Completed -- Scientific Games has completed the acquisition of a 50 percent stake in Guard Libang, the China-based instant lottery ticket cooperative services provider, for an estimated $28 million. Guard Libang is an indirect subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed Rex Capital Financial Holdings. Scientific Games said it expects the acquisition to be neutral to 2007 earnings though accretive in 2008.
Launched -- Malta licensee Begawin.com has launched its online sports book and casino in Spain. Services are available in English and Spanish with casino games by Net Entertainment. "We are delighted that Begawin.com have now launched their service and we look forward to the increase in customer numbers and revenue that is expected from the rapidly growing Spanish market," said NetEnt Chief Executive Johan Öhman.
Scooped -- According to Brand Republic, London-based marketing firm Lida has scooped the £20 million pan-European direct marketing account for Sportingbet. Sportingbet Chief Operating Officer Dave Hobday said: "Lida's appointment represents the next stage in Sportingbet's brand development as we strengthen our European gaming offering."
Good News for Nikolay -- The Telegraph reports "life is finally looking up" for Nikolay Davydenko, after his appeal against a £1,000 fine for failing to give his "best effort" in his second-round defeat in St. Petersburg was upheld. The paper comments on the ongoing ATP investigation, calling Davydenko's victory "yet another shot in the foot for the beleaguered [association]." Moreover, Davydenko's manager, Ronnie Leitgeb, has warned that his client may sue the ATP. Telegraph quotes Leitgeb as saying: "This is what the lawyers have to think about -- how much damage was done by going public from Betfair without results or evidence. This is being called the Davydenko case but, in the end, this is a tennis case."
Ladbrokes News -- The Times reports that William Hill recently approached Ladbrokes Finance Director Brian Wallace about the chief executive's post vacated by David Harding at the end of September. According to the paper, Wallace made to the final shortlist of two candidates, and was about to be offered the job, but withdrew for reasons unkown. In related news, according to the company's four-month trading update, high-roller telephone gamblers helped it to nearly double its profit, which offset a disappointing run of football results, tighter sports betting margins and horse racing cancellations. Shares in the company were down 35.50p, or 9.35 percent, to 344.00 on the news.
Quoteworthy --"I find it hard, intellectually, to understand why it is moral to bet on a horse running around a track, but if it's a dog, if it's a greyhound running around the track, somehow it's immoral, according to this congress? I don't get the distinction."
- Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., questioned the moral compass of both Congress and Tom McCluskey, Vice President of the Family Research Council, at Wednesday's Judiciary Committee hearing on the enforcement of the UIGEA.
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, William Hill was down 34.50p, or 5.92 percent, to 548.00, Playtech was down 14.75p to 356.50 and 888 was down 2.25p to 131.75.