Wednesday, Nov. 27
Bit from Canada -- CryptoLogic, like Sportingbet and World Gaming, is giving Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., a big thumbs-up for his bill to start a commission that would examine Internet gambling regulation in the United States. The Toronto-based software supplier would also like to give props to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for upholding a lower court's decision that the Wire Act does not apply to casino-style online gambling. "At CryptoLogic, we've always said that licensing and regulation of Internet gaming is the best option for governments, consumers and online businesses," said Lewis Rose, the company's interim president and CEO. "Internet gaming is here to stay, and by regulating the industry, governments will ensure people can enjoy this form of entertainment safely and responsibly to the same high standards found in the land-based world."
Legal Stuff -- Akamai Technologies Inc. will no longer carry advertisements for Internet gambling companies, the company said recently. The Cambridge, Mass.-based Web content provider said it has terminated its relationships with its three clients that ran online gambling sites because federal laws may prohibit people from placing bets over the Internet. Kurt Schwartz, criminal bureau chief of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, said the laws make it confusing to tell whether online gaming is illegal. "The short answer is, in most instances, it's not illegal under state law, although it may well be illegal under federal law," he said.
Names and Faces -- Christa Taylor has resigned as president and CEO of Poker.com. She will be replaced on an interim basis by the company's former head, Michael Jackson.
Bit from the UK -- Online sports channel Premium TV and partner Bet365 have launched an online betting service that will offer wagering on 78 football clubs in the United Kingdom. Bet365 said the site was designed with ease of use in mind, in order to attract non-professional bettors.
Tuesday, Nov. 26
Bit from Asia -- Hong Kong's government legalized soccer betting Tuesday. The decision comes half a year after the Chinese SAR outlawed Internet gambling. Control of the new form of betting is being handed to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which controls all forms of legalized betting in Hong Kong. Illegal soccer betting is estimated to be a US $10.26 billion per year industry.
Oddities -- With Thanksgiving just around the corner, BetWWTS.com is predictably taking wagers on the Thanksgiving Invitational, an event put on by the International Federation of Competitive Eating. The competitors will be the champions from the group's 2002 Harvest Series, and each person will be presented with multiple servings of Thanksgiving dinner. Each plate will hold 1.5 pounds of food, including turkey, stuffing, green beans and cranberry sauce, and whoever eats the most plates worth of food in 12 minutes wins. "BetWWTS.com is pleased to be the official sports book of the inaugural Thanksgiving Invitational, an event that will expose the true excess of the holiday," said Buck Churchill, chief bet manager.
Monday, Nov. 25
Bits from Asia -- Malaysia's only satellite television operator is now broadcasting horse races in an effort to get more people to gamble on the sport. The television service, Astro, is owned by Ananda Krishnan, a Hindu billionaire. Krishnan also owns the country's largest cell phone operator, Maxis, which has a mobile telebetting service. The Straits Times reports that Astro is keeping mum about the races so as not to attract attention from Malaysia's Muslim population, which is against gambling. ... The discussion about legalizing soccer betting is heating up again in Hong Kong. Andrew Cheng, the chairman of the Home Affairs Panel, said Friday that the panel is expected to talk about the subject at its meeting on Tuesday. Should soccer betting be approved, it could increase what the government takes in from gambling taxes by US$128.6 million per year.
US Tidbit -- The Nevada Gaming Commission recently approved American Wagering Inc. 's new kiosks that allow for 24-7 sports and race betting in Nevada's casinos. The kiosks will be placed in heavily trafficked areas of casinos and will enable gamblers to bet on sports, horse races and auto races. They'll also enable bettors to play after the sports books close for the night, said Tim Lockinger, the CFO of American Wagering. The company plans to use biometric technology to keep minors off the machines.
News from the UK -- World Gaming on Thursday expressed its pleasure over Rep. John Conyers' recently proposed bill that would create a commission to study I-gaming regulation. The Michigan Democrat, when he announced the bill, said he wanted to start a conversation about regulation of the online gambling industry. World Gaming's David Craven said the London-based company embraces any movement toward regulated I-gaming in the United States. "Internet gambling is here to stay and we feel that regulation is the best way to ensure that it is safe and secure," Craven said. "We are very excited about the growth opportunities in the U.S. and Mr. Conyers' lead in favoring the gaming regulation for the Internet." .... Camelot is said to have entered a deal with Sky to offer the National Lottery through interactive digital television. Few details about the deal are available, but Europemedia is reporting that the channel will allow viewers to purchase tickets through the iTV platform.