Reject It -- John Whittaker, managing director of fixed-odds betting firm Stanleybet International, told Reuters Thursday that France's offer to open part of its state-controlled betting market to foreign competition should be rejected. Since Nov. 6, France has maintained that it would be willing to discuss opening its pool-betting market, served by the Pari Mutuel Urbain, but said it will not give its fixed-odds betting market, served by the Française des Jeux, the same treatment. "I don't believe for a minute [EU Internal Market Commissioner] Charlie McCreevy will accept such a situation whereby 'we give up that if you leave us alone' . . . If McCreevy did that, it would be like throwing out the baby with the bathwater," said Whittaker.
Casino Giant Europe-Bound? -- According to the AP, Harrah's Chief Executive Gary Loveman said Wednesday that he's looking at taking the World Series of Poker brand into the realm of Internet poker in the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. "If you take a look at the legal landscape in continental Europe and the United Kingdom, there are countries where it's demonstrably legal and there's absolutely no encumbrance," Loveman said. "Those are areas that are very attractive to us."
Re-Launched -- AOL has re-launched Games.com, its casual and skill-games site. The site, designed to expand the group's demographic reach, targets all-ages players and will feature 20 new titles like multiplayer Solitaire by the end of the year. "By offering next-generation online games and continuing to partner with all the leading downloadable casual games publishers, Games.com will be able to offer the best selection of online and downloadable games content on the Web," said AOL Games Director Greg Mills.
Rakeback Hurts -- The iPoker Network said it has removed the Maestro Poker skin from the network because Maestro was offering rakeback deals to affiliates and players: a violation of iPoker Network policy. "As a result of the many rakeback cases found in recent months, iPoker now has a 'zero tolerance' toward rakeback and rooms violating the network policy and may face significant fines as well as termination from the iPoker Network," it said in a written statement.
Return to Profit -- After reporting an SEK 11.1 million loss for H1 2007, 24hPoker has revealed a SEK 0.23 million net profit for the third quarter. Poker and casino revenues were up 11 percent and 207 percent, respectively, during the period.
Never Been Better -- The Times reports that Ladbrokes CEO Chris Bell "claimed boardroom relations had 'never been better' despite the revelation that the bookmaker's recently appointed finance director had considered defecting to William Hill." Bell confirmed with the paper Thursday that Brian Wallace had indeed been approached about the vacant chief executive's post at its rival. "He (Wallace) had an approach and he looked at it," said Bell. "He could have taken it but he chose to stay, which is an accolade to Ladbrokes."
Stock Watch -- On the LSE, Ladbrokes was down 5p to 339.00, William Hill was down 23p to 525.00 and Playtech was up 6.50p to 363.00.