June Departure? -- Irish discount airline Ryanair is reportedly working with two unnamed operators to develop in-flight gambling and ultimately introduce a preliminary service on the company Web site. CEO Michael O'Leary said in-flight gambling could be available as early as June, followed by a full line of seat-back gambling products on Ryanair flights next year.
Bingo Revival -- Twenty of the 100 or so bingo clubs in Sweden that are operated by local alliances have signed contracts with Svenska Spel, the country's national lottery operator, allowing Svenska Spel to become operator of the clubs so that it may generate more revenue for local sports clubs. The bingo clubs peaked in the early 1990s with turnover of 220 million euro, but have steadily decreased in the last 10 years, with 2005 sales reaching only 185 million euro. There has been increasing cooperation between Svenska Spel and Sweden's bingo clubs throughout the last five years ever since the government granted Svenska Spel a license to operate an additional 500 video lottery terminals in the clubs. Svenska Spel will refurbish and redesign the clubs, introduce new technology that will permit local and national jackpots and make all of its Internet-based products (except for poker) available on the clubs' video lottery terminals. The company hopes to broaden the bingo club player base, attract a younger audience and attract groups that come together at bingo halls for a fun night out, similar to a night of bowling.
Done Deal -- Online gambling company BetandWin announced today that it has satisfied all of the requirements for its acquisition of Ongame e-solutions AB, which began in December, and has closed the deal.
Fighting the Man -- The Gambling Portal Webmasters Association (GPWA) is reportedly starting a campaign to fight U.S. Rep.. Bob Goodlatte's, R-Va., proposed Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. Ken Blechdom, president of onlinecasinos.cd, a gambling entertainment and information Web site, said the bill will never pass. "The bill has been rejected many times before," Blechdom said. "It will never have enough votes to pass. Prohibition didn't work in the '20s for alcohol, and it will not work for gambling." Blechdom has circulated a petition to try to prevent the legislation from being passed.
Ancient Skills -- Online skill games provider WorldWinner Inc. today announced a partnership with games developer MumboJumbo to develop online competitions for MumboJumbo's puzzle game, Luxor, for cash and prizes. Luxor is an action-puzzle game that takes players across the lands of ancient Egypt. Cash competitions in Luxor will be available in Q2 2006 through WorldWinner and through its partner network.