Partnered -- Sweden-based software development consultancy Gnistra AB has agreed to market 360 Holding's (360) proprietary e-wallet solution and affiliate management system. "This product offers operators a fast and cost-efficient way to start and manage their own payment solution amongst disparate games with a common e-wallet, which we believe will be very attractive for future partners," said Gnistra Chief Executive Erik Stensmo. 360 said the solution is already operational for its HeyPoker.com brand.
New Payment Option -- Citadel Commerce has launched its new payment solution, Rapid Bank Transfer (RBT), which allows users to pay for purchases using local bank transfers with real-time notification of funds receipt to the merchant. The service works through users logging into their own Internet banking account, then initiating a payment to a Citadel-owned bank account. RBT currently supports transactions from Mexico, Italy, Spain and Sweden, among others. "We are very pleased to have formed strategic relationships with a select group of key large merchants," said Citadel President Michael Meeks.
Acquired -- The Telegraph reports that British bookie Heathorns was acquired from embattled Interactive Gaming Holdings (IGH) by Jennings, a group the paper calls a "small outfit." Financial details were not disclosed. IGH's PremierBet brand -- as well as its Heathorns' VIP service -- was not included in the deal.
Sounding Off -- U.S.-based trade association iMEGA, currently at legal odds with the U.S. Justice Department over the constitutionality of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, has taken a critical position against Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's plans to criminalize Internet gambling in the state. "This past Saturday, the Boston Globe reported that casino legislation filed by [Patrick] contained a provision to ban online gaming," said iMEGA President Ed Leyden. "The proposed law, which would criminally punish conduct carried out by Massachusetts residents on the Internet, would be another unconstitutional infringement on Americans' digital civil rights."
Joint Venturing -- Content developer Zone4Play has formed a joint venture with Two Way Media to expand both companies' penetration into the U.K. market. The venture, Two Way Gaming Ltd., is already operating out of Alderney, with Two Way Media Commercial Director Guy Templer serving as managing director. According to Templer, the venture is poised to benefit from the vacuum created by the "collapse" of the British Call TV market, and will offer its services via six different channels, including U.K. cable, satellite, Internet and mobile.
Goons Bashing Knees -- The Guardian's Barry Glendenning editorializes that the U.K. Gambling Commission's relaxation of restrictions on betting advertising is "trying to make problem gamblers of us all," and that the recent run of televised ad spots from operators like Ladbrokes could lull punters into believing " . . . the event they are watching is really exciting, it would be that little bit more exciting if an improbable last-minute Tim Cahill bicycle-kick prompted a loan-shark to send a couple of his goons out to break their legs with a hammer."
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, 888 was up 1.25p to 134.00, Sportingbet was up 2p to 56.00 and Probability was down 2.50p to 45.50.