Ban Exchanges! -- Tabcorp has launched a campaign against betting exchanges in Australia. CEO Elmer Funke Kupper has written to the New South Wales and Victorian premiers seeking a ban on betting exchanges, taking particular aim at Betfair, which has a Tasmanian license and was recently granted permission to operate in Victoria. Betfair is awaiting approval to operate in NSW.
Pushed Back. . . Again -- The World Trade Organization's arbitration panel was expected to issue a ruling on Nov. 30 in the ongoing case between the United States and the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. However, the WTO granted an extension deadline until Dec. 14, 2007 for a negotiated settlement between the two parties.
Poker Deal -- Sweden-based 24hPoker has signed an agreement with U.K.-based Cantor Gaming, provider of online and mobile gaming services, through which Cantor will launch new poker sites on the 24hPoker network. Cantor will establish its presence on the network by introducing pub-casino.co.uk by the end of January 2008, followed by tooncasino.co.uk.
Davydenko Caves -- After months of refusal, Russian tennis star Nikolay Davydenko has decided to turn over personal phone records to Association of Tennis Professionals investigators who are looking into suspicious gambling activity on one of his matches. Davydenko, told ESPN on Tuesday that he changed his mind on the advice of his attorney. The No. 4 ranked tennis player has been under scrutiny since early August due to irregular betting patterns on Internet betting exchange Betfair surrounding a match he played in Sopot, Poland against Argentinian Martin Vassallo Arguello.
Market News -- Internet bingo software supplier Parlay Entertainment Inc. today announced results for the three- and nine-month periods ended Sept. 30, 2007. Third-quarter highlights include total revenue at $2,001,531, down 24 percent from Q3 2006 and EBITDA decreased to $271,538, from $865,023 in Q3 2006. Results for the first three quarters of fiscal 2007 include total revenue at $5,990,758, down 13 percent from the same period of 2006 and an EBITDA(1) decrease to $583,810, from $2,082,345 in the first three quarters of 2006. . . . On the LSE today, Playtech closed down 9.00p at 380 and Rank Group was up 15.75p to 108.