Kiosk Removal -- British amusement arcade operator The Leisure Exchange agreed to remove certain Internet kiosks from its adult-only arcades after the Gaming Board pursued a number of actions against the company, including most recently a test prosecution scheduled for trial in May. The machines--supplied by Contented Kiosks Limited of Cyprus--came under dispute last year because they enable users to surf the same Web sites, including gambling sites, they'd be able to surf from an Internet café or from home. The Leisure Exchange had also signed a co-marketing agreement with the Cherry Group's online casino to give a hyperlink to Cherry's casino preferred placement on the kiosks' displays. Players could use funds from their e-wallets to gamble with Cherry's casino and would not have to pay for Internet usage while logged on to Cherry's site. The Gaming Board holds the view that the operation of these kiosks involves the organizing and management of gaming, while The Leisure Exchange argued that the kiosks fall outside the scope of the 1968 Gaming Act because the gambling servers are based offshore. The dispute between Leisure Exchange and the Gaming Board began heating up last summer and has culminated with the kiosks being scheduled for removal by the end of May. The board has agreed to drop its prosecution.
New Entry -- Global Gaming Technologies, a cash shell company that is quoted on the Alternative Investment Market, is preparing to execute a reverse takeover of Event Data Correlation, a company that develops software that detects and analyzes price discrepancies in online betting markets for use in trading decisions.
Gambling Bill -- iGGBA (Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association) estimates that more that £2 billion in business and over 17,000 jobs will be lost by the British economy if the country's Gambling Bill does not pass this year. The bill would open the door to Internet gambling companies by regulating their activities and would provide thousands of jobs and billions of pounds in profits, taxes and investments to the economy. However, with an election date of May 5 looking increasingly certain, the bill must somehow pass Parliament before its likely dissolution on April 5.
Casino Stadium -- Online casino English Harbour.com says it submitted a bid on Feb. 23 to the National Football League's New York Giants franchise for the rights to name the team's new $700 million stadium, but hasn't received a response. It now plans to offer a second bid in response to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority's announcing that it intends to offer a naming rights package on the entire Meadowlands complex. "Our intention to purchase the naming rights of the new stadium have been made clear to the Giants," English Harbour President Paul Sudolski explained, "but now we feel it's time to reach out to the state." Though its intentions may be noble, English Harbour's efforts are not likely to succeed considering the U.S. government's hostile attitude toward online gambling.
ATR Poker & Casino -- British horseracing and betting channel At The Races has launched an online casino and poker room, both of which are licensed in Alderney and powered by Wagerworks. "At The Races Casino" and "At The Races Poker" offer members loyalty rewards schemes and promotions that include access to racing event hospitality and tickets. At The Races Casino provides more than 56 non-download games for fun or real money, and At The Races Poker gives players the chance to play against some of the TV channel's presenters and pundits in special tournaments.
Payout Solution -- I-gaming software provider Chimera Technology Corp has announced that effective April 2005, customers of the company's licensees will be able to receive privately-branded debit cards under the 724Pay program as a payout option. Players will be able to request fund transfers through the debit card accounts, and the funds will be accessible from any ATM around the world. Chimera says it recently completed a test program which indicated that the cards could reduce operating costs to licensees by 75 percent while allowing player to receive fast, secure payouts.