Float -- Shares in Tattersall's rose 12 percent on their first day of trading on the Australian Stock Exchange today. Retail investors were able to purchase shares for A$2.90 but the company rose the price to $3.10 for institutional investors only a few days before the float because of high demand. Tattersall's share price rose as high as $3.62 before eventually closing at $3.46 on a volume of more than 126 million, making it the most traded stock of the day. Tattersall's raised $300 million though its sale of a 14 percent stake in the company.
Consolidation? -- Queensland-based betting company Unitab has reportedly obtained a strategic stake in New Zealand-based casino operator Sky City Entertainment. Unitab is said to have had already built up a two percent stake in Sky City before yesterday's purchase, which was still not large enough to push its overall stake over the 5 percent limit which would necessitate a declaration of its stake. There is much speculation that Unitab might be taking a preparatory step in a potential takeover of Sky City, but Unitab may have reservations about taking the company over completely because it has no experience in managing land-based casinos.
Making Deals -- I-gaming software provider Chartwell Technology Inc has signed a five-year agreement to complement Austrian sportsbook Interwetten Gaming's Internet site with a flash-based casino and soft gaming products. In 2004 Interwetten's turnover surpassed 170 million euros and 6.3 million individual transactions. The company relocated its office to Malta earlier this year in order to expand its online presence.
I-gaming Radio -- Internet Entertainment Programming Network Inc, a company that provides turnkey, revenue producing Internet radio stations and programming, has named highrollerradio.com as the online gambling information content provider for its Internet radio stations network, which reaches more than 1 million listeners. Highrollerradio.com provides listeners with free relevant information on offshore sportsbooks, poker rooms and online casinos.
Canadian Stats -- The Canada West Foundation, an economic and public policy research firm, last month published its third report on Canada's gambling industry. Called Gambling in Canada: Statistics and Context, the 16-page report provides detailed statistical data and historical trend analyses. The report's author, senior policy analyst Jason Azmier, estimates that government-operated gambling in Canada is now a $13 billion industry, with about 87,000 gambling machines, 60 casinos and 33,000 lottery ticket centers. The report also shows a 275 percent increase in government gambling products between 1992 and 2004, which Azmier says is cause for concern because the new frontiers of Internet, mobile and interactive TV gambling are for the most part untapped by Canada's provinces. The report is available for free download at the Canada West Foundation's website, www.cwf.ca… The B.C. Lottery Corporation, which is now in its 20th year of operation, revealed that its revenues have grown from $330 million in 1985 to just over $2 billion last year. In 1985 the company contributed $130 million to the provincial government, but this year its contribution is $811 million. Through its 20 years of operation the B.C. Lottery has generated $7 billion in revenues to the province and awarded $8.3 billion in prize money. Currently, the company operates 4,500 lottery retailers, 18 casinos, four gaming centers, 27 bingo halls and one horse track gaming center.
Poker Beat -- Playboy Enterprises Inc and Moneymaker Gaming—a company founded by 2003 World Series of Poker champion Chris Moneymaker—have announced a deal to create a co-branded poker products, including poker chips, poker tables, and other poker collectibles and accessories.