Paysafecard Expands -- Paysafecard, an online payment method provider that enables consumers to purchase prepaid cards either at retail merchants or online, has announced plans to expand its services into Slovenia and Greece. Established in 2000 in the Austrian and German markets (where payment security is reportedly the primary concern of online gamblers), Paysafecard targets Internet users who want to shop online in a safe and anonymous way or who are not credit card holders. Users of Paysafecards can complete transactions with supported online merchants (of which there are more than 2,000) by simply entering the pre-paid cards' PINs. Paysafecard is backed by Commerzbank in Germany and BAWAG P.S.K. in Austria. The company intends to target more European countries later this year.
Zogby -- OnlineGamblingMythsAndFacts.com, a new site with an aim to "debunk the myths and trumpet the truths about online gambling" in the wake of attempts by U.S. legislators to pass prohibitory legislation recently distributed a press release citing a Zogby International poll finding that 78 percent of likely American voters oppose online gambling prohibition. The statistic is the result of interviews with 30,054 individuals between March 1 and March 14.
that Zogby International conducted interviews of 30,054 likely American voters from March 1 through March 14, 2006 and found that 78 percent of them oppose online gambling prohibition.
Alderney Approves Playtech -- Online gaming software provider Playtech, which plans to complete a flotation on the London Stock Exchange this month, has announced its first new casino launch from the Alderney after having recently received a Certificate of Prior Approval from the Alderney Gaming Control Commission. The new launch comes from the Rank Group's Hard Rock Casino, whose Web site has completely converted to Playtech's Next Generation platform, which supports multiple window game play, integrated Web presentation within the gaming environment and an embedded real-time ticker display. Hard Rock Casino has also joined Playtech's Winajackpot.com network, a portal dedicated to broadening the appeal of Playtech's progressive jackpot games.
Wager with AskMeNow -- AskMeNow, a mobile network through which users can call or text any question and receive an answer within a few minutes, has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Karell Party Limited, the holding company for Capital Play Party Limited, a fully-licensed Australian wagering services group that provides access to North American pari-mutuel horse racing pools. The acquisition will enable AskMeNow's customers to place real-time wagers via their mobile phones in regions where such activity is legal. Under the terms of the agreement, AskMeNow will acquire privately held Karrel for 20 million restricted common shares of Ocean West Holding Corporation (the parent company of AskMeNow) and a capital contribution of $4 million.
Skill Agreement -- Online skill games network GamArena has signed a deal with Sweden's largest newspaper Aftonbladet to give the paper's more than 8 million monthly unique Web visitors access to its games network. The two parties are working together to develop a white-label site that will launch in the summer.
Littlewoods Games at Retail -- Sportech, owner and operator of the Littlewoods brand of gaming, has announced a secure distribution partnership for Littlewoods Football Pools and Littlewoods Lotto with U.K. retail network PayPoint, enabling Littlewoods customers to participate in pools and lotto games at any of the 14,000 PayPoint outlets using a simple swipe card payment scheme that utilizes the existing Littlewoods Poolscard. There are over 550,000 regular weekly Littlewoods Pools and Lotto players, and 350,000 of them use the Poolscard.
Welcome Aboard -- 888 Holdings Plc has named Amos Pickel as its new non-executive director. Currently serving as CEO of Red Sea Hotels, Pickel has been appointed to head 888's group audit, remuneration, regulatory and compliance and nominations committees.