Deal's Off -- A deal whereby gambling company Blue Square would have purchased betting exchange Sporting Options has fallen apart. The £4 million acquisition was cancelled late in the negotiation stages, even after the due diligence phase, and neither side is commenting. The acquisition would have marked the first time that a bookmaker has purchased a betting exchange.
The Pitch -- The Jersey Star Ledger reports that online gaming operator Casino Fortune has offered $400 million for a 31 percent stake in Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, a company that owns three casinos in Atlantic City. Donald Trump, Chairman and CEO of the company, stated that he has not seen the offer and therefore cannot comment.
Prestige Upgrade -- Prestige Gaming N.V., an online operator of three casinos, three poker rooms and one bingo room, will upgrade all of its operations to a new Playtech software platform on Oct 1. The company is also launching a new portal for its affiliate partners at www.thepartnerpage.com. The affiliate program offers up to 56 percent revenue generated by players starting on the first affiliate month.
Levy -- At a meeting on Sept. 22, the British Levy Board settled on a scheme to collect £94 million from bookmakers for the 2005-2006 year beginning next April. The figure is a continuation of the rates levied for the 2004-2005 year, which is also expected to yield £94 million. Off-course betting shops are slated to pay 10 percent, while on-course bookmakers are to pay 6 percent from profits of £75,000 or more, and pro-rata from less. Spread-betting companies will be charged 2 percent, and betting exchanges and telephone businesses will be charged 10 percent.