Bet in Flight -- British bookmaker Ladbrokes has partnered with budget airline Flybe to develop an in-flight betting service called Flybet, which would allow punters on planes to place bets and receive instant printed betting slips via AirWare hand-held terminals. The companies have already performed a trial test, permitting passengers on a Flybe flight to Portugal to wager on soccer events. To comply with U.K. licensing laws, Ladbrokes can accept bets only when the plane is outside British airspace. The plan is to have the service ready for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Starclub Closes -- I-gaming software provider Boss Media has lost another licensee with the recent closing of Netherlands Antilles-based StarclubCasino.com. The casino's operator, Futura Internet Services, is currently closing out all player accounts.
Spotlight on WorldMatch -- Malta's first licensee under its new remote gaming operations, WorldMatch, has developed an I-gaming system to "give access to the gaming sector to other entities without any commitment in terms of management, technology, finance or legal matters." WorldMatch provides a no-download gambling platform and should have similar interactive TV and mobile gambling products on the market by the end of the year. The company has signed contracts with at least six additional licensees. One of those companies, Italy-based b>Digital Bros, which owns the satellite TV channel Game Network with video games-focused programming, has contracted WorldMatch to develop a Casino Game Network-branded Web site. For now, WorldMatch is focusing on obtaining European partners, although it hopes to expand to the United States and Asia.
Busy at eCOGRA -- e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) has drafted a new list of generally accepted practices (eGAP) to which eCOGRA-approved online casinos must adhere. The organization also says that PriceWaterhouse Coopers will this month begin reviewing the eCOGRA-approved casinos to ensure that they retain compliance with eGAP. e-COGRA is finalizing plans to begin advertising to players, and a redesigned Web site is expected to be fully functional by the end of the month. The group's fair gaming advocate, Tex Rees, recently reported that she has resolved 44 customer disputes for eCOGRA-approved casinos since taking her position in April. Forty-one percent of the disputes were over slow payouts; 25 percent involved bonus issues.
Fox joins MSN -- Pointspread.com, "a non-wagering sports content site," is now the exclusive odds provider for MSN, thanks to a deal forged between MSN and FOXSports.com. Pointspread, which posts odds established by its online sports book clients, has provided odds on the FoxSports network for several months, and now that FoxSports has been integrated into the MSN network, Pointspread has inherited a much larger audience. Pointspread has revamped its Web site to coincide with the integration of FoxSports in MSN.
RichWebmaster -- I-gaming affiliate program RichWebmaster.com has added PartyBingo.com to the list of clients it promotes. Powered by iGlobalMedia software, PartyBingo is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and features several bingo games, including slots, video poker and keno. Other RichWebmaster clients include Black Widow Casino, Grand Banks Casino, Sterling House Casino and BingoVille.