Nambling Notes - May 9, 2008

CryptoLogic Ltd., the Dublin-based software developer, has been tapped to be the exclusive provider of gaming software and support for OPoker.com, a new Scandinavia-facing online poker site. "CryptoLogic's partnership with OPoker.com shows that even while we grow into other parts of the world, we're also expanding in our core European market," said Brian Hadfield, CryptoLogic's president and chief executive officer.

In related news, CryptoLogic's board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of 12 cents per common share to be paid on June 16.

Following the recent departure of Svenska Spel's chief executive, the company last week accepted the resignations of two divisional managers, Mathias Hedlund and Annica Axelson. Whether more defections are to follow remains unclear as the state-owned operator continues to less-aggressively reposition itself under Margareta Winberg, its newly-installed chair.

Dino Rossi, the former Washington state senator, has taken issue with the Evergreen State's policy on Internet poker. Mr. Rossi, also a candidate in Washington's 2008 gubernatorial race, told CardPlayer.com that the current statutes -- which threaten jail time and hefty fines for playing poker online -- stand to "ruin somebody's life."

"What I’d like to do," Mr. Rossi said, "is to make sure that we are not making people felons and we are not being intrusive in people’s homes and checking their computers and trying to hunt them down because they played Internet poker. It’s kind of ridiculous to equate that to five DUIs or stealing nine cars. It just doesn’t make sense to me, so what I’ve been clear about is I think that the heavy-handiness is ridiculous, and I would defiantly file legislation that would change that to something more reasonable."

On the London Stock Exchange Friday, Ladbrokes dropped 6.50p, or 2 percent, to 320.25, William Hill fell 4p, or 1 percent, to 391.75, while Playtech Ltd. was up 9p, or 1.8 percent, to 515 and Rank Group gained 2.75p, or 3.1 percent, to close at 92.50.