Dirty Image -- Cashcade Ltd., a content developer for online games, has hired Vinnie Jones, a former soccer player who later became a film actor, to be the face of its poker site--Getmintedpoker.com. The company hopes that Jones, who appeared in the movies Swordfish> and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, will help convey its image as a smoky poker den, rather than a glamorous Las Vegas casino--the theme imitated by many other poker sites. Cashcade plans to put Jones' picture on its CDs and packaging to be sent to 100,000 residents through a direct mail campaign.
Bingo TV -- FirstBingo.com, a company that produces an Internet and television show called "Trivia Bingo," has signed an exclusive broadcast licensing agreement with Bingo TVNet Corporation, which will televise the program every Wednesday on EchoStar's DISH Network channel 104. Bingo TV enables viewers to participate in trivia games at home for advertising-supported prizes or a chance to compete on the televised show.
Proposition -- The Australian reported today that Kerry Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd. has approached Betfair to propose a partnership to target the Australian betting market. Mark Davies, Betfair's spokesperson in Australia, commented, "People seem to be fascinated by the possibility that we might be talking to them, but I think that's more a reflection of Australia's fascination with PBL than Betfair's interest in PBL. We have been approached by a lot of major companies in Australia, and I wouldn't deny that PBL was one of them. But to go further than that at this point is jumping the gun. It's premature to believe we are about to be doing something tomorrow."
Quoteworthy -- "I had just finished work and was settling down in front of the TV when I saw Mr. (Charlie) McCreevy's face on the opening of RTE news. I guessed right away it wasn't going to be about an increase in the price of cigarettes, so we of course immediately withdrew the very attractive offer of 5/4 against Mr. McCreevy taking up the Commissioner's post. It was just as well he didn't get wind of our speculating on his chance of becoming Ireland's E.U. commissioner; he could have made his new post even more lucrative by having a sure bet on it with Gamebookers. We had also opened a market on the extent of (Taoiseach) Bertie's (Ahern) imminent, much discussed cabinet reshuffle; that market will probably reopen after a brief review of the situation."
- Eddie Lee, a spokesman for Gamebookers, which had opened a book market on which politician would become Ireland's new E.U. Commissioner, only to discover the position had been filled within an hour of their opening the book.