New -- A new mobile gambling software provider, Cometa Games, has created a mobile gambling platform called "Arcadia," which the company claims ensures that players can compete at their own pace without waiting for connection or establishing a dedicated open line. The Arcadia platform can be used by online casinos and bookmakers and includes fruit machine games Golden Dragon, Spaced Out and Cop The Lot in addition to Royal Roulette, Jackpot Bingo, Triple Play Poker and a horse racing game called Pimlico Park.
Barn66 -- Online Enterprises, a subsidiary of Phoenix Interests, has purchased an interest in America Tab Ltd., an Oregon-licensed interactive account wagering hub and provider of simulcasting. The deal enables Phoenix Interests to begin offering pari-mutuel wagering through Online Enterprise's Internet site at www.barn66.com. Phoenix Interests, previously known as Thoroughbred Interests Inc., dealt mostly in pinhooking (acquiring undervalued yearling thoroughbreds and reselling them as two-year-olds in trading or as racing prospects), but last year the company began expanding within the thoroughbred industry and in March changed its name to reflect its broadened focus.
Tax Removed -- U.S. President George Bush has signed off on a law that should help the American horse racing industry by removing a 30 percent tax on bets on races in the States made from outside the country. The law also eliminates a tax on purebloods reported from the European Union.
Race Fixing -- City of London police have confirmed that champion jockey Kieron Fallon will again be questioned over allegations of race fixing. The police investigation made public at the beginning of September when officers arrested 16 individuals has resulted in six additional arrests in the past few days, but none of the six are jockeys or trainers. Much of the information being used by police investigators has been credited to the memorandum of understanding between Betfair and the Jockey Club. Police are reportedly examining over 80 cases of alleged race fixing.
Survey Says -- A British Amusement Catering Trade Association-commissioned poll of 1,000 adults in the United Kingdom shows that 74 percent of respondents believe that an increase in regional casinos will encourage people to gamble more than they can afford, and 53 percent are opposed to the introduction of new casinos. Meanwhile, 11 Labour MPs have stressed their opposition to the recently introduced Gambling Bill, which would increase the number of casinos in England. Nevertheless, Culture Minister Lord McIntosh insisted today that the bill has the support of the whole government.
Paddy Poker -- Irish bookmaker Paddy Power plans to add an online poker room to its Internet gambling offerings. A spokesperson for the company said the new poker addition should be complete within a few months.
Making Deals -- GWIN Inc., a publicly traded sports handicapping company, has entered into a strategic agreement with Players Network, a publicly traded producer of gambling content for TV, DVD and Internet, to develop a broad range of sports handicapping and gaming programming for sale and distribution through television, broadband, retail and interactive television. New programming will include reality-based shows, game shows, how-to programs and more.
Lame Duck Session -- U.S. Congress will return for a lame-duck session after next week's election, but its highly doubtful that Sen. Jon Kyl's prohibitory online gambling bill will get any attention. Legislators are likely to be too busy working on next year's budget to address anything controversial, such as online gambling.