New Stuff -- BetWWTS.com today became the latest online gambling operator to take the P2P plunge with the launch of BetP2P.com. The 10-year-old offshore betting group's spin on person-to-person betting entails targeting the North American bettors. Until now, they said, P2P operators have concentrated on European markets. The new site will utilize the TradingSports betting exchange platform. ... Fintoto, a subsidiary of Suomen Hippos ry (the Finnish Trotting and Breeding Association) has launched a new race wagering service at www.fintoto.fi. The technology, known as the WinOneä system, is supplied by European Game & Entertainment Technology Ltd. Ab (EGET), a Finnish developer of Internet and wireless gaming solutions. The service makes race betting games previously available only at Finnish horseracing tracks and through Totoline agents available over the Internet as well. Registered players can now search Suomen Hippos' extensive database of horses and drivers, personalize the site to their own preferences and place bets as close to the starting time as possible. Fintoto's proceeds are used to support Finnish horseracing. The WinOneä system has been used commercially in Finland since December 1999.
Tidbit from Asia -- Thoroughbred Times reported yesterday that the Japan Racing Association and the Hong Kong Jockey Club have reached a broad agreement to adopt a "good neighbor policy" through which neither jurisdiction will accept bets from residents of the other. Nor will they advertise their products in each other's jurisdictions without authorization. "There's a need for international cooperation and mutual respect among racing jurisdictions to fight against unauthorized and illegal operators who steal the racing product for their own gain," said Lawrence Wong, chief executive of the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Wong also said the JRA and HKJC are both hoping more members of the Asian Racing Federation will adopt the policy. The two organizations will sign the agreement during the Hong Kong International Races in December. The issue is expected to be a topic of discussion at the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities meeting on Oct. 7 in Paris.
Bad Publicity -- According to an article published in the Racing Post early this month, the demise of U.K.-based Internet sports book netbetsports will ultimately be felt by the customers. The liquidator's report reveals that assets in the failed bookie are expected to raise no more than £30,000. That leaves balances close to £100,000 and means customers will be repaid only a nominal amount. The report also states that that customer funds were not held in designated client accounts and that "these funds, including those held in the merchant account, are rightly due to the company and not repayable to customers." Perhaps the most intriguing revelation, though, was the that the advent of betting exchanges topped the list of reasons for failure. The publication also speculated that Manchester-based betworld.com could be the next online bookmaker to fold. betworld.com has acknowledged it's having problems, but maintains that all accounts will be settled.
Good Publicity -- If you caught Howard Stern's radio show yesterday morning then you might have heard an interview with BetonSports.com CEO David Carruthers. The topic of conversation was BetonSports.com's Hollywood betting line. The Stern cast was apparently very impressed.