Another Blockade -- In light of the uncertainty surrounding Internet gambling, U.K. betting company William Hill announced today that it has stopped taking casino and poker bets from customers with U.S. addresses or U.S.-issued credit cards. Following the arrest of former BetonSports CEO David Carruthers in July, several online gaming sites have barred U.S. bets, and the subsequent arrest of former Sportingbet director Peter Dicks punctuated fears among foreign gambling execs. William Hill said it is pulling out of the U.S. market until there is clarity on the Wire Act, which prohibits the use of telephone lines to make bets. William Hill is seeking clarification on just how far-reaching the Wire Act is and has said that until it is determined that casino and poker bets are excluded, it will cease U.S. business.
Another Aproval -- The Queensland Supreme Court on Tuesday approved the merger between Queensland-based Unitab Ltd. and Victoria-based Tattersall's Ltd. Unitab shares will be suspended from trading on the Australian Stock Exchange from the close of trading today. Unitab shareholders voted last week in favor of a merger with Tattersall's to form a new $4.3 billion force in the gambling sector.
More Accreditation -- eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance) has awarded its accreditation and "Play It Safe" seal to four more online gambling Web sites. The organization's CEO, Andrew Beveridge, announced today that Pacific Poker, Colosseum Poker, Wildjack Poker and Big Dollar Casino have brought the number of accredited sites to 111. The organization set a goal to award 100 sites the seal by the end of the year, which it surpassed in August.
Blackjack with Skills -- Skill games provider GameAccount this week introduced multiplayer blackjack and has rolled out next-generation tournaments for all of its multiplayer games, including gin rummy and backgammon. GameAccount's browser-based multiplayer blackjack game enables participants to play live and in real-time against up to five online opponents simultaneously, never directly against the house.
Go East -- Betex, an Asian-focused lottery and gaming company, said on Tuesday that it foresees other companies in the sector heading to Asia after finding the U.S. and European markets too hazardous to negotiate, the Financial Times reported. Betex, which completed its AIM listing this year and signed deals in Guangzhou and Chong Qing in China, spread its operating interests across 17 out of 32 provinces in Asia. Betex is testing its online Asian Handicap football book in retail shops in China, where online gambling is illegal.