Innovators -- Time Magazine has named Betfair's founder, Andrew Black, to its list of innovation specialists--"10 leaders who are helping to shape the future of communications, entertainment, medicine. . . and laundromats." The list will appear in the July 19 edition of Time along with a synopsis of Betfair's operations and how they are changing the world.
Roulette Returns -- Sky Subscriber Services Ltd., the interactive services division of BSkyB, has informed gaming operators that it will allow roulette games back onto its network. Sky, which stopped carrying roulette over a year ago, has changed its policy after consulting the Gaming Board, which last year ruled in a test case against the Association of British Bookmakers that betting shops could offer fixed-odds betting terminals, but they could not offer any casino games other than roulette. The rules apparently apply to iTV gaming as well. Other casino games are still banned.
Svenska's Spending -- According to the Nordic Business Report, Svenska Spel, Sweden's state gambling monopoly, spends about $96.4 million on marketing, making it the nation's second largest consumer advertiser. Meanwhile, the company spends $1.9 million on problem gambling treatment. The business journal also reported that some Swedish media companies have begun accepting advertisements from foreign betting companies--Unibet, Ladbrokes and Expect--even though Sweden's law prohibits them from advertising in Swedish media.
HRTV Joins Dish Network -- Magna Entertainment Corp's HorseRacing TV (HRTV) network has signed a carriage agreement with EchoStar Communications Coporation that will make HRTV available on Echostar's Dish Network beginning July 15. HRTV features television coverage of Magna's 13 racetracks and also has access to live coverage from over 60 other tracks in North America. The deal should make HRTV available to over 10 million homes in the United States.
eGAP Revisions -- eCOGRA, a privately funded, non-profit organization of I-gaming software providers and operators that seeks to ensure player protection in an unregulated industry, has made several provisions to its generally accepted practices (eGAP). According to the revised eGAP, terms and conditions applicable to promotional activities must now be clearly displayed and shall not be unreasonably altered subsequent to the wagering activity. Policies relating to anti-laundering have also been adjusted to accommodate the Financial Action Task Force's guidelines. Additionally, games and slots must have a combined estimated statistical return to players of at least 92 percent. These and several other revisions can be viewed at www.ecogra.org.
Baccarat Bust -- Police in Zhejiang, China arrested 47 people Friday in an online gambling ring in which players used the Internet to bet on Baccarat games based in Myanmar. Actual players moved cards and chips in Myanmar, but the Chinese viewers could participate via the video feeds. Police are still searching for 20 additional suspects in the case.