Tidbits from the US -- An article on Forbes.com by writer Ari Weinberg states that if sports wagering were legalized in the rest of the United States, as opposed to just Nevada, the industry could be worth up to $12 billion after players are paid. Weinberg writes: "How much in tax hikes and budget cuts might an additional industry forestall? How many scholarships could new revenue create around the country? Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that anyone in Washington, D.C. really wants to find out." ... The National Journal's Technology Daily reports that the U.S. Navy's travel card program is being wrongly used for Internet gambling charges by Navy personnel. A report issued Monday by the General Accounting Office states that as of March 31, 2002, Navy credit cards were used in 35 online gambling transactions worth $23,000.
UK Bit -- Sportingbet said recently that for the first time, in October, the group's European operations turned a profit. The profit comes more than five months earlier than the company expected. Nigel Payne, Sportingbet's chief executive, said the company is growing faster in Europe than they had expected. "We are growing bigger and faster and we also managed to get good trading margins," he said.
Quote Worthy -- "It just so happens I am providing a service that the American public wants. In fact, the American public is hungry to take advantage of my service." Betonsports.com Chief Executive David Carruthers, as quoted by the Indianapolis Star.