Fallon Fiasco -- Kierren Fallon spoke publicly for the first time since his controversial race last week, telling Sky News that he never agreed to accept anything from the News of the World journalists who posed as bettors offering him rewards to throw the race… The British Horseracing Board's chief executive Greg Nichols has again stressed the BHB's opinion that the UK's new gambling bill must protect racing's authority by placing tighter regulations on betting exchanges. He said, "We have recommended to the Joint Scrutiny Committee on the draft Gambling Bill and to Government that: Recreational layers on a betting exchange should be distinguished from non-recreational layers by the size and/or frequency of their laying over a specified time period, whereby non-recreational layers would be deemed to be in the business of betting and would require an appropriate license, awarded on the basis of a 'fit and proper' test. The Gambling Commission should be given powers of investigation and audit to uncover abuse. The Gambling Commission should be given sufficient powers of sanction to deter wrong-doing including, but not necessarily limited to, the withdrawal of licenses from non-recreational users."… Meanwhile, racing's integrity grew a little more suspect when jockey Sean Fox, who yesterday rode horse Ice Saint, jumped from the horse before finishing the race, receiving a 21-day suspension as a result. It was later revealed that Ice Saint had drifted on the betting exchanges. Fox says he will appeal his suspension. Also, the Jockey Club announced that it would investigate three more men for conspiring in fraud in relation to the racing of Hillside Girl last summer. The horse's trainer Alan Berry and jockey Paul Bradley, as well as amateur rider Dale Jewett, will be investigated.
The New Tote -- The UK's Tote is introducing two new brands, Totepool and Totesport, after recent research revealed that most customers are not aware of all of the Tote's betting options. The two new brands represent an attempt to create a more user-friendly Tote. Totesport, the new retail unit that accepts bets on over 20 sports, is the network composed of shops, telephone, and Internet betting. Totepool offers unique pool betting services for horseracing and will be available at 59 tracks in addition to all other channels. Totepools service will first become available at the Cheltenham Festival next week and will be introduced to other racetracks and shops within the year. www.totesport.com will launch tomorrow.
Mobile Partners -- i-gaming software provider RealTime Gaming (RTG) has signed a license agreement with wireless solutions company Phantom Fiber Inc, whereby RTG will use Phantom Fiber's wireless framework technology to make RTG's online casino software available to mobile users. In the second quarter of 2004 VegasMagic.com will be the first RTG client to offer wireless access.
Ads Pulled -- Card Player magazine recently asked Peak Entertainment to change its print advertisements for its online poker room at www.caribbeansunpoker.com in order to make them tamer. Johnny Jordane, Peak's Director of Promotions explained the advertisements: "We're using face cards in our campaign for Caribbean Sun Poker. They talk to each other, using double-entendres." He added, "We weren't showing anything violent nor were we showing nude images or anything distasteful. The ads, which use the tagline, "It's hotter here," were accepted by and are currently running in other publications, including Poker Europa, Southern California Gaming, and Canadian Poker Player.
Awareness Week -- This week is National Problem Gambling Awareness Week in the United States. The National Council on Problem Gambling, the Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators, and other help-groups have kicked off campaigns featuring various problem gambling-related programs across the country.