eGaming Morning Snapshot - 20 June 20/06/2007

Sarah Treanor

NEWS: Online gaming jurisdiction Antigua and Barbuda is to seek the imposition of trade sanctions against the US for its failure to comply with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling in its favour in relation to the provision of cross-border gambling and betting services. Antigua will file its claim today and will be seeking compensation equivalent to around US$3.4bn a year, primarily through the suspension of global copyright and intellectual property rights (TRIPS) agreements. Errol Cort, minister for finance and economy of Antigua, said: “We feel we have no choice in the matter. Until such time as the United States is willing to work with us on achieving a reasonable solution to this trade dispute, we will continue to use every legitimate remedy available to protect the interests of our citizens.” Press reports have suggested that the European Union will also be seeking compensation from the US for failing to comply with its international trade rules when it passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act last October. An EU source said it would seek commitments in other trade sectors to replace losses incurred by operators who had to exit the US market after the Act.

The Casino Affiliate Convention will be taking place in Montreal’s Intercontinental Hotel from 27-28 August this year. The Convention has been running for five years and the previous 2007 CAC event was attended by over 500 affiliates. To serve the Asian affiliate market, a Casino Affiliate Convention will be held in Macau on November 28-29 2007.

The shows which comprise ICE, ICEi and ATEI have been named Trade Show of the Year at the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) Excellence Awards 2007. Chief executive Peter Rusbridge collected the prize along with head of marketing John Fenna, and head of exhibitions Karen Cooke at the event in Old Billingsgate, in the City of London.

The Interactive Gaming Council and GamCare have praised data-sharing fraud management company Ethoca for the self-exclusion service it provides gamblers. Once a player self-excludes, the information is available to all online gaming operators signed up to the service. John Fitzgerald, chief executive of the IGC, said: “Working together to help persons negatively affected by excessive gambling is much more effective and powerful than trying to do so in isolation. An innovation such as this shows that many of the same issues faced by the gambling industry as a whole are better dealt with through the use of technology and in the online world.”

Rob Weisz has been promoted to Director of wholesale billing products and services at the Mobile Interactive Group. He will be responsible for the strategic commercial development and success of mobile billing products, including premium and non-premium SMS, MMS, WAP Billing Video and Voice shortcode services.

NEWSPAPERSANDWIRES: The Financial Times reports that Hong Kong-listed technology service provider  AGTech Holdings is planning to establish over 3000 branded lottery outlets and 15000 mobile lottery terminals in China by the end of 2008. “The plans by AGTech, which will operate the outlets through contracts held by a Chinese lottery venture it acquired last month for HK$777m ($99m), highlight strong interest among internationally invested companies in China’s fast-growing gaming market,” the report adds. The FT says although gambling is still illegal in China, the government has allowed the national sports and welfare lotteries to introduce products such as bingo, football betting and in some cases slots as add-ons. AGTech has a 51%-owned lottery technology joint venture with Ladbrokes. 

CITY: William Hill’s share price has fallen 4.5p to 616.5p, Ladbrokes’ is up 2p to 435.75p and Betbrokers’ is down 0.13p to 7.25p.

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Posted: 20/06/2007