The news in brief for the week of June 5-11
At The Races celebrated the first anniversary after its relaunch with an average audience of up to 50,000 viewers a day and a betting turnover of £2m a week from its interactive red-button service. In separate news, ATR signed a deal with the Japan Racing Association to broadcast eight of the most prestigious races in the Japanese calendar in the UK and Ireland.
Betfair posted an urgent security warning on its website on Tuesday, after being alerted by some customers who received an e-mail claiming to come from Betfair’s Security Department and asking to confirm their passwords. Known as ’phishing’, this type of email involves sending a message pretending to be from an online company, but with the intention of extracting personal information that can then be used to gain access to the accounts.
Betinternet.com announced the appointment of Garry Richard Knowles as an Executive Director responsible for the sportsbook.
Cantor to open an online casino in Alderney, after it obtained sole rights to the software of Australia-based Gaming & Entertainment Group.
CIT Global, an international IT services and solutions provider, and TecBet, a specialist management consultancy firm, have announced a partnership to deliver a new integrated payment and risk solutions service targeted for gaming operators. The service uses an innovative digital signature approach to enhance the security of online payments and greatly lower the risk of fraud.
Shares of Cryptologic rose to their highest level in almost five years on Tuesday, as analysts believe that the Canadian gaming software company will benefit from a successful floatation of PartyGaming.
Futurebet Gaming Systems to provide technology, marketing, distribution and other services for all sports betting formats to state gaming agency Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor).
GameAccount reports player spend increases in skill gaming sector fuelled by unique turn-based multiplayer games such as Gin Rummy and 8-Ball Pool. The pioneering skill gaming provider predicts P2P games to be the ‘next big thing’ as they proved to be very popular among both traditional and recreational gamblers.
The International Racing Group disclosed its results for 2004 to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of Youbet’s purchase of the company. IRG lost $32,058 on revenues of $17.8 million. The betting handle increased to $215 million, up from $133 million in 2003, and the company paid an average of 5 per cent of its handle for racetrack betting signals.
Mahjong Mania to provide its industry-leading Mahjong software to Gambling Federation for use within its online gaming suite. Mahjong games are widely played across Asia and present enormous potential for operators of internet casinos and sports books to penetrate the difficult Asian markets.
Sage’s biggest shareholders are calling for Chairman Michael Jackson to step down as chair of controversial online poker company PartyGaming, as they believe Jackson cannot devote enough time to both firms. Furthermore, as PartyGaming will be in the FTSE 100 after it floats, Jackson will chair two company’s in the leading index, contravening strict corporate governance guidelines.
ThoroughVisioN, owned by the Australian Jockey Club and Sydney Turf Club along with their counterparts in Victoria, took its rival Sky Channel and Tabcorp to the Federal Court arguing Sky Channel’s exclusive arrangements with Austar and Optus bar it from a vital viewing audience. TVN alleges Sky Channel and Tabcorp are in breach of the Trade Practices Act and have “acted in concert with one another in causing substantial loss or damage” to its fledgling business.
Victor Chandler to white-label the new website of UK high-street independent bookmaker Jennings.
BHB Chief Executive Greg Nichols accused the British bookmakers of having “bled the sport for years without paying a proper financial consideration,” while addressing an audience that included senior figures from Coral Eurobet, Ladbrokes, William Hill and Betfair. Nichols believes “the challenge is to extract the true value of British racing’s worth from all betting operators, nationally, simultaneous to the full exploitation of British racing’s intellectual rights in the international arena.”
National Poker Association formed with the mission to offer services and benefits to the over 50 million players of all skill levels who enjoy poker.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board to prohibit Nevada sports books from accepting wagers on the National Basketball Association All-Star Game in 2007 if the contest is played in Las Vegas.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the average UK household spends £3.60 a week on gambling and is predicted to grow following the introduction of The Gambling Act 2005, which will introduce dedicated remote gaming legislation for the first time.
Vodafone Derby at Epsom brought a mixed reaction from the bookmakers. Coral Eurobet lost a “substantial six-figure” sum on the race, as Motivator’s stunning success was described as the “worst possible” outcome. “Motivator has cost the bookies an estimated £5 million,” said a ToteSport spokesman. William Hill’s David Hood said it was “a good result for the bookies with the money for the well-supported Oratorio and Gypsy King staying in the satchels.”
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