Jet Set Recreation -- Television producer Platinum Television Group, which specializes in educational programming, will prominently feature PokerRoom.com in a 30-minute episode of its Great Taste series, which explores the toys and lifestyles of the world's most affluent individuals. An episode called "Jet Set Recreation" will cover the global recreational phenomenon of online poker and will demonstrate to viewers how easy it is to set up and fund an account to use PokerRoom.com's Internet and mobile services. The show is expected to air on regional networks in the United States in late 2005.
Downtime -- Online betting exchange Betmart.com shut down its Web site on April 28 for an indefinite amount of time "for maintenance," which the company said is to be performed by site owner FUN Technologies. The company notified its customers that it would void all outstanding bets and return remaining balances to its customers. Launched in June 2003 with the support of 34 independent British and Irish bookmakers, the site has been unable to achieve a high profile and is now seeking additional financial backing. Spokesperson Paul Williams said the site may close for good if it is unable to obtain more funds. "The bookmakers are useless," Williams told the Racing Post. "We could have had a successful business had the bookmakers made an effort. A number of them, to be fair, made a financial effort, but they made no physical effort to use the site, and that was its downfall really."
Quoteworthy -- "[Online gambling] is running rampant right now and it's hurting us. I think we've been very lax as far as protecting this industry that employs more than 6,000 people. We're really promoting the death knell for racing, and that's sad."
- Massachusetts state Rep. David Flynn (D), speaking to the Boston Herald about the effect of online gambling on the state's horse racing industry. The Herald reported that Flynn plans to seek an outright ban on online betting in Massachusetts.
Binary Options Exchange -- Dublin-based Trade Exchange Network has applied to become the first European financial trading and betting exchange company regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The Financial Times reports that the company plans to file the application in the name of one of its subsidiaries. The CFTC enforces a stringent code of conduct to protect market users and ensure that exchanges are run in line with the best taxation and customer security practices. Trade Exchange Network wants to make its new "binary options exchange" more attractive to U.S. users in the financial services industry, and if its application is successful it will be subject to the same standards as some of the biggest exchanges in the world, including Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, and the New York Mercantile Exchange. The company operates three online betting exchanges that target the American market: Intrade.com, tradesport.com and tradebetx.com.
License Termination -- I-gaming software provider Playtech and VBC Ltd., operator of Casino Solei, have agreed to end their two-year licensing relationship. Casino Solei had been using Playtech gaming software since September 2003.
Seeking Traffic -- Gaming Transactions Inc., operator of the Keno.com Web site, has entered an agreement with Internet business development company DPMG, whereby DPMG will use online media and advertising on its individual Web sites to promote the Keno.com Web site.
Affiliate Tool -- I-gaming software provider Orbis has announced the launch of its OpenBet Affiliate Manager marketing tool for online gambling operators. The OpenBet Affiliate Manager automates management processes, payments to affiliates and reporting and produces real-time information for affiliate partners to assess their program's productivity. Blue Square, Stanleybet and ukbetting are already using the new program.