Queensland -- Betfair Australia , which was recently approved to operate in Victoria, is reportedly prepared to offer Queensland Racing more than $400,000 for a sponsorship deal in a bid to be licensed in the state. The betting exchange said it had a $4 million chest to divide between the states as a back payment for fielding on meets, and that figure would grow. Queensland Racing Chief Operations Manager Malcolm Tuttle, however, said the body is still "fundamentally opposed betting exchanges."
Lean and Mean -- Leisure company Rank Group Plc will make a net gain of £53 million before tax from last week's sale and leaseback of its 43 Mecca Bingo clubs and Grosvenor Casino properties amid a restructuring of the organization from a leisure company into a pure gaming business. Under terms of the deal, Rank will sell the 40 Mecca bingo clubs and four Grosvenor casinos (one property contains both gaming venues) to joint venture group Earth-Solarus for £211 million. Rank will also pay the group £39 million to take on its liabilities for another 44 surplus leasehold properties, for a net sale of £172 million.
Opinions, Please -- The U.K. Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), will be seeking public opinion beginning next Tuesday on the proposed advertising guidelines which place stricter regulations on content in gambling ads, especially sexually explicit content. Andrew Brown , the chairman for both CAP and BCAP, said the biggest responsibility was to ensure gambling advertisements are socially responsible and avoid any harm or exploitation of children or vulnerable groups.
Blockade -- I-gaming software provider Grand Virtual sent a letter to its licensees Monday announcing that due to the current legal climate in the United States, they are to cease accepting U.S. customers for all properties on the Grand Virtual platform. As of July 24, no new U.S. customers will be able to register at sites using the Grand Virtual platform, but existing U.S. players will be allowed to continue playing. They further recommended to their partners that they cease marketing to U.S. players.
Aces the Buildup -- The stars of "Aces the Movie," the first full-length feature from online casino Aces.com , have launched a blog and a podcast episode to share their experiences shooting the film in Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro. The podcast will premier in Las Vegas for the Championship weekend of the WSOP, July 27-30 and the blog is available at acesmovie.blogspot.com. The free podcast is also available at iTunes. Aces the Movie is a thriller about three college girls that take on the underground card room circuit in Las Vegas, but get caught cheating and end up in Rio de Janeiro beating some very high rollers at their own game. The movie is scheduled for fall release.