Mahjong at Ladbrokes -- Mahjong Systems Limited (MSL), a subsidiary of Montreal-based Dynasty Gaming Inc. announced Tuesday that its Mahjong Mania software is now live on the Web site of British bookmaker Ladbrokes. MSL President Adriaan Brink said, “Over the last few months MSL has signed a number of licensing contracts with various online casinos and sports book operators and we are optimistic that several more contracts will be signed in Q1 2006. “
Packer Replacement -- Media and gaming firm (and partner to Betfair Australia) Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd. has appointed Executive Director Chris Anderson as its deputy chairman to replace the late Kerry Packer, who died in December. Anderson has served on PBL's board since in 2004. "Chris has 40 years experience, having been a chief executive officer in three industries - newspapers (Fairfax), television (TV NZ) and telecommunications (Optus)," PBL Executive Chairman James Packer said. Anderson was also the former managing editor of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Quoteworthy -- "At the college and university level, poker is pretty much the hottest thing going. We want to embrace this, and we want to create a unique value proposition for students who are playing poker online."
--Mike Edwards, business development and marketing manager for absolutepoker.com, which entices college students by offering college tuition to tournament winners, telling the Christian Science Monitor about his company's views on marketing to young poker players.
Chimera Licensees -- Interactive gaming technology provider Chimera Technology Corp., announced that it has added two new licensees with a contractual value of $300,000, though it did not name either licensee. The platforms consist of sports wagering, a casino games suite, horse wagering, a poker room, and a mobile casino.
Poker Creations -- Steve "Dakota" Happas, a former sports radio jock at the 1510 sports station in Boston, Mass. and Alan Miller, a veteran of several start-ups, have launched a poker promotions company with the hopes of running online poker tournaments for companies and nonprofits. Poker Creations will stay within strict local gambling laws, and players will compete for prizes instead of betting their own cash. Poker Creations has already landed one major corporate client in the Miller Brewing Co.
Award -- The UK's pokerzone (SKY channel 226) won TV program of the year at last night's UK Gambling Awards for their flagship show, Poker Night Live, beating out the World Poker Tour, the Poker Million and the World Head's Up Poker Championships. Poker Night Live, a show featuring poker experts who commentate on people playing poker online from the comfort of their own homes, was launched to SKY viewers in May 2005 and now reaches an audience in excess of 200,000 viewers per week.