Launched -- Online casino software provider CYOP Systems International Inc. has launched online casinos redfelt.com and redfeltcasino.com, with the former to be marketed in English, the company said. "We are excited to be taking deposits at our casino and will be increasing our payment options over the coming weeks," said CYOP CEO Mitch White.
On Network -- Europe-facing sportsbook Expekt has launched on Playtech's iPoker network. Several news sources have reported that Expekt CEO Per Widerstrom plans to challenge national operator Svenska Spel by promoting the company's poker product to the Swedish market. "We intend to challenge Svenska Spel in a big way," Widerstrom said, "by carrying out mass media campaigns and highlighting the stronger quality of our offers when directly compared with theirs."
Swapping Software -- Australian operator Lasseters Corporation has switched to the Orbis OpenBet software platform.
Stinks to be Millionaires -- PartyGaming founders Ruth Parasol and J. Russell DeLeon have found their way off Forbes Magazine's "Billionaires List," released today. Parasol and DeLeon, as recently as September, were reportedly worth $1.8 billion each, and were both included in the magazine's "400 Richest Americans" list.
Rumors -- The Times reports that shares in Sportingbet, which this week received a bid approach from bwin, rose this morning on news that Sporting Index "was mulling a counter-bid." Sources told the paper, however, that the spread betting group had held informal talks with Sportingbet but did not intend to pursue a deal.
AIM Keeps Head above Water -- Financial Times reports that this year was another "outstanding" one for small company shares; and despite problems on the AIM, including the "plummeting fortunes of gambling stocks following the U.S. clampdown," there is still value to be gained as "six of its stocks recorded a return of more than 500 percent," the paper said.
Stock Watch -- Shares in Sportingbet cooled off today on the LSE, closing down 1.50p (2.42 percent) at 60.50. Bwin, meanwhile, continued to make gains on the Vienna Stock Exchange, with its shares up 1.90 euros (5.83 percent) to 34.50.