New Operator -- The Gaming Channel, a new UK gaming operator, has launched onto the scene by buying the popular iTV games channel Avago. Next, The Gaming Channel plans to develop more television channels and to extend service to Internet and mobile applications. The Gaming Channel will also provide 'white label' gambling services to third parties through iTV, the Internet, and mobile systems. Shareholders of the privately-funded entity include Freeserve founder, Peter Wilkinson, and former Director of New Media at BskyB, John Swingewood. The man who will head The Gaming Channel, Damian Cope, co-founded Blue Square and later worked with Hilton and then Rank.
Quoteworthy -- "The industry can wait no longer. The responsible segment of the online gaming industry has been calling on politicians and gaming regulators to include regulation in the debate on online gaming since the late 1990’s. In absence of global standards for online gaming, eCOGRA’s moving in a direction where the industry should be headed by addressing much needed player protections, and offering an avenue for responsible online gaming software suppliers and their licensed operators to differentiate themselves," said Andrew Beveridge, CEO of the newly formed independent organization, e-Commerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (e-COGRA). Beveridge spoke at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas this week and promised that his organization would provide online players with high levels of assurance of fair, honest, and responsible gaming.
Spam Laws -- If a bill that was tabled in Australia's federal parliament on Thursday becomes law, the government could fine commercial organizations that send bulk unsolicited e-mail more the A$1 million per day. The bill has support from the Australian Direct Marketing Association and major political parties and is expected to have a smooth passage through parliament…. Also, the UK announced today that it will enact laws to prohibit unsolicited bulk e-mail unless the recipient has requested it. Cookies will also be regulated, and violators can be subject to fines of up to 5,000 pounds. The legislation will take effect December 11.
ROK Lord -- Lord Mancroft, an executive on The Lotteries Council and Chairman of Inter Lotto in the UK, has joined mobile lottery provider, ROK, as deputy chairman. Mancroft will advise the company in delivering lotteries, scratchcards, sweepstakes and other games over mobile phones in Britain and internationally. ROK has developed software than allows gamers to enter state lotteries via SMS texting from mobile handsets that can serve as lottery terminals.