Daily Nambling Notes - Monday, July 29, 2002

New Stuff -- Playtech recently launched the Web sites of its two newest licensees, Grand Banks Casino and Black Widow Casino, both of which switched to Playtech software from other providers. Playtech now powers 13 online casinos. ... Biometrica, a division of Viisage Technology Inc. , a developer of face-recognition technology, will be displaying the BiometriCam at the Global Gaming Expo on Sept. 17-19 in Las Vegas. The biometric surveillance product was recently installed at Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel in Illinois.

Tidbits from Macau -- Galaxy Casino Company is planning to launch a temporary casino in Macau by the end of the year, the Xinhua news agency is reporting. Galaxy was the recipient of one of three new casino licenses and is owned by the Venetian and Lui Chi-woo, a Hong Kong-based business owner. It plans to pump US$1.1 billion into the Macau economy in the next 10 years. The foreign minister of Russia, Igor Ivanov, met with Macau's leader, Chief Executive Edmund Ho, on Monday to discuss ways the two groups could improve business and cultural ties. Ivanov said he hopes to strengthen ties between the two cultures.

A U.K. Bit -- Scotland's Evening News reported last week that Internet gambling is enjoying increased business across Europe, including in the United Kingdom, where Eurobet.co.uk is recording a 171 percent increase for May, Ladbrokes.com is seeing a 95 percent increase and William Hill's Web site is up 71 percent.

News From Down Under -- The government of South Australia is embarking on a major study on the relationship between gambling and crime. John Hill, the state's minister for gambling, said the study will be performed by the Independent Gambling Authority. ... Tattersalls will continue to operate the public lottery in Victoria until 2007, the company said recently. John Lenders, the acting minister for gaming, said Tattersalls has agreed to pay the Department of Treasury and Finance a special premium payment of AU$3 million.

Names and Faces -- Tom Betts has resigned his position as director of Gaming Insight, the company said Friday. Betts left to focus on his new position as the director of business development at Granada Media.