Yogonet.com reports that Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) deputies met recently to address a bill, titled "Sports Law," which, if passed, will alter the country's sports betting policies. The bill received strong support from several NA officials. Deputy Nguyen Huu Nhon of the Central Binh Dinh province discussed inconsistencies that muddy the breadth of current policy. "You can bet legally on horse races, greyhound races, and buffalo fights," Nhon said. "Meanwhile, betting on such a popular game like football is still prohibited." Tao Huu Phung, deputy chairman of the NA's Economic Budget Committee, corroborated Nhon's view, adding that existent civil code already permits sports betting, particularly betting on football. ". . . The government had instructed the National Committee for Sports and Physical Training to develop a project on legal organized football betting," Phung said. "So, drafting regulations to create legal basis for this is necessary." Phung also advocated for the construction of a state football lottery, which, structurally, would resemble the state’s construction lottery; a portion of football betting revenues would then be funneled back into amateur sports development programs.
bwin Loses German Sponsorships
On Aug. 10, Austria-based online gambling company bwin Interactive Entertainment AG lost its German betting license. The German state of Saxony withdrew licensure and banned bwin from accepting bets from the country via the Internet. After the announcement, Bwin shares dropped 9.1 percent, after a 31 percent drop the previous day. A bwin spokeswoman said the company has a legal complaint prepared that demands 500 million euros in compensation for the possible losses upon the cancellation of the permit. Germany contributes around 25 percent of bwin's gross gaming revenue.
An Attempt to Salvage the UNiTAB/Tattersall's Merger
UNiTAB Ltd. CEO Dick McIlwain said he would consider heading up a merged UNiTAB/Tattersall's Ltd. if that were what it would take to get the gaming companies' merger to move forward. Under the proposal, Tattersall's CEO Duncan Fischer would lead the company, but major UNiTAB shareholders are reportedly in favor of McIlwain holding the position. He said he would consider staying on if Tattersall's decided that was required to secure support for the deal. "We're committed to the merger agreement," McIlwain said. "(But) if Tattersall's think that it's necessary to make that change to get the deal across the line, we'll consider that. It's not up to me really." UNiTAB shareholders met in Brisbane today to vote on the proposed merger of equals, but postponed the vote to Sept. 12 to allow the companies to amend the proposal and to allow details of the revised scheme to be mailed out.
Football Sponsorships Galore
Several partnerships between gaming companies and top-tier European football clubs have been sealed in the last month. Independent bookmaker Betfred paired with English football club Manchester United, becoming the team's official bookmaking and online gaming partner in a multi-million-pound deal. British gaming company Sportech Plc secured a similar deal, joining with Liverpool’s Everton Football Club to become the team’s official gaming partner for the 2006-2007 Premiership season. Across the Channel, online gambling company 888 reached sponsorship deals with French football club Toulouse, as well as Spanish football club Sevilla. To round off the action, online sports betting and casino operator Gamebookers notched a three-year sponsorship deal with French football club FC Nantes, the first between a sports betting company and a French Premier league team.
Indictment Handed Down in Italian Betting Scandal
In football news elsewhere, Italian Serie-A club Reggina was indicted on match-fixing charges, becoming the latest culprit fingered by Italian Football Federation prosecutors. The prosecution demanded a sports tribunal relegating Reggina to Serie-B and docking the team 15 points. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors in Naples, Rome, Parma and Turin are also conducting separate criminal probes into sports fraud, illegal betting and false bookkeeping, but any indictments could take months.
Aussie Authorities Investigate Cricketer's Ties to Online Gambling
Australia's Sunday Herald Sun reports that Hampshire cricketer Shane Warne is under investigation by gaming authorities regarding his promotion of online casino PokerCricket.com. Fear that children can gamble on the Web site prompted the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation's (VCGR) investigation. Anti-gambling lobbyists, looking to corroborate the investigation, have accused Warne of using his iconic status to "milk vulnerable people" for cash. PokerCricket.com stipulates in its terms and conditions that it does not assume responsibility or liability for any misrepresentations regarding a user's age. Concerns have also surfaced about underage users needing only a credit card to access the casino. VCGR executive commissioner Peter Cohen said, "If there is something (illegal), we will take action."