Nambling Notes - March 25, 2008

Six months ago, the proposed regulations for the UIGEA were released -- next week, U.S. lawmakers and a select group of witnesses will meet to review the rules in a hearing transparently titled "Proposed UIGEA Regulations: Burden without Benefit?" View the full story.

GigaMedia said this morning that its Canadian operation, via its Kahnawake license, is "reliable and stable," following a report Monday suggesting the group could absorb a near-term revenue hit on the back of proposed changes in Canadian I-gaming regulation. View the full story.

888 has singed a development and integration agreement with game design studio NextGen Gaming. 888 spokesman Nick Lambert told IGN that over the last 12 to 18 months, the company has "opened up to striking third-party agreements" -- while still developing its own games -- as part of its strategy for growth. 888 said the games will be localized to its target markets and available from Q3 2008.

Bwin spokesman Kevin O'Neal told IGN this morning that he could not comment on the company's advertising row with Argentine authorities, but would when appropriate.

NetPlay TV is set to launch Celebrity TV Bingo, an interactive tv program allowing players to participate by way of television and Internet.

Domain assets management service provider Moniker said this morning that several domains of interest for I-gaming groups -- including wagering.com, bets.com, egaming.com and igaming.com -- will be up for auction April 4 at 11:30 a.m., EST. The auction will be held at Amsterdam's Grand Krasnapolsky Hotel.

Cycle Collstrop, formerly Unibet, have been invited to race in the Paris-Roubaix and Liege-Bastogne-Leige classics, organizers ASO said today. Last year, ASO barred Unibet entry to the Tour de France.

Australian daily Herald Sun reports Victorian pokies players will be able to set personal daily, weekly and monthly loss limits from 2010 under new state regulations. Crown casino is the only Victorian pokies venue that allows gamblers to set loss limits on machines, the paper says.

Financial Times reported the long-running dispute between bookmakers and the consortium behind Turf TV will likely head to court should a last-ditch round of talks fail. A trial date of April 28 has been scheduled to settle claims of anticompetitive behavior and collusion.

On the London Stock Exchange today, 888 was up 5p (3.5 percent) to 148.00, Playtech was up 18p (4.2 percent) to 445.00 and William Hill was up 23.50p (6.7 percent) to 372.00.