Betsson of Cherry -- Swedish gaming company Cherry (Cherryforetagen AB) two weeks ago purchased 100 percent of the outstanding shares in Internet betting company Betsson.com Limited. Betsson's core offering is a betting exchange, but the company also operates a casino and poker room in the English, Swedish, German, Italian, Norwegian, Finnish, Dutch and Czech languages. The company has over 80,000 registered customers, with 29,200 of them joining during the fourth quarter of 2004 and 12,000 joining in January 2005. Cherry has been investing in Betsson since 2003, but until recently held only a 30 percent stake in the company. Cherry is also the owner of gaming software provider Net Entertainment, which provides Betsson's casino platform.
ukbetting Developments -- Online betting company ukbetting has supplemented its operations with a new poker site. The company has also completed a deal that will allow its sports content Web site, TEAMtalk, to use content and data-- including links to video clips and interviews--from BBC Sport. ukbetting's odds comparison Web site, Oddschecker, this week announced the launching of two sites that will monitor online casino and poker sites to provide real-time information on jackpots, tournaments and bonuses.
Access China -- NETeller has acquired Macau-based debit card payment processing firm Quick Access for US$12.5 million. Quick Access is the operator of 1Pay, an online payment transaction system that serves a large number of online gambling operators targeting the Chinese market. For the last two months, however, the Chinese government has taken a vigorous approach toward eradicating online gambling, and as a result, 1Pay has reportedly stopped accepting new customers (although it is still facilitating transactions). NETeller recently appointed Benjamin Lee, a former deputy trade minister in the Hong Kong government, as vice president and general manager of Asian operations. The company's shares soared ahead 33p on the day, reaching an all-time high of 655.5p.
Responsible Gambling Tool -- The North American Training Institute, which provides gambling addiction clinical coursework, youth gambling prevention programs and responsible gaming services, has released a guide advising parents and teens about the right questions to ask about poker to avoid problems with gambling. The guide is available online in PDF format. The organization's Web site, www.NATI.org, also includes similar tools to help prevent problem gambling among older adults and youths.
Quickies -- The Alderney Gambling Control Commission has issued another e-gambling license to WagerWorks for the operation of the upcoming World Poker Tour online poker room. . . . British bookmaker Ladbrokes will soon introduce a multi-million-pound re-branding campaign to promote the company as a multi-platform betting and gaming operator. The re-branding will include a redesign of Ladbrokes' signature red and white lozenge logo throughout its shops, advertising, online properties and TV presences.