not appear until May.