Quoteworthy -- "TAB's strong stand against certain free-riding interstate bookmakers and foreign betting exchanges is certainly self-interest in part. We don't like uneven competition from those who make a living off racing without paying for the privilege. If the majority of punters are willing to support racing via their betting commissions, why should there be a legal market for leeching and enhanced opportunities to tarnish the integrity and reputation of the sport? Don't take our word for it. The entire Australian racing industry is now united as never before on this issue. They ALL agree betting exchanges will destroy the funding base of the industry. They ALL agree this easy access to backing horses to LOSE will damage the integrity, real and perceived, of racing - as it has in the United Kingdom."
-- Peter Kadar, Chief executive of TAB wagering, in a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Refs Bribed -- The Czech Football Association is in the midst of a bribery scandal as police have charged two referees with accepting bribes from a head official with one of the league's teams. According to police statements, one of the referees agreed to accept $4,500 from FC Synot's sports director Jaroslav Hastik in exchange for influencing a 15th round match last year. Synot won the match 3-1, and the police claim to have documentation showing the referee accepted money from the official. The police also allege that Hastik bribed another referee with $6,600 to influence a game, which Synot won, on March 27 of this year. Synot's owners also happen to operate a sports betting agency, and it is illegal for betting agencies to take bets on matches they have ownership links with. The state lotteries and betting regulators will therefore probe the club and agency to determine whether the official placed bets.
Welcome Aboard -- Finnish mobile gaming software company EGET (European Game & Entertainment Technology) has announced that Rufus Miles is joining its executive team as vice president, business development. An Oxford graduate, Miles has previously worked across Europe with Cap Gemini, Hitachi, IBM, Groupe Bull, Integris, Evidian and Steria, and was most recently Microgaming´s worldwide sales director.
Prima Players -- PrimaPoker.com will have a large representation at the No Limit Hold 'Em World Series of Poker later this month. The four members of the company's million dollar sponsored team of professional poker players, the Hendon Mob, will throw their chips into the pot, and they may have to sit at a table with some of the sixteen players who have qualified for the World Series through PrimaPoker's online satellite tournaments. Overall, about 1,600 players are expected to participate in the massive event.
Tribeca Tables -- Tribeca Tables, a developer of online poker software, has signed a distribution partnership with Platinum Poker, which was formerly called The Binnion. Platium Poker, which is Tibeca's third such partnership deal, already has several brand skin deals in the works. Tribeca's other two partners, Victor Chandler Worldwide and Golden Palace Casino, each have over 70 sub-licensees.