Garber Gossip -- The Sunday Times reports that online gambling company PartyGaming PLC will reveal Mitch Garber as its new CEO, replacing Richard Segal, before the end of this week. Garber resigned from online payment firm Fire One last month, prompting speculation that he was vying for the PartyGaming position.
Fighting Back -- As reported Tuesday, British gambling companies Ladbrokes, William Hill, Betfair and Coral Eurobet plan to file a suit against the Italian government over blocked access to their gambling Web sites. The group has since then stated that it will take place this week with the backing of the Remote Gambling Association (RGA). The RGA will launch the action in the administrative court of Lazio, Italy. It will also lodge a complaint this week with the Enterprise and Industry Commission in the EC, listing other countries, such as Germany, Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Hungary, that restrict advertisement and promotion of online gambling sites.
Betfair News -- Online betting exchange Betfair is standing up for the integrity of sporting events. Corporate Director Andrew Twaits said legislative reforms are needed to cover all industry participants, including punters, gambling operators, athletes and officials, because gambling-related corruption poses a greater risk to sports than drugs and steroids. "The whole world supports the notion of testing and transparency when it comes to drugs," Twaits said. "Why not sports betting?" Twaits said those connected to teams should be prevented from betting against their own teams and that 100-point identity checks should be introduced for all customers. He also said that convicted punters should have their accounts closed. Recently, an investigation was launched into possible doping in weightlifters after vials and pills, which turned out to be legal vitamins, were found in rooms occupied by Australian weightlifters at the Australian Institute. . . . Betfair has purchased Rapid Mobile's Mobet software, a product developed in 2004 as part of a program run by Betfair product manager Tom Johnson. Betfair will re-brand Mobet to complement its online betting service. The purchase includes the intellectual property rights and source code for the Mobet application, although Rapid Mobile has been retained to provide support and professional services for planned enhancements.
New and Improved -- Gala Bingo is launching a revamped version of its Web site, GalaBingo.com. New features include weekly Web chats with a different celebrity each month and the chance to win a Mini Cooper.
RTG Asia -- Online gaming software provider RealTime Gaming has announced the formation of a new Asia-based software development company called RTG Asia, which will operate out of Singapore. The new entity is a joint venture between RTG and two Asia-based companies: Vickers Financial Group (with a 25 percent interest in RTG Asia) and a prominent, publicly traded, technology firm in the region. "The truth is, to become a serious player in the Asian marketplace, you have to immerse yourself entirely," RTG Asia CEO and Chairman Daniel Schultz explained. "We have been able to assemble a great team of talent that has a proven financial record in the region and shares our development and client-support growth philosophies."