Takeover Talk -- Asia-based investment group Guoco has upped its stake in Rank from 3.17 percent to 4.1 percent, which gave Rank shares a boost and life to the perpetual takeover talk surrounding the London-listed operator. In late afternoon trading, Rank was up 2.50p, or 2.83 percent, to 90.75p.
Whitelisting Soon? -- Antiguan officials met with U.K. Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe Thursday to discuss the Caribbean nation's application to the U.K. advertising white list, which was rejected recently. "We are extremely encouraged by the reception we received from Minister Sutcliffe and his staff," said Antiguan Finance Minister Errol Cort. "I was very happy to learn that very little stands in the way of our approval for whitelisting, and I think I can express confidence that this issue will be resolved favorably in the very near future."
Inspired Year -- Inspired Gaming, recent takeover target of Icelandic investment firm FL Group, revealed a pre-tax profit of £3.8 million in its first full year of trading since listing on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. The company said trading in Q1 '08 has been "satisfactory," where weaker-than-expected pub trading figures were offset by a "strong" performance in the gaming sector and server-based gaming cost savings. In a separate announcement, Inspired said it has renewed a four-year gaming machine contract with William Hill, whereby it will provide 6,301 terminals to 75 percent of the bookmaker's branches.
Net Penetration Growing in Malta -- According to the Malta Independent, the Maltese government has launched its Blue Skies initiative to push Malta's Internet penetration rate over the 60 percent hump. Currently, an estimated 53 percent of Maltese homes are wired to the Web. "Not enough is known why 47 percent of the Maltese population does not have Internet, but the government is gambling this is due to price sensitivity," the paper says. The Blue Skies initiative, therefore, will provide Internet access from as little as 3 euros per month.
Quoteworthy -- "The most optimistic observers declared that the United States was next (to regulate online gambling, after the European Union). The problems with this view are many: The United States is not part of the European Union. America does have similar treaty restrictions with the World Trade Organization. But the long-running fight with Antigua shows how little the United States cares about violating WTO rulings . . . Most importantly, look who would have to change American law. Only Congress can amend or revoke the UIGEA. And any bill would have to be signed by President George W. Bush, since Congress would never have enough votes to override his veto. Can you imagine Pres. Bush signing a bill to bring back Internet gambling that is not regulated or taxed by the United States?"
- From the latest article by U.S.-based gambling attorney I. Nelson Rose, a discussion covering "why European decisions don't open doors to U.S. poker players."
Stock Watch -- On the LSE today, London Capital Group was up 14p to 365.00, Sportingbet was up 1.75p to 42.75 and Neteller was up 0.25p to 58.50.