Tote Odds in Victoria -- Victorian bookmakers will again be able to offer tote odds services, allowing them to be competitive with interstate corporate bookmakers. Racing Victoria (RV) reversed its position on the issue after revisiting its race fields legislation when CEO Robert Nason left to take a position with Tabcorp. Nason and the RV stewards' department were behind the move to stop bookies from offering the services, citing integrity concerns over pools being manipulated by bookmakers or punters. RV chief steward Des Gleeson said that certain risk management strategies would be worked through with the Victorian Bookmakers Association, and following that, bookmakers will be able to offer tote odds. He added that it could happen as soon as June 1.
Sir Richard's Concerns -- Sir Richard Branson's People's Lottery, which twice bid unsuccessfully to acquire operational rights to the U.K. National Lottery, is planning to raise concerns about the way the next license is being awarded before next week's deadline for application. Simon Burridge, who will lead the People's Lottery if it decides to bid, said the bidding process is complicated and expensive and that the group is disappointed with the amount of detail required from a company that might never exist. Several other potential bidders have reportedly complained that Camelot, which holds the current license, has an unfair advantage because of its existing infrastructure and 12 years of experience.
Joint Venture Instead -- Fortuna Gaming Corp. announced May 4 that discussions relating to the acquisition of the G-Fed Group, announced Dec. 6, 2005, have ceased and that the companies are instead contemplating a joint venture. Fortuna said it expects negotiations regarding the possible joint venture to be concluded within the next 30 days, but there is no guarantee that an agreement will be reached. Meanwhile, both companies are free to talk to other interested parties.
Cup Catering -- TEAMtalk Media, a division of ukbetting plc, will be launching a German-language version of its odds comparison site, oddschecker, to cater to World Cup betting fans in the host country. Oddschecker.de will cover all major European football action in all World Cup markets. The service will initially be offered to current affiliates, both bookmakers and exchanges, who cater to the German audience and will extend to more European partners ahead of the new football season.
IGH Uses Dynamite -- Online sports betting and gaming operator Interactive Gaming Holdings Plc (IGH) announced that it has signed an agreement with fixed-odds e-gaming developer Dynamite Idea to provide fixed-odds games for the Premier Bet and Heathorns Web sites. The agreement allows IGH to offer its customers more than just sports betting on its two sites, with the addition of games such as aces high, triple chance hi-lo, lucky squares, fortune 36, roll 'em and keno. All games will be accessible to players through a single wallet.
Virtual Banking -- European electronic payment processing company Wire Card AG will be extending the range of services of its alternative payment system CLICK2PAY on June 6 to include virtual banking services. CLICK2PAY customers will be able to establish eMoney accounts connected to virtual Visa cards issued by the group's member company, Wire Card Bank AG, making more than 2 million Visa acceptance locations (at which customers can pay directly using CLICK2PAY) available.
Keno Rights -- Online gaming portal Keno.com Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Gaming Transactions Inc. has signed an agreement granting Keno.com the exclusive rights to manage and operate its software on a number of sites, including MondoBet.com and LuckySkunk.com. Both sites are expected to be re-launched soon after the coming re-launch of Keno.com.