Nambling Notes - April 19, 2002

Tidbits from the US -- The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee will mark up numerous bills, including Rep. Bob Goodlatte's, R-Va., Internet gambling prohibition bill, during the next several weeks. The Goodlatte bill seeks to update the Interstate Wire Act of 1961 to include technological developments such as the Internet. It is expected that the Judiciary Committee will consider the Goodlatte bill sometime in the next two weeks. Ian Gershengorn, a Washington, D.C-based lawyer assisting Jay Cohen in his quest to be heard before the U.S. Supreme Court, reports that the due date of government's response to Cohen's petition for writ of certiorari has been pushed back to May 15 from April 15. Cohen is seeking a hearing before the Supreme Court regarding his March 28, 2000 conviction for Internet-gambling related activities.

New Stuff -- World Gaming is adding craps and roulette to its family of java games, which already includes blackjack and a variety of poker selections. Mike Aymong, CEO, said expansion of the company's Java suite will drive revenue for licensees without adding to their bottom-line costs. "We have identified that there is significant crossover from our Web-based sports book and pari-mutuel wagering products to our instant play games," he said. Microgaming is introducing Major Millions, a progressive slots game with million-dollar payouts. Julian Perry, head of marketing, said Microgaming software draws players to online casinos. "If the games in your casino are the players' choice because they have huge jackpots like Major Millions, and if they are frequently won like all the progressives in Microgaming-powered casinos, then you have a powerful reason why someone should play at your casino," he said. The government-run Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. will soon offer classes on being a casino dealer. Bachelor's degrees in casino operations and management will be available via the project, which is being billed as the world's first casino university. IQ-Ludorum recently released IQ-Racing 1.0, its horse and greyhound race betting software. The software allows for a live feed of racing information and pari-mutuel wagering.

Tidbit from Canada -- Sungold Entertainment Corp. is awaiting approval from British Columbia to install its Horsepower 2 virtual racing game at B.C. racetracks. The company, which owns the Horsepower Broadcasting Network, said the installation could double purses for B.C.'s tracks.

Tidbits from Asia -- Thirteen large, illegal gambling dens operate in Jakarta, according to a study by the University of Indonesia. The dens have a turnover of between 2 million rupiah (about US$200,000) and 10 million rupiah daily, the study found. Each den employs at least 1,000 people and operates with the help of corrupt government officials and pays up to 150 million rupiah a day in protection fees. To gear up for the World Cup, the head of Thailand's police force is ordering a crackdown on bookmakers that take soccer bets. The Associated Press reports that the country's police chief is requesting checks on the bank accounts of suspected bookmakers and raids on locations where gambling is suspected to have taken place. Gambling is illegal in Thailand except for a government-sponsored lottery. Hong Kong, Macao and Guandong police are also preparing to combat illegal World Cup betting. Investigators from the three areas met Thursday to plan their offense against cross-border betting syndicates.

Makin' Deals -- Kenilworth Systems Corp. is entering an agreement with Archon Corp. to test the television simulcast of live roulette games from Archon's Pioneer Casino in Laughlin, Nev. The purpose of the test, Kenilworth said, is to show the Nevada Gaming Control Board the merits of its "Play Along with Nevada Live" concept. Nevada's gaming authorities have not yet approved the contract between Kenilworth and Archon or the simulcast test proposal. dot com Entertainment Group and its subsidiary, Parlay Entertainment Ltd. , are selling a software license to Palace World Leisure, a gaming site at www.thepalaces.com. dot com will provide its bingo and casino software and corporate branding services from its marketing division, Inferno Media. Palace World Leisure is owned by Patrick Duffy of Palatial Leisure Ltd. ukbetting.com signed its memorandum of understanding with Orange, a mobile phone service operator, this week. The deal created mobile phone betting services by ukbetting for Orange's WAP users. Park Place Entertainment Corp. has finished a $120 million sale of its 20 percent ownership of Jupiters Ltd. Park Place sold half of its stake in the Australian casino operator back to Jupiters and sold the other half to institutional investors.

Tidbit from India -- The QLot Consulting Group completed its marketing report and feasibility study for M.S. Associates, holder of an online lottery license in India. The consultancy said it undertook the project on behalf of Kalo Holdings Corp. of Delaware and Techno Serv Private Ltd. of New Delhi, which will be providing the online lottery service to M.S. Associates. M.S. plans to launch online lottery sales in at least 14 Indian states by the end of the summer. Marwan Kalo, chairman of Kalo Holdings, said India is the "largest and hottest underdeveloped online lottery market left in the world."

Names and Faces Changing Places -- Youbet.com appointed Guy J. Chipparoni to its board of directors. Chipparoni is president of KemperLesnik Public Affairs. Alongside Chipparoni's appointment, Youbet.com CFO Phillip Hermann resigned. Hermann has been both co-CEO ad president of Youbet.com. He will continue as CFO for the next 90 days to help see management through its transition.

Take Two -- Interactive Systems Worldwide said this week that in a press release dated April 12 it had "inadvertently" stated that KirchSport owns a controlling interest in Global Interactive Gaming, ISWI's exclusive licensee, as well as that KirchSport had not filed for insolvency protection in Germany. The company corrected itself on Wednesday with a statement that the controlling interest is in fact held by Prisma iVentures, which is owned by KirchMedia. In addition, KirchMedia has filed for insolvency protection in Germany, ISWI said.