New Product -- Global Interactive Gaming (GIG), the software provider that developed the SportXction play-by-play wagering system, has created a new wager-less contest version of SportXction and has signed an agreement to launch the service on SportingLife Ltd. in June. The contest version of SportXction, which will not provide wagering, will enable users to compete against each other for points by predicting the outcome of events. They receive points for correct predictions and bonuses for strings of successful predictions. They can also earn points by answering trivia questions, and points can be redeemed for a variety of prizes. GIG's parent company, Interactive Systems Worldwide Inc (ISWI), plans to exploit the new product in venues where its wagering offerings are either not legal or not suitable. The company says the product creates new ways for team owners, sponsors, rights holders, media platform providers and fantasy leagues to exploit their existing sports properties with a simultaneous or parallel offering to gain revenues. ISWI's first partner, SportingLife, has one of the UK's largest sports networks, including such popular sites as sportinglife.com, teamtalk.com, sportal.com, bettingzone.co.uk and more.
Quoteworthy -- "When I first met Buttercup he was a picture of health--an Army Paratrooper of 11 years--but after several subsequent years surviving on a diet of pink ladies, Bacardi Breezers, penile enlargement drugs and mini Kit Kats, I am not sure his bloated frame can take the abuse of the sumo ring."-- Vortran007, manager of CasinoMeister's Bryan Bailey, as quoted in OnlineCasinoNews.com. Bailey will take on Michael Caselli (who happens to be the publisher of OnlineCasinoNews.com) in the sumo ring next week in Toronto as part of River City Group's Sumo Grudge Match event. The matches will take place during the final day at the Global Interactive Gambling Summit & Expo and will raise money for GamCare, a British association promoting responsible gambling.
Scandal -- Italian police today raided the headquarters of 12 Italian soccer clubs, four of them from Serie A, as part of an investigation into illegal betting and match-fixing. Thirteen individuals, including five players and one convicted mafia boss, are known to be under investigation for attempting to influence the outcome of matches in three of the country's top leagues. The raids came after police telephone taps detected a series of conversations that suggest that certain matches on April 18 had been influenced to benefit bettors. Though it has not yet been verified, some sources report that bets are alleged to have been placed illegally over the Internet.
Poker With Sharp Minds -- Betfair launched its new Internet poker site powered by CryptoLogic software today at www.betfairpoker.com, offering multi-table tournaments and no-limit and pot-limit betting games. The site will be marketed to the same U.K. and international customer base as the Befair.com Web site, and players from jurisdictions that prohibit offshore betting will not be able to participate in games. Betfair also recently appointed Time Levene--a founder of Flutter.com, which joined Betfair when the two companies merged in December 2001--as managing director of Betfair, Asia. In his new position, Levene will attempt to develop relationships with major government and industry representatives in Asia, especially Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China and Thailand.
Makin' Deals -- Optibet, whose Web site, www.betprovider.com, gives visitors access to prices from all of its betting partners (Betdaq, Betfair, Sportingbet and more) to help them find the lowest odds, has signed an agreement with I-gaming software provider Virtue Fusion, which will enable Optibet to offer mobile functionality.