Sportsbook.com En Espanol -- Sportsbook.com, a Sportingbet property that focuses on the North American market, has created a Spanish-language version of its Web site to target America's Hispanic population of 40 million. In addition to offering the full range of odds, propositions and promotions that are available on the English-language site, Sportsbook.com En Espanol will also provide more emphasis on sports that are of more interest to Hispanic communities (such as boxing and soccer). The launch of the new site will coincide with its title sponsorship of the Julio Cesar Chavez pay-per-view boxing event in Los Angeles on May 28, and the company says that Sportsbook.com En Espanol will eventually provide more exclusive promotions relevant to the Hispanic audience. Sportsbook.com will also be the title sponsor of a June 11 boxing event that will be broadcast live from New York on HBO and will feature undefeated WBO Junior Welterweight champion Miguel Cotto defending his title against Olympic gold medallist Muhammad Abdullaev. Both sponsorships were reached through a deal with promoter Top Rank.
GoldenPalaceDotCom -- GoldenPalace.com has announced the birth of GoldenPalaceDotCom Silverman, a baby boy born on May 19. The online casino purchased the right to name the baby for $15,000 through an online auction.
Preakness Betting -- Youbet.com of California received $3.5 million in handle during last Saturday's Preakness Stakes race day at Pimlico Race Course. The handle, which represents the third highest daily total in Youbet's history, was 75 percent greater than the $2 million the company reported for the same racing day in 2003, the year Youbet last carried the Preakness. New customer sign-ups rose 162 percent on the day of the Preakness compared to 2003.
New Poker Software -- Online gaming software provider CYOP Systems International has launched a demo version of its Red Felt Poker online platform. The version currently on display is the English-language play-for-fun product that's being rolled out on Sina.com. The company also announced that on June 20 it will launch a play-for-real poker site at TenSeatPoker.com through a subsidiary. CYOP, which primarily develops skill-based gaming systems and solutions, says TenSeatPoker will be its flagship play-for-cash poker site and will be marketed with the goal of establish brand recognition. For now, TenSeatPoker is under development as CYOP remains in final negotiations with payment processors.
Quiz Show -- In Germany, the district court of Freiburg has declared that private broadcaster Neun Live's quiz shows do not constitute the operation of an illegal online lottery. The court ruled that the costs per telephone call to the Neun Live shows are insignificant and therefore not subject to the ban on unauthorized lotteries.
Gambling Commission -- The Gaming Board for Great Britain has launched the new Gambling Commission Web site at www.gamblingcommission.org.uk. The site is intended to provide information about the transition from the Gaming Board into the Gambling Commission, which will regulate both remote and land-based gambling in the country in addition to playing a role in controlling problem gambling. Information on the site is sparse at the moment, but more updates are expected as the transition progresses. The commission will be formally established in autumn 2005
Regulator of the Year -- World Online Gambling Law Report has named Alderney Gambling Control Commission CEO André Wilsenach "Regulator of the Year." Wilsenach is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law, the Steering Committee of the International Association of Gaming Regulators, the Gaming Regulators European Forum and is the former chairman of the Southern African Gambling Regulators Association.