Prohibition Legislation Speculation -- Reuters reported today that aides to Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.) have said, as recently as yesterday, that he is still trying to pass the federal Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act. Frist has expressed growing concern, however, over whether a deal could be struck before the Senate recesses at the end of September. The senator reportedly intends to bring up the bill under unanimous consent, a process whereby party heads agree to bring a bill to a vote on the Senate floor. The legislation has failed to gain much traction thus far, running into opposition over the summer from racing and casino lobbies. Congressional aides have also suggested that Republican and Democratic senators alike may place secret "holds" on the bill, which would prevent it from being brought up for a vote until concerns about the measure are resolved.
Proliferation -- East London football club West Ham United today announced a three-year agreement with online gaming companies Pinnacle Casino (PC) and Blue Chip Games (BCG), whereby PC and BCG will become the club's official online casino partners. PC and BCG, as part of the deal, will manage a gaming section created on the club's homepage. The deal also involves several marketing initiatives, which allow PC to advertise via the club's Web site, game day programs and television interview backgrounds.
Cooperation -- Online gaming software developer Zone 4 Play Inc. (Z4P) today announced the launch of its new betting service for betting exchange Betfair. Z4P, acting as a software vendor under the Betfair Developers Program, will market its software to Betfair users under the brand "Layback" and will offer Betfair's markets to gamblers by way of mobile and PDA device. Z4P has also entered into a betting revenue sharing agreement for new users who are introduced to the Betfair exchange by way of the service. . . . Interactive Systems Worldwide subsidiary Global Interactive Gaming Ltd. (GIG) has announced it will provide software and services that will enable Latin American gaming company Caliente to offer GIG's SportXction system, a play-by-play sports betting service, in 10 of its race and sports books locations. The soft launch will last three months. Pending the outcome of the launch, the SportXction system will be installed in Caliente's 160 betting shops.
Expansion -- I-gaming software developer CryptoLogic announced the completion of a comprehensive upgrade to its poker platform. The company's Distributed Poker system gives licensees increased mobility to (re)locate shared online poker rooms to fecund markets, without risk of interruption to games or players. The upgrade increases the room's capacity, enabling a higher volume of players--50,000--to compete simultaneously. The upgrade also means increased network uptime proficiency and real-time feature--and game--updates.
Elimination -- I-gaming software developer UltimateBet (UB) today released information about its new online game, "Elimination Blackjack." According to UB, the new game features seven players and combines elements of poker with blackjack, such that, at the conclusion of eight, 16 and 25 rounds, the player with the smallest chip stack is eliminated. Elimination Blackjack also enables each player to make one secret bet per round, which means other players will be unaware of how much their opponent will wager on the upcoming hand, thereby infusing blackjack with the element of bluffing. "The response from those that have trialed Elimination Blackjack has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to large numbers of players in the months ahead," said Chris Welch, managing director of UB's marketing agency, Loudvision.