Nambling Notes - March 22, 2002

US Tidbits -- This week Frank Fahrenkopf stopped short of pronouncing Sen. John McCain's effort to ban college sports betting in Nevada dead. "It's still breathing, but it's panting hard," the American Gaming Association president said. The bill was expected to pass Congress with relative ease when it was introduced one year ago. However, with changes in Senate seating that resulted in Nevada Sen. Harry Reid becoming majority whip and the Sept. 11 attacks shifting Congressional priorities, McCain appears to be busy with other matters, such as campaign finance reform. One of eBet's licensees, the U.S.-based Penn National Gaming, is expanding its eBet USA Internet horse race betting. On Thursday eBet announced that Penn has entered a content license and marketing agreement with a global Internet company to expand its marketing scope. Keith Cullen, eBet's managing director, said, "eBet USA betting turnover has been growing at a compound rate of nearly 15 percent per month over the last six months. This marketing and content agreement is consistent with Penn's strategy to expand eBet USA and we believe that it is likely to result in current growth continuing and improving."

Makin' Deals -- Betinternet.com plc is appointing Williams de Broe plc as its nominated advisor and joint stockbroker. Chartwell Technology is teaming up with Simon Bold Ltd. , a wholly owned subsidiary of BetandWin Gaming Group. Chartwell will supply online casino software to Simon Bold for an online gaming site called Triple A Casino. MGM Mirage is shopping for an advertising firm to make its commercials more multicultural. Said Chairman and CEO Terry Lani: "As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity at MGM Mirage, we are seeking an agency that specializes in minority advertising to enhance our marketing to multicultural markets." The account will be awarded May 3.

Tidbits from the UK -- The Financial Times reports that online wagering won the marketing battle at the Cheltenham racing festival this year. Betfair challenger Betdaq Racing had performers on stilts and demonstrations of its software, and attheraces made its presence known through a bevy of banners. The presence of online betting was all the more apparent by the recent resignation of Stuart Wheeler, the founder and chief executive of IG Index, who said, "I have recently reached the age of 67, and I feel that in this technological age it is right to have a younger chief executive than me." In addition, Multisports Bookmakers, a telephone betting service, ceased business. Its proprietor, John Scott Calder, said the company couldn't keep up with online betting sites. "I am sure this is the shape of things to come, "he said. "Turnover in January and February declined rapidly as punters switched to exchanges." The U.K. government's response to Sir Alan Budd's Gambling Review Report will be announced next week. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is expected to support the conclusions reached by Budd, who called for an easing of gambling regulations.

A Scandinavian Tidbit -- Sportingbet plc is taking its game to Scandinavia. The U.K.-based company has reached a marketing partnership with the former Scandinavian marketing partners of Centrebet, an Australian bookmaker. During the next two months, Sportingbet plans to offer local sites in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Tidbits from Ireland -- A new financial spread-betting site made its debut this week. Epan.com is now offering futures betting on the Irish Stock Exchange Equity Overall Index, which means punters can now speculate on the value of the index. The site is offering two betting markets: a daily market that closes at 4:30 p.m. every day and a forward market that closes every three months. Epan.com is operated by Pan Index Ltd. Euro Off-Track will now offer betting on Premier Irish Greyhound tracks Shelbourne Park and Harold's Cross. Operated by betinternet.com, the company already provides betting for 28 thoroughbred and greyhound tracks. The company also recently announced that it will operate a pari-mutuel pool on Saturday's Dubai World Cup.

New Stuff -- Microgaming is introducing three new progressive games: Triple Sevens Progressive Blackjack, Cyberstud Progressive Poker and Jackpot Deuces Progressive Video Poker. Bentley Communications Corp. is now offering a real-time ATM payment mechanism to customers whose computers are equipped with smart card or cash pad units. The Los Angeles-based company is partnering with New Economy World Ltd. to provide the service. In a new twist on the combination of gambling and computer games, Monte Cristo released its Casino Mogul game to stores this week. The game lets players build and manage casinos in Asia, Monte Carlo or Las Vegas. Players face the task of keeping clients happy while keeping an eye on things like restaurants, cashier booths, hotels and security cameras.