Proper Identification -- The Europe Intelligence Wire reports that Betfair has notified all of its clients via e-mail that it plans to "properly identify customers as an integrity and security measure." The company has asked customers to provide the following information in the form of a photocopy or scan: personal identification (passport, driver's license, social security card, etc.), address verification (bill or bank statement) and source of payment verification (credit card or credit card account statement).
$35,000 Soccer Ball -- GoldenPalace.com says it has purchased the soccer ball that David Beckham kicked wide during a game-ending shootout between Britain and France at the Euro 2004 quarter-finals. The online casino operator purchased the ball on eBay for a staggering $35,000. CEO Richard Rowe said, "We plan on raising a lot more money for charity than we did paying for this ball. Expect to see the ball traveling around the world in an effort to raise money for charitable organizations."
Scrutiny Report -- British Parliament's Joint Scrutiny Committee today published its second report on the U.K. Draft Gambling Bill. The committee holds the opinion that only the largest resort casinos should be permitted to offer Las Vegas-style slot machines with unlimited prize money, and they should be limited to 1,250 machines each. It also believes that the United Kingdom must avoid the proliferation of Las Vegas-style casinos by creating large leisure destinations casinos that also contain arts and sports centers to attract non-gamblers. The report also suggests the size of such casinos be limited. Online gambling was not discussed in the report because the Scrutiny Committee and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport agree upon most of the proposed regulations for I-gaming. The government will now take the committee's latest suggestions into account before publishing its bill this fall.
Quoteworthy -- "It's devastating, but basically all I can say to PBL is, 'Would they sell the advertising they're selling now on Channel Nine for 25 percent less than what they're currently getting?' What betting exchanges have offered us is a quarter of a percent as compared to four-and-a-half percent from the TAB. Last year racing got $198.5 million, if the only money they got was from betting exchanges that figure would be $5 million and our industry couldn't operate."
- Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys commenting on Kerry Packer's Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd. announcement that it had entered a joint agreement with Betfair.