Broadband/Betting Provider --Ukbetting announced today that it will offer an ADSL broadband service at the cost of £27.99 per month. The aim is to give punters quicker information and to help them react faster, because as content director David Annat said "Sports and betting fans are amongst the most avid users of the Internet, and for them, speed is absolutely essential." Ukbetting also revealed today that it is engaged in discussions to buy Oddschecker, an Internet odds-comparison service.
CelebPoker -- Poker platform CelebPoker.com launched on Sunday and gives players the chance to play live against celebrities. Most notably is Nick Leeson, the man who gained fame in 1995 by running up a bill of £800 million in hidden losses for Barings Bank. Among Leeson's finest accomplishments is losing £59 million on the Singapore stock exchange in a single day. Celebpoker has also enlisted snooker champion Jimmy White, comedian Kenny Lynch, and magician Michael Feighan to play a few hands and plans to bring more famous names to the table in the future. The site is based in Sri Lanka and will not offer bets to U.S. residents. Individual players, including Leeson, are limited to losses of $600 per day or $2000 a month.
SMS Lottery in Moldova -- Lotteria Moldovei, a member of the Intralot Group, and mobile company Voxtel have signed a one- year contract to supply an SMS lotto game in Moldova. Voxtel subscribers, who represent 64 percent of the telephony market, will be able to participate in the Super Loto (5/35) after its launch at the end of the year. Lotteria Moldovei has also been granted a license by the Ministry of Finance of Moldova to organize and manage fixed odds betting games, which are also scheduled to launch by the end of 2003.
TAB War -- NSW Racing, the organization that represents New South Wales' three racing codes, has given consent to TAB ltd. to merge with either UNiTAB or Tabcorp, but only if the company gets rid of Sky Channel and Radio 2KY. The Melbourne Herald Sun reported today that a Tabcorp spokesman said his company would not be willing to divest of the two properties. "It's not even on the table. These are core assets," he said. NSW Racing is likely worried that it could lose content to Victoria after a Tabcorp takeover. NSW Racing would also like to place a fee on fixed odds race wagering.