Nambling Notes - May 14, 2008

The Victorian Bookmakers Association has renewed its agreement with Betfair, extending the terms another three years and giving punters a level playing field. The new agreement sets the maximum commission that bookmakers have to pay the V.B.A. at 2.5 percent, Andrew Twaits, Betfair Australia's director of business and corporate affairs, told Interactive Gaming News. "It's designed to help them offer a better service to on-course punters," he said. The V.B.A. said it planned to continue working with Betfair on future endeavors to benefit Victorian bookmakers.

Leisure & Gaming, the online operator, has appointed Richard Creed as finance director, replacing Michael Baird, who left after just more than a year at the company. Mr. Creed previously served as finance director at BetonSports. The company has also appointed Neil Craven non-executive director, replacing Benjamin Shaw. In addition, the company announced that trading is "in line with expectations" for its full-yearly results, which showed total group turnover of 109.1 million euros, or $168.5 million, and an earnings-before-interest-and-taxes loss of 1.6 million euros, or $2.47 million.

Beacon Events, the Hong Kong-based events organizer, and Clarion Gaming have announced a new event covering regulatory issues for the Asian gaming market. Topics at the Asian Gambling Briefing -- modeled after this week's European Gambling Briefing -- will include casinos, integrated resorts, lotteries, betting, tournaments, as well as future directions for remote gambling. The event is scheduled for Oct. 21-22 in Singapore. IGN will provide more information as it becomes available.

Morrisons, the 47 year-old Scottish bookmaker, has revealed plans to re-brand and move into online betting. Now operating as ScotBet, the company said it wants to expand its stores from 74 to over 100 within a year and carve a name for itself in the online world. Kenneth Waugh, owner and managing director of ScotBet, told The Scotsman that many of his company's customers were betting in shop during the week but betting online from home another company's site, which prompted the decision to go online.

Roger D. Withers, the non-executive chairman of Playtech Ltd., said today at the company's annual meeting for shareholders that revenues have continued to grow since nearly doubling in the first quarter against the previous-year period. Mr. Withers said revenues into April have grown 9 percent over and above those in the first quarter and the company expects to sign more licensees and release new products this year.

Weike Gaming Technology, a Singapore-based gaming technology solutions provider, has appointed David Kinsman its new chief executive, Chris Rogers its sales and marketing director and Syed Hussein its chief technical officer.

On the London Stock Exchange today, 888 Holdings was down 8.0p, or 5.05 percent, to 150.50, Ladbrokes was down 7.25p, or 2.34 percent, to 303, London Capital Group Holdings was down 2.0p, or 0.59 percent, to 335, Probability was down 3.50p, or 5.88 percent, to 56, while William Hill was down 10.25p, or 2.83 percent, to 368.75. Neteller, however, was up 4.25p, or 6.67 percent, to 68.