Nambling Notes - Feb. 21, 2008

California legislators have proposed a study to examine how and whether an intrastate online poker regime would fit in with prohibitory federal legislation. IGN's Emily Swoboda reports.

London-listed William Hill has appointed Ralph Topping, 56, as chief executive with immediate effect, ending an eight-month search. Topping was formerly the group’s director of U.K.-based operations.

IGN's take: Topping's appointment is likely to induce the editorial community to pun interminably on his name in headlines. Read: "Bill Hill Sprinkles on New Topping," and so on.

The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority has published the findings of its Gambling Compliance Survey 2007, which found that between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, 2007, 1 percent of 784 gambling-related advertisements were found in breach of advertising code. More on this later today.

Swedish operator Betsson has entered the Peruvian market.

BetonSports has settled claims with 7,503 of the more than 63,000 punters to whom it still owes money, its attorney Jeffrey Demerath said in a court filing Wednesday. So far, however, 109 claims do not agree with the company's records, which are currently being reviewed; moreover, over 28,000 e-mails to claimants have not been delivered due to either invalid e-mail addresses or were simply returned as undeliverable.

Net Entertainment has agreed to supply its Casino Cafe' product to an anonymous, Eastern European operator.

Australia's Tabcorp posted a 22 percent increase in post-tax net profits of A$273.4 million for H2 2007 versus the previous-year period, but said EBIT for its wagering business was adversely affected by the equine influenza outbreak, falling 8.9 percent to A$130.8 million.

Brokerage Investec has reduced its target price on William Hill from 474p to 395, on Ladbrokes from 303p to 260. The brokerage added that William Hill's online division is struggling, while Ladbrokes' U.K. retail business remains "under pressure."

Shares in both Ladbrokes and William Hill fell beneath the weight of comments made by U.K. Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe Wednesday regarding governmental concern over the growing popularity of fixed odds betting terminals. "We have always said if any evidence emerges that they (FOBTs) are causing harm, then we are prepared to take action and we have the power to take action," Sutcliffe told Reuters. The news source reported that each of the country's estimated 35,000 FOBTs earns a bookmaker around £500 per week.

Two Way TV has inked a deal with pub console games developer BigFizz to launch eight of its titles -- including Sting 'em In, Deal with It and Buzz Words -- across skill with prize terminals (SWPs) located throughout the United Kingdom's pubs, cinemas and bowling alleys.

The Telegraph reports that William Hill has vowed to contest allegations made by compulsive gambler Graham Calvert "vigorously."

A little-reported fact: The Financial Times says Calvert, a former greyhound trainer, is awaiting trial on unrelated firearms and drugs charges at Newcastle Crown Court.

A New York man who discovered that millions of dollars had mysteriously appeared in his bank account, and withdrew more than $2 million, has been arrested on charges of grand larceny, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

On the London Stock Exchange, Neteller was up 2.25p (3.7 percent) to 63.25, Playtech was up 18.50p (4.9 percent) to 398.50 while William Hill was down 3p (0.07 percent) to 399.75.