ARGO Meeting -- The executive committee of the Association of Remote Gambling Operators (ARGO) recently met for the first time. The group, whose members include operators who conduct business in the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area, has made social responsibility one of its top priorities by establishing a sub-committee to work with Gamcare in developing a code of practice. ARGO Chairman Ian Spearing stated that the organization will also focus on removing trade barriers across Europe and ensuring that the United Kingdom's remote gambling regulatory and tax regime meets the needs of operators. The group's executive committee is composed of chairman Ian Spearing (William Hill), vice chairman John O'Reilly (Ladbrokes), John Coates (Bet365), Steve Taylor (Bet Direct), Phil Knight (Coral Eurobet), John Whittaker (Stanleybet), Joe Scanlon (totesport) and Ed Andrewes (Victor Chandler). Clive Hawkswood, the former DCMS chief advisor to the government's remote gambling policy, serves as ARGO's general secretary.
Addiction Conference -- The 1st International Meeting on Gambling Research and other Addictive Behaviours will be held Oct. 15 and 16 at the Hilton Hotel in Barcelona, Spain. The intention of the meeting is to organize a group of experts who specialize in different areas and work in different countries to explain the current situation and establish a future path for dialogue and teamwork. For more information, visit the Web site at www.csdm.es/rijoca.
Welcome Aboard -- Camelot, the operator of the U.K. National Lottery, has appointed Sir Peter Middleton as its new chairman. Sir Peter stepped down from his position as chairman of Barclays Bank on Aug. 31, though he will continue to complete a number of engagements for the bank through the end of the year. His main duty with Camelot will be to work with the government to create a fair bidding process for the third lottery license and to help Camelot bid for it. . . . London-based gaming law firm Harris Hagan has welcomed licensing lawyer Elizabeth Southorn as a partner. Southorn was formerly employed with international law practice Richards Butler, where as head of licensing she specialized in the licensing of liquor, betting, gaming and entertainment. Her clients include Diageo, Coral Bookmakers, the BBC, Thistle Hotels, The Royal Opera House, Marriott Hotels, Anschutz Entertainment Group and Conran Restaurants.
PartyPoker Float? -- The Times (U.K.) reports that Partypoker.com may be planning to float on the London Stock Exchange. Company representatives are said to be in the early stages of discussions with several investment banks concerning the timing and feasibility of a possible share offering.
Bets As Speech -- Michael Rossides, the man behind BetPress.com who is challenging the constitutionality of the U.S. Justice Department's use of the Wire Act to prohibit online wagering, filed a memorandum in response to Attorney General John Ashcroft's motion to dismiss the case. The Department of Justice must reply by Sept. 20. The court will have 10 days to review the motion to dismiss and then make a ruling. Rossides' argument is that certain bets are forms of speech and therefore protected by the First Amendment.
Problem Gambling -- Speaking at the BA's annual Festival of Science, Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University, an expert on the psychology of gambling, derided England's new Gambling Bill, which he believes will allow children to gamble on slot machines. According to Griffiths, children will still be vulnerable to becoming addicted to the slot machines that will remain in leisure centers and amusement arcades. Griffiths also believes the bill will increase the number of adults with gambling problems. "What you find everywhere in the world is that where you increase access and opportunity to gamble, not only do you increase the number of regular gamblers, you also increase the number of problem gamblers," he said. "There will be an increase in the number of problem gamblers as a result of the Gambling Bill going through."
Healthy Correlation -- Rani Desai, an associate professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, and her colleagues recently completed the "Gambling Impact and Behavior Study," which now appears in the American Journal of Psychiatry. According to the study, there is a correlation between moderate recreational gambling and good health among adults over the age of 65, unlike younger gamblers, who show high rates of alcohol use and abuse, depression, bankruptcy and incarceration.