Friday, June 13
New Stuff -- InterContinental Casinos Ltd. launched Ruby Bingo, a new bingo game that will join the company's BingoLand network. The Playtech-designed system joins BingoFun, Zany Bingo, Zodiac Bingo, USA Casino and New York Casino on the BingoLand network.
Legal Stuff -- De Lotto, a Dutch gaming company, is trying to bring the owners of 40 online gambling Web sites to court in the Netherlands next week regarding the sites lack of license to offer Internet gambling to Dutch citizens. The Financial Times reported yesterday that De Lotto claims these sites are operating illegally and should be fined EUR 10,000 per day.
Thursday, June 12
Bit from the US -- On June 9, the Nevada state legislature passed a bill permitting off-site pari-mutuel account wagering. Bill SB3, authored by Sen. Dean Rhoades, could repair Nevada's suffering race betting industry by enabling bettors to wager from a telephone or the Internet from inside or outside of the state. Eleven other U.S. states already allow account wagering.
New Stuff -- Bingo.com said it is launching a new version of its Web site, www.bingo.com. The new site has been redesigned to make it easier to use and increase brand strength and includes new colors, fonts and graphics. "With the launch of our new Web site we are demonstrating our commitment to our subscribers and shareholders that Bingo.com continues to be the most popular bingo destination on the Internet," said Tarrnie Williams, CEO of Bingo.com.
UK News -- The Isle of Man, one of the strictest online gambling jurisdictions, is "shell shocked" at MGM Mirage's decision to shut down its online casino, which was based out of the island. NewMediaZero quoted Derek Cannon, an IOM gaming inspector, as saying the pullout was a "complete surprise" and a "great disappointment." It doesn't help matters that Rank Interactive, which operates the Hard Rock Casino gaming Web site from IOM, is thinking of leaving as well. "At the moment we're assessing what the future might be," said Ed Andrewes, commercial director for Rank. "It is difficult, as MGM found, to drive customer registrations if you're not running it from a sports book."
Bit from Down Under -- Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. firmed its merger terms with Jupiters Ltd. If the merger fails on Tabcorp's fault, Tabcorp will pay AU$7.5 million to Jupiters. If it fails because of Jupiters' fault, it will pay Tabcorp AU$12.2 million. The sale of Jupiters' online betting Web site, Centerbet, is expected to be completed in late July. Currently the short list of potential buyers for Centrebet are conducting due diligence on the Internet gaming business.
Wednesday, June 11
News from Asia -- First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corp. announced that the government of Cagayan, a province in the Philippines, will be issuing interactive gambling licenses. Operators will do business from the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Free Port under a master license granted to First Cagayan. The fee structure comprises a low application fee and annual fee as well as a 2 percent interactive gaming tax on gross win. International Casino Services has been appointed to assist in the process of licensing and developing the interactive gaming zone.
New Stuff -- IGW Software, Inc. has launched an online sports book, horse book and casino site for its licensee, Money Top Finance. The new site located at www.ewinner.com.
Tuesday, June 10
New Stuff -- Intertops.com is taking bets on which African country will host the World Cup in 2010. The six countries in the running are Libya, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and South Africa. The betting site says South Africa is the favorite, with odds of 1-10. The outlier seems to be Libya, with odds of 100-1. "A lot of things could happen in the next few months to dramatically change these odds," said Michael Maerz, the site's chief bet manager. "Here at Intertops, we can't really imagine Colonel Mu'ammar Gaddafi presiding over the opening ceremony at the 2010 World Cup, which is why Libya is definitely the long shot."
From the UK -- Cinven Ltd. and CVC Capital Partners, two London-based private equity houses, have sold a large portion of their holdings in William Hill plc for more than $240 million. The 55 million shares were sold on June 6 for 265 pence each. With the sale, the equity houses have reduced their share ownership in William Hill to below the 3 percent cutoff at which share sales must be reported. ... BT yesterday announced that it would like to connect 1 million customers in the United Kingdom to broadband Internet services. The company would like 90 percent of the country take advantage of its broadband service by late 2005. The company said it had 145,000 high-speed Internet connection customers in January of this year. To help accomplish these goals, BT is extending its broadband capability in rural areas.
US Bit -- Youbet.com Inc. said it handled $2,133,399 on the day of the Belmont, a 100 percent increase from what the California-based group handled last year. Youbet.com also reports that it had 7,371 unique race bettors in race day and that the average wager was 40 percent higher than on race day in 2002.
Quoteworthy -- "It's like anything else with crime -- it'll cut way back on it. Will it prevent it 100 percent? Not, it won't, but it'll basically bring what is a $6 billion industry, we think, to less than $100 million." -- Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., as quoted in Family News in Focus, on June 6. Bachus has proposed a bill that would curtail payment options for online gambling in the United States.
Monday, June 9
Data Hub -- Hong Kong residents gamble about US $3.2 billion per year, with the most popular games being mahjong and soccer betting, according to a recent study by the University of Hong Kong. Reuters reported that the average household in Hong Kong spends US $96 per month on gambling and that 75 percent of those polled think soccer betting should be legalized.
UK Tidbit -- The Financial Times reported Sports Minister Richard Caborn is saying that changes to the liberalize U.K. gambling will probably be delayed by a year. The changes are being pushed back by the glut of legislation commanding Parliament's attention.