U.S. Betting Forum -- The Cato Institute's U.S. online gambling policy forum on Oct. 23, titled Lessons From the Internet and Bookmaking, has been archived on the institute's Web site at www.cato.org/events/031023pf.html and is available in both Real Audio and Real Video formats. The forum addressed the regulation of Internet gambling, specifically sports betting, in the U.S. and several issues surrounding it. The speakers were: Koleman Strumpf, Raymond Sauer, Robin Hanson, and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank.
Deals -- Gaming and lottery software solutions company VirtGame Corp. has licensed its PrimeLine Sports Book software to Casino Fandango in Carson City, Nevada. The PrimeLine Sports Book is a Nevada-style fixed-odds sports wagering management system that tracks customer wagers and uses back-office components that provide risk management. The licensing agreement was made through Las Vegas Dissemination Company, VirtGame's distribution partner, which also helped Virtgame sell licenses to Kerzner International's Atlantis, Paradise Island, Casino MonteLago of Las Vegas and three casinos owned and operated by Herbst Gaming in Nevada. . . . LegalPlay Entertainment Inc. has purchased a race betting platform from Richmedia Technology Inc. for $20,000 and plans to market the betting system on a subscription basis through its racing portal online at www.DailyHorse.com. As part of the deal, LegalPlay has become the sole owner of the proprietary technology and will therefore never have to pay royalties to any other parties. LegalPlay, which owns and operates SkillPoker.com Inc., says that its horse racing portal will provide synergistic benefits to its other online gaming operations.
Wireless Book -- Wagering software company IQ-Ludorum plc and Phantom Fiber, a provider of real time wireless technology to handheld devices, have partnered with Anitgua-based sports book WWTS to launch a WWTS wireless wagering system that enables users to bet from anywhere at anytime with a single account. WWTS plans to aggressively market the new service.
Wembley Bribe -- The Independent reports that Claes Hultman, the man who was appointed to replace Nigel Potter as CEO of Wembley after he quit to battle bribery allegations last month, has been subpoenaed by the U.S. attorney's office to produce all documents referring to the company's attempts to install 1,300 extra video lottery terminals or slot machines as well as any approved budgets for Lincoln Park and transcripts of any Wembley board meetings that addressed its American operation. Hultman's lawyers will argue tomorrow that the American court does not have the authority to subpoena a foreign national.
Quoteworthy -- "We're coming from having the experience of designing applications for mobile users, rather than trying to make the betting model fit mobile, as the gambling companies have tried to do."-- Opera Telecom's CEO Gary Corbett. Now that mobile services company Opera Telecom has been awarded a bookmaker's license, its broadcast, media and portal clients can begin launching fixed-odds gambling services.