Friday, April 11
New Stuff -- Cincinnati-based Games Inc. said it has filed a patent for an Instant lottery game that will incorporate the Internet. When the product is launched, it will be available for purchase in stores that sell lottery tickets. After buying the ticket, the player can go online to a "personal play site" and use their play slip to select an online instant ticket. The player's winnings will be paid to him or her at the store where the original ticket was purchased.
US Tidbit -- The Las Vegas Review Journal reports that a member of the 1999 National Gambling Impact Study Commission is now saying that the group was packed with conservatives in an attempt by right-wingers in Congress to damage the gambling industry. John Wilhelm, the president of the Hotel Employees and the Restaurant Employees International Union, said the conservatives' mission ultimately failed because many casino employees testified at the commission's hearings. "I had the opportunity to serve on the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, which as many of you know, was an attempt by the extreme right wing to derail the gaming industry," Wilhelm said.
Legal Stuff -- The Nevada Gaming Control Board is looking into whether Binion's Horseshoe broke any laws by offering a contest to enter or watch the casino's World Series of Poker on its Web site. The offers have been removed, but the Las Vegas Sun reports that for a while, Binion's site offered a live Webcast of the tournament for $49.95. Dennis Neilander, the chairman of the Gaming Control Board, said the advertisement was taken down from the site before his office could scrutinize it.
Thursday, April 10
US Tidbit -- The Nevada Gaming Board said gross winnings for the state's casinos in February increased only 0.45 percent compared to February of 2002. According to the Las Vegas Sun, the increase is the smallest the state has experienced in the last seven months. Gov. Kenny Guinn said current events could be to blame. "With the start of the war in Iraq and the uncertainty as to its length, I am very concerned on how much additional pressure this will put on our fragile tourist-based economy," he said.
Data Hub -- The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority recently completed a study of pop-up advertisements and found that only 1 percent of the pop-ups violate the standards of the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion. The group says that among the ads that were questionable were ads for betting and gambling Web sites because they could appeal to underage Web users.
Wednesday, April 9
UK Tidbit -- Kerzner International, which dumped its online gambling venture earlier this year, announced that it is getting a gambling license and preparing to build a casino in Northampton, England. The company said it is seeking the necessary approvals for the license and will build a 30,000 square-foot casino in the town of 1.3 million.
Breaking Deals -- Poker.com said it is discontinuing its contract for master license casino software from Trimon Systems Inc. because the investment was not paying off. The Vancouver-based company said it will now focus primarily on its patent-pending skill poker software.
Legal Stuff -- MGM Mirage, the Las Vegas-based hotel and casino company that also operates an online casino regulated in the Isle of Man, did not file nearly 15,000 anti-money laundering reports with the federal government during a two-year time span. The Associated Press reported today that the Nevada Gaming Control Board does not believe the failure to file the reports means that criminal behavior such as money laundering took place. "The individual responsible for filing these things had gotten himself so far behind that he didn't know how to catch up," said Dennis Neilander, the chairman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
New Stuff -- Lycos Gamesville announced the opening of a re-vamped Bingo Zone today. The site, www.bingozone.com, like the rest of Lycos Gamesville, offers free games for cash prizes. Jackpots will be awarded on the new bingo site every 10 minutes. ... Telecommunications company AT&T is soon to introduce a new smart card that can be used for Internet purposes of all kinds, not just telephone calls, the Associated Press reported yesterday. The cards will be branded with the names of different Internet merchants, the company said, and will only be able to be used on those merchants' sites.
Tuesday, April 8
Tidbit from the UK -- Ladbrokes, the United Kingdom-based betting and gaming company, said recently that it will develop its own system of pools betting if it is not allowed to bid on operating the Tote. The U.K. government is planning to allow a racing trust to operate the Tote. The racing trust would be made up of members of the British Horseracing Board.
What Others are Saying -- An editorial in the Christian Science Monitor applauded U.S. legislative efforts to put a stop to Americans' ability to gamble online. However, the newspaper also noted that making prohibition work would be difficult. "International cooperation will be needed to fight this phenomenon," the paper stated. "That's not easily secured, especially where gaming remains legal, as in much of Europe or Asia. And those determined to collect wagers from would-be bettors online no doubt will turn up new ways to avoid new rules."
Monday, April 7
Making Deals -- Horse race wagering company Youbet.com Inc. announced a joint-marketing agreement with the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF). The deal will allow Youbet.com's online services to be available through interactive carrels, kiosks or workstations inside the CARF wagering facilities. CARF has 22 simulcast facilities in California. "2002 was our first year as a licensed ADW in California, and we lead our industry in delivering out-of-state handle to California racing pools," said Chuck Champion, the president and CEO of Youbet.com. "With partners like CARF, we will expand our efforts to grow the California racing industry."
Names and Faces -- Youbet.com has appointed Victor J. Gallo as its in-house general counsel. Gallo was formerly the vice president of legal and compliance for Konami Gaming Inc. of Las Vegas.
Caribbean Bit -- Online betting site Intertops.com said it will continue to offer wagers on "Survivor: The Amazon" despite many other sports books dropping the show after heavy betting from CBS employees. Michael Maerz, the chief bet manager, said due to heavy betting action on Survivor contestants Matt and Jenna, Intertops has created more bet offers involving them.