Online Casino News, Januar 2007

[Newsflash]

PartyGaming finalises Empire deal
PartyGaming has finalised deals to buy the internet gaming operations of Empire Online and Intercontinental Online Gambling for a total of $66.3 million. The acquisitions would lift earnings in 2007 and provide at least $8.5 million in EBITDA before stock option charges according to the gaming company.

Italian football federation drops betting investigation
The Italian football federation has dropped an investigation into alleged illegal betting by Italy and Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after finding no evidence to support the claims. Buffon had acknowledged gambling on sporting events, but said he stopped when the federation banned the practice in 2005.

192.com Business Services Integrate IP Into ID
First-time ICEi exhibitors 192.com Business Services will be at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre from 23-25 January displaying its global ID and age verification with integrated advanced IP address validation technologies. Licensed from IP intelligence experts Quova, the addition of IP address validation to 192's identity check solutions is described as another tool to help ecommerce companies detect and prevent online identity fraud.

Wirecard ventures paying off at ICEi
Payment systems providers Wirecard AG will be celebrating a new co-operative venture with Internet-based procurement platform Fairpartners.com at ICEi 2007. The German company will also use the London exhibition - taking place at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre from the 23-25 January - to showcase its alternative payment solution, CLICK2PAY. Registration for ICEi is free.

Bookmaker blunder costs £20,000
Bookmaker William Hill has lost nearly £20,000 after taking bets on who the murderer in popular ITV soap Coronation Street would be, despite the killer already being revealed in the storyline. A spokesperson said that it would pay out the winnings and return losers money, after acknowledging that it opened the book without knowing that ....writers hadn't made it a 'JR Ewing-style cliffhanger.'

AGC operator Talarius receives revised offer
Adult Gaming Centre operator Talarius PLC has received a revised offer of 280 pence per share from European Gaming, a joint venture controlled by Australian companies Tattersall's and Macquarie. Talarius' directors described the new offer as fair and reasonable.

Garber given £19 million incentive scheme
PartyGaming chief executive Mitch Garber is being given shares and cash worth almost £19 million through a revised management incentive scheme. Under terms of the incentive, the gaming company waived performance conditions attached to 20m of the 27m shares granted to Garber on his appointment and will allow him to collect the bonus in 2008, two years earlier than originally allowed according to the Telegraph newspaper.

Video games enhance brain functions
Early research at McMaster University in Toronto has suggested that playing video games enhances brain functions, including memory. Video game players made nearly eight per cent fewer errors and were about 45 milliseconds faster when performing a memory manipulation task involving ten-digit phone numbers in the study.

UK bookmakers gain Italian licenses
UK betting firms William Hill, Ladbrokes and Gala Coral have all been granted new Italian gaming licenses alongside local operator Lottomatica. Gala Coral is thought to have paid £30 million for 403 of the 16,000 available licenses, while rival Ladbrokes declined to comment on how much it had paid for its 142 licenses.

Paddy Power renews greyhound derby deal
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has renewed its sponsorship of the Irish Greyhound Derby for a further three years. A spokesperson for Paddy Power called the race, which it has been sponsoring since 2000, one of the only in the country to have 'true national significance.'

GigaMedia signs Asian MahJong deals
Asian gaming group GigaMedia Limited has licensed its real money MahJong software to the online entertainment company Carmen Media Group. Under the terms of the non-exclusive license, Carmen Media will have the right to offer GigaMedia's MahJong and other Asian game software on a real money basis.

Harry Levy moving on up at ATEI
Harry Levy Amusements will be bringing a new line-up of games to the ATEI exhibition this month, including AWP-style Ticket Rush, redemption product Johnny Appleseed and new cranes Taxi and Shining World. Registration for the show , which is held at London's Earls Court Exhibition Centre from the 23-25 January, is free.

Easy as EBC for ATEI debutants
The EBC 500 industrial embedded CPU board heads-up ATEI debutants Nexcom's offerings at Earls Court in late January. The London show will also see the industrial computer specyclopcasinots showcase their award-winning NICE fan-less embedded system and its ODM/OEM service. Registration is free.

BetonSports unable to pay customers
Lawyers for BetonSports have said that the company could not comply with a US directive ordering it to repay customers because of an Antiguan court order. The gaming company is arguing that its funds are being controlled by the company's Antiguan subsidiary which is subject to the authority of courts in that Caribbean nation.

Atlantic City votes for smoking ban
Atlantic City Council has unanimously decided to support a smoking ban in local casinos, which could take effect as early as April. Anti-smoking groups and casino employees had rallied against a loophole in New Jersey's law which made casinos exempt from the state-wide ban, arguing that casino workers are the only employees in the state now confronted with second hand smoke in the workplace.

[Newsflash]

French casinos face stand-off
Casino owners and employees in France are facing a stand-off after unions called the country's croupiers out on strike over an unresolved dispute regarding pay and new regulations which allow casinos to add electronic versions of poker and roulette games. The unions fear that as many as 3,500 jobs could be lost if owners are allowed to install more electronic machines in proportion to traditional games.

Lancaster to give residents greater say on gambling
The UK's Lancaster Council has pledged that residents living close to businesses involving gambling will have the opportunity to present their views on the new licenses. City councillors have also cited the protection of children and the prevention of crime as the key ingredients of its new policy on gambling in advance of the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005.

Sega Out Run in London
Sega Amusements Europe will be using its increased stand size at London's ATEI, held at Earls Court Exhibition Centre from 23-25 January, to display what it calls the 'largest amusement machine in the industry'. The 8.25m wide, 8 player Out Run 2 Special Attraction features the moulded rear end of four Ferrari's and has four 62" screens, alongside an overhead live leader board monitor. Registration is free.

Australia opts for pokies in shopping centres
The Australian state of New South Wales has passed a law allowing clubs with poker machines to open in shopping centres, but decided against imposing a ban on cash advances against credit cards for ATMs in the malls. Gaming minister Grant McBride said that people would be protected from irresponsible gambling as the law requires that that the mall and clubs have separate entrances.

Intralot expected to announce lottery bid
Greek lottery operator Intralot is expected to announce 'within the week' that it will enter the race for the UK's National Lottery licence. Intralot is thought to have been working on the bid with Ladbrokes, although the betting firm is now understood to have pulled out of the project.

Electrocoin Chase ATEI
Electrocoin will be launching Taito's Chase HQ.2 at January's ATEI, held at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. The updated version of the 1988 classic features a host of new features, according to Electrocoin, including 3D graphics, forced-feedback steering, linkable play and a number of new courses while retaining the old-school feel of the original. Registration for ATEI is free.

OBEs for Kelly and Steen
John Kelly, executive chair of Gala Coral, and Michael Steen, a commissioner at the Gambling Commission, have both received OBEs in the New Year's Honours list. They have both been given the award for services to the gambling industry.

Seminole Tribe face Hard Rock lawsuit
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is being sued by Baltimore-based development company Cordish Co over unfair practices in the deal for the purchase of the Hard Rock Cafe chain from the UK-based Rank Group. The lawsuit alleges that the management of the Hard Rock Cafe colluded with the Seminole Tribe to rig the bidding and keep Cordish and others away from the process. The Seminole Tribe called the allegations unfounded.

Professor wants gambling games to promote school maths lessons
Professor Alastair Gillespie, chairman of the Scottish Mathematical Council, has called on Scottish schools to use simple gambling games as teaching tools in order to make maths lessons more interesting. Dr Alex Crawford of the RCA Trust, Scotland's gambling counselling agency, said that the idea didn't belong in the real world and warned that linking maths to gambling in schools was tantamount to promoting it.

Charity Ball set to take decade total over £500,000
Organisers of January's BACTA Charity Masked Ball have said that the event is on course to make £500,000 for good causes since it begun in 1996. This year's event is being held at the Nine King's Suite in London's Royal Lancaster Hotel.

Tabcorp waiting on Aus$10 billion tote decision
Australian gaming giant Tabcorp will learn from state government within two-weeks whether it can merge its New South Wales and Victorian totes, creating a $10 billion betting pool. The company's managing director Robert Nason said that they have submitted a strong proposal and were now awaiting a decision.

GigaMedia signs world MahJong deal
Taiwan-based GigaMedia Limited has secured the rights to co-host the MahJong World Championship in a five year deal. Under terms of the agreement, GigaMedia will establish and operate a series of regional qualifying tournaments in Asia, Europe and North America, culminating in the grand finale. Financial details were not disclosed.

Tipp24 served with Saxony injunction
Tipp24 AG has been prohibited from operating in Saxony-Anhalt after the German state issued an injunction against the lottery company. According to legal papers, participation in lotteries and advertising for lotteries by Tipp24 has been banned effective immediately.

Industry improvement on age verification
The UK government has said the remote gambling industry had improved its age verification capabilities since a 2005 study. Minister Lord Davies of Oldham said that although the government had not conducted an assessment, it was aware that many operators had sought to improve procedures.

Government look to banks for Tote sale
The UK government has invited investment banks to pitch for the mandate to auction the Tote. The UK's Telegraph newspaper reported that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport had sent letters before the New Year asking to meet the banks, which include Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Lazards, to discuss the sale.

Gambling Commission opens licence application
The British Gambling Commission has opened the application process for operating and personal licences for anyone wishing to provide facilities for gambling from 1 September 2007. The Commission stated that anyone betting, gaming or participating in a lottery, as well as companies wishing to manufacture, supply or install gaming machines, will be required to hold a licence authorising the specific activity to be undertaken.

[Newsflash]

PartyGaming bonus scheme questioned
PartyGaming's decision to award its management $80 million in bonuses has been questioned by investors, after it was revealed that they were not linked to future share prices or performance of the company. Analysts are suggesting that it could be compensation should PartyGaming decide to re-enter the US market.

FBI agents investigate NCAA betting
Speakers at the first day of the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) convention in Orlando, Florida have confirmed that FBI agents had been dispatched to last year's basketball tournament after a number of players received text messages seeking inside information. Deana Garner, the organisation's associate director of agent, gambling and amateurism activities called gambling in college sports a very real issue.

HSBC introduces gambling fee
HSBC bank is introducing increased fees for credit card customers wishing to gamble at online casinos, poker websites and through telephone betting services according to BBC reports. From February it will be charging an increased rate of between 21.9 per cent and 27.8 per cent instead of the standard 15.9 per cent to 22.9 per cent to customers using gambling sites.

Seoul amusement park closed
South Korea's largest amusement park has been closed for four months to undergo full scale repair and reenooooovaaaaation works following a warning on the safety of its facilities. Seoul's Lotte World announced that it had suspended operations after the Dongyang Structural Engineers Group and the Korea Disasters Research Institute found serious problems with four of its attractions.

Casino Review sets new records
Casino Review is confidently laying claim to being the most international b2b title in the gaming and gambling industries. Within 24 hours of the digital version going live, readers from 67 countries had accessed the publication. According to Casino Review's back office data, 92 per cent of readers were from outside the UK. For free sub....ion to Digital Casino Review follow the links at www.casinoreview-onlinecom.

EiG announces 2007 venue
EiG organisers Clarion ATE and River City Group have decided to keep the 2007 show at the CCIB in Barcelona, Spain. Taking place across slightly different dates, 2-4 October, the venue offered 'the space and functionality that EiG has needed for many years' according to a spokesperson for the organisers.

Lottomatica interested in US investment
Italian-based lottery operator Lottomatica SpA said that it was interested in expanding in the US and wanted to diversify its sources of revenue. CEO Marco Sala told Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore news that they were watching US states such as Indiana, New Jersey and Illinois, who were considering privatising their lotteries.

Talarius shareholders approve European Gaming acquisition
Shareholders in adult gaming centre operator Talarius have voted in favour of its recommended acquisition by European Gaming, a joint venture company controlled by Tattersall's and Macquarie. At today's Court Meeting, nearly 88 per cent of shareholders present and voting in person or by proxy voted in favour of the scheme.

StreamTech putting casinos in the picture
StreamTech Gaming are promising to make a 'significant breakthrough' at ICE 2007 as they unveil their signature Live Gaming Platform across the January (23-25) event in London. The Jerusalem based-company plans to promote its embedded and proprietary streaming IPTV technology which will allow casinos to extend their gaming tables to worldwide players live via the web. For free ICE registration, click here.

Italians pack ICE in style
Eleven leading Italian suppliers will be filling the AAMS (Amministrazione Autonoma dei Monopoli di Stato) endorsed Fair Play Italian Pavilion at London's Earls Court across ICE 2007. The pavilion represents the ninth biggest single stand at the casino show, which runs from 23-25 January. Register for free.

British minister calls for video games academy
Britain's minister for Creative Industries and Tourism, Shaun Woodward, has called on the video game sector to sponsor an academy which would support students interested in working for the industry. The Labour MP told the UK Financial Times newspaper that the best way for the video games industry to have the talent and the skills it wants is to move into the 'hot seat' itself.

Tracinda's MGM offer falls flat
Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian's investment vehicle Tracinda Corp.'s offer to buy 15 million shares of MGM Mirage had ended with around 445,000 being tendered. It said that investors were reluctant to sell after share prices for the US casino company had moved above the $55 offer.

Betbrokers announces GB Group deal
AIM-listed Betbrokers has announced a deal with identity management specyclopcasinot GB Group to use its URU web-based electronic identity verification service. Chairman Wayne Lochner called the move 'vital' to setting a gold standard in responsible gaming.

BetonSports fails to make court appearance
BetonSports' US lawyer Jeffrey Demerath failed to appear for the company's arraignment in St Louis, Missouri after the sports betting company told him not to attend. Prosecutor Michael Fagan told the court that he will ask next week that BetonSports be ordered to show why it shouldn't be punished.

Barcrest raises the bar
Barcrest will be unveiling a portfolio of new products designed for the UK and Europe at this year's ATEI exhibition, held across 23-25 January. Highlights are set to include Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Rocky, a new game for bingo clubs and arcades. Registration is free.

[Casinonews]

Bally bring Playmates to ICE
Bally Technologies will mark the unveiling of two new versions of its Playboy slot machine at January's ICE exhibition with a special appearance from four Playboy Playmates. ICE takes place at London's Earls Court Exhibition Centre from the 23-25 January 2007. Registration is free.

Rank shareholders approve Hard Rock sale
Shareholders in the UK-based Rank Group have approved the $965 million sale of its Hard Rock chain to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Terms of the sale were agreed in early December pending the decision.

Games Workshop UK to hold ATEI prize draw
Games Workshop UK will be holding a charity free prize draw to win either a HALO terminal or a Video AWP rebuild at this year's ATEI exhibition. Entry to the draw, which takes place on the last day of the Earls Court show (23-25 January), is free, but donations for children's charity NSPCC will be accepted.

North Bay identity crisis continues
Scarborough Council has attracted criticism after agreeing to pay around £600,000 to local showman Malcolm Stephenson to lease a now derelict theme park in the town's North Bay. Councillors defended the move by claiming they had no choice but to acquire the former Mr Marvels site to facilitate a £250 million entertainment complex development.

Commissioner calls for EU restrictions on violent video games
Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini will ask EU states to harmonise rules restricting the sale of video games to children. Frattini said that current EU-wide controls were insufficient and that he would table a proposal before the summer break on standardising sanctions for retailers.

MP calls for credit card limit
Scottish National Party MP Mike Weir has called for credit card companies to put a limit on the amount online players can spend on internet gambling. He said that the limit should be set at £1,000 per week, and should include just one credit card per person.

Danoptra claims business as usual
Danoptra, parent company of the UK's second largest machine operator, Gamestec, has hit back at a report in the Sunday Times suggesting that it has fallen out of favour with its financial backers. Chief executive Colin Daniels said that the company was in very positive discussions with its banking partners, adding that it was very common to re-visit banking arrangements. For a full report see this week's Coinslot, published today (Thursday).

Dietrich's earring found at Pleasure Beach
An earring lost at Blackpool's Pleasure Beach by movie legend Marlene Dietrich over 70 years ago is thought to have been found by workmen dredging a lake on the site. A spokesperson for the resort said the pearl earring looked like the real article after comparing it to a picture taken at the time of her visit in 1934.

Ladbrokes in joint Spanish venture
Bookmaker Ladbrokes has entered into a joint venture with Cirsa Corporation unit Cirsa Slot to develop a sports betting business in Spain. The new venture company will be submitting applications to Madrid's regional government for dedicated betting shop, non-dedicated betting kiosk and remote betting licenses in the city.

Parlay appoint Cook
Internet bingo solutions provider Parlay Entertainment has appointed Steve Cook as its new European managing director. Cook joins Parlay from Tribeca Tables, and will be present in an official capacity at London's ICEi show.

Booth issues Olympic lottery warning
The Big Lottery Fund chairman Clive Booth warned the UK government that using National Lottery money to cover the increased costs associated with the 2012 Olympics would have a 'devastating effect' on good causes. Speaking to Channel 4, Booth said that such a move would threaten the fund's £630 million annual grant budget, adding that Whitehall didn't really understand how lottery funding worked.

Sega appoints Smith to New Business Division
Sega Amusement Europe has given Alan Smith the head role at its recently formed New Business Division. He will be responsible for overseeing the division's current projects, which include growing the company's card game-based kids business and launching the UFO Catcher crane into Europe.

BALPPA calls for daylight bill support
BALPPA chief executive Colin Dawson has called on members to lobby local MPs to support the second reading of the Energy Saving (Daylight) Bill, which would keep clocks on British Summertime through the winter and push them forward during spring. He is arguing that the extra hours of evening daylight would help the tourism industry as people were more likely to spend when it is still light.

William Hill profits meet expectations
UK Bookmaker William Hill is on course to raise its profits by 19 per cent, to £292 million, after the board announced it would meet 2006 market expectations. The betting firm added that it was well prepared for this autumn's Gambling Act, and that it would be focusing on the Spanish market with new partner Codere.

Cyberview to show next generation FOBT
Cyberview Technology will be demonstrating its next generation Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT), LARA, and its new Secure Interactive Video Lottery Terminal (SIVT) at this year's ICE show. The exhibition takes place across 23-25 January at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London. Registration for ICE is free.

ATEI international
New figures from ATEI exhibition organisers Clarion have revealed that the 2007 show will boast its most international line-up of coin-op amusements and gaming suppliers to date. Of the 255 exhibiting companies, over half (136) are based outside the UK, with Italy currently leading the field of guest nation exhibitors (27). Registration for ATEI, which is being held at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre across 23-25 January, is free.

BACTA to work with regulator in licensing issues
UK trade association BACTA will publish a series of articles in conjunction with the Gambling Commission to assist its members when processing applications for their new licences. The guides will cover how to complete the application form, identity specific information that must be included and explain which licences must be applied for.

Poker group breaks longest game record
A group of 24 UK poker players have completed their attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest uninterrupted poker game. The game began at the Basement Jacks club in London and continued for 43 hours and 30 minutes, breaking the previous record by 90 minutes.

[Casinonews]

Victor Chandler chief executive detained in Israel
Victor Chandler's chief executive Michael Carlton was arrested in Israel last week, sparking concerns over a crackdown on internet gaming in the country. According to the UK's Independent newspaper, Carlton was detained for over two hours by authorities before being allowed to return to London via the company's headquarters in Gibraltar.

Jordan in bingo negotiations
Katie Price, aka glamour model Jordan, is reported to be in negotiations with online operator Foxy Bingo to promote its gaming site. If the deal is finalised, Price will join a growing list of celebrities endorsing bingo, including Sharon Osbourne, Denise Van Outen and recent Mecca Bingo signing, former Big Brother winner Brian Dowling.

Aristocrat expecting landmark ICE
Aristocrat Technologies Europe is expecting a landmark ICE 2007 next week, taking a bigger stand and a new position at the Earls Court show with ACE Interactive and PokerPro. Among 75 games, including 20 new titles, Aristocrat will be displaying its patented Hyperlink range of machines alongside the debut of licensed ZorroLink touch-screen games, featuring titles such as Zorro Unmasked, Zorro Returns and Zorro 2. Registration is Free.

Thrive on £35
Visitors to next week's ATEI show (23-25 January) will have the chance to win a new 50p/£35 jackpot machine courtesy of the exhibition's organisers. The prize draw promotion, which is part of Clarion ATE's 'Thrive on £35' campaign to highlight the benefits of the new stakes and prizes, requires visitors to collect passport stamps from the stands of seven participating exhibitors. Registration for show is free.

Government defends Olympic lottery funding
The UK government has defended plans to use National Lottery funds to cover extra costs associated with the 2012 Olympic Games by arguing that the benefits of hosting the Games would be exactly what the Lottery was set up to deliver. A Treasury spokesperson also rebuked calls to fund the deficit by using the 12 per cent tax on lottery tickets saying that the Lottery should, like any other gambling activity, make a contribution to revenues for the funding of essential public services.

Gambling at work costs £300 million
Online gambling at work is costing employees more than £300 million a year in lost productivity according to business and technology consultancy Morse. The new research paper claims that nearly a third of staff admitted to gambling during working hours, with the National Lottery being the most popular website.

Police report raises casino concerns
A report written by Detective Inspector Darren Warner, Britain's top police officer responsible for gambling, has raised concerns over the government's plans for a UK super casino. The internal report, obtained by Channel 4, gives super-casinos a 'cautious welcome' but warned that the developments could increase anti-social behaviour and divert police resources.

Ladbrokes preparing 888 buyout
UK betting firm Ladbrokes is preparing a £440 million takeover bid for 888 Holdings according to a report in The Mail on Sunday. Lawyers for the bookmaker were said to be working on a strategy that would strip 888's assets - including customers, website and intellectual property - but would stop short of buying the company as a whole, relieving it of criminal liability in the US.

US senator wants sobriety test for casino credit
Customers wanting credit at Indiana's casinos would have to take a breath test under a new bill submitted by state senator Brent Waltz. He said that the bill did not impede anyone's ability to gamble with their own money and would make sure that customers borrowing over $1000 would have no legal recompense when asked to pay the money owed.

Mobile gambling market worth $16 billion by 2011
The global mobile gambling market is set to grow from $1.35 billion in 2006 to $16.6 billion by 2011 in terms of gross value of bets placed, according to new forecasts by Juniper Research. The analytical services company also suggested that the dominant European market, which currently accounts for $660 million of total bets placed, would be overtaken by Asia before 2008.

Team Alderney head for ICEi
Alderney will be well represented at the upcoming ICEi exhibition, held across 23-25 January at Earls Court in London. In addition to the government's own stand, local telecoms suppliers Cable and Wireless, Itex and Newtel Solutions will all have a presence alongside local law and accounting/trust firms Carey Olsen, Ozannes and Kensington Corporation, who between them represent most of Alderney's licensees. Registration for ICEi is Free.

Las Vegas Sands wins Chinese support
Casino operator Las Vegas Sands has won support from the Chinese government for a resort development on Hengqin Island's, near the gambling enclave of Macau. The Zhuhai Municipal People's Government has established a project co-ordination committee which will act as the government liaison and work directly with the developer to advance the project.

120 brand new reasons to visit ICE 2007
ICE organisers Clarion ATE have revealed that no fewer than 120 companies taking stand space at the London show will be exhibiting there for the first time. Debutants at the Earls Court exhibition include 21 companies that previously exhibited in the soft gaming sister show ATEI and 35 suppliers that will be setting out their stalls within ICEi - the dedicated remote gaming zone. Registration for ICE, ATEI and ICEi is free.

Gala and Rank call for tax breaks
Bingo operators Gala and Rank Group have called on the government to make 'necessary changes' to offset the impending impact July's smoking ban will have on the UK bingo industry. The companies are arguing that without any help, such as scrapping VAT on bingo takings, up to a quarter of the UK's 800 bingo halls could be forced to close after the ban is implemented.

Not guilty plea entered for BetonSports
Online gaming company BetonSports has had a not guilty plea entered by US magistrate Judge Mary Ann Medler nearly a week after the company's lawyer was instructed to miss a hearing on illegal gambling charges. The company will now be subjected to a February deadline for filing any pre-trial motions.

Digital Centre's In The Pink
Barcelona-based Digital Centre SL will be displaying its Fashion ID photo cabinet in London next week as part of the ATEI 2007 exhibition. The cabinet - which comes in three colours and boasts three distinct settings: Fashion, Fun and ID - is a full metal design with compact footprint according to the Spanish company. Registration is Free. Registration is Free.

Massive Pub Company introduces blanket ban
Pub operator Massive Pub Company is introducing a blanket smoking ban across its 50 sites, months ahead of July's national ban. Massive said that the decision was based on a positive response from customers at its recently refurbished pubs, which had instigated a non-smoking policy.

[Casinonews]

Club owner guilty of charging gambling levy
The manager of London's Gutshot club has been found guilty of organising poker games at the 23,000-member private card club in Clerkenwell and charging a levy without the required gaming licence. Derek Kelly had argued that he didn't need a gambling licence to take a share of profits from the games because the UK's Gaming Act only covers games of chance like roulette, not skill-based games like poker or chess.

Casino conman sentenced after hi-tech scam
A gambling cheat who used hidden cameras to con casinos out of thousands of pounds has been sentenced to nine months in prison. Detectives from Scotland Yard said Yau Yiv Lam, along with accomplices Fan Leung Tsang and Bit Chai Wong, were thought to have won more than £250,000 across at least six London casinos before being arrested by London police after they were found using high-tech surveillance equipment to rig games.

Cantor ready to strip off its WiFi
Cantor Gaming will be on hand at ICEi to discuss its worldwide online and mobile delivery channels as well as its portfolio of land based WiFi Casino solutions. Its Cantor Kerb unit, utilised by the Sands and Venetian Casinos on the Las Vegas strip, will also be on full display.

Gametronix to unveil big pair
PokerMate and PokerStation, the new electronic poker tables from Canadian gaming company Gametronix, will be making their UK debut at ICE 2007. The Montreal-based company said that it would use the London Show to take its first steps into the electronic poker market.

BMA wants £10 million funding from gambling industry
The British Medical Association is calling on the gaming industry to pay at least £10 million per annum to fund gambling addiction research, prevention and intervention programmes. In its new paper entitled 'Gambling addiction and its treatment within the NHS', the BMA also argued that problem gambling should be a recognised addiction that requires treatment on the NHS.

Australian staff face flea problem
Staff at the Skycity Casino in Auckland have been forced to adopt canine and feline flea collars around their ankles. The bizarre move is in response to an infestation of fleas attracted by the warmth of the sumptuous carpets and the heat generated by gaming machines. A spokesperson said the casino had an active pest management problem.

Tolotti attends ATEI
Italian parliament member and vice chairman of the sixth commission of the chamber of deputies, Francesco Tolotti, will be attending ATEI and ICE next week. Tolotti will be on hand to offer his support to the strong contingent of Italian exhibitors and attendees at the event.

St Minver appoints new CEO
Online games operator St Minver has appointed Jim Ryan as its chief executive officer. Ryan, who joins the company from AIM-listed online software developer Excapsa Software, will be replacing Gary Shaw who was promoted to executive chairman.

Scientific signs 11-year deal with Camarero
Scientific Games has signed an 11-year deal with Puerto Rico's Camarero Group to provide tote, data communications and simulcast satellite uplink equipment and services. Ervin Rodriguez, president of the San Juan-based company, said that they were committed to restoring the country's racing to its former levels, adding that the deal was expected to bring revenues of around $2 million per year.

London show profile
ATEI, ICE and ICEi - collectively know as the London shows - opens at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London next week (23-35 January). With a combined exhibitor base totalling in excess of 500 companies, Gaming Industry News is today profiling a selection of what will be on offer at the show. To get free registration to any of the events, or gain more information about exhibitors, please follow the links provided above.

Custom tickets at ICE
Custom will be unveiling its new KPM100 Ticket Printer alongside a wide range of dedicated printers and ticketing solutions at ICE 2007. It will also display the new X Kube Scanner, which combines a high performance voucher scanner with high speed thermal printing and ticket stacking facility.

New marketing director at Aristocrat Europe
Aristocrat Technologies Europe has announced the appointment of Marc Campman to the post of marketing director, with responsibility across Europe, CIS, Middle East and North Africa along with the global marketing of ACE Interactive. Campman brings over 25 years of marketing experience to the company, and will be on the Aristocrat Europe stand at ICE.

GLI bringing worldwide expertise to ICE
Gaming Laboratories International will be highlighting its global expertise to attendees at the International Casino Exhibition. The machine testing company will have staff from each of its nine offices from across four continents available to meet with clients and discuss its services.

Sweet Dream
Ace Coin Entertainments will be using its new central stand location at ATEI 2007 to showcase its portfolio of international games machines. For this year's show Ace has added four new £35 jackpot games to its British Dream Play compendiums, taking the total games offering to UK operators to ten.

Chariot warns of Monday lottery closure
Troubled lottery firm Chariot has warned that it could be forced to close its Monday lottery if it does not sell its assets shortly. The operator said that it has been evaluating bid proposals, and added that any deal, whilst being cash positive and aimed at securing the future of the Monday lottery, would not realise a significant amount of cash for the company.

Making a Display of themselves
Display Technology are promising to 'bring a vast array of new products and services not seen before from any other UK supplier' to ICE 2007. The UK-based display, interface and touch-screen specyclopcasinot will offer attendees immediate access to its displays, which range from 3.5 inches up to the company's massive 82 inch TFT.

Games Media kick-off important year at ATEI
ATEI 2007 marks the beginning of what Games Media are calling a very important year for the company, in which it plans to develop and deliver a fully integrated digital gaming and entertainment solution to market. The Scientific Games subsidiary will also be using the event to display its latest AWP and Club titles which include Money Spider, Billy the Quid and Saturday Night Beaver.

NETeller founders face money laundering charges
US attorneys in New York have charged NETeller founders Stephen Lawrence and John Lefebvre with money laundering offences. As a result of the arrest, the money provider has suspended trading amid plunging share prices, and issued a statement saying that neither Lawrence nor Lefebvre held any current position within the company.

Ainsworth gets slim for 2007
Ainsworth Game Technology will use the ICE expo as the platform to launch its new Slimline cabinet. According to Ainsworth, the new EGM boasts all the Ambassador features, including a 26 inch LCD screen and 3D graphics, condensed into a super-slim cabinet.

EZ does it for Nova
Nova Resolution will be showcasing the newest expansion of its EZcount Data Unit & Collection System at ATEI 2007 exhibition. The system, a Bulk Vending Patented designed meter/counter, has wireless electronic Data Transferring capabilities intended for Data Acquisition using PDAs.

Novomatic on the offensive with Coolfire II
Novomatic Group of Companies is bringing an 'innovation offensive' to the ICE 2007 show with its new Coolfire II platform, along with a number of new multi-player products. It will also be promoting the new releases available for the Coolfire II platform, which include Hannibal of Carthagoa and Cities of Gold.

DGN to discuss future plans at ICEi
Digital Gaming Network (DGN), fresh off its acquisition of Gibraltar-based Poker software company Dobrosoft, will be appearing at ICEi to discuss its new software upgrades and 2007 expansion plans. Attendees will be able to get a glimpse of the company's future plans, which include improvements to ring games, additional tournament options and hand history components for player tracking.

Elvis hits ICEi with WagerWorks/IGT
IGaming software supplier WagerWorks/IGT will launch seven new online games at ICEi 2007. The offering includes signature brands such as Elvis Multi-Strike, Monopoly and Wheel of Fortune.

EU ministers call for clampdown on violent video games
EU justice ministers have this week called for a clampdown on violent video games among member states. Franco Frattini, the European justice commissioner, warned that there had been a connection between "growing violence among the younger generation and the growing diffusion of violent games", and called on the Commission to harmonise rules concerning games across the 27 countries in the Union.

[Casinonews]

NETeller founder pledges to clear name
Stephen Lawrence, one of the two NETeller founders facing money laundering charges in the US, has pledged to clear his name after posting bail of $5 million. In a further announcement, the money transfer firm said that it had has closed its US internet gambling services, effectively wiping around 65 per cent of its overall business.

Cryptologic signs Chinese agreement
Gambling software provider CryptoLogic has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Beijing-based software group Brilliance Technology to develop games aimed at players in China, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong. CryptoLogic said it would initially have a minority interest in the venture, which also includes fellow Canadian software company 568 Network, with an option to raise its stake to a controlling position.

Camelot chief confident of lottery success
Lottery chief Dianne Thompson said that she feels confident of Camelot's bid to secure the new UK National Lottery licence and that their proposal could not have been better. Speaking to the UK's Times newspaper, she also refuted claims that the lottery process was a foregone conclusion, saying that it was a 'fair fight', and added that Camelot had big plans for the future of the lottery should they win.

US man loses self-imposed lifetime casino ban appeal
A man from New Jersey has had his appeal to lift a lifetime casino ban rejected after arguing that he was not a compulsive gambler and had signed up to the Casino Control Commission's self-exclusion list out of frustration. His lawyer argued that he had acted impulsively after losing a large amount of money and had regretted the decision almost immediately.

Vegas bring dark horse
Vegas Ltd lead its ATEI offering with the award winning Black Horse games machine, alongside a stable of new products which include Vegas Multigame, Hot Slot and Happy Numbers. The equestrian themed Black Horse features a double 19 inch LCD screen, a ticket printer and reader, and NV10 bank note acceptor.

Infiniti and beyond
At today's ATEI, Games Warehouse reported that it had "an incredibly positive opening phase of testing" for its new dual 19 inch touchscreen, Windows-driven Infiniti platform. The manufacturer said that at one location the machine that delivered more than £1,000 in a single trading week, and throughout the testing it had identified several potenial technical and software improvements.

DT and Sound make a big French noise
DT Productions and Sound Leisure have unveiled the first French dedicated digital jukebox service at ATEI following months of negotiations with France's major record labels as well as a copyright deal with collections agency La Societe Civile des Producteurs Phonographiques. The Gallic jukebox offers a Premium service, containing up to 5,000 songs that can be fully profiled to individual site specifications.

British government preparing equivalent of 10 super-casinos
The British government is planning to build the equivalent of 10 super casinos in England and Wales over the next few years according to an article in the UK Observer newspaper. Citing documents obtained from the Gambling Commission, the newspaper reported that the amount of new gaming floor space approved since April 2005 totalled nearly 600,000 square feet, roughly equal to an extra 10 Las Vegas super-casinos.

Chariot sells Monday lottery
NetPlayTV has agreed a deal with lottery company Chariot to rescue the online game 'Monday'. NetPlayTV will buy the rights to the game along with its player database for £140,500, while Chariot will continue to operate the game for four weeks while an interactive television game show is prepared based around the brand.

Ladbrokes buys Scandinavian partner
Bookmakers Ladbrokes has bought its Scandinavian online gaming partner Sponsio in a deal worth up to £40 million. Under terms of the arrangement, the UK betting firm said it would pay £36 million for Sponsio, which operates across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, plus an extra £4 million if the gaming firm hits growth targets.

IGT reports solid first quarter
Slot machine manufacturer International Game Technology has reported a rise in net income to $121 million for the company's fiscal first quarter ending 31 Dec, compared with $120.6 million a year ago. Revenue for the quarter rose 4 per cent to over $642 million, from $616.2 million in 2006.

US demands customer information from banks
The US Department of Justice has ordered 16 banks, including HSBC, Dresdner Kleinwort and Deutsche Bank, to hand over all e-mails, telephone records and documents connected with Internet gaming firms according to a number of newspaper reports. Subpoenas were thought to have been issued nearly three weeks ago calling for the information as part the DoJ's ongoing investigation into online gaming.

London Show profile
ATEI, ICE and ICEi - collectively know as the London Shows - opens at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London today (23-35 January). With a combined exhibitor base totalling in excess of 500 companies, Gaming Industry News is profiling a selection of what's on offer at the event. To get free registration, or gain more information about exhibitors, please follow the links provided above.

Isle of Man launches egaming white paper
The Isle of Man government today launched a new white paper entitled 'E-Gaming in the Isle of Man' at ICEi. The report is billed as a comprehensive 'how to' guide for the global egaming industry on how to get set up in the offshore jurisdiction.

Harry Levy goes wild
Jungle Bob was the headlining amusement machine at Harry Levy's stand on the opening day of ATEI. The four-player animal themed game, complete with revolving deck and animal features, was joined by Lucky Spin, Lady Luck and Levy's latest single player pusher Magic 10 at the show.

Quicksilver appoints new operations director
Adult Gaming Centre operator Quicksilver has added Andrew Howe to its senior management team in the post of operations director. Howe, a qualified lawyer and industry veteran, will report directly to parent company Talarius' CEO Nick Harding.

Inside Gaming display Infinite Solutions
Inside Gaming are showcasing the global mobile solutions integrator Infinite Solutions Ltd (ISL) at ICEi. Their other major offering will be SafeGuard, a SMS security solution which removes private information on the users phone and can be utilised across all available brands.

Netcetera selected for Big Bingo Network
Web hosting service provider Netcetera announced today at ICEi that it has been selected by EuroNet Limited to host the company's new UK-based online Big Bingo Network. The UK-based online bingo site is due to be launched in February.

Denistron bringing complete range of gaming application products
Densitron Gaming opened the week by showing everything from its totally integrated DPX-112 unit to the dual core gaming board DPX-117 at ICE. The company said that it would be also be demonstrating a complete range of computer products designed specifically for gaming applications across the three day show.

Cantona appearing with Partouche
French casino company Partouche announced that football legend Eric Cantona will be appearing at London's ICE exhibition tomorrow (Wednesday). The former Manchester United striker will be meeting guests and answering questions alongside CEO Patrick Partouche and general manager Frederic Vinzia between 2pm and 3pm.

Mazooma returns with the Pink Panther
Mazooma is showing its latest range of gaming machines on the Bell Fruit Group stand at ATEI, headed by new video AWPs Pink Panther, Monopoly and Poker. Leading the company's reel-based offering is Xtravaganza, a new three-player game with a triple screen top box employing Mazooma's triple X combination formula.

ATEI shows Cutting Edge
Californian-based vending company Cutting Edge Industries made its ATEI debut showing a range of its gaming products which included capsule toys, mini-cranes and pinball machines. The North American bulk vending specyclopcasinot praised the show, saying they were looking to bring their 12-years of experience in the industry oversees and expanding their services internationally.

Aristocrat CEO opens new European HQ
Aristocrat Leisure's chief executive officer, Paul Oneile, has officially opened the company's new European head office facilities in Uxbridge, west London. The event was held in conjunction with London's International Casino Exhibition (ICE), at which Aristocrat Europe, alongside associated brands ACE Interactive and PokerPro, are showing 75 games including 20 which are new to the European market.

Pulling out ACEs
Cardiff-based ACE Coin Entertainments is displaying four new £35 jackpot games for its British Dream Play collection at its new central location in Earls Court. The offering also includes two new lo-tech AWPs Magic Jackpots and Super Magic Jackpots alongside Section 16 games Diamond Streak and Inferno.

Rank submitting plans for smoking shelter
The Rank Gaming Group has submitted a planning application for a bus shelter-style smoking area at its Mecca bingo hall in York. The gaming group's director of investor relations Dan Waugh said that Rank was concerned about the effect the upcoming ban will have on business and wanted to introduce measures, such as the shelter, which would ensure customer comfort when the English ban takes effect.

[Newsflash]

Seven new wonders for WagerWorks
IGaming software supplier WagerWorks launched seven new online games at yesterday's ICE. The offerings, described by WagerWorks director of game studio Bill Warleigh as 'the first in an exciting development program for 2007', included Elvis Mulit-Strike, Monopoly Here and Now and the Egyptian-themed Cleopatra.

IGT bring the magic kingdoms
IGT's new seven level MLP Three Kingdom Wars was on full display at its ICE stand. Developed in partnership with Sega Corporate, the machine incorporates four game themes: Golden Dragon, MJ2, Tai Pan and Ami-Gyo.

Valiant launches new company
Valiant Leisure's development team announced the launch of its new company on the first day of ATEI 2007. The new Valiant Leisure Ltd was described by management as an organisation 'dedicated to designing, creating and manufacturing and selling innovation machines for the global amusement marketplace'.

Superhero Pooh gets first outing
Family-based ITM Leisure spent the first day at ATEI displaying its bespoke Disney line of plush to the Industry. Superhero versions of its Winnie the Pooh characters took the forefront at the stand, alongside other classic licenses including Star Wars, Bagpus and Garfield.

DT and Sound make a big French noise
DT Productions and Sound Leisure have unveiled the first dedicated digital jukebox service for France at ATEI following months of negotiations with France's major record labels as well as a copyright deal with French collections agency La Societe Civile des Producteurs Phonographiques. The Gallic jukebox offers a Premium service, containing up to 5,000 songs that can be fully profiled to individual site specifications.

Chase HQ in the fast lane
A major attraction on the Electrocoin stand at ATEI has been the worldwide debut of Taito's Chase HQ 2, the long awaited follow up to the classic eighties game. Available in both sit down and upright format, the game features advanced graphics and forced feedback steering and are both linkable for team-up play.

Dollars down
A Few Dollars More is the latest AWP to be unveiled at ATEI by Empire Games. Available as a multi stake or dedicated single stake reel machine, the game boasts mega streak and cash shots features.

Mario gets pole position
Namco Europe and Brent Sales unveiled one of the most eagerly anticipated arcade games of recent years at ATEI; Mario Kart Arcade GP 2. The new game includes 24 courses across six different worlds, and features new characters from Bandai, in-race commentary and an optional re-writable card playing system.

Konami kick off ATEI 2007
Konami kicked off the ATEI exhibition with its Pro Evolution Soccer Arcade Championship 2007. The game has been created using the licenses of a number of international teams from leading European Leagues and is the first machine to be launched in Europe incorporating the Konami e-Amusement online system which allows players to save data.

ATEI Pile Up
The Deith Group gave Smart Industries' skill with gift game Pile Up its European debut at ATEI. A spokesperson for the firm said that the product's initial testing had proved very successful, with operator Caledonian Vending having already put out over 30 of the machines.

Infiniti and beyond
On the first day of ATEI, Games Warehouse reported that it had "an incredibly positive opening phase of testing" for its new dual 19 inch touch-screen, Windows-driven Infiniti platform. The manufacturer said that at one location the machine that delivered more than £1,000 in a single trading week, and throughout the testing it had identified several potential technical and software improvements.

Video pin goes Global
Global VR used the first day of ATEI to officially launch its new UltraPin video pinball table. The retro-style cabinet, which won the Innovator Award at the AMOA 2006 exhibition in Las Vegas, includes six well known licensed titles and boasts traditional pinball tilt and nudge features.

SB hovering at ATEI
Porthcrawl-based SB Machines Leisure launched a number of new kiddie rides at the ATEI exhibition, foremost of which is the new Hovercraft machine. The fully interactive Hovercraft utilises a new air compressor based movement system for added realism and is suitable for all indoor and outdoor locations according to the company.

All in one
Display Technology was showing its AR-0891 all-in-one display solution in London today. The machine, which Display believes is the next generation of platforms, supports an Intel Pentium M/Celeron M CPU socket and boasts an integrated ATI Radeon 9000 graphic controller.

London show profile
ATEI, ICE and ICEi - collectively know as the London Shows - opened at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London this week (23-35 January). With a combined exhibitor base totalling in excess of 500 companies, Gaming Industry News continues its exhibition profile by showing a selection of what was on offer on the first day of the event. To get free registration, or gain more information about exhibitors, please follow the links provided above.

Harry Levy goes wild
Jungle Bob was the headlining amusement machine at Harry Levy's stand in London. The four-player animal themed game, complete with revolving deck and animal features, was joined by Lucky Spin, Lady Luck and Levy's latest single player pusher Magic 10 at ATEI.

Felix unveils MINI and MIDI functions
ATEI saw the Cheshire-based Felix Group unveil the new MIDI and MINI additions to its Max Box kiosk line, which itself was launched at the show last year. Functions of the new kiosks include downloadable mobile content, digital jukebox facilities, built in WiFi and a new interactive Suduko game.

X marks the spot
Heading up Mazooma's range of reel-based games at ATEI is Xtravaganza, a new three player AWP with triple screen top. The base game employs Mazooma's 'trusted formula', where the special triple X combination gives access to a new top box feature.

[Newsflash]

Paddy Power suspends super-casino betting
Bookmaker Paddy Power had to temporarily suspend betting on the location of the UK's new super-casino after customers attempted to place a number of what were described as suspicious bets on Blackpool winning the bid. A spokesman for the betting firm said that despite the Dome being hot favourite at the close of play Friday, a number of customers had tried to submit £5,000 bets on Blackpool over the weekend.

FBI chief blasts online gambling
The FBI's assistant director Mark Mershon called online gambling a "colossal criminal enterprise masquerading as legitimate business" in a statement discussing the arrest of NETeller's two founding members. He added that there was ample indication that the defendants, John Lefebvre and Stephen Lawrence, knew the US market for their services was illegal saying that the FBI was "adamant about shutting off the flow of illegal cash."

Manchester wins super-casino recommendation
The City of Manchester has won the race for the new super-casino licence, beating regional rival Blackpool and the government's preferred location Greenwich. The Casino Advisory Panel recommended Manchester's bid, saying that it was particularly impressed by the greater promise of their submission, subject to parliamentary approval.

US admits compliance to WTO ruling
The US Trade Representative's office has admitted that it had taken steps to comply with the World Trade Organisation ruling over the four-year legal battle with Antigua and Barbuda over its restrictions on Internet gambling. Spokesperson Gretchen Hamel said that the country had taken the necessary steps requested by the WTO, but said the issue involved a narrow issue of federal law.

eCOGRA publishes new gambling survey
eCOGRA's global online gambling survey, undertaken by the Betting and International Gaming Research Units at Nottingham Trent University, has revealed that modern players gambled to relax and for the 'entertainment and excitement' as opposed to making money or 'to win'. The survey said that players now largely viewed gambling as another form of leisure activity, rather than a form of hardcore gambling.

UK accounts for 15 per cent of world online bingo market
A new survey has revealed that only one per cent of the UK's land-based bingo players actually play online and that the UK market makes up nearly 15 per cent of $150 million worldwide online market. The report by Parlay Entertainment concluded though that the figures would change 'drastically' by the end of 2007 as the industry feels the full effects of the US online gambling ban.

Tabcorp in talks to join Branson's Macau bid
Australia's Tabcorp Holdings is in talks to join Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group in building and running a $3 billion casino resort in Macau. According to the Australian Financial Review, a spokesperson for Virgin had said that nothing had been decided although further reports are suggesting the talks are in an advanced stage.

MPs call for tax on TV quizzes
British MPs on the Culture Committee have concluded that TV quiz shows such as ITV Play should be classified as lotteries, forcing broadcasters to pay 20 per cent of profits to charity. The results were the findings of the committee's recent investigation into the format, which has been accused of lacking in fairness and transparency.

London Show preliminary figures
Combined figures for the first two days of the London Shows (ATEI/ICE/ICEi) have seen a marginal decrease of visitors totalling 252, or 1.1 per cent year-on-year. International visitors have increased by eight per cent and for the first time ever the number of international buyers has exceeded those from the UK. The ICE show passed the 10,000 landmark for the first time with two day figures up 16 per cent year-on-year. ATEI saw 531 fewer industry professionals from outside the UK over the first two days and 1,192 fewer from the domestic industry.

REL appoints board directors
Racing Enterprises Limited (REL), a new joint venture between the Racecourse Association and the Horsemen's Group, has named its six directors. David Thorpe, Rod Street and Sarah Hordern, all from the Racecourse Association, join the Horsemen's Group's Paul Dixon, Robert Waley-Cohen and Stephen Crown on the board, with an independent director to be named in 'due course' according to the limited company.

Racing industry submits £400 million bid for Tote
The UK racing industry has submitted a £400 million bid to buy the Tote bookmakers and could take control as early as March according to The Telegraph newspaper. The group, consisting of racecourse operators, racehorse owners and Tote management, with debt financing from Lloyds TSB, are said to be confident of winning the state-owned bookmaker 'within days' according to the report.

Macau surpasses Las Vegas
Macau's gaming revenue rose by 22 per cent in 2006, taking $6.95 billion, surpassing the Las Vegas strip as the world's biggest casino market. Macau attracted 22 million visitors for the year, an increase of 17 per cent from 2005, and boasted a fourth quarter revenue increase of 43 per cent from the year before.

Caborn proposes pub gambling licence
Private clubs and pubs in the UK could be allowed to host low stake poker games without gambling licenses under new plans outlined by sports minister Richard Caborn. He suggested that the new regulations are aimed to stop excessive gambling, while opposition MPs claimed the new rules could not possibly be policed effectively.

EU commissioner proposes video game self regulation
The European Union's justice commissioner Franco Frattini has said that each member state would be responsible for deciding which games are deemed violent if his new video game regulations are passed. Frattini went on to say that the protection of children could not have borders, and that he remained convinced of a link between violent videos and violence in society.

Guyana passes casino legislation
Guyana has voted to legalise casino gaming after passing the Gambling Prevention (Amendment) Bill 2006 without any amendments. The South American government, which began debating the bill ten days ago, said that a Gaming Authority would also be established to prevent widespread gambling in the country.

Ministers brace for new sleaze allegations ahead of CAP decision
Government ministers are bracing themselves for more allegations of sleaze and corruption according to sources cited in the UK Sunday Telegraph newspaper, indicating that AEG's Greenwich bid would be successful in gaining the first UK super-casino licence. The Casino Advisory Panel is due to make the announcement at GMT 11a.m. Tuesday.

DCMS 'restating' licensing outlines
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has told councils in England and Wales that they should not automatically allow pubs to extend opening hours, causing opposition parties to accuse Tessa Jowell of a U-turn on its policy. A DCMS spokesperson said that the ministry was in fact just restating the fact and that its statement was in line with comments Jowell made during the lead up to the new licensing laws introduced in November 2005.

Hill launches online games
UK bookmaker William Hill has launched a number of browser-based skill games in partnership with supplier London-based GameAccount. The Backgammon, Gin Rummy and Blackjack games are available in seven languages and 11 currencies on its site and are supported by GameAccount's next-generation 'poker-style' tournament technology.