Playtech Floats -- Gaming software designer Playtech quietly went public last week with a £548m (€794.4m) flotation in London, but the company made the official announcement today at 6 a.m. just before trading began on the London Stock Exchange. Shares rose 7 percent to 247p on its first day of dealings on the AIM. "The outstanding interest in Playtech’s shares from both US and UK investors is a clear endorsement of the company's offering," said CEO Avigur Zmora.
Handheld Gaming -- The Nevada Gaming Commission yesterday adopted regulations for the use of wireless handheld gaming devices in and around land-based casinos in the state. Companies like Progressive Gaming International Corporation and Diamond I, Inc. are poised to introduce their products to casinos. Progressive's Rapid Bet Live wireless edition, which allows punters to place bets during an event, will be submitted for approval within three months, and Diamond I has signed a Letter of Intent with The Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in which the companies have agreed to continue to develop a working relationship relating to Diamond I's WifiCasino GS.
E-Sport World Cup -- Swedish gaming software company Boss Media has acquired a 20 percent stake in Hong Kong-based Bele Ltd., which holds an exclusive license for the E-Sport World Cup (ESWC). E-Sport is a gaming discipline that mainly includes gaming genres such as strategy, shooting, racing and sports console games like FIFA World Cup, Counter-Strike and Battlefield. Bele will organize and run ESWC qualification events in 28 major Chinese cities. "This is of course a unique opportunity for Boss Media to invest in Bele, who is in pole position to capture the fast growing Chinese e-sports market," said Johan Berg, CEO of Boss Media AB. "This will build our experience and knowledge for the future about one of the worlds biggest consumer markets, but even more importantly, a way for us to establish invaluable contacts in China."
German Ruling -- The German Federal Constitutional Court today ruled that a state sports betting monopoly is unconstitutional because it cannot be justified in the interests of the general public. In a press release published today, the Federal Constitutional Court said, "if a state betting monopoly were to be retained, it must consistently have the objective of preventing betting addiction and limiting betting mania." The law must be changed by the end of 2007.
Bingo! -- Online bingo software provider BingoTek, has secured its first licensing deal in the UK with RAL Interactive Limited, operators of Cyberslotz Bingo. BingoTek announced earlier this month a partnership with online gaming solutions provider Microgaming to deliver online bingo games to their network of licensees.