Full Tilt woes continue
The Alderney Gambling Control Commission’s decision to suspend Full Tilt Poker’s operating license has since led to French regulator ARJEL suspending FTP’s .fr site; while rumors (since denied) claimed that CEO Ray Bitar had been ousted as a precursor to sealing the rumored buyout by unnamed European investors.
A rough week for Betfair
The week started on a rocky note when the Sunday Times openly questioned Betfair’s capacity for growth; Betfair subsequently expressed displeasure at ‘protectionist’ German gaming proposals that would limit Betfair’s growth, while praising the European Commission for slamming a Greek draft law that would similarly limit Betfair’s expansion; none of which prevented analysts from downgrading Betfair’s outlook, prompting its shares to close out the week at a new record low.
American Gaming Association saving support for mystery federal bill
AGA chief Frank Fahrenkopf announced that his organization won’t be backing Rep. Joe Barton’s federal poker plan, saving its support for another bill that will supposedly reveal itself this autumn (possibly introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller).
World Series of Poker latest updates
The prelims are now all in the bag, but attendance over the first two days of the Main Event was off 28% from 2010.
UK horse racing wants betting right
Having run out of horses to whip, UK pony people Racing For Change turn their crops on bookmakers, whom they claim should be forced to ante up a betting right in order to offer racing wagers.
Probability’s mobile revenues move upward
Mobile gambling specialists Probability PLC released Q1 numbers showing a 45.6% boost in net gaming revenue. With Apple’s iPad now accounting for 1% of all web traffic, will Steve Jobs eventually come looking for a ‘betting right’ on Apple mobile devices?
Rank Group’s in-out-shake-it-all-about revolving door executive branch
Guoco Group’s proposed takeover of Rank Group led to Rank’s CEO and CFO storming out in protest, but CEO Ian Burke had an apparent change of heart over the weekend, returning to work Monday “excited about the future for Rank.” We have no idea as to Burke’s marital status, but we like to imagine a weekend donnybrook involving an irate wife and a rolling pin. “You WHAT?”
The US of DOJ: America determined to police domains at home and abroad
The US announced that it’s willing to extradite anyone it deems to be breaking its laws via a Verisign-registered .com or .net web address, regardless of where the site is located, or whether the site deals with US citizens. Oh, say can you sue…
Finland to strengthen online gambling monopoly
Finnish monopoly operator RAY is understandably chuffed by government plans to do even more to prevent Finns from gambling on other sites. Hip, hip, boo-RAY.
European Commission rubbishes Greek gaming proposals
With the Greek economy doing its best Weimar-era Germany impression, it’s pretty easy for outsiders to find fault with anything Greek bean counters propose. Enter the European Commission, using words like ‘incompatible’ and ‘really fucking dumb’ (may not be actual quotes) to describe Greek’s proposed gaming laws.
South Africa inching towards online gambling
The long-delayed findings of South Africa’s Gambling Review Commission recommend revising the country’s gambling laws to enable online action.
BetUS shuts affiliate program, then shuts mouth
Following months of missed payments and unilateral changes to affiliate deals at affiliate’s expense, BetUS affiliates’ worst suspicions were confirmed when the company abruptly shut down its affiliate program.
Phone hacking scandal consumes News Of The World
Before public outrage over the phone hacking scandal prompted the UK tabloid to commit ritual suicide, companies like William Hill pondered severing advertising relationships with the company. We wondered, why stop there?
Calvin Ayre does Ibiza
As part of a whirlwind world tour he’s taking to celebrate his 50th year on the planet, Calvin Ayre lays waste to the Spanish coast.
CalvinAyre.com tells the online gaming industry where to go
Whether it’s gaming industry conferences or gaming industry events and parties, you won’t miss a thing with CalvinAyre.com on your side.
VIDEO PICKS
What are girls thinking? That guys should wash under the hood, and that you really are as young as the girl you feel.
