Intra-Nevada -- The Nevada Gambling Commission will discuss intrastate remote gambling at its meeting Thursday in Carson City. The State Gaming Control Board's senior research specialist, Marc Warren, will deliver a summary of presentations heard by the Commission in two previous meetings. He will then discuss Nevada's current statutes and regulations that may apply to intrastate remote wagering and what amendments and adoptions would be required to implement regulated intrastate gaming.
The Greek On Trial -- Sports Data Services Limited-- the parent company of Olympic Data Services, which operates the Olympic Sports betting site at www.thegreek.com-- and its managing director Spiros Athanas will stand trial before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court in Jamiaca on Oct. 26 for allegedly conducting an illegal Internet betting service without a license or other authorization. When the company established itself at the Montego Bay Free Zone in 1996 it obtained a license to operate a telemarketing agency. According to Olympic's lawyer, "We are saying that telemarketing is broad enough to include betting and gaming so you need no further permission from the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Commission to do it. The Memorandum of Association of Olympic Sports Limited gives them permission to do betting and gaming offshore." The case was postponed on May 19 so that the court could consider whether Athanas, as a mere employee of the company, should be charged. Meanwhile, Sports Data Services is seeking a new jurisdiction in which to reside. Rumors speculate that Antigua is the top destination.
Israel -- Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reports that Israelis spent over $354 million gambling on the National Lottery and soccer, accounting for 5.8 percent of the country's spending on entertainment, sports and culture. Ministers in Israel's social economic cabinet this week approved a plan to legalize horse racing and gambling at the tracks, although the legislation has not yet been drafted.
iPoker -- Israel-based Playtech, a turnkey solutions provider for online casinos, has soft-launched its new iPoker product on Clubdicepoker.com, FairPoker.com, Noblepoker.com, and SIACasino.com. iPoker, which is currently running on a play-for-fun basis only, enables users to choose between a two or three dimensional play mode. Players can participate in one-on-one games, private games and single or multi-table tournament games.
Compulsory Acquisition -- Victoria-based Tabcorp Holdings' takeover of New South Wales-based TAB Ltd. has gained over 90 percent acceptance from the TAB shareholders, prompting compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares in TAB and guaranteeing TAB shareholders the extra $0.10 per share offered by Tabcorp to win support for its bid. The offer period will close Aug. 4.