Ritz Club Acquired -- After the Barclay brothers abruptly announced their intention to close their Ritz Club London Online Internet casino last week, Bookmaker UK Betting reportedly purchased the operation for an undisclosed sum. Ritz Club management will reportedly remain in place, but UK Betting spokesmen said Ritz Club will soon relinquish its current CryptoLogic software for a platform offered by industry rival Playtech. Under UK Betting ownership, the site will no longer be associated with the Ritz Club and its owners, the Barclay brothers.
French Ban -- The French Professional Football League (LPF) has prohibited its clubs from advertising any form of gambling or sports betting, the league's ruling body said in a statement today. The ban come shortly after bwin co-CEOs Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger were placed under investigation by French authorities for their alleged violation of domestic betting laws. As gambling is a state monopoly in France, online betting operations are prohibited from soliciting clients on French soil. bwin has sponsorship deals in place with LPF club Monaco, as well as several other top-tier clubs.
DC Visit -- A delegation from the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda will visit Washington, D.C., in the coming week, most likely to discuss America's uncompromising stance on Internet gambling. The delegation, led by Minister of Finance Dr. Errol Cort, has participated in a series of meeting with representatives from the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Justice and members of Congress to resolve an ongoing dispute between the nations. The U.S. government has thus far refused to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling against U.S. measures preventing banks from processing transactions from online gaming firms based in the islands. Observers view the issue as critical to the islands' economic survival, as Antigua-based operators account for an estimated 25 percent of the estimated $12 billion wagered by American Internet bettors each year.
Beneficiary -- The Isle of Man (IM) this week reported a 30 percent increase in applications for e-gaming licenses. "Events in the U.S. can only have a positive impact on the IM and highlight the need for operators to carry out a thorough business risk analysis, including ensuring they are located in a well-regulated, world class jurisdiction," said Bill Mummery, head of e-gaming development for the IM. "The IM believes the U.K. Gambling Act 2005 implementation will be complimentary to what the IM is seeking to achieve and will further increase the focus on the region," Mummery added.
Embracing Online -- Victorian licensed bookmakers have announced they will now accept Internet bets on horseracing and sporting events, using the BookiesOnline platform. Bettors can register online and access the Web sites of participating bookmakers at metropolitan tracks and select meetings during the Spring Racing Carnival. The service is the Victorian Bookmakers' Association's (VBA) latest step in making betting with bookmakers more accessible to the Australian public, said VBA joint chairmen Paddy O'Brien and Lyndon Hsu.
Betfair Sailing -- U.K.-based Online betting exchange Betfair has announced large returns for investors in the year ended April 2006. According to recently released financial figures, year-on-year revenue growth has cruised at a 35 percent clip to £144.7 million since 2002, with pre-tax profits climbing 63 percent to £37.8 million from £23.1 million in 2005. The company concluded the year with a cash balance exceeding £142 million, topping its 2005 figure of £52 million. The company reported that in 2005, over 1.3 billion bets were placed on the exchange, with over £2,000 a minute being deposited onto the site. By the end of this summer's World Cup, the number of active monthly exchange climbed over 900,000, up from 160,000. Fifty percent of new bettor registrations originated outside of the United Kingdom.
Compete for Pink -- Skill games provider WorldWinner has announced the kickoff of its third consecutive Charitable Online Games Competition during Breast Cancer Awareness month. Throughout October, WorldWinner will host a series of online game competitions to support the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The competitions are part of the company's Compete for Pink program, which this year guarantees a minimum donation of $100,000 to the foundation. Ten percent of the entry fees will be donated to the foundation.
Spanish Gambling -- Spains 500,000 registered gamblers laid down a record $255 million in 2005, according to the Spanish Internet Bettors Association. Sports bets accounted for 35.8 percent of the total, followed by casino revenues (25.1 percent), poker revenues (20.3 percent) and lottery revenues (15.2 percent). Online gambling has been slow to gain traction in the country.
Stock Watch -- Before learning that its former chairman, Peter Dicks, would not have to face charges of illegal gambling in Louisiana, Sportingbet's shares took a slight dive, falling 5.75 to 184.25. World Gaming, which was in takeover talks with Sportingbet prior to Dicks' arrest gained 3p to 63.50. Talks have since halted, and two World Gaming board members have stepped down. Other market movers include Neteller, which gained 11.75 to 355 and Playtech, which rose 11p to 249.