Popular -- Casino City has launched a new Web site, https://online.casinocity.com, that ranks over 2,000 online gaming sites in order of popularity. Users can see site rankings and profiles categorized by software developer, by licensing jurisdiction, by type of gaming (poker, sports betting, etc.) and more. Each site's profile provides a general overview, current special offers, software vendor, licensing jurisdiction, deposit methods, currencies accepted, support and contact information.
Quoteworthy -- "Our customers have, in the last two weeks, been likened to or defamed as 'spikers' by William Hill, Columbian drug barons by Ladbrokes and absconders from a mythical address in Kowloon by the BHB. The irony is that we know exactly who are customers are and they are none of the above. Can the bookmakers and their apologists claim the same knowledge?"
- Rob Hartnett, managing director of betting exchange Betdaq, responding to comments expressing racing integrity worries from Greg Nichols, chief executive of the British Horseracing Board.
Super Affiliate -- GoodLot.com, the U.K. soft gaming arm of the Dutch National Postcode Lottery, has created a white label, free "Penalty Shoot Out Game" for online gift and gadget retailer IWOOT.com just in time for the Euro 2004 tournament. Customers at IWOOT can visit the Penalty Shoot Out skin on the GoodLot server and then compete for prizes such as a mini fridge and beer crate plus footie kit, Best Western Lisbon holidays and iPods. IWOOT is a super affiliate paid on results from GoodLot, with e-mail, creative and production all shared in house to keep costs at a minimum. In its first weekend, the game received 4,000 visitors and 1,000 registrations without any external marketing. The two companies are so pleased with the game's results that they are planning a similar partnership for a special game during the summer Olympics.
Record Wins -- Nevada's casino industry continues to post increasing profits. In April the state's 349 casinos collectively reported gaming win that had increased by 11 percent, or $82.3 million, as compared to the same month last year. In fact, this April was the industry's best ever as it posted wins totaling $826.9 million. The industry experienced its best single month ever in March 2004, raking in $930.3 million to surpass the three-year-old record $899.l8 million in January 2001. The $875.9 million win in February was also an all-time high for that month.