Another Pal -- Following betting exchange Betfair's lead, British gambling operator Ladbrokes has signed an agreement with PayPal Inc. to allow Ladbrokes' approximately 1 million online customers to use PayPal's Web-based payment system to fund their wagering. PayPal had previously refused to work with online gambling operators, but has now agreed to work with such companies as long as they don't target U.S. customers.
Ayre Watch -- Bodog's billionaire bachelor, Calvin Ayre, is pleading to the U.S. and Canadian governments to legalize Internet gambling, arguing that policymakers do themselves more harm than good by banning sports betting and that they should adopt the United Kingdom's attitude of regulation instead of prohibition. "It doesn't matter how controversial people think this is," he said. "At the end of the day, controversy always boils down to bad policy decision-making on behalf of the governments. If you really want to participate in something, make an environment that allows you to participate. This could be a great industry for Canada, but Canada has decided not to embrace it. The U.K. has, and they get the benefit from it. It's really that simple." . . . On the other hand, his feelings toward Costa Rica's government may be sullied forever. Ayre says he's considering going to the Sala IV constitutional court to find out all the facts about the raid on his estate Friday, and he is calling on the government to investigate the violation of his constitutional rights as well as the theft, damage, loss of filming assets and damage to his reputation internationally and in Costa Rica. According to Ayre, 60 to 100 police and immigration officers helped themselves to a buffet of food, and three police officers stripped and took a swim in his pool.
Acquiring -- Costa Rica-based BetCRIS Sportsbook announced today the acquisition of two online gambling properties: horseracing betting site TC Bets and online bingo site FunTimeBingo. "We're broadening our client base at a time where market share is imperative," BetCRIS.com CEO Mickey Richardson said. "This is just the start of many great things to come." FunTimeBingo will be fully integrated by this summer.
Poker Night North -- England's "Poker Night Live," the interactive poker show that is broadcast on SKY TV's Pokerzone (SKY 226), has launched a Scandinavian version of the show on Stockholm's Viasat channel Quiz Nation. "Poker Night Live works over here, and the awards prove that," Creative Director Sam Orams said. "We will be using Scandinavian presenters for this new version so that we create a program that really involves the audience. It's a fantastic new challenge. Watch this space."