AngelCiti in Japanese -- Internet casino software provider AngelCiti Entertainment, Inc. has launched an online casino in the Japanese language. AngelCiti, which already provides Chinese language online casino sites in Mandarin and Cantonese, says that targeting the potential $170 billion Japanese gaming market is part of its attempt at capitalizing on a growing online gaming market in Asia.
Deal Completed -- Lottery systems and services company Scientific Games Corporation has completed its acquisition of IGT OnLine Entertainment Systems, Inc. from International Game Technology for $143 million in cash. The new addition raises Scientific Games' pro forma revenue for the year ended June 30, 2003 from $289.6 million to $437.5 million. By sealing the deal, Scientific Games obtains the operation of on-line lottery systems in 15 US states and a few more jurisdictions in the Caribbean. It also receives IGT OnLine's Advanced Gaming System (AGS) video contracts in six jurisdictions throughout the world, an exclusive license for some of IGT's slot brands, and also IGT OnLine's support systems to customers in Korea, Norway, Switzerland and Shanghai.
Poker Room Open -- SkillPoker.com Inc., a subsidiary of LegalPlay Entertainment Inc., will launch an online card room for real money play Thursday, November 13, 2003. Players can participate in single and multilevel poker tournaments in several different formats. LegalPlay says that US consumers can legally use its patent pending and trademarked SkillPoker system since the games rely on skill rather than chance. The company expects to earn revenue through player tournament fees and through licensing its proprietary software.
Vegas7casino -- Vegas7casino, which uses Microgaming Systems' newest Viper Software, is now available in English, Italian, French, and Spanish languages for play with Euros, American dollars, and British pounds. Vegas7casino operates under a license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and can be downloaded at www.vegas7casino.com.
Net Entry -- The Michigan Lottery announced that it has completed an online game promotion that allowed players to enter a second chance drawing through a web site and database provided by Scientific Games' subsidiary MDI Entertainment. Michigan Lottery Winfall players who spent at least $3 on games received a bonus coupon for the Days of Thunder sweepstakes, which could be entered through postal mail, through entry drop boxes, and through the Days of Thunder web site that was developed by MDI. Entries were put into weekly drawings for four Ford Thunderbird convertibles. Days of Thunder is believed to be the first promotion to offer an Internet entry option in association with a terminal lottery game.
Blackjack World Series -- The Game Show Network is currently producing a weekly game show called GSN Presents The World Series of Blackjack, which will premiere next spring on national television in the U.S. Each episode of The World Series will feature a table of several different players starting with $10,000, and the player with the most money at the end of the show advances to the final episode to compete against all the other winners. Each show will include expert commentary and insight as well as player interviews about strategies and opponents.