Prediction Sites -- Japanese news network Asahi.com ran a feature story this morning about "prediction" sites that are becoming popular in the country. The sites are very similar to other online gambling Web sites in that in that players risk a wager on the outcome of events in the hopes of winning cash prizes, but they differ in that players risk virtual points rather than actual money. Membership is free at the sites, and the site operators earn revenue through advertisements. One site, eBet, has about 67,000 members. eBet members receive 10,000 points upon registration and can then use the points to wager on a wide variety of propositions, including sports results, music charts, stock prices and more. Players can earn more points not only through correct picks but also through shopping at eBet's affiliate partners. Once a player accumulates 1 million points, he can cash them in for 10,000 yen (US$89). eBet handled about 68,000 bets on the various propositions involved in Japan's elections earlier this month. A rival prediction site, yosoo.net, boasts 700,000 members.
Donations -- New online gaming site RevolutionaryPoker.com says it will pledge 25 percent of every financial quarter's net poker commission to a world charity organization. The site, which launched this month, also offers a sports book.
In-flight Gaming -- eFlyte, a company that develops and operates in-flight entertainment products and services including destination guides, games and more, says that it has completed a two-year development program for an in-flight gambling system that is supported by a data tracking and financial management system that processes credit card transactions.
Kids These Days -- A new report from England's Office of Film and Literature Classification and the Department of Internal Affairs dealing with underage PC gaming could provide a lesson for the online gambling industry. The study asked 331 secondary school students aged 15 to 17 whether they had played any of the 26 games listed in a questionnaire. Twenty-four of the games are R18 and illegal to minors, while the other two games have been banned and are therefore illegal to all Britons. The study revealed that 62 percent of respondents have played at least one of the restricted games.
888 Numbers -- John Anderson, CEO of 888 Holdings.com (Cassava Enterprises) has been awarded a 0.5 percent stake in shares as a bonus and will be awarded another 0.5 percent over the next four years. He will cash in 960,000 of the 1.6 million shares he is receiving now and should net about £2 million on the exchange. Anderson will receive a yearly salary of £475,000 and have the potential to earn up to £950,000 more if he meets performance targets. The company's new chairperson, Marie Stevens, will invest £250,000 of her own funds in shares and receive a £140,000 salary. The two pairs of Israeli brothers who founded the company--the Shakeds, who own 70 percent, and the Ben-Yitshaks, who own 20 percent--will cash in £207 million between them by selling 25 percent of the company. An employee and shareholder named Ofer Lazovski will make £3.5 million through selling some of his shares.
Advisors -- Poker TV Network, Inc., a broadband TV network that broadcasts poker programming at www.pokerTVnetwork.com, has appointed the first two members to its board of advisors. Joining the company are Matt Savage, who has directed the World Series of Poker for three years and has regularly appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports Net and the Travel Channel as the host of tournaments around the globe, and Nolan Dalla, a reputed gaming writer who is currently media director for the World Series of Poker.