UK's Remote Gaming License -- The Interactive Gaming, Gambling, and Betting Association (iGGBA) has expressed satisfaction with the UK's draft Gambling Bill, which was introduced yesterday and would create licenses for operators of remote betting games via Internet, telephone, and TV. iGGBA chairman Andrew Tottenham told Online Casino News that "The Bill will finally provide for the licensing of remote gambling operators and a proper regulatory framework, allowing for confidence in the integrity of a leisure activity that many consumers currently enjoy." He added, "It is pleasing that the government has recognized the value of licensing remote gambling and has responded well to our efforts to put into place a social responsibility framework. It is also important to note that the passage of this Bill and subsequent regulations will allow operators to bring their businesses onshore, which will benefit UK public in terms of additional highly skilled jobs and could provide over £75m in new tax revenues."
Mobile Europe -- A mobile industry newsletter called the Eastern Europe Wireless Analyst says that the number of mobile subscribers in Eastern and Central Europe reached the 100 million mark in early October 2003. Over 22.5 million users have subscribed in the region since the beginning of 2003, marking a 29 percent growth rate that is the highest in the world. The largest and fastest growing area in the region is Russia, which currently has over 32 million subscribers.
Wembley Buyout? -- Penn National Gaming, a U.S. casino and gaming facilities operator with a market value of around $950 million, is discussing a potential acquisition of UK greyhound racing and gaming group Wembley, which has a market capitalization of $312 million. Wembley's subsidiary Lincoln Park and its CEO Dan Bucci, as well as Wembley CEO Nigel Potter, are currently facing grand jury indictments on counts of bribery. Also, earlier this month Wembley was unable to establish a gambling complex in Colorado, a loss that will cost the company $7.2 million.
Punter's Luck -- An Australian punter phoned in to the TAB call center earlier this month to place a $6 dollar trifecta bet 20 times. Although TAB's phone system gives the punter the option to have his bet repeated to him in order to check for accuracy, he opted not to hear what wager had been officially recorded. As it turns out, the TAB operator mistakenly entered the bet 203 times rather than 20 times. The punter had picked the winning combination, and as a result of the error won $2.6 million instead of $250,000.
Call Center Solutions -- "A sports betting company only receives calls at peak times during weekends and lunchtimes, and is quiet for the rest of the week. It should only pay for the capacity that it needs."-- Jon Keattch, chairman and CEO of Streamdoor Ltd, a UK-based start-up that has partnered with Cisco and Dimension Data Plc to create an on-demand pricing model to the call center hosting sector. The company seeks to split the technology and human elements of a call center by housing the technology that binds a typical call center. Steamdoor serves as an intermediary between the customer and call center, enabling clients to reduce spending on call center equipment and other resources.