New WPT Software -- World Poker Tour Enterprises, Inc. (WPTE) announced today that it has reached an agreement with Silicon Valley-based CyberArts, a company that has developed an online poker software solution to provide technology and software to enable WPTE to re-launch its online gaming business independently. Since February 2005, WPT online has operated pursuant to a licensing arrangement with I-gaming software supplier WagerWorks, Inc. The CyberArts deal will enable WPTE to develop, manage, market and handle customer service for the online poker business from its own international headquarters. During the transition period from WagerWorks to its own software, WPTE will continue to work with WagerWorks and explore possibilities for future collaboration. Launch of the new version of the WPT online poker site will be in 2007.
Tournament Blackjack -- Online gambling software developer and licensor Excapsa Software Inc, through its wholly owned licensing subsidiary, Game Theory Ltd, has signed an exclusive long-term deal with Callister Development Ltd to develop proprietary elimination-style tournament blackjack and multi-player blackjack software products, enabling the Excapsa Gaming Network to expand its blackjack offering from single player to multi-player blackjack tables. This product will initially be licensed to licensees UltimateBet.com and Bet21.com and is scheduled for release in the third quarter 0f 2006.
Quoteworthy -- "As expected, pro-gambling interests are mustering their lobbying firepower to kill the measure again. Even the illegal offshore operations are doing their part by funneling money through front groups, like Poker Players Alliance, in an attempt to defeat this bill and keep the money flowing. The fact remains: Internet gambling--in its current unrestricted, unregulated state--preys on those who are easy targets for gambling operators. And the longer Congress delays action, the more harm offshore gambling operations will cause."
--Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., who expressed his distaste for Internet gambling and his support for anti-Internet gambling legislation in a guest commentary today for the Florida newspaper Treasure Coast Palm.
eCOGRA Certified -- e-Commerce Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA), has certified 12 more online gambling sites, making a total of 85 sites that have successfully passed eCOGRA's independently administered checks and monitoring to receive the "Play It Safe" seal. The new seal bearers include seven sites managed by the Tusk Investment Corporation in Australia, including Challenge Casino, Golden Reef Casino, Music Hall Casino, Nostalgia Casino, UK Casino Club, iBig Casino, Poker Metro and a further five operated by the Vegas Partner Lounge group, including 28 Vegas Casino, Casino France Net, Crazy Multiplayer Casino, Crazy Poker and Golden Riviera Poker. eCOGRA has set a goal to certify 100 sites by the end of 2006.
BMA Addiction Worries -- Doctors at the British Medical Association's annual conference in Belfast this week called for research into prevention and treatment to cope with the increasing problem of gambling addiction, fearing an explosion in the UK due to Internet gambling and the forthcoming super-casinos, according to the BBC. Dr. Jan Wise, a consultant psychiatrist from London, said there was a real concern children were becoming hooked with the latest figures suggesting that three quarters of 12 to 15-year-olds have played slot machines and 5 percent of that group is showing signs of gambling addiction. Dr. David Sinclair, from Fife, said the image of gambling as fun and safe masked the dark side of addiction and Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the BMA, said doctors had already reported seeing more people with gambling addictions.