Inked -- Inspired Gaming subsidiary Leisure Link has inked a five-year deal to operate Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) in Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5, set to open in March 2008. Under the terms of the deal, Leisure will provide its sever-based gaming machines in the terminal's FECs; the agreement also dovetails with pre-existing contracts between Leisure, Stanstead Airport and Heathrow Terminals 3 and 4.
Launched -- Cecure Gaming has launched Aces Royal Blackjack. The game is the latest addition to Cecure's mobile gaming platform, which includes Aces Royal Poker.
Catching Up -- Inspired Gaming announced on March 5 that it had agreed to supply its server-based gaming technology to Madrid-based Codere SA. The company said that the agreement is not expected to have a significant impact on its 2007 financials. "Our partnership will allow us to deploy our … technology in some of the world's fastest growing gaming jurisdictions," said Inspired CEO Luke Alvarez.
Appointed -- Betfair has appointed Harness Racing Victoria steward Dayle Brown as its manager of racing and integrity.
Liberalizing? -- Gaming Intelligence Group references Swedish financial tabloid Dagens Industri as saying the country's gaming market could be liberalized as early as this summer, in an effort to conform with EU Free Trade requirements. The paper reportedly says that Finance Minister Anders Borg and Secretary of State Per Jannson will work toward a draft version of the law though did not offer a timetable for its completion.
Rumors -- The Times says that Leisure & Gaming (L&G) is understood to have been approached by "larger bookmaking peers" in the wake of the Placanica ruling.
Gouged -- The Telegraph reports Genting International has said its profits will be hard-hit by the gambling duty unveiled this week by Chancellor Gordon Brown in the Budget. "The changes will have a negative effect on the profit performance of the group [and] have been imposed without prior indication or consultation with the U.K. gaming industry," the company said. The paper says HM Treasury hopes to generate an extra £35 million ($68.6 million) each year from the rate increase, which sees land-based casino winnings taxed between 15 percent and 50 percent.
Quoteworthy -- "Having overpromised the casino industry, and then under-delivered, the government has again kicked the industry in the teeth."
- Dresdner Kleinwort broker Andrew Lee, as quoted by The Sun, regarding Gordon Brown's "tax grab on casinos."
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, PartyGaming is up 7p to 53.75, Playtech is up 9.50p to 357.50, 888 is up 4.75p to 123, Sportingbet is up 4.50p to 70.25 and Rank Group is up 4p to 212.