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Welcome to Bet Sage's
Online Gambling News Section, featuring the latest breaking
gambling industry news courtesy of
InfoPowa
News. This is your
one stop source for all
and any of the latest
developments concerning
all aspects of the
Online Gambling
Industry. InfoPowa News
headed up by senior
partner Brian Cullingworth
are recognised as one of
the leading and most
respected independent
gambling news services
in the online gambling
industry.
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| 31
AUGUST 2007 : HEADLINES |
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USA could be faced with a $7 billion bill if WTO takes action
The Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, which came out top in a David and Goliath World Trade Organisation tussle with the United States over online gambling (see previous InfoPowa reports) could be about to raise the stakes in its claim for compensation.
In a report in the Antigua Sun newspaper this week a figure of up to $7 billion is mentioned, as the nation's legal representative Mark Mendel warns the U.S. to expect billions more in sanctions as the country prepares to file its claim.
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Politicians critical of British handling of regulatory reform
The apparently tougher approach to gambling reform taken by the new Labour cabinet headed by recently appointed prime minister Gordon Brown came in for criticism from Gibraltar this week. The tiny principality in southern Spain has become an important regulatory jurisdiction for many large UK companies and is taking a keen interest in developments as the September 1 launch date for the new gambling dispensation in Britain approaches.
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Gambling advertising policy under fire by top responsible gaming body
British government officials in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the UK Gambling Commission have come under fire for "...not setting up a telephone service to help with the higher numbers of problem gamblers that the [increased] advertising will inevitably create."
Gambling charity GamCare said it deplored the UK government�s decision not to require gambling advertisements on television to include a helpline number.
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Surprise litigation shuts down traditional Bodog brands....but New Bodog.com now in action
The past 24 hours have been a torrid time for the webbies and owner of the Bodog.com brand. The online gambling and entertainment group, which trademarked its brands some time ago, has been under siege following a Seattle court order that has hamstrung its brands....at least for now.
Bodog staff put in plenty of overnight overtime to set up New Bodog.com as a temporary solution for an issue that has serious implications for the company and its business.
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Case was heard in Las Vegas, Nevada
More details are emerging on the legal scrap between 1st Technology LLC and Bodog Entertainment Group which has resulted in the latter's domains being discontinued (see previous InfoPowa reports)
The Bodog.com online gambling business was disrupted Monday and remained inoperative Tuesday due to a $48.6-million default judgment obtained by a Las Vegas company against Bodog in a patent infringement case, reports The Vancouver Sun.
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Background to litigation against Bodog continues to surface
Following our previous reports on the 1st Technology LLC vs Bodog Entertainment Group SA, further detail is beginning to emerge, along with critical comment by lawyers representing 1st Technology in its $49 million patent infringement suit against the Antiguan based online gambling group.
The confrontation apparently began last September, when 1st Technology, which has enjoyed some success in previous actions against other companies, sued Bodog before Judge Roger L. Hunt in a federal court in Nevada. Lawyers for 1st Technology claimed that Bodog was illegally using a "method and system for interactively transmitting multimedia information over a network which requires a reduced bandwidth," according to court documents.
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Media reports claim involvement in patent litigation against Bodog - but is this credible?
Continuing and so far unsubstantiated claims that Mel Molnick is the man behind 1st Technologies and its patent infringement suit against online gambling group Bodog are clouding the issue with speculation.
Several online media reports on the litigation between Bodog and California-based 1st Technologies, ostensibly headed by UK academic and inventer Dr. Scott Lewis have introduced the Molnick name without making a credible link to the issue, other than references to past legal actions by the 63 year old innovator.
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Tax will constrain gambling growth, says government official
This week has seen a continuation of the South African government's Department of Trade and Industry hearings on the proposed regulation of online gambling (see previous InfoPowa reports)
According to the Business Day newspaper, the acting deputy director general for the DTI, Fungai Sinbanda told the trade and industry portfolio committee Monday that a tough taxation regime would constrain the growth of gambling feared by objectors to the proposed National Gambling Amendment Bill.
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Major League Baseball spent $420 000 in first half of 2007
The mandatory disclosures of U.S. lobbying payments continued this week, revealing that Major League Baseball was a big hitter, paying $420 000 in the first half of 2007 to the lobbying and law firm Baker & Hostetler LLP.
Pro baseball commissioner Bud Selig's office paid the company to lobby the federal government on a range of issues that included steroid abuse, cable and satellite television law, foreign immigration.....and Internet gambling, according to the disclosure form posted online by the Senate's public records office.
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Two Canadians arrested for shooting of Platinum sportsbook employee, say investigators
The English language Costa Rican newspaper AM Costa Rica has confirmed rumours and Spanish press reports that two Canadians and a Costa Rican are being held on suspicion of being involved in the year old murder of a sportsbook employee, 27-year-old Luis Mu�oz Vargas.
The motive for the murder was that the dead man had somehow cheated the suspects, who are apparently sportsbook operators, out of some $25 000, said investigators.
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EU location and real regulation make this island a popular jurisdiction
Malta is riding the crest of a wave in the internet gambling sector with no less than 27 international companies shifting their online operations to the island by the end of this month, reports the Malta Times.
In an article on the recent arrival of major online gambling companies in the jurisdiction, the newspaper names Intercasino, William Hill, Littlewoods, Playboy Casino and Virgin Games among those that will start operating from Malta this week.
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Major online poker event planned for northern winter
Titan Poker.com players can win a share of $2.5 million in the European Championship of Online Poker 2007, the online poker website promises this week. The Playtech powered site operates on the iPoker Network and plans to stage the European Championship of Online Poker (ECOOP) at the end of this year.
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Version 8.0 now active
Absolute Poker has announced a major update to its poker software, releasing version 8.0 which adds a range of new customising features to the online poker company's games.
David Clainer, senior vice president for Absolute Poker said the upgrade was in response to player demands for specific facilities and is the result of months of coding and design enhancements.
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Reciprocal marketing arrangements announced
Online gambling software provider WagerWorks and Sweden's 24hPoker Holding AB have agreed on a strategic alliance to collectively market their product offerings. The realisation of the agreement comes after the two companies signed a Letter of Intent in February this year to cooperate (see previous InfoPowa report).
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Internet gambling information site completes major upgrade and adds free online games
If you're one of the thousands of online gamblers or industry people who get their daily news and up-to-the-minute information fix from Online-Casinos.com, you will have noticed significant changes to the website and its content this month.
Webmaster and owner Jan Pedersen and his team have been updating the site design and adding new attractions such as a precision news and information archive search function, a free RSS news feed and a range of free-to-play casino games sponsored by top online casinos and software providers.
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Nevada Gaming Commission gives stamp of approval for partnership...but could it extend online in time?
In what the participants call an historic decision, the Nevada Gaming Commission has given its approval to allow the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) to accept commingled bets from the United States on Hong Kong horseracing. The approval process is the first major step in distributing HKJC's world-class racing product to the US marketplace.
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An expert look at justifications for the recent behaviour of US enforcement officials
The K.L. Gates website published a detailed professional examiniation of international law and US powers recently at http://www.klgates.com/newsstand/Detail.aspx?publication=4008. Given recent online gambling arrests and actions by the US Department of Justice over the past year, it makes informative reading.
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Street corner retail outfits must demand ID
Retail outlets selling pre-paid plastic were caught out at the weekend in a private sting operation initiated by the British newspaper The People. Reporters from the paper, using 14 year old decoy Zak Fussing were able to not only buy pre-paid cards without ID checks, but use them for booze, weapons, porno....and gambling online purchases.
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California college student earns $179 775 main prize in 3 hour heads up
Creating exciting vibes over the weekend was the three day inaugural PokerStars Asia Pacific Poker Tour Main Event, for which 255 players from 34 countries signed up in Manila, Philippines. Top players like Vanessa Rousso, Daniel Negreanu and 2005 WSOP Main Event Champion Joe Hachem were on the list of aspirants for the $179 775 main prize, although they did not last the course.
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Who needs cyclists when there's a deal with a world famous Premier League football club?
Online gambling group Unibet has shaken off the frustration of its Team Unibet cycling disbandment (see previous InfoPowa reports) with a three year partnership deal with top English football club Liverpool to be the club's exclusive betting and gaming partner.
Unibet is to develop a Liverpool FC branded gaming site that will be launched later this year, offering sports betting, poker, casino and other Unibet products. It is anticipated that the new site will also offer a series of competitions with prizes including VIP tickets, signed team shirts and stadium tours.
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Will the online gambling industry miss the ex-US Attorney General?
The US enforcement arm's top official, US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has finally bowed to pressure and resigned from his post after several national issues surrounding his responsibilities.
Seen by many as the bete noir of the online gambling industry as the head of agencies that have caused significant damage to the industry's business ambitions in the United States, Gonzales was at one stage reported to have promised anti-online gambling politician Arizona Senator Jon Kyl that he would do everything in his power to ensure the demise of online gambling.
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Established sports book to expand into online casino activities
The Isle of Man-based and Malaysian owned sportsbook Ascot Sports will be expanding its online gambling offering with the launch of an online casino on 25 September.
Ascot Sports (IOM) Ltd is one of 12 Isle of Man licensees granted a Bookmaker's Permit and Restricted Betting Office Licence under the Gaming, Betting and Lotteries Act 1988 by the Isle of Man Gambling Commissioners.
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Another major Internet progressive jackpot ready to pop?
It looks as if the next seriously large progressive win could come from Microgaming's Mega Moolah, which this week topped the $3 million mark and is still growing.
With Cryptologic's record breaking Millionaire's Club multi-millions now won, the Mega Moolah offering has replaced it as the biggest jackpot on the Internet progressives scene.
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On the threshold of legal action, a breathing space
France and Greece have been given a further sixty days to respond to the European Commission over their claimed monopolistic barriers to participation in their gambling industries by other European Union members.
In an announcement this week, European Commission spokesman Oliver Drewes said the extension was granted on applications from the two countries, who are among several in the Commission's cross-hairs for their exclusive legislation regarding Internet gambling.
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RealArcade and King are top of the pops
Nielsen NetRatings reports that the name of the game in Germany is "Casual", with the genre enjoying an impressive average growth per year over the past three years of 25 percent - a booming 76 percent overall.
The top sites used by most casual gaming Germans are RealArcade with 2.6 million unique users and King.com with 2.3 million unique users.
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Betting aid is growing in popularity say owners
Nearly a year after embarking on a major design, content and systems upgrade, a website that permits sports fans and handicappers to track their bets online has been released in an improved version with many more bells and whistles, claim the owners of WagerTracker.com.
The playing aid is useful for fantasy sports fans as well as those playing NFL contests, who may need to go with or against the grain of public opinion when making their decisions.
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Mini-table feature will allow players to sit at up to 12 poker games at once.
Latest innovation at the popular Poker Room.com site, an Ongame-Bwin Interactive subsidiary is a mini-table functionality that will make multi-tabling easier for experienced players.
The new mini-table feature just introduced will allow players to sit at up to 12 poker games at once.
"Online poker players are always interested in game features that enhance the level of the game," said Karin Klein, PokerRoom.com spokesperson. "Mini tables will test the concentration level and multi-tasking abilities of our most experienced players."
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Three seasoned pros sign up for KFC ads
According to Cardplayer Magazine poker fans will soon be seeing some familiar names in Kentucky Fried Chicken adverts.
Poker aces David Williams, Gavin Smith and Paul Wasicka have been hired by the finger-lickin' delicacy firm to help sell its tasty chicken.
The three poker pros will soon appear in KFC commercials that will be shown on ESPN during the World Series of Poker broadcast. They will talk about their ability to read people....while munching on fried chicken!
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Canadian cops reinforce their warning on unlicensed organised poker games once again
The Star.com reports major police raids over the past several weeks on alleged illegal gambling houses in the Mississauga region of Canada which have netted seven people charged with running illegal gaming houses and as many as 80 players having their names recorded, although none are being charged.
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Talks with US authorities continue
Party Gaming's first half results were released this week, bringing some respite from a record low share price but in line with previously lowered expectations. The London listed company said it was continuing talks with U.S. authorities following a crackdown on gambling last year.
Arguably the world's biggest online poker firm whose websites include PartyPoker and PartyCasino, the company posted earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from continuing operations of $36.9 million in the six months to June 30. Adjusted for the loss of U.S. operations, pretax profit from continuing operations rose 29 percent to $36.9 million, topping analyst forecasts helped by strong growth from its online casino operations.
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Online gaming firms will consolidate once US barrier removed, says Party Gaming CEO
Speaking on a conference call with media journalists following the publication of his company's first half results, Party Gaming.com CEO Mitch Garber said that the online gaming industry is ripe for consolidation once the barrier of retrospective legal action from US authorities has been removed. PartyGaming plc is well-placed to be at the centre of such activity, he added.
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Record numbers of Swedes are betting ever-greater amounts of money on Internet gambling sites
Record numbers of Swedes are betting ever-greater amounts of money on Internet gambling sites, reports the Swedish radio station Sveriges Radio International.
The state-run gambling company Svenska Spel told SRI News that it is expecting a 40 percent jump in the amount of money bet over its Internet sites by the end of 2007, and sports gambling firm ATG has reported a 30 percent increase in web-based bets during the first six months of this year.
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See those cards fly!
A US company has just launched the first widescreen monitor that will enable online gamblers to see the game from a whole new perspective in three dimensional clarity and colour - but they'll have to wear special polarised specs to do so.
The 22in 220 widescreen 3D monitor, from San Diego-based Neurok Optics, uses stereoscopic 3D technology combined with polarised eyeglasses to brings things in to 3D.
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Pamela Brunson takes WPT Ladies Night 5 title
Poker really does get passed down through the genes it seems! Step forward Pamela Brunson she's just claimed her first major poker tournament triumph by winning the World Poker Tour (WPT) Ladies Night V at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles.
Pamela saw off competition from the likes of Evelyn Ng and Kathy Liebert to claim the first prize of more than $34 000 and a seat in the prestigious WPT Ladies Night Out which will be held on August 31st.
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Aussie poker player gets the best of a bad beat
Absolute Poker.com's record breaking badbeat jackpot of $821 670 and change was won by an Australian player and other players in a Texas Hold 'Em hand Wednesday - a payout worthy of a major progressive slot. Previous bad beat jackpots - for example the $739 621 bonanza paid out by Party Poker - have been eclipsed by the current win.
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Rank subsidiary grows revenues despite tough competition
British online gambling firm Blue Square.com delivered an impressive 41 percent rise in revenues despite harder competition in the European market, parent group Rank reported this week.
The popular online betting firm saw revenues rise 41percent to GBP 26 million in the six months to June. Operating profit rose a healthy 77 percent to GBP 5.5 milion (GBP 3 million achieved over the same period in 2006)
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"Time to regulate online gambling," says Newsday editorial
The week saw yet another mainstream media editorial appearing in the US, demanding the regulation of online gambling in the United States.
Newsday, the eighth largest US newspaper described Antigua and Barbuda as "...the mouse that roared on Internet gambling," going on to postulate that the WTO action initiated by the tiny Caribbean nation could "....force the elephantine United States to reconsider laws prohibiting online wagering with offshore casinos."
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