Postponed -- The evidentiary hearing in the criminal case against former BetonSports CEO David Carruthers has been postponed until Jan. 22, 2007. Carruthers' lawyer, Scott Rosenblum, said he would begin reviewing evidence on Sept. 11, 2006.
Shut Down -- In an effort to ban online gambling in Turkey, the Turkish National Lottery Administration has submitted documents of an unidentified online gambling company to inspectors, who have detected the base location of the company's Web site and demanded it be shut down. The Lottery Administration's general manager, Ihya Balak, has said they have detected 30 more Web sites and will bring legal suits against all of them.
For Sale -- Greek lottery and gaming monopoly OPAP on Tuesday dismissed press reports that it is interested in acquiring Britain's biggest casino operator, Stanley Leisure. "OPAP has no interest in making an offer for Stanley Leisure," a senior OPAP official told Reuters. Media reports on Tuesday pointed to OPAP, Ladbrokes and Tabcorp as possible suitors. Stanley Leisure confirmed on Monday that Malaysian casino group Genting Bhd, which has a 20 percent stake in the company, had made an offer.
Sold -- St. Louis-based sports publication, The Sporting News is being sold to Charlotte, N.C.-based American City Business Journals Inc. The publication is known in the I-gaming circles for its $7.2 million settlement with the Department of Justice in January 2006 over charges that it promoted illegal Internet gambling through advertising on its Web site, in its magazine and on the radio. The publication's current owner, Seattle-based Vulcan Sports Media Inc., did not disclose details of the sale, which was announced Tuesday and is expected to close in early October.
Sold -- Betex Group PLC said it is buying 80 percent of a Chinese mobile lottery retailing operation for £400,000, giving the company the rights to market and promote the service in three Chinese provinces. The subscription-based service will enable consumers to buy lottery tickets through their mobile handsets. It will be launched in the last quarter of 2006.
Spent -- South Koreans spent on average of 750,000 won (US $781) in 2005 on gambling and lotteries, according to a report from the Hyundai Research Institute. The study reveals that the South Korean gambling industry grew to 35 trillion won (US $36.5 million) last year, taking 4.4 percent of the gross domestic product, which, according to researchers, means that the average Korean household spent 3 million won (US $3,124) at casinos, on horse racing, in video gambling arcades and/or buying lottery tickets.
Launched -- eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance), the player protection and standards authority of online gambling, today launched its Global Online Gambler Survey, covering areas such as poker, casino, player protection, responsible gambling and luck. Beginning today, millions of poker and casino players worldwide will be able to have their say through the support of leading software providers, operators and portals, as well as through eCOGRA's contact database. The resulting "eCOGRA Global Online Gambler Report" is due to be launched to the public in January 2007.
Stock Watch -- Talk of two separate mergers surrounding LSE-listed I-gaming companies was been followed today by a rise in stock prices for some of the involved parties. Having bowed out of bidding for privately held sports betting and gaming firm Victor Chandler last week, 888 Holdings rose 15.25 to close at 171. And after surviving company restructuring last week, including letting 240 employees go, Rank Group plc was up 7p to 232 upon speculation that it may be one of the companies bidding for Stanley Leisure (although Rank has denied the rumors). Other movers on the market today include Neteller, which rose 15p to 430 and World Gaming plc, which gained 10.50p to 92. Ladbrokes dropped 7p to 378, while William Hill ended trading down 6p to 625.