'Let's Study' -- U.S. Reps. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., and Jon Porter, R-Nev., on Wednesday introduced "the Internet Gambling Study Commission Act," a bill that would establish a commission to examine the impact of online gambling. The legislation, which has 42 co-sponsors, would create a bipartisan panel consisting of nine appointed members to conduct a comprehensive study of Internet gambling.
Payne-Free Sportingbet -- E-gaming, sports book and poker giant Sportingbet announced today that its CEO, Nigel Payne, will be stepping down in October and will be replaced by Andrew McIver, group finance director. Payne will remain on the board as an executive director with responsibilities for business development and regulatory lobbying in the United States and Europe. Payne vehemently denied rumors in February that he was leaving the company to take over for Richard Segal as CEO of Party Gaming.
Tote-ly Mobile -- Just in time for the World Cup, the Tote has launched a mobile phone betting service in the United Kingdom. Pool-betting on horseracing and fixed-odds betting on football will be the first products offered.
Breakfast Bookmaker -- British betting company William Hill has signed an agreement with national radio station Talksport making it the official bookmaker for "the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show," "the Weekend Breakfast Show" and the station's official coverage of the World Cup. William Hill will have editorial involvement before and during World Cup, and Talksport presenter Rodney Marsh will broadcast from a Will Hill shop during the competition.
Shortlist -- U.K. Secretary for Culture Media and Sport Tessa Jowell announced Wednesday that out of the 27 towns and cities that applied to host the country's first Las Vegas-style super-casino, Blackpool, Brent, Cardiff, Glasgow, Greenwich, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield have made the shortlist. Jowell said that while she does not believe new casinos will ignite an increase of problem gambling, she will closely monitor the situation and would not hesitate to shut down any casino that is causing problems.
Vegas Wireless -- Las Vegas-based Cantor Gaming announced today the signing of a contract with the Las Vegas Sands Corporation to provide hand-held wireless gaming products to the Venetian and Palazzo casinos. Cantor was instrumental last year in passing Nevada Assembly Bill 471, permitting mobile gaming devices to be used in certain public areas of casinos. Cantor's field trial for mobile gaming, as required by Nevada gaming regulations, will be conducted at the Venetian upon receipt of the required regulatory approvals, which is expected to occur in late 2006 or early 2007.
Playing It Safe -- Online gaming watchdog eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) will hold its second global training session in London at the end of May and the main focus will be underage online gambling. CEO Andrew Beveridge said that the course would be part of an ongoing requirement for online casinos and poker rooms holding the "Play It Safe" seal to have trained members of staff overseeing effective responsible gaming measures.
Youbet's Magical Preakness -- U.S.-based betting company Youbet.com, Inc. announced Tuesday that it processed $4.2 million in wagers during Saturday's 131st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, topping last year's total for the same event by 18.5 percent. Behind this year's Kentucky Derby, it is the second largest one-day wagering total in the company's history.