Nambling Notes | July 14, 2008

'ROUND THEY GO John K. Veroneau, the deputy United States trade representative, is due in Antigua and Barbuda Monday to lead discussions with the government over the long-running dispute between the two countries regarding Internet gambling.

Mr. Veroneau is expected to meet with. L. Errol Cort, Antigua's finance minister, as well as John W. Ashe, the island nation's smbassador to the World Trade Organization, the Antigua Sun reports.

The dispute, which originated in 2003 over the United States' legislative efforts to ban certain forms of Internet gambling but not others, still has not reached a satisfying conclusion for either party.

Mr. Cort told The Sun that Mr. Veroneau's visit was a "positive sign" in terms of the possibility of a settlement in the near future.

MEGA MERGER? Tabcorp Holdings Ltd. and Tatts Group Ltd., Australia's two largest gaming companies, have been hinting at a merger of their wagering businesses to mutually benefit from better competition and a larger betting pool.

"We're both aware there are great benefits from putting parts of the companies together," Dick McIlwain, chief executive of Tatts, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Sunday. "These businesses lend themselves to consolidation."

An announcement in May by the Victorian government that the companies' gaming duopoly would end on July 1, 2012, drove down stocks for both companies

The two operators have denied having direct discussion on a possible merger.

RECORD SETTING Jaxx A.G., the Germany-based betting and lotteries operator formerly known as Fluxx, has reported record sales for the June due in large part to the European football championship and the Hamburg Derby Week.

Sales for June 2008 reached 10 million euros while gross profit amounted to 2 million euros for the period, the company's best result since entering the sports betting market in 2006, it said in a prepared statement.

Before July 1, 2008, Jaxx traded as Fluxx A.G. The company said upon the transition that it wanted to strengthen ties to its Jaxx line of products and services.