Making Deals -- Terry Lillis, the chairman of Multibet.com and one of the original founders of Centrebet, said today that two publicly listed companies are interested in taking over Multibet. Multibet was launched in August of 2002 and is licensed by the Northern Territory government. "We are pleased with the intense interest exhibited by both players and other Internet gambling businesses regarding MultiBet.com," Lillis said. "We are currently on an enormous growth curve, and in terms of an acquisition, would always consider offers from other companies to purchase our business or amalgamate and work together."
Keeping Count -- Jackpot Madness said today that it has, for the third time in a year, given away a jackpot in excess of $1.5 million. The Microgaming-powered gaming network includes Lucky Nugget Casino and a variety of other sites. "We promised our players millions and we are keeping our promise," said Jennifer Nemirovsky, a representative for Jackpot Madness.
New Stuff -- Interactive Systems Worldwide Inc. has launched a new version of SportXction for the U.K. Open Golf Championship. The patented system is being released by ISWI's wholly owned subsidiary, Global Interactive Gaming Ltd. and ukbetting. The new version allows GIG to offer balanced betting pools on wagers with a variety of potential outcomes, whereas the previous software only allowed betting on two outcomes. Bernard Albanese, president of ISWI, said it took 8,500 man hours put in over 11 months to make the software come to life. "The current launch will open up endless possibilities for our company and makes our games substantially more interesting," he said. "We are looking forward to utilizing the multi-sided propositions for all of our sports."
Canadian News -- Poker.com will begin beta testing on its new Skill Poker System on Aug. 1, the Vancouver-based company said today. Poker.com plans to aim the new game at U.S. and Canadian players, as well as a worldwide market. The company also said today that Microgaming will no longer license its card room software services. Poker.com is waiting on a decision from the Supreme Court of British Columbia regarding its domain dispute over the domain Poker.com.
Names and Faces -- VirtGame Corp. is adding Glenn Wichinsky to its board of directors. Wichinsky, a lawyer, holds several Nevada gaming licenses, including on as a co-owner and operator of the Regency Casino.
Bit from Asia -- The Hong Kong Jockey Club will begin taking soccer bets on Aug. 1, MSNBC is reporting. The HKJC was awarded the sole soccer betting license in the SAR last week on the heels of the Legislative Council making the practice legal. The license, which lasts for five years, will allow the HKJC to take bets on soccer leagues including those from England, German, Italy and Spain. Soccer betting will be available through on-line services, Telebet, service counters and vending machines, according to the South China Morning Post.
Tidbit from Down Under --Lasseters Corp. , is switching its software from that of Access Gaming Systems to that of Online Gaming Systems. The change will give the company a chance to launch multi-lingual sites and target markets in South America, Asia and Europe. Lasseters Managing Director Peter Bridge also said the deal will save his company AU$1 million per year.
Legal Stuff -- Park Place Entertainment Corp. said last week it is changing its name to Caesars Entertainment Inc. , but it appears that the domain name caesarsentertainment.com is already home to a Thai massage parlor. Park Place spokesman Robert Stewart said it is to be expected that a well-known brand like Caesars would have trademark infringement issues. "This is not a big issue," he said.
More Legal Stuff -- Australian IT quotes Vanuatu's online gambling regulator today as saying that Australia's move to block payment for online gambling through credit cards would push more business toward unregulated operators. Vanuatu's online gambling licenses are managed by a company called Interactive Gambling Consultants. Simon Fletcher, the head of the company, is suggesting a special code be given for jurisdictions like Vanuatu, which regulate and permit Internet gambling. "The federal government is cracking down, but they are not making the distinction between regulated and unregulated jurisdictions," Fletcher said.
Congrats -- U.K.-based interactive marketing company Connextra recently won a prize for its online advertising for Ladbrokes in the New Media Age 2003 Effectiveness Awards in the category of sports and gambling. One of Connextra's advertising techniques allows its clients to change the content of the ad themselves in real time via a Connextra Internet site.