betbull/Orenes Venture Targets Spanish Market
European bookmaker betbull plc and Spanish leisure and gaming group Grupo Orenes have formed a joint venture to pursue licensed retail betting opportunities in Spain. The agreement is a 50/50 venture of equal shareholding, capital investment and profit share and will last for a minimum of five years. Betbull and Orenes have already agreed on a broad business plan detailing their proposed development of retail betting throughout Spain, using their respective know-how and expertise.
Betfred/EKASA, Ditto
Fred Done, founder and chairman of independent boomaker Betfred, unveiled his company's multi-million-pound expansion into Spain. Betfred has formed a joint venture with Spanish gaming group EKASA, in anticipation of betting being legalized in the Basque and Madrid regions before the end of the year. Under the anticipated terms of operation, Betfred and EKASA will be able to apply for a license to run 25 shops in each region, plus hundreds of betting terminals. The shops will trade as RETA BETFRED outlets. (RETA is EKASA's retail brand.)
MaharajahClub.com, IGH Focus on Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia-focused online gaming site MaharajahClub.com and online sports betting and casino operator Interactive Gaming Holdings (IGH) have partnered to launch what they are calling the first online sports book for Southeast Asian gamblers. IGH will handle the marketing for the site, which includes online betting for cricket, football, horse racing/ante post, greyhound racing/ante post, American football, basketball, boxing, bowls, darts, golf, ice hockey, motor sport, rugby union and snooker.
bwin Expands in Argentina
Austrian bookmaker bwin has plans to enter the Latin American market by starting up operations in the Argentinean province of La Pampa, according to Yogonet.com. bwin has reportedly applied for a license and presented the project to the Ministry of Production. The government of La Pampa is said to be backing the project and is close to granting the license.
France Bans Betting Ads, Toulouse Football Club Protests
The French Professional Football League (LFP) last month banned its clubs from advertising any form of online gambling or sports betting. The ban came less than three weeks after Manfred Bodner and Norbert Teufelberger, the co-CEOs of Austrian bookmaker bwin.com Interactive Entertainment, were detained for allegedly violating French gaming laws by advertising its services to French residents. A few days later the Toulouse Football Club, which had been sponsored by online gambling site 888.com, wore "???.com, censored" on their playing shirts in protest of the LFP's decision.
FantasyRivals.com Mixes Betting and Fantasy Sports
A new free site is inviting members to generate Vegas-style spreads for fantasy games. FantasyRivals.com generates Vegas-style betting lines to be used by fantasy sports enthusiasts as a handicapping resource. The information can be used to assist in lineup decisions, or owners can place actual wagers on their team's performance through online sports book, PinnacleSports.com. The service also enables players to import their fantasy teams and leagues from services such as Yahoo, Sportsline and NFL.com.